Balut, also known as fertilized duck egg with nearly-developed embryo inside the shell. Chinese migrants are said to have brought the idea of this exotic gastronomic treat to the country but the locals have mastered the craft of balut-making in the spirit of Filipino tradition.

Expect to Pay: Around PHP 15 per balut, PHP 12 per balut penoy

Balut is often seasoned with salt and/or a chili, garlic, and vinegar mixture, but I’ve always eaten it as is. We Filipinos know how off-putting balut can be for many tourists, so we get a kick out of challenging them to eat it. Most chicken out.

You might also come across a version of balut called “penoy”. These are the balut eggs that don’t properly develop after 9-12 days. Balut penoy is like a hard-boiled egg with no separation between the yolk and egg white,kind of like a semi-scrambled egg still in its shell. I prefer the real thing.