BonChon: A Chicken That's Hard to Resist

How can you make chicken irresistible? Simple. You just have to make it worth eating. And when you say that you have to make a chicken worth eating, it has to offer something new to the Filipino taste buds. It has to be uniquely exciting, especially for food lovers like us. So, have you ever heard of chicken that's twice fried? You might actually doubt the process, thinking that the chicken might get overcooked. Well, to tell you honestly, it's not. In fact, it actually makes the chicken healthier to eat, without cutting on the flavor. This is actually what Koreans do to their chicken.

Korean fried chicken is already becoming a big hit, not only in Korea, but in other parts of the globe as well. In the United States, for example, Korean fried chicken was actually voted the best chicken. Then came the success of the famous BonChon Chicken. Fortunately for us, we don't have to fly all the way to Korea or to the United States to taste this delectable dish. BonChon Chicken already has 2 branches here in the Philippines, and both are in Makati. We actually visited their Greenbelt branch to have a go at the delicious chicken people have been raving about. You might mistake BonChon Chicken for the oh-so-delicious Buffalo chicken wings, but they actually differ at some point. BonChon Chicken, like what we've said earlier, is twice fried chicken. The first fry is the frying process which removes the fat and makes the skin really crispy, while the second fry comes with the secret sauce. The result? Delicious Korean chicken wings that has less grease wrapped in a flavorful and crispy skin that you thought you could only find at Jollibee. BonChon chicken comes in two sauces, soy garlic and hot and spicy. As for the chicken part, they have chicken wings and drumsticks. Regardless which of the two sauces or which of the two chicken parts you choose, we guarantee that it will be very delicious. You may opt for the soy garlic sauce if you're not up for the spicy flavor of the hot and spicy sauce.

Jus & Jerry's: Yummy Chinese Food Need Not Be Expensive

Chinese food is a very common cuisine in the Metro. If you haven't tried a bite at the yummy and flavorful Chinese dimsum, a plate of the delectable Yang Chow fried rice, or even a bowl of the delicious and hot congee, then believe us, you're missing a lot in life. The Pinoy culture has actually embraced the presence of Chinese cuisine. What's great about it is that every dish is always packed with flavors. Chinese people really know how to maximize the use of every ingredient, and they mix these ingredients with excellent cooking techniques. Nowadays, Chinese food can be bought almost anywhere. You can always find a Chinese food chain or a Chinese food cart or stall near your location. The only problem with these stalls and carts is that they're not authentic Chinese food. They might be the same siomai or chicken noodles, but they're not exactly the same as the Chinese would prepare them. If you decide to go to an authentic Chinese restaurant, you'll probably be charged by the hundreds. This dilemma gave us the urge to find a unique Chinese food place that offers dishes that are close to the authentic Chinese food and are affordable at the same time.

Of course, when you talk of Chinese food, or anything Chinese for that matter, Binondo would instantly pop-up in your mind. Chinatown is without a doubt THE place for authentic Chinese products. The food place we found, however, was not at Binondo, but near it. It's just actually within the UST area. The name of the food place is Jus & Jerry's Gourmet Chinese Food. It's named after the owners, Jus and Jerry (It's pronunced Jus, as in Justin...at least that's what we realized hahaha At first we thought it was Jus, as in juice hahaha How should we know, right? hahaha). They've been serving delicious food to hungry customers within the UST area for quite some time now. The place is just small, and from afar it doesn't resemble a Chinese food place. But, the food they have is pretty much the one you should keep coming back for. It may not be the authentic Chinese food, but it's close enough. Jus & Jerry's also offers variety, serving not just Chinese food but other dishes as well, such as all-time Filipino favorites and sandwiches.

Time To Get Buffaloed!!!

There are a lot of restaurants or food places in Metro Manila that serve Buffalo chicken wings. But, it is rare that these food places get the authentic and delicious Buffalo, New York taste. Sometimes, these restaurants alter the taste of the chicken wings by adding a bit of Filipino taste. Of course, the original is still the best. So, it's a must that you get to taste authentic Buffalo chicken wings. If you're asking us where you could get a taste of the delicious chicken wings we're talking about, you could find it at a food place in Ortigas.

Ortigas Home Depot is actually a hardware store located at Ortigas. But, the place is much more than it is called. In this place you can also find many restaurants and bars that serve delicious food and great drinks. The place is flocked by people especially during the night because most of the food shops here are 'inuman' places. The place offers a wide array of delicious cuisines, including Mexican, Filipino, Persian, and many others. It is also in this place where you can find the best tasting Buffalo chicken wings in Ortigas, Buffalo's Wings N' Things.

