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Ikigai Japan’s Premium Fresh Milk Tea – First Taste

written by thebusinessofevil 12th June 2020

Living in today’s world where the “new normal” is apparent, there is no surprise that there will changes in the way we do things in our daily lives. The status quo is gone and our lives is forever changed. But one thing’s for sure, we will still have our own reasons to wake up for each brand new day. This is actually the concept of Ikigai, the intersection of what you are good at and what you love doing.

Ikigai, the intersection of what you are good at and what you love doing.
Hector Garcia, the co-author of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

The term Ikigai might actually the inspiration behind one of the newest milk tea offering – Ikigai: Japan’s Premium Fresh Milk Tea.

Ikigai: Japan’s Premium Fresh Milk Tea

We are lucky to have the chance to be ones of the first to taste their Yes Yummy milk tea drinks! Ikigai offers a variety of drinks on their menu including milk teas and fruit teas but they also have premium drinks from the Cheesecake and Yogurt Series. For the non-tea drinkers, they also have options without tea. Prices range from Read on to know what we think!

Ikigai – Bubble and Premium Milk Tea

Brown Sugar – Grande Php70.00 / Venti Php85.00

What I like about this drink is that the brown sugar syrup did not overpower the taste of the tea. Hence, this might not be ok for someone who wants their milk tea to be very sweet or very milky. A perfect combination of the sweet brown sugar syrup, deep taste of the tea plus soft and chewy pearls. All actually compliments each other.

Hokkaido – Grande Php90.00 / Venti Php105.00 (#YesYumYum)

The Hokkaido Milk Tea from Ikigai is creamy and rich just like what Hokkaido milk tea should be. The drink is also in the sweet side but I’m sure you can adjust the sweetness level when you ordered. For me, I added some ice to water down the sweetness level but it could have been better if more tea was added. We surely recommend this flavor! The price is a little pricey as compared to more “popular” milk tea brands so it could be a deciding factor. Nevertheless, this is still our favorite.

Ikigai – Premium Fruit Teas and Cheesecake Series

Blueberry – Grande Php100.00 / Venti Php115.00

We’re not really fond of fruity drinks since they are almost always super sweet. This one is also on the sweet side but the kiddies actually loved this. We’re not really sure if the sinkers work with the fruit tea (not just with this one. We really don’t like sinkers with our fruit teas).

Strawberry Cheesecake – Grande Php110.00 / Venti Php130.00

The taste is fruity and a little bit sweeter for us than blueberry fruit tea. We actually wish the taste to be more “cheesecake-y”.

Want some Yes Yum Yum tip? Put the blueberry (fruit tea) or strawberry cheesecake in the freezer and wait for it to be frozen (“slurpee” like) – you’ll surely love it since the sweetness will be lesser and the icy consistency is enjoyable.

Regular Drinks

Chocolate Hot Fudge – Grande Php60.00 / Venti Php75.00 #YesYumYum

Super duper yummy. The chocolate really stands out. Was expecting this to be also on the sweeter side since I first tasted the blueberry and strawberry cheesecake but it was not. The sweetness is just right. Not sure if the drinks supposedly has swirls of hot fudge since it was already “mixed” when delivered but I can still taste some hot fudge goodness. All in all, We can say that this is our favorite drink out of all the drinks. The price is also very competitive.

Toppings

We don’t normally order toppings/sinkers for our milktea drinks but the one from Ikigai is actually tasty, soft and chewy. Unfortunately, some have become a little mushy and became clumped tother so its somewhat difficult to drink with the straw.

Ikigai Japan’s Premium Fresh Milk Tea

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ikigaimilktea/

Menu:

Disclaimer: Milk tea were provided for free but this article was written with our own opinion and insights.

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New Spicy Chicken Burger from McDo PH

written by thebusinessofevil 17th May 2020

McDonald’s Philippines has launched 2 “new” spicy offerings to their menu. This includes a new Spicy Chicken Burger and the new Spicy Shake Shake Fries.

The new Spicy Chicken Burger a meaty and spicy fried chicken cutlet, topped with creamy mayo, and sandwiched in-between a sesame split bun. You might ask what’s the difference between this and the previously offered McSpicy? The answer is none except that this one does not have lettuce.

