What is the Filipino street food deep-fried quail eggs called?

The Filipino street food made from deep-fried quail eggs is called kwek kwek. The eggs are hard-boiled, coated in a bright orange batter, and fried until crisp.

Kwek kwek is a popular Filipino snack sold by street vendors, often alongside fish balls, squid balls, and kikiam. The orange color usually comes from annatto, a natural coloring and flavoring ingredient. Vendors commonly serve the eggs with sweet sauce or a tangy vinegar dip.

A common mix-up is tokneneng, a closely related snack made with battered chicken or duck eggs. Kwek kwek specifically uses smaller quail eggs, while tokneneng traditionally uses larger eggs. The two names are sometimes used loosely, but the quail-egg distinction makes kwek kwek the best answer here.

The snack is typically eaten on a skewer or with a small pick, making it especially convenient as quick street food.