Angeles City, Pampanga—the celebrated "Culinary Capital of the Philippines"—is once again nominated at the prestigious World Culinary Awards, competing against Asia's top food destinations like Bangkok, Hanoi, Seoul, Tokyo, and Singapore. Public voting is now open until August 14, 2026, and every Kapampangan and Filipino food lover can help defend the city's global title.
A Legacy of Global Recognition
Angeles City made history in October 2024 when it was named Asia's Best Emerging Culinary City Destination at the World Culinary Awards Gala Ceremony in Dubai. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco hailed the recognition as a testament to "the exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication of its local chefs and food artisans". The city competed against renowned food destinations including Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Kyoto to claim the title. Now, Pampanga is taking the next step—competing at the regional level for the prestigious Asia's Best Culinary City Destination category.
Vote Now: Show the World Pampanga's Culinary Heritage
Voting for the World Culinary Awards 2026 is now open and will run until August 14, 2026 (midnight UTC+1). To cast your vote for Angeles City, visit the World Culinary Awards official website, create an account, select Asia as the region, navigate to the Culinary City Destination category, and vote for Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. The nomination caps a remarkable year for Kapampangan cuisine, with the Senate approving on third reading Senate Bill No. 2797, declaring Pampanga as the "Culinary Capital of the Philippines". Senator Lito Lapid, the bill's author, noted that Pampanga's "rich and diverse culinary traditions, which have been passed down through generations," make it a deserving candidate for the title. "Pampanga has long been recognized for its exceptional culinary heritage," he said.
Why Angeles City Stands Out: A Culinary Powerhouse
Pampanga's culinary reputation is built on iconic dishes that have become synonymous with Filipino cuisine. The province is home to sisig, which the city government of Angeles officially declared as an intangible heritage through City Ordinance No. 405, establishing systems to safeguard the original recipe of sizzling sisig babi. Beyond sisig, Pampanga is celebrated for bringhe (the local take on paella rich with coconut milk), tokwa't baboy (fried tofu and boiled pork in soy-vinegar sauce), bibingka (traditional native rice cake), and kare-kare. The province has produced legendary chefs and food artisans including Nora and Sandy Daza, Atsing Lillian Lising-Borromeo, Claude Tayag, and Sau del Rosario. The Department of Tourism has actively promoted Kapampangan cuisine through initiatives like the First International Conference on Kapampangan Cuisine & Food Tourism and the development of GastroVentures Tours. Senator Mark Villar, sponsor of the Culinary Capital bill, noted that "Kapampangan food reflects the history, creativity, and resilience of its people," with influences from Spanish, Chinese, Malay, and indigenous traditions "melding together to create a cuisine that is unmistakably Filipino, and proudly Kapampangan".
