If you stop in Carcar on the way to or from south Cebu, you will be asked to bring home chicharon. It is the city’s best known pasalubong, and it is still a working industry: in July 2026 the city tourism office told SunStar that Carcar’s chicharon trade was “keeping its momentum”, with orders coming in from trade fairs, expos and buyers across Cebu.
What Carcar chicharon is
Chicharon is deep-fried pork skin. Carcar’s is known for being fried a shade more golden than the pale kind sold elsewhere, and for its crunch (MarketManila). You will usually see two kinds:
- Plain, skin only. Light and very crisp.
- With laman, skin with a layer of meat still attached, often sold as “special”. Heavier, richer and more expensive.
Ask for a taste before you buy.
Where to buy it
The chicharon stalls are around the Carcar rotunda rather than inside the market (SunStar). Chicharon there comes packed in 1 kilo, half, quarter and eighth-kilo bags, and much of it is cooked in Barangay Guadalupe.
Many brands claim to be “the original”. Names you will see on the bags include Luis Original Special Crispy Chicharon, MATMAT, and Bar Din, which labels itself as making chicharon since the 1950s. SunStar also spoke in 2026 with the manager of a chicharon factory operating since the 1950s, which now imports pork skin with meat from Spain because local slaughterhouses cannot keep up.
What it costs
Special chicharon, the kind with meat, retailed at about ₱1,200 a kilo in July 2026, according to SunStar. Prices follow the price of pork, so compare a few stalls.
Ampao and bucarillo
Two sweets are sold at the same stalls:
- Ampao, puffed rice bound with sugar syrup into crunchy bars or squares.
- Bucarillo (also spelled bocarillo), strips of coconut meat cooked and dried in sugar.
Both are dry, sweet and easy to pack.
Shoes, the other Carcar speciality
Carcar has long been called the Shoe Capital of Cebu, but the trade is shrinking. SunStar reported in July 2026 that the city had five recorded footwear makers left, down from ten in 2025.
More Carcar food
For the other half of Carcar’s food reputation, read our Carcar lechon guide. For everything else to see and do, start with the complete guide to Carcar City.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I buy chicharon in Carcar?
At the stalls around the Carcar rotunda, where it comes in 1 kilo, half, quarter and eighth-kilo bags.
How much is Carcar chicharon?
Special chicharon, the kind with meat attached, retailed at about ₱1,200 a kilo in July 2026, according to SunStar.
What is the difference between plain and special chicharon?
Plain chicharon is skin only, light and very crisp. Special chicharon, or chicharon with laman, keeps a layer of meat on the skin and costs more.
What other pasalubong is Carcar known for?
Ampao, puffed rice bound with sugar syrup, and bucarillo, sugared strips of coconut. Both are sold at the same stalls as the chicharon.
Is Carcar still the Shoe Capital of Cebu?
It is still called that, but the trade is shrinking. SunStar reported five recorded footwear makers in July 2026, down from ten in 2025.
