Are there other chickens that taste like Chicken Bonchon? Actually yes, there are.
I was not able to update my blog last week due that I switched departments recently. I know that I just gave up my "work from home privilege" from my previous very lazy department but I want to experience and learn the ways of managing and assuring quality of company's operations as in about the local expenses, concessionaire, DENR, shuttle, business continuity plan, etc. I don't want to be stuck on a dead end job. I switched from a lazy job to a moderate and sometimes no idle time corporate job. This is my 3rd switch within my current company. Luckily, I don't need to render overtime and they also provided me a phone for business use. I will be 3 years working in this company if I'll stay here until September.
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| Bonchon's chapchae was served hot! I like this compared to other korean noodles because it is not oily and not too greasy. |
Okay, back to the beloved Bonchon fried chicken. Recently, as we see, Bonchon is now building several branches. Others even sprung up on malls within small cities even in our town inside SM Novaliches. I love Bonchon. It boasts the sweet, salty, non greasy, light and crispy fried chickens. Even chicken thighs are smaller compared to the usual fast food chains, these chickens have more meat than bones.
I have visited many Soy garlic chicken restaurants. Chicken & Beer in Burgos Circle, Taguig is really good but aarghh... too expensive because it is a formal bar and dine in restaurant.
I'll enumerate my Top 3 Bonchon alternatives/substitutes or soy garlic chicken fastfood restaurants in Metro Manila. This review is based on 2 pieces of chicken with rice meals.
3) Manang's
Some say this is a rip-off of Chicken Bonchon or any korean fried chicken.
For me, curiosity striked me again and I would like to have a taste of this chicken and know if it exceeds the crispiness and quality of Bonchon. I ate a meal at Manang's chicken in SM North Annex. The ambiance of this restaurant is no match with others. Kinda like Mang Inasal or any ordinary fast food restaurant ambiance.
I must say that the original dip blending with the chicken topped with sesame seeds is really good. Manang's fried chicken is crispy. The original dip tastes like marinade mix. Manang's delicious taste depends more on the original dip than on its chicken skin. What I like in Manang's is you can taste the marinade inside and not only on the crispy skin. If you like dry chicken this is not for you and Bonchon tastes better than this. If you love sauces and dips, this is really good.
The price of 2 piece chicken with rice (no drink) is 139 pesos.
Click here to visit Manang's Chicken website.
Delivery, click here.
Rating:
2.) 4Fingers Crispy Chicken
Inside SM North, I got a glimpse of this restaurant while walking to Watson's.
I like this more than Chicken Bonchon. Chickens are bigger and ambiance looks sophisticated. You can taste the chicken soy garlic inside and out.
The meal including drink costs 149 pesos. Yes, it is the same price of Bonchon's 2-piece chicken meal but hey! Try this and I'm sure you'll not regret it. Branches are located in SM Aura, SM Mall of Asia and SM North EDSA.
4Fingers official website
4Fingers facebook page
Rating:
The last and my most favorite:
1.) Chicken Charlie
Like Manang's, it started also in Manila. It started before Manang's was introduced to the market. The Chicken Charlie logo is cute. Upon dining in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) branch, I never expected that this restaurant in a posh place offers cheap meals as low as 59 pesos.
The chickens' color is lighter in actual than in this picture. The chicken tastes really good same as Bonchon.
Price is cheaper than Manang's. It costs 138 pesos with root beer or any softdrink already included.
Chicken Charlie's site
Chicken Charlie's delivery
Rating:
I hope this Bonchon, Manang's, Chicken Charlie and 4Fingers food and restaurant review helps. :)
