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The favorite champorado also places 19th on the overall Top 50 list
MANILA, Philippines – Whether it’s a comforting breakfast or a mother’s go-to remedy for sickness, porridge has long been a staple for many. And now, classic Filipino porridges have earned global recognition, ranking among TasteAtlas’ Top 50 Best Porridges in the World!
All of the country’s entries landed within the Top 20! The savory arroz caldo ranked impressively at second place with a rating of 4.3 stars. Meanwhile, lugaw secured the ninth spot with 4.1 stars, and the beloved breakfast favorite champorado came in at 19th place with 3.9 stars.
The arroz caldo was bested by Indonesia’s burbur ayam (chicken congee), taking the top spot. Further down the top five, Georgia’s elarji takes third place, taci şi înghite (“shut up and swallow”) from Romania places fourth, and Ukraine’s Banosh ranks fifth overall.
Taste Atlas praises the arroz caldo as a “comforting rice dish that is usually enjoyed as a filling breakfast or a satisfying midday meal.”
The thick rice porridge is usually prepared with chicken, rice, fish sauce, onion, and garlic to name a few ingredients, with garlic leaving a prominent taste. While the roots of the arroz caldo may be traced to China, the Spanish colonization is said to have influenced the overall taste of the dish today.
Taste Atlas recommends these restaurants for the perfect arroz caldo fix: Busy Bee, Zamboanga City; Cafe Via Mare, Makati City; and Italiannis Restaurant in Makati City, to name a few.
Lugaw is a dish most known as a “soft food for sick people, because it doesn’t require much chewing,” according to Taste Atlas. Lugaw is also a popular rainy-day dish, with its comforting warmth and savory taste.
Perhaps one of the most well-known Filipino dishes, it has a versatile base that can be paired with a variety of seasonings and meats, allowing for countless ways to prepare it. It is typically made with chicken, ginger, and a hint of lemon or calamansi and fish sauce.
Lugaw Republic and Love Desserts are some of the Quezon City spots that Taste Atlas recommends for lugaw. Davao Dencia’s Restaurant’s lugaw is also a must-try when you visit the province!
Putting the ‘champ’ in champorado
The sweet and chocolatey champorado is the only “sweet treat” representing the Philippines. The rice pudding is described as “a hearty breakfast or a sweet afternoon snack” by Taste Atlas. The dish is usually made with rice mixed with cocoa powder and sugar.
Interestingly, the roots of champorado are traced back to a Mexican chocolate-based drink called champurrado.
Champorado is enjoyed in many ways: either served hot or cold, drizzled with condensed milk for extra sweetness, or enjoyed with salted dry fish (tuyo) for any sweet and salty cravings. To get your champorado fix, Taste Atlas names Max Restaurant, Kanto Freestyle, and Tapa King as the top three restaurants whose champorados are worth trying.
In 2024, Taste Atlas gave a special shout-out to the Philippines’ champorado, ranking it as the 11th Best Rice Pudding in the world. Other editions of the ranking also include siningang and bulalo among the Best Soups and pancit Malabon, canton, and bihon among the Best Stir-Fried Noodles.
The Taste Atlas is an online encyclopedia centered on gastronomy, international flavors, and local dishes and restaurants across the globe. The database has catalogued more than 10,000 food and beverages.
Overall, it aims to promote different food cultures and traditions, emphasizing the importance of appreciation and exploration through travel. – Mikay Tormon/Rappler.com
Mikay Tormon is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Sociology at the Ateneo de Manila University.
