Top 10 best Christmas hams in Manila to try this season

This trusted name has been around since 1972 and their original store in Quiapo is notorious for its long lines days before Christmas Eve. Chinese-style hams are known to be more on the salty side, but Excelente prides itself on being on the right side of salty and sweet, plus the most tender and moist meat. Recent events call for smaller gatherings making the smaller boneless cooked hams more popular.

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For those seeking a truly premium festive experience, The Plaza Ham delivers indulgence in every slice. Its succulent, deeply flavoured meat evokes both nostalgia and celebration. Often paired with speciality sauces such as Gutsy Garlic, it is a dish that many have grown up with, a meal passed down through generations. Its long-standing reputation as a heart-warming holiday staple remains untarnished.

When Vincente and Adelina Uy started selling their Chinese ham in Mandaluyong more than seventy years ago, it was merely to set their grocery apart from the other stores along the busy commercial street. To their fans who grew up with the brand, they swear that Adelina’s honey-cured hams have maintained their quality over the years, which explains why this continues to be a lucrative business for this generation of Uys. With its homegrown appeal and festive nostalgia, Adelina’s melt-in-your-mouth boneless ham offers approachable indulgence for diners this holiday season. 

Wildflour’s Christmas hams combine artisanal attention to detail with a playful, contemporary flair. Praised for its deep flavour and masterful balance of taste and texture, these hams are ideal for gifting or smaller festive gatherings. Their ham kit comes with a delightful pineapple jam, honey mustard and even Hokkaido milk buns. Complemented by the bakery-café’s fresh breads and cheeses, Wildflour hams have cultivated a devoted following of food enthusiasts who crave something both refined and approachable.

Home-based seller China Mommy delivers hams with rustic charm and a keen attention to detail that consistently produces flavourful results. She found social-media fame, and her brand grew popular as the days went by due to her soul-soothing Filipino-Chinese creations. Linda Co insisted it would be a disservice to her fans not to offer her boneless hams during the holidays, and thankfully so. During the Christmas season, she makes 1 kg succulent ham with a sweet, spiced pineapple sauce on the side. Plump and juicy, they are ideal for foodies seeking authentic, lovingly prepared festive fare that feels homemade.

Classic chef Cecille Aurelio’s hams are loved not only for their flavour but for how they make eating well so easy too. Patrons cherish the tradition of gifting these juicy hams each festive season and look forward to each sweet, succulent slice. Perfect for those who appreciate a meaty bite with a sweet, fruity touch. You can enjoy their hams as an order of sliced ham, set of sandwiches, or ham and soft roll sets. 

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Cocina Murriel specialises in small-batch fleshy hams crafted with care and festive fun. Its rich, savoury flavour and carefully concocted glazes make each ham a statement piece for the festive table. Their heirloom smoked hams are loved by connoisseurs and those seeking boutique indulgence. Each ham is smoked and cured to illicit complex notes in each bite. 

Since 1956, Majestic Ham has been a Noche Buena staple in countless Filipino home. Bone-in hams are oak-barrel cured for months, smoked with aromatic woods, then slow-cooked with star anise, bay leaves, and sugar before a final sweet glaze. Generations of families swear by its tender, richly flavoured slices, making it a celebrated centrepiece for festive tables. You can also opt to buy hams in a range of serving styles: from bits, to skin only, chunks, whole legs or even just the bone. 

Created by journalist, chef, and restaurateur Angelo Comsti, Gelo’s Christmas Ham is sold at The Market deli in Salcedo Village, Makati. Departing from traditional leg cuts, he uses pork shoulder for a lean yet juicy finish. Inspired by Filipino hamon Bulakenya, the ham is slow-cooked with pineapple juice and beer, delivering a sweet-savoury profile perfect for the modern festive table.

From iconic popular favourites to boutique artisanal treasures, Manila’s Christmas hams offer something for every palate and occasion. Each brand brings its own story, flavour, and festive charm, proving that the humble ham remains the undisputed centrepiece of Filipino holiday celebrations. 

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