BonChon K-Style Chicken

I was down with fever earlier this month and spent 3 whole days at home eating fish congee and watching a Korean telenovela called “My Love from the Star.”

The K-drama series is about an alien who landed on earth in the Joseon Dynasty and, after 400 years of solitary life, fell in love with a modern day actress.

The most famous line from the series was when the actress Jun Ji-hyun said, “When I feel down, I look for chi-maek. It’s perfect on the day of the first snow.”

Chi-maek is a meal of fried chicken (chi) and beer (maekju or maek for short). It is a popular drinking custom in Korea and a good amount of fried chicken and beer was consumed in the show.

Scenes from Korean drama series "My Love from the Star"

As soon as I was given permission to step out of my bedroom, the very first place I went to was the nearest BonChon.

I craved so desperately for Korean style chicken, or what my younger friends call “K-style“ chicken.

  

BonChon Mall of Asia on a weekday night. 

Apparently a lot of people were craving the same.

I appreciate how you can customize your chicken. Choose the right size for your appetite, 

choose your favorite chicken part (this is so important to me!), and then choose the flavor

 that matches your mood. There’s soy garlic, spicy, honey citrus, and crunchy garlic.

My brother ordered the BonChon Chicken Bibimbowl

It had everything you need in one bowl – fried chicken, rice, pickled carrots, seaweed, 

egg strips, crispy garlic and sesame seeds.

I had the Soy Garlic K-Style chicken thighs. Look at that skin!!!

I finished all six huge ass pieces of the crispy, crunchy, sweet and garlicky golden goodness.
BonChon uses a unique cooking technique that gives the skin a crunch like no other, 

and most importantly, leaves no hint of greasiness in my chicken.

Finally, my K-Style chicken craving satisfied!

Tip: For the best chicken experience, eat with bare hands and eat with abandon.

Don’t worry, be messy! There is a washing area to clean yourself after. 

Not that you need any help getting into the mood for Korean-style chicken, but I thought this video will have you running to the nearest BonChon outlet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTDcvGqAooU



Because I was still on a Korea high, I wore my K Palette eyeliner for the occasion.

And asked my brother to come with me in matching outfits. Hahaha!

Thank God for BonChon’s K-style chicken, we can now experience a piece of Korea in Manila!


BonChon Website
BonChon Facebook
BonChon Instagram

Sariwon ♥ ♥ ♥

I think I am the last person in the world to ever try Sariwon. I am on a diet (PROMISE!!!)
but changed my mind immediately when Auntie Judy suggested the place for dinner.
I just love my family that much. :P

 

We arrived at 7pm without reservations and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table.
Not bad business for a Wednesday night! 

 

Can I just say, I hate Korean chopsticks!!! My chopstick skills are bad enough, but when it
comes to these flat and heavy Korean metal utensils, my skills become totally non-existent.
I was dropping kimchi all over the place. 

 

 

 

Magic Towels!

 

 

I had so much fun watching the towels grow I asked our sever to do it again.
That explains the second set. :)

 

Eat-all-you-can banchan party

 

And boy, did we eat all we could! Obviously, these were our favorites.

 

 

Haemul Pajeon - I liked the crispy edges but stayed away from the starchy center

 

We had two orders of the Chesanggeup Yangnyeom Galbisal.
This was easier to eat than to pronounce.

 

In simple English, boneless USDA prime beef short ribs marinated in sea salt and other spices

 

 

Our server did all the hard labor for us. We just sat back and enjoyed the tender and tasty
barbecued meats like royal princesses. Thank you, Joey!

 

 

Korean barbecue essentials

 

 

This is how sissies assemble their wraps

 

 

This is how jinlovestoeat assemble hers. DOUBLE BEEF IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

 

 

Still feeling hungry, we asked for an order of Sariwon Bulgogi.
Silky thin slices of fresh USDA choice beef grilled with broth at the table. Served with
sariwon sauce and freshly made sweet potato noodles. 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, Joey did all the dirty work

 

 

 

 

Before

 

After
We found the bulgogi beef quite dry. Next time we'll stick to the wonderful galbis. 

 

 

Before

 

After
I had to switch places to hide the protruding evidence of the food massacre.