The place is just simple. Not very much effort is put into the ambiance of the place. There are some posts on the wall that will give you the American restaurant feel, such as Buffalo signs and photos of New York's famous landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. The place is more of a place where you and your friends can have good times while drinking beer, rather than a place where you can get comfy and have satisfying food. The food here is great, though, despite the lack in the ambiance.

We came there during the afternoon so there weren't a lot of people yet, so it wasn't surprising that there was only one waitress at that time. She wasn't that accommodating, but she was attentive and was just there when we wanted something. The service was a bit fast. We really didn't have to wait that long for our orders to be served. Besides, there's a television inside the food place, so you can watch TV while waiting for your food.

Your Buffalo's Wings N' Things experience wouldn't be complete without ordering their famous Buffalo wings. You can customize the sauce of your Buffalo wings depending on how spicy you want it to be. Signature sauces include The Rookie (least spicy), New York's Finest (average spicy), and Firehouse Classic (really spicy). But, if you want very spicy chicken wings, you may opt for their super spicy sauces, the Nuclear and the Armageddon. If you're not the spicy type of fellow, they have non-spicy sauces for your chicken wings, the Garlic Parmesan and the Honey Barbecue. Aside from the chicken wings, they also have other American meals and snacks like burgers, hot dog sandwiches, and burritos. They also have the Fan Faves, wherein every order is already is a complete meal. Each meal already consists of a glass of iced tea, and fries or rice, depending on the meal. 

This was what we ordered at Buffalo's Wings N' Things:

Fan Fave A - 1/2 Pound Wings (Sauce - New York's Finest), NY Dirty Rice, Glass of Iced Tea, 199 php (Add Fries, 29 php; Add Bleu Cheese or Buffalo Ranch Dip, 29 php)


Glutton Guy: I chose the New York's Finest sauce because I wanted my chicken wings to be spicy, but not too much. The chicken was delicious. It was soft and the size was okay. The sauce was not as spicy as I was expecting, though. If I knew that it wasn't going to be that spicy, I should have taken it up a notch. There was a hint of spiciness from the chicken and a bit of sour taste. It's best with the Buffalo Ranch Dip. The rice was okay. It had a different flavor and a different texture. I liked the balance of the flavors of the rice and the chicken wings. The iced tea was a bit small, though. I drink a lot when I eat, so the glass of iced tea on their Fan Faves wasn't enough for me. Presentation wise, it was just okay. It was served just like in an ordinary food place. The iced tea was placed in a plastic cup, the chicken and rice in a plastic basket like the ones used by Jollibee on their Chickenjoy before. Summing it all up, it was an okay meal for me. In my opinion, it would be better if the chicken wings were really spicy and the glass of iced tea was a bit larger. : )

Glutton Girl: I'm a big fan of Buffalo chicken wings, so I was really excited to taste Buffalo's Wings N' Things' food. I bought the Fan Fave A with a New York's Finest sauce. I really liked the chicken. It's chewy and delicious. It's best eaten with bare hands. I like the mixture of the flavors in the chicken sauce. The level of spiciness was okay with me. It's not that spicy, but it's not that normal. The spiciness gave the chicken a zing when it came to the flavors. The NY Dirty rice was also delicious. I would have preferred a different flavored rice, but it's a lot better as compared to plain rice. The flavor was different but it was delicious in it's own way. I was getting a bit of crunchiness from the rice. The drink was just okay. I didn't like the fact that it was served in a plastic cup, though. For me, it should have been served in a much better type of glass. Nevertheless, it was a very satisfying meal for me at Buffalo's. I finally got what I wanted, a delicious and authentic Buffalo wings.

Just because they're called New York Buffalo wings doesn't mean they can only be found in Buffalo, New York. When you want the authentic and delicious Buffalo wings, then head over to Buffalo's Wings N' Things at the Ortigas Home Depot. Not only do they serve delicious chicken wings, they also serve delicious American meals that you'll surely love and crave for. When you want your chicken to be spicy, crispy, delicious, and satisfying, then Buffalo's Wings N' Things is the place for you. Just one more thing before you go there - Get ready to be Buffaloed!

Here's how we rated Buffalo's Wings N' Things:


Food:
      
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(Buffalo's Wings N' Things has 3 branches: 1. Food Street, Ortigas Home Depot Complex, Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City; 2. 231 Aguirre, BF Homes, Parañaque City; and 3. G-Strip Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan.)

Craving For Chicken Wings?

