Palabok Fiesta Manila Encamp Andorra – In Filipino cuisine, pancit are noodles and the dishes made from them, usually made with rice noodles

Palabok Fiesta Manila Encamp Andorra – In Filipino cuisine, pancit are noodles and the dishes made from them, usually made with rice noodles. Noodles were introduced into the Philippines by Chinese immigrants in the archipelago, and over the centuries have been fully adopted into local cuisine, of which there are now numerous variants and types. The term pancit (less commonly spelled pansit) is derived from the Hokkien pian i sit (Chinese: 便宜食; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: piān-ê-si̍t or Chinese: 便食; pinyin: biàn shí) which literally means «convenient food». Different kinds of noodles can be found in Filipino supermarkets which can then be cooked at home. Noodle dishes are also standard fare in local restaurants. Food establishments specializing in noodles are often referred to as panciterias.

Nancy Reyes Lumen of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism writes that according to food lore handed down from Chinese Filipinos, noodles should be eaten on one’s birthday. They are therefore commonly served at birthday celebrations and Chinese restaurants in the Philippines often have «birthday noodles» listed on their menus. However, she warns that since «noodles represent long life and good health», they must not be cut, as that would «corrupt the symbolism.»