Noodles & Rice

Pancit Malabon

Cooking 30 mins Prep 40 mins Serves 8
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Pancit Malabon

Pancit Malabon: Thick Noodles with Seafood Sauce

Pancit Malabon uses thick rice noodles with a thick, golden seafood sauce, topped with squid, shrimp, boiled eggs and chicharon. It is richer than palabok and made for celebrations.

About Pancit Malabon

Pancit Malabon uses thick rice noodles with a golden seafood sauce, topped with squid, shrimp, eggs and chicharon. It is richer than palabok and made for celebrations. The dish is named after Malabon, a city near Manila.

Pancit Malabon is a showpiece noodle dish named after the city of Malabon in Metro Manila. The thick noodles are covered with a golden seafood sauce and a generous heap of toppings. It is a party dish and a common request at birthdays.

Ingredient notes

  • Thick rice noodles: hold up to the heavy sauce.
  • Shrimp and squid: the seafood.
  • Annatto oil: gives the golden color.
  • Eggs and chicharon: classic toppings.

Tips for the best Pancit Malabon

  1. Cook the noodles al dente. They continue to soften.
  2. Make the sauce thick. To coat.
  3. Add seafood late. To keep it tender.
  4. Top generously. It is a festive dish.

What to serve with Pancit Malabon

Serve at celebrations with calamansi.

Variations and substitutions

Storing and reheating

Best fresh. Refrigerate leftovers for 2 days; the noodles firm up but soften when reheated.

Frequently asked questions

How is it different from palabok?

Thicker noodles and a thicker sauce.

Where is Malabon?

A city in Metro Manila.

Can I use palabok noodles?

Thinner noodles can be used but will absorb sauce faster.

How do I keep the noodles from sticking?

Toss them with a little oil after draining.

More Filipino recipes you might like

Champorado, Pancit Palabok and Lugaw.

Ingredients

8 servings
  • Thick rice noodle500 g
  • Shrimppeeled, shells reserved250 g
  • Squidsliced into rings200 g
  • Annatto oil3 tbsp
  • Garlicminced5 cloves
  • Water960 ml
  • Rice flour80 ml
  • Fish sauce3 tbsp
  • Hard-boiled eggquartered4
  • Pork rind (chicharon)crushed240 ml
  • Green onionsliced4
  • Calamansihalved8

Instructions

  1. 1

    Make a stock by simmering the shrimp shells in the water for 10 minutes, then strain.

    medium heat ~10 mins
  2. 2

    Cook the noodles until tender, drain and toss with a spoonful of oil.

    medium heat ~8 mins
  3. 3

    Sauté the garlic in the annatto oil and add the stock and fish sauce.

    medium heat ~3 mins
  4. 4

    Whisk the rice flour with water, stir it in and simmer until thick, then add the shrimp and squid and cook until just done.

    medium heat ~6 mins
  5. 5

    Mix the sauce into the noodles and top with eggs, chicharon and green onions.

    ~3 mins

Notes

  1. 1. Squid

    Add the squid at the end so it stays tender.

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Photo: Pancit Malabon, Sep 2025.jpg by Ralff Nestor Nacor via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.