One of the best parts of a chicken would be the wings. Despite the fact that it's a bit difficult to eat, it can give you that satisfaction which no other chicken part can probably give.This is probably one of those reasons why people still crave for chicken wings. In America, for example, people enjoy delicious chicken wings with a special sauce coated on the wings and a delicious dip that blends well with the flavor of the chicken wings. One of the most famous types of chicken wings would be the New York Buffalo wings. Usually, the chicken wing sauce would be a mixture of hot sauce, butter, and other spices. It is usually dipped in a blue cheese dressing. But, we're not in America, are we? This is the Philippines, and we love something different. We want something with a twist, without sacrificing the lovely flavors given by the authentic version. This is exactly what Flaming Wings offer.

Most of the students at Katipunan and at Taft may know this food place.Flaming Wings offers delicious food which are affordable enough even for students. Flaming Wings offers a delicious array of dishes, from yummy pasta to delectable desserts. Of course, the must-try of this place is their Buffalo, New York style chicken wings. You can order it and choose your sauce and your dip to go with your chicken. This is what's good about Flaming Wings' chicken wings. You can mix and match your chicken, sauce, and dip and experiment on which sauce and dip go perfectly together. They have sauces such as 'Original' for those who want the authentic Buffalo chicken wing taste and 'Wild' for those who want it extra hot. As for the dips, they have delicious ones such as the original blue cheese, aioli, ranch, and wasabi mayo. Whatever sauce and dip you choose, it's guaranteed to be delicious and mouthwatering.

Flaming Wings has promo meals such as the Tender meal and the Wing meal. The Tender meal comes with delicious chicken breast strips (with the sauce and dip of your choice), rice, and a drink. The Wing meal comes with 2 pieces of chicken wings (with the sauce and dip of your choice), rice, and a drink. For 120 php, it really is not that bad. It's light on the budget and delicious at the same time.

Here's the mix and match we made on our wing meal. We also had a delicious dessert to end our meal with a yummy bang:

Wing Meal, 120 php (Drink-Red Iced Tea, Sauce-Mild n' Sweet, Dip-Ranch), add 25 php to upgrade rice to Pomme Frites, add 30 php to upgrade rice to mashed potato


Glutton Guy: Whenever I eat at Flaming Wings, I always order my favorite Mild n' Sweet sauce and my favorite Ranch dip. The sauce and the dip complemented each other very well. The sauce had that kick but not too much as to make it overwhelming. It also had that sweetness that I like very much. The dip had that sour taste and that tangy-ness that blends well when you dip the chicken to it. The chicken had that crispy outside and a soft and tender inside. You would really gobble it all up and leave only the bones on your plate. That's exactly what I did, at least. I'm not much of a fan of the mashed potato, though. It had that herby taste which I though was a bit weird. Plus, the potato strips on top was not crispy at all. The red iced tea was a bit bland for me. But, overall, the meal was delicious. Clap clap for Flaming Wings' Wing meal. : )

Glutton Girl: The Wing meal for me is a really great dish, price wise and flavor wise. You really get a reasonable amount of chicken wings. Some food places serve chicken wings that are only of small portions. The Mild n' Sweet sauce was great for my taste buds. It wasn't too spicy, but it had a bit of spiciness that blends well with the sweetness. I really liked the mix of those flavors when I eat the chicken. The dip was also wonderful. There even was a time that I was just scooping a bit of the dip on its own. When you dip the chicken and eat it, you would have that burst of flavors that just blends altogether perfectly. I didn't like the mashed potato. It had a very different taste from the usual mashed potato that I get. I also found the red iced tea to be a bit bland. It didn't taste like that the last time I ate at Flaming Wings. However, it didn't upset my meal. It was still a satisfying Wing meal for me.

Wicked Oreos, 75 php


Glutton Guy: A Flaming Wings experience would not be complete without having a try at their famous Wicked Oreos. I order this dessert everytime I visit Flaming Wings. I just couldn't get enough of it. I actually want to do this at home. But, I guess I can't do it as delicious as Flaming Wings does. I loved the hot Oreos and how it complemented well with the cold vanilla ice cream. It's best eaten when you, with your spoon, get a small portion of the hot Oreos and a scoop of the yummy and creamy ice cream. Wicked Oreos is a heavenly dessert. It also is beautifully presented with candy sprinkles on top. It's perfect for sharing with friends. : )


Glutton Girl: It's absolutely a wonderful treat. I tell you, when you mix deep fried Oreos and ice cream you're gonna get one hell of a dessert. The deep fried Oreos are hot when served, which makes it really yummy. The ice cream is also very delicious. It's cold and blends well with the deep fried Oreos. The powder sprinkled around the dish is wonderful. The candy sprinkles add color to the dessert. For 75 php, it really is an affordable dessert since it's great for sharing as well. I would exchange a slice of cake for this for dessert. If you aren't satisfied with Flaming Wings' Wicked Oreos, I really don't know what will.




