{{Short description|Filipino noodle soup dish}} {{Not to be confused with|cháo lòng}} {{Infobox food | name = Chao long | alternate_name = Filipino chao long | image = Chao long.jpg | country = Philippines | region = Puerto Princesa, Palawan | creator = Vietnamese refugees | course = Main dish | served = Hot | main_ingredient = Rice noodles, beef broth, braised beef, banana ketchup, bean sprouts, calamansi }}
'''Chao long''' is a Filipino noodle soup dish originating in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines.<ref name="h352">{{cite web |last=Escalona |first=Katrina |date=2019-12-19 |title=The Importance Of Chao Long In Palawan |url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/the-importance-of-chao-long-in-palawan |access-date=2026-01-04 |website=Culture Trip}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Raymund |date=2021-06-02 |title=Chao Long |url=http://www.angsarap.net/2021/06/02/chao-long/ |access-date=2026-01-04 |website=Ang Sarap (A Tagalog word for "It's Delicious") |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Harding |first=Paul |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Lonely_Planet_Philippines/Uo2cEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=chao+long+filipino&pg=PT703&printsec=frontcover |title=Lonely Planet Philippines |date=2022 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-83869-653-5 |language=en}}</ref> It is a localized adaptation of Vietnamese noodle soups introduced by Vietnamese refugees in the late 1970s.<ref name="h352" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tunac|first=Joy Hermes |date=2024-01-04 |title=What is Chao Long and why is Vietnamese food so popular in Palawan? |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/food/893084/what-is-chao-long-and-why-vietnamese-food-so-popular-in-palawan/story/ |access-date=2026-01-04 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lipman |first=Jana K. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/In_Camps/nEzcDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=chao+long+filipino&pg=PA230&printsec=frontcover |title=In Camps: Vietnamese Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Repatriates |date=2020-06-02 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-97506-4 |language=en}}</ref> Over time, the dish evolved into a distinct regional specialty, differing in flavor, ingredients, and preparation from its Vietnamese counterparts.<ref name="h352" /><ref name=":1" />
== History == Chao long in the Philippines traces its origins to the arrival of Vietnamese refugees following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.<ref name="h352" /> In 1979, the Philippine government established a Vietnamese refugee camp in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, which housed thousands of displaced people.<ref name="h352" /> Along with their customs and traditions, the refugees introduced elements of Vietnamese cuisine to the local population.<ref name="h352" /><ref name=":0" />
The term ''chao long'' originally referred to cháo lòng, a Vietnamese rice porridge dish containing pork offal and congealed blood.<ref name="h352" /><ref name=":1" /> Vietnamese-owned eateries serving this porridge and other foods became known locally as ''chalongan'' (places where chao long was served).<ref name=":0" /> Over time, the name came to be associated with a noodle soup dish derived from Vietnamese pho, which gradually adapted to Filipino tastes and ingredients.<ref name="h352" /><ref name=":1" />
== Description == Filipino chao long is a beef-based noodle soup served with rice noodles, braised beef, and a richly flavored broth.<ref name=":0" /> Unlike traditional Vietnamese pho, the Filipino version is known for its slightly sweet, savory profile and darker, reddish broth.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The dish is typically garnished with bean sprouts, chopped onions, and fresh herbs, and is served with calamansi on the side rather than lime.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Preparation == Preparation methods vary by household and restaurant, but generally involve simmering beef bones to create a rich broth.<ref name=":0" /> Braised beef is cooked separately and later added to the soup.<ref name=":0" /> Banana ketchup and tomato paste are incorporated into the broth, giving it a distinctive Filipino flavor profile.<ref name=":0" /> Cooked rice noodles are placed in a bowl and topped with beef and hot broth, then finished with fresh garnishes.<ref name=":0" />
== See also == * Pho
== References == {{reflist}} {{Philippine cuisine}} Category:Noodle soups