 

 

Sexy glasses for sexy ladies! ;)
(I had hot tea in a chunky tea cup) 

 

Complimentary Sikhye for dessert. Thank you Auntie PinPin for dinner! :) 

Sariwon: Upper Ground Floor, Bonifacio High Street Central, West Superblock, 7th Avenue corner 29th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Tel: +632 621-3205, +63915-9009272

Sariwon Facebook Page

 

Donu Pork & Beef Grill ♥ ♥

 

A-HA!!!!!!!! Now I know why Tina chose Donu for my birthday dinner!
Grrrrrrrrrr… Oink! 

 

 

I was stuck in traffic and got to the restaurant half an hour late

 

 

 The "so-called friends" started eating without me. Pfffftttt.
I think they forgot I am Ms. Jin Hastotakephotosbeforeanyonecantouchthefood.

 

 

Just kidding!!! I love these guys. 

So please forgive them for the crappy photos. It's not my fault! Lol! :P

 

Pajeon - I would say one of the better spring onion pancakes in Manila

 

 

Mandu - these fried dumplings were too oily for my liking

 

 

Egg Roll

 

 

 Jab Chae - could be tastier

 

 

The only good thing about arriving late was this - a ready plate of grilled pork jowl and
pork belly waiting for me.

 

 

So all I had to do was assemble, wrap, and eat

 

 

We also had a fresh order (meaning second plate) of this crunchy Spicy Chicken which was
actually more sweet than spicy but still very enjoyable

 

 

Want proof? See all the chicken bones on Spanky's plate! :D

 

 

Thank you, Tina, for my Pineapple Upside Down Cake! :)
This brought me back to grade school days when I thought spraying aqua net all over my
bangs to get that stiff side bump was the coolest thing. (What the hell was I thinking???)
Nobody makes cakes like this anymore. 

 

 

Right to left: Tina, Anton, Spanky, Hans, and Mrs. Snowman 

 

Donu Pork & Beef Grill: Polaris Street, Bel-Air, Makati City

Cafe Ilang-Ilang, A Sixth Time ♥ ♥ ♥

 

 

 

Cafe Ilang-Ilang is probably the buffet I've been to the most in my life.

Seriously, it is like an extension of our kitchen already. Lol.

 

Didn't realize how many people like Peking Duck.

 

Look at Auntie Judy and her peking duck rolls! She let me grab one off her plate. 

 

 

Ahia Emil was smarter. He had it sans wrapper.

 

 

While Uncle Gerry got the whole leg!

 

 

Here's what I ate: 

Salmon sashimi, spicy salmon roll, california maki

 

 

Baby spinach and arugula salad with lobster, smoked salmon, egg, olives, gorgonzola,
camembert, dried cranberries, dried apricot, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, walnuts
and sesame dressing

 

 

Korean grilled pork belly and kimchi on shiso leaf. Seaweed, pickled cucumber and radish.
I ♥ Korean food. I think it ♥ me, too! :) 

 

 

My cousin Jordan, The Carbs Police, stopped me from having pizza. I sad.

So I just went around the tables to build my appetite for the most important part of the meal - Dessert!

 

 

 

 

 

 With our A-ma

 

 

Told ya! Dessert is important to all ladies in the family!

 

 

A different kind of choco fountain

 

 

I love Cafe Ilang-Ilang's homemade ice cream. I heard they also have Speculoos flavor.
(Click here to see what I think of Speculoos. Warning: Do not click if you're a cookie butter lover!) 

 

  

 My favorites are pistachio and chocolate ferrero

 

 

 Pistachio and ferrero ice cream, mango coconut sago, tiramisu, ginataan topped with ube jam.
All mine!!!

 

 

Also this mango baileys chocolate pudding

 

 

Happy Happy Birthday, Ninang Nena and Ahia Emil!!! :)

  

See my previous Cafe Ilang-Ilang posts:
Cafe Ilang-Ilang
Cafe Ilang-Ilang, Revisited
Cafe Ilang-Ilang, A Third and Fourth Time
Cafe Ilang-Ilang, A Fifth Time

Cafe Ilang-Ilang: The Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines 
Tel: +632 527 0011

The Manila Hotel Website