If there’s one thing about us Pinoys, it’s this: we love food… and we love making food even tastier. 😂
And lately? Ang daming bagong condiments and flavor boosters na ume-emerge online — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube — lahat full of people drizzling, mixing, and pouring their way to mas malinamnam meals.
Honestly, I blame (or thank?) the algorithm. One minute I’m just scrolling peacefully, the next minute I’m adding chili sauce and Japanese dressing to my cart. And apparently, buong Pilipinas feels the same way because these condiments keep selling out!
Here’s a rundown of the viral flavor boosters Filipinos are obsessed with right now — plus how we’re using them at home.
1. Chili Garlic Oil (Still Reigning Queen!)
Every year may bagong trend, but chili garlic remains the Beyonce of condiments.
Crispy, garlicky, spicy — and perfect with EVERYTHING.
At home, we add it to:
• siomai
• fried rice
• noodles
• tapa
• scrambled eggs (!!)
• even crackers when late-night snack cravings hit
2025 version?
More brands now offer “extra crisp,” “no-burn garlic,” and “aromatic chili blends.”
Mas sosyal, pero still affordable. We love Kate’s and Lao Gan Ma!
2. Japanese Sesame Dressing (The Salad Saver)
I feel like everyone in Manila suddenly turned into a salad lover. 😂
And it’s because of this dressing!
Creamy, nutty, slightly sweet — no wonder it’s viral.
Use it for:
• kani salad (of course!)
• lettuce bowls
• poke-style rice bowls
• dipping sauce for fried chicken
• drizzling over grilled veggies
One time, I tossed leftover cold spaghetti noodles with sesame dressing + kani + cucumber — instant cold noodle salad. Sabaw na sana yung utak ko sa pagod, but that snack revived me!
3. Chili Crisp with Shrimp & Sichuan Pepper
This is the “level up” cousin of chili garlic.
It’s spicier, crunchier, and packs that addictive Sichuan numbing kick.
Perfect for moms who need a little thrill — kahit sa ulam man lang. 😅
We love it on:
• tofu
• ramen
• dumplings
• fried egg + rice
• garlic noodles
And yes, I hide my jar because nauubos agad when daddydoodledoo discovers it.
4. Korean Gochujang Mayo
The amount of things Filipinos can dip into gochujang mayo is wild — fries, chicken, siomai, lumpia, fish fillet, anything fried.
It tastes like:
• spicy
• creamy
• smoky
• slightly sweet Korean goodness
At home, we use it for:
• chicken sandwiches
• quesadillas
• veggie wraps
• drizzling over air-fried liempo (YES!)
Twinkle calls it the “orange sauce,” and honestly, kahit ako addict.
5. Calamansi Soy Garlic “Everything Sauce”
This one feels very Pinoy — it’s like toyo-mansi evolved.
Viral because it works for:
• marinades
• dips
• stir-fry
• grilled meats
• noodles
• even as salad dressing
And every mom loves that it makes anything taste like you worked harder than you did. 😂
Last week, I used it to marinate chicken thighs before air frying — the kids thought it was take-out!
6. Chinese Savory Scallion Oil
Garlicky, oniony, super fragrant — parang instant lutong-bahay aroma.
We drizzle it on:
• plain rice (ganun ka-simple but so good!)
• steamed fish
• sotanghon
• fried tofu
• stir-fried kangkong
• pancit canton upgrades
The fragrance alone na bumabalot sa buong bahay?
Comfort food levels.
7. Quezon’s Best Coconut Sap Vinegar (Still a Favorite!)
Sawsawan supremacy.
It’s viral because it upgrades:
• fried chicken
• chicharon
• lumpiang togue
• bangus
• barbecue
Plus, it’s proudly Filipino and super budget-friendly.
Why These Condiments Are Going Viral (Mom Thoughts!)
Honestly? Life is BUSY.
And these condiments make weekday cooking faster, easier, and mas enjoyable.
As a mom:
• they save me during lazy days
• they turn leftovers into “new dishes”
• they make basic meals exciting
• they keep the kids interested
• they add flavor without adding effort
And syempre… mas masarap lagi ang kain! ✨