The new Spicy Shake Shake Fries, on the other hand, is a totally new offering – the spicy powder of course, not the fries.

McDonald’s Spicy Chicken Burger (Php99.00 – solo)

McDonald's Spicy Chicken Curger and Spicy Shake Shake Fries

McDonald’s Spicy Shake Shake Fries (Php65.00 – medium solo / Php85.00 – large solo)

If you have companions or maybe just a big Spicy person, then you might want to order the McDonald’s burger bundle with three of the Spicy Burgers, a BFF Spicy Shake Shake Fries, and three regular drinks.

What we think?

The Spicy Chicken Burger is ok but lacking in our opinion. Just the same as McSpicy but slight inferior. We feel that the chicken might be over-breaded and the taste is flour-y (if there is such a word). The lack of lettuce is also disappointing since it adds refreshing taste to the burger.

The Spicy Shake Shake Fries is also ok. A good addition to the choices and great on its own. But we were easily satiated by the taste after a few bites of the burger plus the fries. We were actually joking that it could have been better if McDonald’s actually offered Spicy McFloat. Lmao.

Hurry up as this offering is only available for a limited time.

As of the time of writing this article, most part of the Philippines is under the Enhanced Community Quarantine because of the global pandemic, COVID19. Hence, orders can only be availed thru takeout or delivery from selected branches.

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Sweet Treats from Baked by Catalina – Yes Yum Bites

written by thebusinessofevil 25th April 2020

Enhanced Quarantine is still effective throughout Manila and we have been trying various food items around the metro. For this Yes Yum Bites blog, we tried Baked by Catalina products’ Yema Ensaymada and No Regrets Cookies

Yema Ensaymada (Php650.00 for box of 6)

Yummy and fluffy. The cheese and sweet creamy topping also did not disappoint. The Ensaymada bread is also not that sweet so it could be suitable for those guarding their sugar level (just skip the yema. Ahehe). The yema is a good compliment to the the bread since it elevates the taste but could have been better if the yema is well distributed inside

No Regrets Cookies (Php650.00 for box of 10)

Contrary to its name, you will surely regret eating the cookies after checking your sugar level. Each cookie is extra sweet so you we suggest you should not eat the whole box by yourself. Each cookie is a wonder and each bite is an explosion of flavors. It’s sweet and chewy but with hints of saltiness of the walnuts and peanut butter (not sure if there really is peanut butter but it sure gives another level of flavor). The price is a little steep but still sulit since you get premium ingredients like the walnut.

If you want to try the desserts, sweet treats, and cakes from Baked by Catalina you may contact them below

Facebook: http://facebook.com/bakedbycatalina

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakedbycatalina/

Contact number: +63 906 377 4455

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SPAM Cheesy Bites Pizza from Pizza Hut

written by thebusinessofevil 25th March 2020

SPAM Cheesy Bites
We’re giving you a reason to play with your food. Try Pizza Hut's SPAM Cheesy Bites Pizza with SPAM in every bite. Just twist, pull, and pop to enjoy!Order yours today at www.pizzahut.com.ph or dial ‎8911-1111. #SPAMCheesyBites #PizzaHutPH
Geplaatst door Pizza Hut op Maandag 24 februari 2020

Craving for both SPAM and pizza? Crave no more! The new SPAM Cheesy Bites Pizza from Pizza Hut is now here.

This is not the SPAM you are receiving from your emails. You can eat them instead. This is made possible by a new creation from Pizza Hut. The new SPAM Cheesy Bites Pizza is a new spin on the Stuffed-crust Pizza.

SPAM Cheesy Bites Pizza (Regular – Php419.00 / Large – Php639.00)

This new Pizza Hut creation is a new twist on the classic cheese pizza with SPAM cubes on top. This is complemented with cheesy pull-able crust stuffed with SPAM and cheese.

We ordered this during the early part of the enhanced quarantine in the National Capital Region since we are craving for some pizza goodness. In fairness to them, the delivery is still fast and prompt even though it is expected that there will be bulk of delivery orders from others as well.

