BonChon Chicken

19 December 2010

Long Overdue BonChon post.


Counter


Rush Hour


Though Chicken Charlie started the twice-fried chicken phenomenon here in Manila, BonChon pioneered it first, well, in Korea and Singapore (4 Fingers).

I got to sample 'bonchon' style chicken in Chicken Charlie way back August of last year in their Retiro branch, and this gave me the idea what to expect in the BonChon franchise in the Triangle. I must say that Chicken Charlie did a good job in their version of twice-fried chicken texture-wise; and having sauces (soy-garlic and sweet-spicy) at par with the original. The only difference is that BonChon prices are way steep compared to CC's.



6 pieces drumsticks and 8 pieces wings


First we ordered 6 pieces drumsticks and 8 pieces wings, both half & half (soy-garlic/sweet spicy), a cup of long-cut fries (P50, i think)



Fries


and a small order of pickled raddish (P45). It took around 30 to 45 minutes before we got to eat, not to mention the long waiting time before we got the chance to find a seat (it was a sunday night, christmas season).



Drums


Wings


I got the drumstick first, took a bite and woah, it was like Chicken Charlie's. I was on my 4th piece of wing, and suddenly I realized the difference between the two; it was the meat. I noticed that BonChon's meat was not as tasty as CC's, meaning, the flavor of BonChon's did not seep in.





Yes, BC's was moist, juicy and tender, but the flavor didn't penetrate the meat itself. In Chicken Charlie, the meat was tasty and flavorful, in addition to its being moist tender and juicy. Yeah, BC's was great but personally, I prefer Charlie's.

Service-wise, i find the staff of BC inefficient, even the manager. The cashiers have attitudes too. Don't think that being an employee of a 'hot' franchise gives you the right to disregard costumers waiting for seats who haven't bought yet.

Ps. In addition to the orders above (6 pieces drumstick and 8 pieces wings, long-cut fries and pickled raddish), we had an additional order of 6 pieces of drumsticks





and yes, we were only 3 at that time (3 hungry adults). Talk about gluttony :)






BonChon Chicken
Ayala Triangle Gardens
Ayala Avenue, Makati
(63 2) 621-6188

Dirty Ice Cream

1SGD ice cream along orchard road.

Will Travel For Food: Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 (Tampines)

23-28 October 10

Din Tai Fung in Tampines Mall which was near my sister's place. Along with my mom and sister, we ate there again before leaving for Manila. I left SG earlier than expected, around 18 hours earlier (new flight schedule was 0010hrs) compared to the flight I originally booked. So I traveled alone, again. What's new? I'm so used to being alone. Haha. My mom followed the next day.







Preparing the XLB's



Basically, we ordered the same dishes as the last time. Like this Spicy Beef La Mien. It was so good not to order it again.


We tried this dish since my sister wanted to eat rice. I'm thinking that this was the pork chop with yang chow rice.



Two kinds of filling in the XLB. I forgot what. haha.




Xiao Long Bao soup-y goodness! :)


Din Tai Fung, i'll visit you in HK!




Din Tai Fung
Tampines Central
5 #02-01/31, Tampines Mall
+65 6787 0998
Mon-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 10am - 10pm

Will Travel For Food: Tampines Mall Food Finds

23-28 Oct 10

Food Finds in Tampines Mall



Xiao Bar Wang Taiwanese Street Food Snacks selling my favorite



Spicy Chicken Chop




Each A Cup - just like our local Zagu chain, but way better; more popular than Happy Lemon. There's so much flavored drinks to choose from.



Peach Yogurt Smoothie with Tapioca balls

Will Travel For Food: Chinatown Food Street, Food Republic

23- 28 Oct 10


in Chinatown Food Street





Oyster Omelette


Chicken Satay served with satay-peanut sauce (0.60SGD per stick)

in Food Republic, Vivo

Prawn Mee Laksa


*Edit: Hokkien Prawn Mee


Oyster Omelette

in Food Opera

Beef (Char) Kway Teow (stir-fried ricecake strips)


Chicken Masala with Basmati Rice


Chicken Satay (again)



that's a lot of food consumed in a day (by two people) :D

Will Travel For Food: Happy Lemon, Fatty Weng, Makansutra Gluttons Bay

23- 28 October

Halo -Halong food finds in ION: Happy Lemon, Fatty Weng

and at long last, i found Makansutra Glutton's Bay! I wasn't able to find it the first time I was there.

Green Tea Rock Salt Cheese!!!
The second best drink, next to Butterfinger ice cream shake in Johnny Rockets.


FYI: There's Happy Lemon na in Promenade GH.





Rock Salt Cheese Green Tea drink in HL


Fatty Weng in Food Opera


Black Carrot Cake (4 SGD)



Makansutra Gluttons Bay near Esplanade Mall/ Theatres-at-the-bay



The famous Boon Tat Street in Makan. They're famous for their grilled Manta Ray :)



the tables




Happy Lemon
B4-35 Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn

Fatty Weng
B4-03/04 Food Opera Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn

Makansutra Gluttons Bay
1 Esplanade Dr
SG 079001
6336 7025
Subway: Esplanade
Open Daily 6pm-3am

Will Travel For Food: Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 (Wisma Atria)

23 -28 October 2010

Din Tai Fung lunch on our 3rd day in SG. This branch is in Wisma Atria along Orchard Road (Orchard Turn).

Since Crystal Jade opened its doors to the public in October, people have been flocking the place thus reducing our chances to eat their "famous" xiao long bao before leaving for SG.

Having recently tasted Crystal Jade's XLB, it was a big disappointment. Sorry Crystal Jade, you should remove 'Xiao Long Bao' from your restaurant name since you DO NOT DELIVER. (Cyrstal Jade Restaurant Review to follow). You can't match the Xiao Long Bao of Din Tai Fung.

The XLB in DTF is superbly delicious. The skin was soft but not easily ruptured. The soup inside was steaming hot and was adequate for the meat that came with it. The pieces were evenly spaced on the dimsum rack to allow proper distribution of heat within the compartment (unlike in CJ where the dimsum rack is small for 5 pieces).









5 evenly spaced pieces of xia long bao in a dimsum rack



Juicy and piping hot piece Xia Long Bao doused in 70% Black Vinegar and 30% Light Soy Sauce with ginger strips.



Shrimp Dumplings


Spicy Beef La Mien

For the La Mien, the Spicy Beef Noodles was the best spicy beef noodle dish I've ever devoured. The noodles were fresh and the broth was aromatic. There were plenty of succulent tender chunks of beef in the dish, and in addition, they almost melted in my mouth, telling me that it was delicately slow-cooked. I can't explain further, but what I know is that it was heavenly. The price was quite steep, pegged at 10SGD, but it was worth it.



Din Tai Fung Menu



Because it was so good, we ate there for the second time before departing SG :)

Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐
435 Orchard Road
#02-48/53, Wisma Atria
+65 6732 1383
Mon-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 10am - 10pm