What to Eat at the World Street Food Congress Jamboree 2017 in Manila

Most Manila foodies would have heard that the World Street Food Congress Jamboree took off to a booming start today and the festivities will last till 4 Jun 2017.



This year's WSFC Jamboree is held at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Ground in Pasay City, Manila. There is no more convenient and accessible place in Manila to host the over 100,000 food enthusiasts expected to visit the Jamboree.



Over 30 top street hawkers from India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, USA, Thailand, Mexico, Germany, Singapore, and Japan are at this year's Jamboree. The Philippines is proudly represented by vendors from six regions from Davao city, Bicol, Pampanga, Iloilo, Ilocas and Bacolod. All the vendors at the Jamboree are personally curated by KF Seetoh, the founder of Makansutra and creator of the World Street Food Congress.



I will be eating my way through the 30+ hawker stalls one by one over the next few days at the Jamboree 😄

Here are some of the best that I have been through so far 😋



To me, this Cheese Empanada from Batac (Ilocos) is the best 160 pesos can buy at the Jamboree. The shell of rice flour and natural orange colour is thin and fried till crispy. The ozzy cheese, egg and soft minced meat filling has a nice balance of mild sweet and savoury flavours. These empanadas are large but I would have bought two of these had I not been on a mission to try as many stalls as possible 😄

When you are at #WSFC17, you gotta try this Coffee Pork Rib Burger. Uniquely #singaporefood. It's juicy pork rib marinated in robust coffee then deep fried. If you love coffee, you gotta love this juicy aromatic creation from #kekseafood. #worldstreetfoodcongress #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on May 31, 2017 at 5:01am PDT

When you are at #WSFC17, look out for this #singaporefood, Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs. The meat is tender juicy sweet wrapped in a gently savoury coat with subtle aromatic spices. #Yummy. Don't leave the #worldstreetfoodcongress without trying this #uniquelysingapore #streetfood. #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on May 31, 2017 at 5:18am PDT

Don't miss nasi lemak, Malaysia's national dish at the #worldstreetfoodcongress. It's rice cooked in coconut milk, eaten with small fried fish, fried chicken wings, egg, vegetables and mildly spicy chili paste with dried shrimps. It's a riot of sweet, savoury, spicy flavours with a mix of soft, crispy and crunchy textures. You will love it. #WSFC17 #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on May 31, 2017 at 5:42am PDT

To me, one of the charms of street food is to be able to watch, smell, listen and feel food cooked right in front of me 😃 This is banh xeo, a Vietnamese crispy rice pancake with tumeric stuffed with fatty pork, shrimp, green onion and bean sprout. #WSFC17 #worldstreetfoodcongress #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on May 31, 2017 at 7:39am PDT

hi folks at #WSFC17 you have a treat from Malaysia, we back home in Singapore and in Malaysia rarely get 😂 Fresh putu mayam, wholly made on site at the stall. It's steamed rice noodles eaten with grated coconut and palm sugar. It's a simple snack well loved for its layers of gentle sweetness balanced with a little salt. This is one of Penang's best. Must Try. #worldstreetfoodcongress #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on May 31, 2017 at 7:07am PDT

Philippines celebrity Chef Sau del Rosario personally serving his creation Sisig Paella at #WSFC17. It's Pampanga's Aling Lucing's humble classic of stir fried chopped pork face and mashed chicken liver, now cooked with rice the Spanish way. It's an unabashed orgy of flavours and texture. #worldstreetfoodcongress #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on May 31, 2017 at 6:32am PDT

Anthony Bourdain enjoying street food at #worldstreetfoodcongress Jamboree. #WSFC17 #itsmorefuninthephilippines #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on Jun 1, 2017 at 6:15am PDT

Pork baby back ribs from Bali. The charcoal roasted meat is tender and juicy. The porky sweetness is pronounced with the sweet savoury flavour in the background. #WSFC17 #worldstreetfoodcongress #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on Jun 1, 2017 at 6:48am PDT

Charcoal grilled tender meaty chicken thigh wrapped in black grated coconut. The natural sweet chicky taste is complemented by toasty sweet taste of charred grated coconut. Served with black rice wrapped and cooked in banana leaf. #WSFC17 #worldstreetfoodcongress #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on Jun 1, 2017 at 7:17am PDT

When you are at the #worldstreetfoodcongress today, do not miss this pork belly and trotter stewed in Chinese black vinegar. I know, I know it looks unapetitising but once you taste it, you will fall in love. The black vinegar is smooth and full bodied from the melted collagen. The dish is aromatic from the vinegar. The vinegar tastes mildly piquant and sweet. #yummy #WSFC17 #makansutra #tpbgovph #tpbdelivers

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on Jun 2, 2017 at 4:50pm PDT

Some of the other global street food which I am going to try one by one.



Come and try the street food here. There are many more street dishes offered by the 30 stalls at the Jamboree.



Relax if you are unfamiliar with any of the overseas street food. Every stall has enthusiastic interns from Philippines culinary institutes. They do an awesome job in helping the overseas hawkers prepare and cook the food. They are also eager to explain the food that they have learnt and help you enjoy it too.



I will be at the WSFC till 4 Jun and will update this post daily with my favourite eats at the Jamboree. Do come back here to see what I think are the best at the WSFC Jamboree.



Better still, come over to SM Mall of Asia Concert Ground and experience for yourself the wonderful, delicious world of street food from all over the globe.

Disclosure: The trip was organised by Makansutra and presented by Tourism Promotions Board, Philippines.

Date: 31 May to 4 Jun 2017 (from 4pm to 11pm)

Return to Johor Kaki homepage.