The pizza is actually a little salty – from the SPAM but still tasty. The cheesiness, on the other hand, cuts this saltiness and provides a creamy texture to the dish. Despite our liking to thin-crusted pizza, it is actually good that Pizza Hut’s pizzas has thick crust. The crispy and savory hot crust also complements the saltiness of the SPAM.

The pull-able cheesy bites are also quite salty but the cheesiness and the crust complements it very well. The stuffed crust can actually stands on its own as a snack.

Upon researching, we noted that the Cheesy Bites Pizza should have came with a Marinara Sauce but our order didn’t have the sauce. Regardless, the pizza is still ok for us. The experience could have been better and we could have had a #YesYumYum experience if we had the Marinara Sauce.

The SPAM Cheesy Bites Pizza is available beginning 3 March 2020 up to 9 May 2020 only.

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Wazzup Wa-Sup? Chow – Modern Chinese Fusion

written by thebusinessofevil 4th March 2020

Ever craved for Chinese food that do not scream with oil and monosodium glutamate? Well, you’re in for a treat. You’ve click the right blog article. Hehe. We have just eaten at Sup Chow and we’ve reviewed the food offerings of this fusion restaurant.

The Restaurant

Sup? Chow is a fusion take on bold Asian flavors with western influences using the freshest ingredients. The chef behind this restaurant is Chef Francis Lim (NAV, Tipple and Slaw).

This restaurant is located in Salcedo Village, Makati. The location is a little hidden since it is located in the 2F of Antel Corporate Center (Entrance is facing the Valero access road).

Although hard to find, this restaurant is actually an exciting discovery for us thanks to our officemates and of course, our #YesPAPA radar, the Zomato Gold 1+1 Food promo.

Upon entering the restaurant, one can already observe the modern but simple interiors accented with the big “Sup? Chow neon lights” and exposed light bulbs.

What We Ordered at Sup Chow

The menu of Sup Chow is very simple but still with variety of choices.

One of the dishes we have sampled is the Mapo Tofu Wontons.

Mapu Tofu Wontons (Php250.00) #YesPAPA

This dish was a very good appetizer and a very good starting point to our meal. The taste of the dish is balance of salty, sweet, and spicy. The texture is also a balance of the soft meat / tofu and the crispy wonton wrappers.

For the mains, we have tried beef and pork dishes with rice and noodles.

Roasted Pork Belly with Fruit Pickles, Mustard Sauce, Light Hoisin (Php390.00) #SobrangSulitPAPA

The taste of the pork itself is actually very similar to pork belly of other Chinese restaurants but the mustard sauce and the pickles are the game changers to dish dish. This dish also comes with 1 soft-boiled egg (plus points for this dish).

Truffle Braised Beef with Sauteed Shrooms (Php450.00) #YummyYesPAPA

Braised beef as itself is already a very tasty and delicious dish. With the addiiton of the mushrooms and the truffle, an additional layer of tastiness and sophistication were added. Not sure whether the truffle used was authentic or not but we’re ok as long as it’s not “lasang gas”.

Beef Rendang with Homemade Curry Paste, Curry Leaves (Php380.00)

As we said in our previous blog posts (See Bebe Rouge Patisserie), we dont really like curry but since this dish gives a muted curry taste, we actually liked this dish. The sauce actually partners well with the very tender meat.

Sup Chow Fried Rice (Php350.00)

This dish has a well-balanced taste though did not really standout as compared to the other dishes.

Spicy Sesame Peanut Noodles with Pork Chili (Php280.00)

We’re not really fond of peanut-y dishes but the pork chili made this dish still memorable. We also recommend that you add additional chili sauce to counter the peanut taste.

Masachi with White Chocolate (Php ) #YesPAPAHeaven

This is heaven disguised as a dessert. The sticky and chewy mochi ball is complemented well by molten white chocolate, which oozes once you bite into it.

Note that all cilantro and cilantro-looking stuff were removed from the dishes. (#CilantroHerbNoPAPAForever haha)

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Unlimited Korean Meats at Jin Joo Korean Grill

written by thebusinessofevil 4th March 2020

Ever find yourself craving for more unlimited samgyupsal? So are we. Again and again, we find ourselves sitting in front of a grill and ordering trays of Korean meat and side dishes. For this review, we focus our eyes to Jin Joo Korean Grill. The unlimited offer is a new promotion since they only have ala carte dishes previously (they still offer ala carte dishes and unlimited promo for this particular branch is only up to 9 PM).

