Pancit Bato Guisado: A Must-Try Filipino Noodle Dish

A few minutes’ drive away from the town of Nabua, where we stayed for a few days back in July 2022, is the town of Bato, famous for a Filipino (specifically Bicolano) noodle dish called Pancit Bato Guisado.

At first glance, one could easily mistake this dish for a Pancit Canton, another Filipino noodle dish commonly served in other parts of Luzon.

And like the Pancit Canton, Pancit Bato Guisado is a mix of onion, garlic, and pepper; soy sauce and fish sauce; vegetables; shrimp and pork meat—all sautéed in chicken broth to create a savory noodle dish.

But what makes Pancit Bato Guisado stand out from other Filipino noodle dish is its smokier and saltier taste. Its unique textured noodle called Pancit Bato is said to be better at absorbing all the flavors of its ingredients, making Pancit Bato Guisado a more savory noodle dish than the rest.

Pancit Bato Guisado was highly recommended by my relatives who resided in Bicol region for years. I myself liked its taste though it has a stronger flavor compared with other Filipino noodle dishes I’ve tried in the past. My parents bought several packs of Pancit Bato home– a few for our cooking and a few as pasalubong to our other relatives and friends.