Angeles City, Pampanga named Asia’s best emerging culinary destination in 2024

Angeles City, Pampanga was recognized as Asia’s Best Emerging Culinary City Destination at the World Culinary Awards Gala Ceremony 2024, marking its first award in the prestigious category.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Luzon Regional Director Richard Daenos received the award during the ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 3 in Dubai, UAE.  

Angeles City bested other famous food spots in Asia, such as Hanoi, Vietnam; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Taipei, Taiwan; and Kyoto, Japan. 

"This prestigious recognition of Angeles City as Asia's Best Emerging Culinary City Destination underscores the exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication of its local chefs and food artisans,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.  

“The city’s rich culinary heritage, led by its iconic dishes like sisig, continues to captivate food enthusiasts not only in the Philippines but across the world, showcasing the power of Filipino cuisine on the global stage," she continued. 

Dubbed as the “culinary capital of the Philippines,” Pampanga, specifically Angeles City, boasts its famous sisig, tokwa’t baboy, and bibingka, among others. They have an annual Sisig Festival, or the Sadsaran Qng Angeles which is celebrated every December. 

The DOT also lauded the region's efforts in boosting its food tourism, such as conducting conferences, cook-offs, food mapping, and culinary familiarization tours. 

The World Culinary Awards, a sister event to the World Travel Awards, recognizes and rewards excellence in the culinary industry following a year-long search for the world’s leading culinary brands.