“Sobrang sawang-sawa na ko sa samgyupsal!”
– said no one ever

For us of course, there is no other option but the unlimited option (Php499.00 / +Php50.00 for dinner) with 10 flavors of premium meat, unlimited kimbap, side dish, and cheese fondue.

Jin Joo Korean Grill is located at the Ground Floor of Glorietta 4 (Note: Entrance is beside Ascott. You need to exit the mall).

They also give a free 1.5 Coca-cola for groups of 4 pax. (See also our experience with Premier The Samgyupsal and why we felt cheated)

As we entered the restaurant, we already felt that the ambience is very bright. The place looks very edgy and model with neon accent lights. Similar to other KBBQ place, Kpop is also played loudly throughout the restaurant (+++ for them because we were able to finally hear 2NE1 on our fourth visit. Ehehe).

For the meats, you can choose from the following 10 types of meat.

Our favorite will be the Cajun Woosamgyup (beef belly with spicy cajun dry rub – #TheBombPAPA) and the unmarinated Woosamgyup (We call this beef bacon. Hehe).

We have also tried the pork skin but did not enjoy the experience since there will be lots of splatter (You will be hurt #MasheketPAPA) and unfortunately, we were not able to make the skin crispy. They also have chicken but we don’t usually order this because its cheap and not worth our stomach space.

They also offer various side dishes (not same for each visit). Our favorites will most probably the Odeng (Korean fish cakes) and their super fresh lettuce.

I can also say that their service is commendable. We didn’t feel that they are panicking (di magkanda-ugaga) when we order different items at the same time. For improvement, I wish they also keep track of the requested items so they will not miss (or there won’t be a need to repeat the orders) next time.

Also, as compared also to other Korean grill restaurants, they use gas (Butane Gas?) for grilling vs charcoal. Were not sure if this is a good or a bad thing. We’re definitely sure, though, that eating 26 trays of meat for a group of 5 is not healthy at all. Hahaha!

They also sell Korean ice cream if you need to cleanse your already greasy palate.

All in all, Jin Joo is definitely our favorite after-work Korean Grill restaurant. Its very strategic location (Makati CBD) made it easy for us to go straight there after work. We also also feel the place exudes a very friendly and happy atmosphere.

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Baconized Treats from KFC PH

written by thebusinessofevil 4th March 2020

KFC Philippines has once again launched another twist to their classic offerings. This time, they “baconized” one of their best sellers, the Zinger.

The Baconized Zinger is the original KFC Zinger with Hot and Crispy Chicken Fillet Sandwich, with lettuce and cheese, and “baconized” not just by adding bacon strips but also made more exciting by two additional bacon-base sauces, the bacon-naise and the bacon relish.

New Offerings from KFC PH

This KFC’s new offering can be enjoyed as follows:

1. Baconized Zinger (ala carte Php150.00 / combo Php199.00 with fries and drink)

2. Snacker or Baconized Zinger Jr. (ala carte Php100.00 / combo Php154.00 with fries and drink)

3. Fully Loaded Meal with Snacker (Php195.00)

4. Baconized Bucket of Fries (Php99.00)

For merienda, we opted to purchase the Baconized Zinger with the Baconized Bucket of Fries.

First, we would just like to appreciate similar the actual Zinger looks vs the advertised photo. For the taste, however, this version actually taste just the same with the signature Zinger with a hint of taste from the actual bacon strips (adds minimal smoky flavor). The baconnaise didn’t add anything to the sandwich. Upon inspection of the sandwich, the sandwich given to us don’t have the bacon relish (#SadPAPA). This is very sad since we actually loved the Bucket of fries, which was with – guess what? – the bacon relish.

If we had known, we should have set aside some bacon relish from the fries and added it to the sandwich. The bacon relish is tasty and added spiciness to the dish. It is actually very similar to the salsa used for KFC Chaco but with bacon.

How about you? Have you tried these newest creations by KFC? Let us know if this is a #YesPAPA or a #NoPAPA for you.

