TOP PICKS: Must-try Halo-halo in the Philippines

Best-tasting Halo-halo in the Philippines

There are a lot of mouthwatering desserts out there but nothing beats something that is very close to our hearts and taste buds. Halo-halo, a concoction of tropical fruits, preserves and desserts mixed in crushed ice and milk is one of my favorite desserts especially during summer in the Philippines. Having a humid temperature (almost) all-year round, this favorite "Pinoy panghimagas" is definitely the dessert that everyone loves. Here are my recommended best-tasting halo-halo in the Philippines that you should try to satisfy your hunger and thirst in one delicious glass.

We're now here in Pagsanjan, enjoying this Aling Taleng's Halo-halo! Yummmmm!!! Definitely, a must-try when in #Pagsanjan, #Laguna!

A post shared by Pinoy Adventurista (Mervz) 🇵🇭 (@pinoyadventurista) on Jan 7, 2017 at 2:27am PST

1. Aling Taleng's Halo-halo - Pagsanjan Laguna

Known to have been existing since 1933, Aling Taleng's is a popular halo-halo store in Pagsanjan, Laguna. Located in a residential area, it's very near the town church and plaza of Pagsanjan. The ingredients of this halo-halo are white beans, red beans, Macapuno, Ube and some preserved fruits. What's interesting with this halo-halo is that instead of using ice cream or leche flan as topping, they use candied "kundol". The combination is quite unique and tastes really good!

PRICE: PHP 75.00 / serving

Aling Taleng's Halo-halo

Address: 169 General Luna Street, Barangay Maulawin, Pagsanjan, Laguna
Telephone Number: (049) 821-0416

Halo-halo de Iloko

2. Halo-halo de Iloko - San Fernando, La Union

Located in a residential area is San Fernando City, La Union, Halo-halo de Iloko serves one of the best halo-halo in the city. It has all the standard halo-halo ingredients such tapioca, nata de coco, coconut strips, red beans, ube halaya (candied purple yam), yema, bits of cheese, ice cream, among many others. But what makes it interesting is the mountain rice that tastes like "pulvoron" that they added into the mix. I love it!

PRICE: PHP 70.00 - 185.00 / serving

Halo-halo de Iloko

Address :#12 Zandueta St., San Fernando City, La Union
Telephone Number: (072) 700 2030

[ CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST OF HOTELS IN SAN JUAN, LA UNION ]

New Rebelito's Refreshment's Halo-halo

3. New Rebelito's Refreshment - Calbayog, Samar

Rebelito's is considered as the best halo-halo in Calbayog City. Having been in the business since the 1950's, it has been part of almost every Calbayognons' childhood. The most distinguishable ingredient that they added in their halo-halo is the pineapple which leaves a strong taste. Their siopao is also a must-try!

PRICE: PHP 55.00 / serving

New Rebelito’s Refreshments

Address: Magsaysay Blvd., Calbayog City
Telephone Number: (055) 209-1294

Razon's Halo-halo

4. Razon's of Guagua - Pampanga

Originally from Guagua, Pampanga, Razon's halo-halo may looked "bland" but is definitely packed with flavors. Its ingredients includes sun-ripened banana (saging na saba), shredded macapuno and leche plan with dayap rind. What makes it so good is the use of finely shaved ice. The perfect blend of the just-right sweetness, the creaminess of the entire mix, and the finely crushed ice makes it the best commercially produced halo-halo in the Philippines (well, that's just for me).

PRICE: PHP 105.00 / serving

Razon's of Guagua

Locations: They have twenty five (25) branches in Metro Manila and the South (Laguna, Cavite and Tagaytay)
Telephone Numbers: (02) 671-5580 / 671-6223
E-mail Address: info@razonsfoodcorp.com.ph
Website: www.razonsfoodcorp.com.ph

Planet Pluto's Halo-halo

5. Planet Pluto Snack House and Restaurant - Jolo, Sulu

A multi-cuisine restaurant in Jolo, Sulu. We got to try their halo-halo during our visit last year. Topped with a scoop of ice cream, it is a mixture of beans, kaong, nata, and other preserved fruits. So, if you're visiting Jolo and want some quick sugar fix, visit Planet Pluto.

PRICE: PHP 60.00 / serving

Planet Pluto Snack House and Restaurant

Address: Jolo, Sulu

Lana's Halo-halo

6. Lana's Halo-halo - Legazpi, Albay

Located inside Legazpi City public market, I learned about this halo-halo store because of the hit TV series, Amazing Race Philippines. It was used as one of the stops in the Bicol leg of the show. Dubbed as "the best halo-halo in Legazpi City", Lana's sweet delight is really something you should try when visiting the city.

PRICE: PHP 40.00 - 50.00 / serving

Lana's Halo-halo

Address: Legazpi City Public Market, Legazpi City Albay

Mt. Arayat Halo-halo

7. Mt. Arayat Special Halo-halo - Pasay City

This halo-halo originally came from Pampanga. At first I thought it was just an ordinary halo-halo, but the Pastillas de Leche made from cow's milk added on the mix makes all the difference and sets this halo-halo apart from all other halo-halo I've tasted. It also has cornflakes, saging na saba, mashed beans and topped with corn kernels. It this definitely a must-try! Unfortunately, as of 2016, Mt. Arayat Special Halo-halo has closed their store in SM MAll of Asia.

PRICE: PHP 90.00 / serving

Mt. Arayat Special Halo-halo

Address: Ground Floor North Trade Arcade Mall of Asia Pasay City
Telephone Number: (02) 412-5133

NOTE: They already closed their store in SM Mall of Asia.

