LIST: Coolest Halo-Halo Upgrades for When the Philippines Feels Like an Oven

(SPOT.ph) No Filipino summer is complete without the quintessential halo-halo. More than just a way to beat the scorching heat, it’s somewhat a game of mixing the ice with all the sahog, then digging around for the treasure that are the ube and leche flan... unless, of course, you already ate the flan before mixing.

There's nothing wrong with keeping it classic and straightforward—but halo-halo's format leaves a lot of room to get creative with it. Restaurants and food spots continue to elevate it, adding playful twists that keep halo-halo exciting while still keeping its soul and keeping us cool.

Halo-halo just got an exciting upgrade as Conti’s introduces not one, but three new flavors to try. And all items in the lineup are made with cool, velvety milk snow, like Korean bingsu.

The Ube Custard Snow is made with real ube halaya and leche flan layered with classic halo-halo toppings and creamy ube sauce. With the Mango Sago Snow, you get to enjoy the distinct sweetness of mangoes combined with tapioca pearls, caramel sauce, and mango milk sauce. Conti’s has also transformed their famous Pistachio Crunch cake into a halo-halo, featuring butter cookie crust, crunchy pistachio kataifi, chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream, and their signature pistachio sauce.

Oh, to relive those carefree, youthful summer days once more! Bebang is doing us a favor by bringing a sweet throwback, reimagining the well-loved iskrambol as a fun new flavor twist to their halo-halo. Go ahead and treat yourself to a cup of pure nostalgia with the Halo-Halo Iskrambol (P228)!

After decades of staying true to its iconic trio of leche flan, macapuno, and caramelized bananas, Razon’s of Guagua decided to shake things up a bit last year with the introduction of an ube-centered take on its famous dessert. The Ube Halo-Halo still features its signature finely shaved ice and delicate strips of macapuno, but in this version, the vibrant purple hue of ube takes center stage. 

The Filipino restaurant is upping its halo-halo game by introducing the irresistible cinnamon-y caramel crunch of Biscoff to its icy creations. It’s a must-try if you can’t get enough of the popular Belgian biscuit. Kuya J’s new summer treats come in three flavors: Majalo Halo, Mango Halo, and Avohalo Halo, which you can get for only P189 each. 

Half Saints has added halo-halo to its menu, putting its own creative spin on the classic Filipino dessert. Although available only for a limited time, its halo-halo creations are sure to delight dessert lovers. Imagine being able to choose your own mix of fresh fruits—mango, kiwi, dragonfruit, strawberry, and more—and have them combined with ube halaya, chewy sago, soft mochi, finely shaved ice, and Half Saints’ signature coconut tres leches foam. Aside from the Signature Halo-Halo, you can also try their Ube Cheesecake and Banana Con Hielo halo-halo flavors. 

Nothing says tropical indulgence quite like the combination of creamy coconut and sweet mango in halo-halo. Chowking is offering this fruit-forward summer treat for a limited time, so make sure to grab a serving of Coco Mango Halo-Halo (price starts at P79) before May 31 to experience this refreshing dessert.

Every spoonful of Mang Inasal’s new dessert offering is as refreshing as its colorful presentation. The Strawberry Cheesecake Halo-Halo (price starts at P90) brings together the fruity brightness of strawberry and the rich indulgence of cheesecake, topped with grated cheese and Biscoff cookie crumbs. This berry creamy goodness is available only until June 15.