Bicol Express

Bicol Express, known natively in Bikol as sinilihan, is a popular Filipino dish which was popularized in the district of Malate, Manila but made in traditional Bicolano style. It is a stew made from long chilies, coconut milk, shrimp paste or stockfish, onion, pork, and garlic. It is said to have been inspired by the fiery Bicolano dish gulay na may lada, which is nowadays presented as one of the many variants of Bicol Express.

Bicol Express was named after the passenger train service from Manila to the Bicol region, a region in the Philippines famous for its spicy cuisine.

Bicol Express is a spicy food made of pork, chillies, coconut milk, shrimp paste, onion and garlic. The dish was believed to be coined by Cely Kalaw, a native of Laguna. It is easy and quick to make. Bicolanos love to eat and cook, they often use coconut milk for their dishes, a famous product in the region.