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Pink Everywhere at Patisserie Bebe Rouge

written by thebusinessofevil 4th March 2020

Bebe Rouge is located along Metropolitan Ave. but the restaurant is kind of hard to find because its main signage is facing Sacred Heart Street. Upon entering, one can already observe the very vibrant neon pink accent walls and decors throughout the restaurant. There is also the fragrant smell of freshly baked cakes and pastries. They also showcase their cake offerings in their store front display case and baked goods in their very huge center table along with their tea offering in side shelves.

What we ordered at Bebe Rouge

Given that desserts are the main specialty at Bebe Rouge, there are only limited options when it comes to their savory food offerings. In fact, you can only choose between their pasta, Japanese curry, and their breakfast plate. For me, I chose their Katsu Curry.

Katsu Curry – Php340.00 (#SobrangSulitPAPA)

The taste is somewhat what I expected from a Japanese curry although I not sure if it really taste authentic or its because I lowered my expectations since this is clearly not a Japanese restaurant. The dish is balanced between savory and peppery and the spices do not overpower the overall experience. What I love most about this dish is the generosity of meat since there are 2 meatball size Tonkatsu and mixed in the curry sauce are bits of ‘menudo’ sized pork (I thought they are tofu at first).

Japanese Curry Rice – Php295.00

For their other curry dishes, I believe the taste is just similar since they look like the same curry sauce based is used. The difference is just the meat mixed with the sauce.

Creamy Smoked Salmon – Php280.00

Some of my officemates also ordered their Creamy Salmon Carbonara, which has a very ironic name since their only comment on the dish is that its they like it but they wish for it to be creamier.

Strawberry Shortcake – Regular Php160.00 / Sugarfree Php160.00

They said this cake is their best seller. Personally, I do not have special liking for cakes or sweets. Thus, my conclusion that the cake seems to be ordinary. The cake could have been better if it tastes more strawberry than creamy. Also available in sugar free variant (which is sweeter according to my officemates)

Mille Crepe – Php130.00

Even though this crepe cake is overpowered by other cakes, I still appreciate the utility it brings. It acts as palate cleanser in between bites of the other sweeter cakes. This cake is a perfect companion with your coffee or tea.

Salted Caramel – Php140.00 (#YesPAPA)

This is probably the sweetest of all the cakes but the texture its provides is what this cake offers. Soft on the top and crunchy bottom with decadent salted caramel filling is perfect end for a meal.

Mousse Au Chocolat – Php155.00

This cake it good not quite memorable because its just similar to other chocolate mousse.

Other cakes are the following, which I haven’t able to taste.

Savarin (Php130.00)

Overall, Im ok with the Bebe Rouge experience. I think the it could have been better if the visit is for a coffee break or during a laidback afternoon or a typical after-office “chikahan”. We also encountered some problems when we are about to pay our bill. This is because the staff still needed to contact the manager regarding the Zomato Gold promotion.

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Premier The Samgyupsal – No Lines, Same Experience

written by thebusinessofevil 3rd March 2020

As someone working in Makati, it is very seldom for us to visit restaurants in Manila or other northern cities since we usually opt to stay at home during weekends (#TitoProblems). For this particular visit, we actually started at Robinsons Place Manila to find somewhere to eat lunch. Since we are craving for Unlimited Samgyupsal and as suggested by our friend, we went to Premier The Samgyupsal.

Premier The Samgyupsal is a restaurant offering unlimited Korean meats and side dishes located along Mabini Street in Malate, Manila. Since we visited lunchtime on a Saturday, we chose their LUNCH Unli Mix (Unlimited Pork and Chicken – 9 Kinds) Promo for Php500.00 Only (Php580.00 All day).

They also offer other promos as follows:

1. Unli Pork and Chicken -6 Kinds (Php500.00 All day / Php450.00 Lunch)

2. Unli Shabu Shabu (Php580.00 All day / Php500.00 Lunch)

NO LINES at Premier the Samgyupsal!

As compared to other more popular Unli Samgyupsal places, we were seated right away for this visit even though the visit was on a weekend. We’re not sure why there is no queue (or if this is a good or bad thing?). We are not sure though if this place is cramped during dinner or other late night service hours.

