Baguio is far more than strawberries — though that's where most people start. This mountain city, perched at 1,540 metres, is the source of legendary ube jam, the home of Igorot ritual dishes passed down over centuries, and a place where Cordillera highland culture collides with American colonial influence in genuinely interesting ways. Come here and skip the food scene and you've missed more than half the point.
#1 Strawberry Taho
Taho is a classic Filipino street snack: silken tofu in a cup, topped with sago pearls and syrup. Baguio's version adds fresh strawberry syrup, turning it a vivid pink with a sweet-tart edge unlike anything you'll get in Manila. It's the one snack that signals you've arrived in Baguio.
- Find it from vendors around Session Road and Burnham Park — most sell out before 10 a.m.
- Prices run 35–50 pesos per cup, which is exceptional value for what you get.
- Ask for extra fresh strawberries; some stalls offer them for a small surcharge.
#2 Good Shepherd Ube Jam
Good Shepherd Convent's ube jam — or <em>halayang ube</em> — is Baguio's most iconic take-home item. The recipe dates to 1976, created by Sister Fidelis Etienza to generate income for the religious congregation. It's made from finely mashed purple yam (<em>ube</em>) cooked down with condensed milk into a rich, intensely flavored spread. The convent also sells butter cookies (<em>lengua de gato</em>) and peanut brittle that are worth adding to your bag.
- Arrive before 9 a.m. — queues form fast and stock sells out, especially on weekends.
- Buy multiple jars; ube jam keeps in the fridge for several weeks and travels well as a gift.
- Pick up the peanut brittle and lengua de gato while you're there — both hold their own alongside the jam.
#3 Fresh Baguio Strawberries
Baguio and the La Trinidad valley make up the Philippines' primary strawberry-growing region. Travelers can pick up fresh strawberries at well below supermarket prices, along with strawberry jam, strawberry wine, ice cream, and strawberry pancakes all over the city. The flavor — sweet with a sharp tartness — is a different fruit from the imported kind.
- A small basket runs 80–120 pesos, significantly cheaper than in Manila.
- Look for Strawberry Shortcake shops in the city center; the fresh sponge cakes are lighter and better than they sound.
- Buying direct from farmers at La Trinidad farms costs about 20–30% less than in Baguio city proper.
#4 Pinikpikan
Pinikpikan is a ceremonial dish of the Igorot people of the Cordillera, a chicken soup prepared alongside <em>etag</em> — smoked, underground-cured pork — which gives it a salty, gently smoky depth that sets it entirely apart from any chicken soup you've had before. This dish carries centuries of indigenous knowledge and ritual meaning in every bowl.
- Farmer's Daughter, near Tam-awan Village, is a well-known spot for authentic Cordillera food.
- Try etag on its own — the cured smoked pork has a flavor profile unlike anything else from the region.
- Ask the owner about the background of each dish; there's usually a story worth hearing.
#5 Baguio Vegetables and Flowers
Baguio's central market is the largest highland vegetable and flower market in the Philippines. You'll find Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, cauliflower, and fresh-cut flowers — roses, lilies, and cold-climate wildflowers — all priced well below what you'd pay in Manila because this is where they're grown. It's a legitimate reason to get up early.
- Go between 5 and 8 a.m. for the freshest produce at the best prices — many farmers sell directly, no middlemen.
- Bargaining is expected, especially if you're buying in quantity.
- The cooked food stalls inside the market are cheap and good — a solid spot for breakfast before a day of sightseeing.
#6 Baguio Ube Cafes
Baguio's cafes have taken local ube and strawberries and built a menu around them that you won't find anywhere else: Ube Latte in deep violet, Strawberry Matcha combining local berries with green tea, and Baguio-style ube cheesecake. The cold mountain air outside makes settling into a warm cafe with one of these feel exactly right.
- Start with the Ube Latte or Ube Cheesecake — the ube flavor is genuine here, sourced from local farms.
- Most cafes open from 8 a.m. to around 9–10 p.m., making them an easy afternoon stop between sights.
- Look for menus that specify Good Shepherd ube jam as an ingredient — cafes often call this out as a point of pride.
Where to stay in Baguio for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Baguio — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
Grand Sierra Pines Baguio
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
The Manor at Camp John Hay (John Hay Hotels - Garden Wing)
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
John Hay Hotels Forest Wing (formerly The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay)
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Le Monet Hotel
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Tours, tickets & activities in Baguio
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Baguio — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Before You Pack
Baguio's food is part of what makes it unlike anywhere else in the Philippines. The ube jam and fresh strawberries you take home aren't just souvenirs — they carry the stories and traditions of the people who made them.