Whenever you are craving for delicious chicken wings, Flaming Wings is one of those food places you should try. It's yummy and it absolutely gives you your value for your money. It also is not something usual, so you would really keep coming back for it once you've tasted it. Plus, it gives you that freedom to choose what flavors you would want on your chicken, whether you like it sweet, a bit spicy, or extraordinarily hot. That's one good thing that Flaming Wings does. Aside from the chicken wings, they also have other bestsellers such as their pasta dishes that are also worth trying. If there's one thing to say about Flaming Wings' chicken it's this - It's one of the best chicken wings in town! ^_^

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Flaming Wings has 3 branches: 1. Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City (near Pizza Hut), 2. Ancher's Nook Dorm, 5624 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila (Behind Yellow Cab), and 3. Phase III 302 A. Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque.)

Stack 'em up!

Burgers are very overrated, isn't it?

Think again.

Stackers Burger Cafe offers you a different kind of burger experience. And by different, we mean it offers you new ways on enjoying their good old burger.This 24-hour (Yes, it's open 24/7 hahaha) burger place offers delicious and as they call it, "Auss'mly" good food perfect for the hungry stomachs. It's another food place that gives value for your money because of their big servings. Aside from the burgers, they also offer other diner foods such as fries and chicken. Of course, the burgers are still the main attraction of the place. It wouldn't be called a burger cafe for nothing, you know.

The place has a nice ambiance. It's not your ordinary burger place because you'll really feel comfortable, not only because of the place itself, but also because of the courteous people that'll take your order and serve your food. Plus, it's really hard not to notice it because it's really visible in the area. The fact that it's open 24/7 gives people, especially friends or teens who like to gimmick during the night, a chance to taste their delicious food. I have to say, it's not your ordinary-normal-patty-lame-dull-burger; It's your burger with a twist. 

So, without further a do, here's what we tried and tasted:

 BBQ Burger Bowl, 155 php


Glutton Girl: I ordered ranch barbeque burger bowl. It's so strange to have a burger patty on top of your salad, but the combination actually tasted good. The ranch dressing with barbeque sauce was a refreshing twist from the typical Caesar's or Thousand Island dressing. The burger patty was also cooked very well; not raw, which I really liked.

Fried Mozzarella Sticks, 115 php

Glutton Guy: I've already tasted other versions of these fried mozzarella sticks. However, this version is one of the best I have tasted so far. The sticks are super crispy outside, and the cheese melts and oozes from the inside. It's perfectly cooked and the taste is delicious. The dip that comes with it is also delicious. The dip balances the flavor of the cheese sticks and gives an added kick to the appetizer. : )

Glutton Girl: I begged Glutton Guy to buy this. He treated me to mozarella sticks, which I super duper love. I love cheese in general, so I might be biased. Their dip was different too. It wasn't the typical salsa dip. I loved this appetizer so much.

Jack Burger, 225 php

Glutton Guy: This was my order. I have to say, I was really shocked when the order came. It was a really big burger hahahaha What I want in a burger would be mushrooms, melted cheese, crispy bacon strips. So...is it just coincidence or does this burger have all that I want in a burger? The bacon strips are really crispy - true to its word. The cheese is really good and the mushrooms are perfectly cooked. No wonder it's a burger that's worth the try. : )

Chicken & Fries, 95 php (1 pc.), 168 php (2 pcs.), 205 php (3 pcs.)


Glutton Guy: Another order of mine. (What can I do? It's all part of my job as Glutton Guy, right? hahaha) And once again, another excellent dish. The chicken is perfectly cooked. It's tender and it's crispy. What's also good about it is that it's really a big piece. It's not like the little piece that you get in fast-food chains, another perfect example of your value for money. The fries are perfectly cooked as well. They're not greasy and they're not soggy. They're not too salty as well. They also offer the chicken with rice, in case you really are hungry for a big meal. : )


So what are you waiting for? If you're after an Auss'mly good meal, an Auss'mly delicious food with an Auss'm price, Stackers is the place to go. Whether you're with family or with friends, you'll never go wrong with this burger cafe. We promise you that you'll leave the place with an Auss'mly satisfied appetite and an Auss'm stomach.




Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Stackers Burger Cafe has 2 branches. One is in the ground level of The Venice Piazza, another is in Eastwood City Walk, in front of Il Pirata and beside Agave.)