Another good news is…
They are open 24 hours. So if you are craving for samgyupsal during the wee hours, then you’ll know where to go.

Look and Feel

We were not able to appreciate the interior or the look of the restaurant although I know that they have large LCD TVs blasting Kpop music. We believe the place is is perfect for people who wants to chill and binge on Korean meats and side dishes while singing with their favorite Kpop groups.

Unli Mix – 9 Kinds of Meat

Premier Samgyupsal offers an array of Korean side dishes, which are refillable so you can eat your hearts out with Kimchi and fresh lettuce. Too bad they don’t have fish cake as a side dish.

Similar to other Korean Unli restaurants, they also have melted cheese to accompany the meat (or the side dishes).

Moving on to the star of the show, they offer 9 types of meat served in a pig-shaped wooden platter. The meats are just so-so as other similar restos. Since we’re not really fans of pork (but we still wants to maximize our consumption of meat. HAHA), we just finished the initial serving of other kinds and ordered several refills of the samgyupsal.

The Experience

I can say that the experience it quite satisfying especially that we did not experience the horror of queuing for hours vs other Unli Samgyup restaurants. The servers are attentive and they give the requested refills right away.

One negative experience though is that we were felt cheated since they told us that their 1.5L Coca-cola (Php100.00) was already out of stock when we ordered so we opted for their Canned Coke (Php50.00) x 2. After a while, we saw them serve 1.5 Coke for a group which just arrived.

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Our Happy Review of Angrydobo

written by thebusinessofevil 28th February 2020

Every now and then, we like to explore the Metro to find and dine on new places. Luckily, our feet led us all the way to Taft Avenue to try Angrydobo. Angrydobo is an adobo-themed (obviously) restaurant by Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo. It is located along Taft in front of De La Salle University (Henry Sy Sr. Building).

The interior of the place is simple modern. The ceiling has LED lights with filipino messages is nice but you’ll look weird and stupid if you look up to read them.

The place is a little small so it feels cramped when the place is full. Since place is small, there will be moderate waiting time during peak hours. We visited lunchtime on a holiday and we still needed to wait some time.

It is also best to remember that this is a self-service restaurant. The servers will not take your order you need to pay at the counter. The prices on the menu do not include a service fee, which will be added upon ordering.

The menu is simple and true to the name Angrydobo. Most of main dishes are adobo but there are still options since they also offer items such as appetizers, side dishes, and drinks.

What We Ordered

Since it’s lunchtime, we each individually ordered a rice bowl. For each bowl, you can choose from the following three vegetable side dishes. We each ordered a different side dish so we can taste all.

1. Gising-Gising – veggie is still crunchy and cooked right. It is a bit salty though by itself (which we think is because it is meant to be eaten with rice).

2. Laing – the taste of the coconut milk is apparent but not overpowering. It also is a little salty similar to the Gising-Gising).

3. Steamed Kangkong with Garlic – plain and simple. Kangkong seems fresh and garlic topping is crunchy and cooked well (not burnt). This side dish is good with more salty viands like the classic adobo and tofu adobo. Too bad it was paired with the sardines since the taste is muted when mixed with rice.

Angrydobo Classic (Pork Belly) – Php245.00

Sauce is added at the start, which makes the bowl sizzle (beware if you still have meetings afterwards). Pork seems cooked twice (braised then fried or the other way around). Slices were not too thick and meat is fork tender. By itself, the dish is a little salty (similar to some side dishes) but just enough when mixed with the steaming hot rice.

Angrydobo Tofu (Vegetarian) – Php215.00

Similar to taste of the classic adobo minus the grease from the pork. It is a little dry however. For me, the tofu pieces were a little overcooked. This is a good alternative for diners who want to skip on the meat especially during the lenten season.

Angry Sardines w/ Egg – 235.00

The meat is soft and some of the bones can be eaten without worrying of being stuck in your throat. Although a sauce will also be added, its taste is a little muted compared to the adobo dishes. This dish is good for someone who wants to lesses their salt intake and who want to skip pork/beef.

Bonus: If you want to add “flare”, Angrydobo provides a spicy sauce which is sure to not just elevate the taste of the dishes but also to increase your appetite to finish your bowl of rice.

Overall,

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