10 Best Luncheon Meat in the Philippines 2024 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian

If you ask most Filipinos which luncheon meat they prefer, Spam will always be the runaway winner! Pinoys just love its saltier flavor profile! However, with more people now cutting down on their sodium intake, the original Spam has slowly been overtaken by its healthier version - Spam Lite. Spam Lite is perfect for people on a diet who still don't want to give up luncheon meat. 

You still get the signature Spam goodness, but this time, it has 50% less sodium, 50% less fat, and 33% fewer calories! It is also a standout due to its meaty taste from the mixture of pork, ham, and chicken. It comes with an easy-open can, so you can just pull the tab and pop it out. Slice it thinly and fry it to get that crispy texture we all love to indulge in. You may also pair it with pandesal or rice with a ketchup dip to have yourself a simple yet delicious meal!

Wanting to prepare Korean dishes, like Kimchi Fried Rice and Budae Jjigae? This might be the perfect luncheon meat to use as sahog for those creations! Coming from a well-loved brand in Korea, this luncheon meat has a soft yet firm enough texture not to be torn even when sliced thinly and fried.

It consists of pork mixed with wheat flour and soy protein. The spices and flavorings are a combination of Western and oriental flavors, resulting in a beautiful fusion of flavors. You can obviously taste the classic luncheon meat and subtle hints of the Chinese-style flavor.

While you can simply fry it in oil and butter to enjoy its mild taste, it's also perfect for incorporating into a wide range of dishes that require luncheon meat. With its pull-tab can, you can open it easily and prepare your meal with less effort!

Struggling to choose between luncheon meat and ham? Why choose when you can have both? Tulip's Jamonilla luncheon meat will satisfy your cravings for ham. It has a savory and meaty taste with a slight hint of sweetness coming from the ham. Its amount of salt per can is also decreased by 40%, so you can be assured that it is not too salty.

Tulip uses a high-quality pork mix with wheat starch and is seasoned with salt and sugar to enhance its mouthwatering flavor. Besides pairing it with rice, you can put it on your pizza as a topping or as a filling in clubhouse sandwiches. It comes with an easy-open can, too, so it's a great option for out-of-town or camping trips.

Ma Ling is a Chinese-style brand that many Pinoys grew up with. It is so popular that it has become a household name, with many people using "Ma Ling" to refer to luncheon meat in general. The brand disappeared for a while, but after a few years of hiatus, it came back with a healthier option that still bears the familiar orange and blue label.

This product is now made with chicken instead of pork, avoiding the setbacks the brand experienced during the outbreak of the African swine flu that affected their production. Now, Ma Ling luncheon meat is safely and happily back on the market, offering a healthier meat alternative with fewer calories and fats but still with that trademark taste we all love.

Purefoods is another trusted local brand of canned goods. It offers luncheon meat that tastes delicious and almost identical to the famous imported brands we know, but at a relatively more budget-friendly price. Plus, it is stuffed with cheese bits to enhance the overall flavor.

It's a hit among kids and adults alike because its spices and seasonings do not overpower the meaty flavor, and the texture is quite firm and siksik. And because it is moist and juicy, you can take it along as baon with no worries of the meat drying out.

This luncheon meat is perfect for fried rice or sandwiches. It's also great to add to omelets and frittatas because it has just the right amount of saltiness. Should you want to alternate it for baon, the brand also offers other flavors, like Chinese-style and classic ones.

Pinoys' love for spicy food is undeniable. So for those who are craving something a little more spicy for their morning breakfast or rainy day ulam, look no further than this luncheon meat by Delimondo! Unlike usual luncheon meats with rather mild, salty, or smoky flavors, this one packs some spice in every bite. 

It is made using a select blend of quality meats seasoned with chili and spices, perfect for those who love spicy food! Its palate-exciting flavor is also excellent to pair with usually bland food - you can toast it alongside some bread or eat it with a cup of hot rice. You can also dice and toss it on your bowl of spicy noodles for an extra kick!

The Spam brand never runs out of product innovations! Thus, if you feel like exploring new flavors, give this one a try. Spam Hickory Smoke has a bold taste to excite your adventurous taste buds. Besides the Spam Classic's ingredients, it also has infused spices and seasonings of hickory-smoked barbecue to make the flavor a standout.

The savory flavor is the perfect complement to a piping hot serving of rice, whether it's sinaing or sinangag. But if you're in a more festive mood, you can dice it into bigger cubes, skewer it on a barbecue stick in-between a hotdog and a jumbo marshmallow, and roast it over a flame. It's perfect for that campfire feeling, even if you're just stuck at home! 

CDO is a popular brand in the Philippines, offering a wide variety of canned goods at an affordable price, like this luncheon meat. Unlike most luncheon meats in the local market, this one does not use pork. Instead, it is made with real beef, and you can even see that it contains bits of hashed beef.

As a result, it gives off a juicier texture and taste. It is also meaty and savory, so you'll love to pair it with some bread or sunny-side-up eggs for breakfast. Another great thing about it is its price. This 350-gram can, although very affordable, can produce 4 to 5 servings, perfect for the whole family!

Going vegan or just exploring a healthy diet? Either way, this meatless luncheon meat from Omnifoods is worth checking out. This GMO-free, plant-based version is a much healthier alternative to regular luncheon meat. The mixture of peas, soy protein, shiitake mushroom, and rice replaces the meat, perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and weight-watchers.

It uses the typical luncheon meat spices and flavorings except for MSG. It is also free of potentially harmful preservatives. The texture is a bit less firm than its meat counterparts, but it won't matter because it tastes like the real thing. Another plus is the quick cooking time; just pan-fry both sides for 1 to 2 minutes, and you're good to go!

Another Pinoy brand on the list, La Filipina, is quite an innovator with its canned meats. By infusing flavors that will suit the Filipino palate, they offer products that are a hit with many customers. Their signature luncheon meat contains a lump of real pork meat without artificial flavor. But what makes this luncheon unique is the addition of milk. 

Here's a fun fact—milk is a natural flavor enhancer of meats. With this in mind, you can expect a unique linamnam and creamier texture from this luncheon meat.  And if you're in the mood for more interesting flavors, you can also try La Filipina's other luncheon meat variants, such as longganisa and barbecue.