Digman Halo-halo

8. BC2 Digman Original Halo-Halo - Baccor, Cavite

"Digman" is a small barangay in the City of Bacoor in Cavite. It is known for it's famous halo-halo which Caviteños have enjoyed through the years. You could check out BC2 Digman Original Halo-Halo (Talk of the Town) that serves halo-halo since 1969. Their halo-halo has a lot of ingredients like a scoop of ice cream and ube on top, while under the crushed ice there's langka, beans, banana, sago, nata, among many other ingredients. It's not so sweet, but you can add sugar depending on your taste.

PRICE: PHP 45.00 - 55.00 / serving

BC2 Digman Original Halo-Halo

Address: Barangay Digman, Bacoor City, Cavite

Balaw-balaw Restaurant's Halo-halo

9. Balaw-balaw Specialty Restaurant - Angono, Rizal

Balaw Balaw Specialty Restaurant is a native Filipino restaurant and one of the most well-known specialty restaurants in the province of Rizal. Aside from their house specialties of exotic dishes, you got to try their halo-halo as well.

PRICE: PHP 100.00 / serving

Balaw-balaw Specialty Restaurant

Address: Doña Justa Street, Angono 1930
Telephone Number: (02) 651-0110

Halowich's Halo-halo

10. Halowich - Boracay Island, Aklan

Located in D' Mall on Boracay Island, Halowich's humongous halo-halo is a favorite among tourists visiting the island. Comes with mango puree, corn flakes, sweet beans, real fruit slices of mango, bananas, pineapple and topped with chocolate syrup, ice cream and cherry, it is perfect for sharing among your family or friends.

PRICE: PHP 399.00 / serving

Halowich Boracay

Address: D' Mall, Boracay Island, Malay Aklan
Telephone Number: (036) 288-6752

Casa Rap's Halo-halo

11. Casa Rap - San Jose, Batangas

Casa Rap in San Jose Batangas is not only known for its slow cooked dishes but also with it famous halo-halo. It's very basic. It has macapuno, sweetened bananas, pinipig (rice puffs), shreded melon and topped with leche flan. What makes it different is that it doesn't use ice, instead, they use buko sherbet which makes it refreshing and pleasant to the mouth. It's definitely one of the best-tasting halo-halo in the Philippines.

PRICE: PHP 80.00 / serving

Casa Rap

Address: Km. 90 National Highway, San Jose, Batangas
Telephone Number: (043) 726-2873 / 0946-127-0492

Catherine’s Restaurant - Bagasbas Lighthouse Hotel

12. Catherine’s Restaurant - Daet, Camarines Norte

Suggested by my friend who lives in Daet, we went to Bagasbas Beach to dined at Catherine’s Restaurant, the in-house restaurant of Bagasbas Lighthouse Hotel along Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte. My friend said that they serve very creamy and delicious halo-halo in town. And it's true! What I loved about it is that they used cubed ice (shaved, frozen and cubed) that really melts in your mouth. Probably one of the best halo-halo I've tasted.

PRICE: PHO 120-150 / serving

Catherine’s Restaurant

Address: Bagasbas Lighthouse Hotel Resort, Bagasbas Road, Daet, 4600 Camarines Norte
Telephone: (054) 441 5855

13. DJC Halo-halo and Snack Inn - Legazpi City

When in Legazpi City, you must-try DJC's Halo-halo. Dubbed as the most famous halo-halo in Bicol, it's the cheesiest halo-halo I've ever tried. So, when visiting Legazpi, don't miss this!

PRICE: PHO 70.00-85.00 / serving

DJC Halo-halo

Address: Landco Business Park, Barangay Bitano, Legazpi City, 4500 Albay
Phone: (052) 480 6868
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Note: Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

But wait... There's more...

I asked my travel blogger-friends for their most recommended halo-halo, here are their suggestions:

Halo-halo by Buko ni Fruitas

Buko ni Fruitas

"Speaking of Halo-halo, nothing beats Buko Halo-halo of Buko ni Fruitas! Served in young coconut shell, it is a generous serving of mixed buko, gulaman, beans, ube, langka, other local fruits, and fresh sweetened milk". -www.sarap-pinoy.com

Halo-halo by Aling Foping's

Aling Foping's Halo-halo Davao City

"Aling Foping's Durian Halo-halo is made up of Ice, Milk, Durian Jam, Durian Ice Cream, Nata de Coco and Pinipig. It costs P105. It is one of their best-seller items aside from their equally mouth-watering special halo-halo". -www.escapemanila.com

Halo-halo by Kabigting's

Kabigting's Halo-Halo - Pampanga

"Kabigting's Halo-Halo originated from Arayat, Pampanga. Compared to the usual halo-halo, Kabigting's only has three ingredients: pastillas de leche, mashed sweet kamote and macapuno. The shaved iced used is also very fine". -www.pinasmuna.com

Halo-halo by Apareja Buko

Apareja Buko Halo-Halo in Koronadal City, South Cotabato

"The delectable Halo halo in Koronadal is probably one of the yummiest I've tasted in my entire life. The fresh and well preserved ingredients of the halo halo is so delicious. Its like a sweet party in every scoop. A very delightful and irresistibly rewarding dessert". -www.wandershugah.com

How about you? Where can you find the best-tasting halo-halo in the Philippines? What's your most recommended halo-halo?

ALSO READ: Must-try Ice Cream Flavors in the Philippines

NOTE: This list is in no particular order. More halo-halo will be added soon!