With the advent of soy garlic chicken restaurants being so successful and lucrative, more…read morerestaurants are naturally following suit. Manila people really love their chicken, especially if it's extra crispy and coated with tangy sauce. Even with almost exactly the same menu items and flavored chicken offering, with just a different look or theme, you could make it as a fast food chicken restaurant. This is what 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken does. PROS: Their restaurant looks more edgy and stylish, like it has a New York theme, complete with graffiti and industrial lights; Priced at the same level as its competition, so it's not too expensive; Food are served in this metal box that's really adorable. CONS: Taste-wise, it's "Lasang Bonchon" but a little off - less crispy, less juicy, and less servings. TL;DR: 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken is the edgier, more urban restaurant style but the food and menu items feel and taste like off-brand Bonchon.

"Please refrain from telling people about 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken. Help keep…read moreus a secret, like how you would keep your guilty pleasures a secret. Thank you for your cooperation." My bestfriend and I discovered this place unexpectedly. It was one of those moments wherein we didn't plan where to eat, that we ended up roaming the entire mall. Four FIngers is situated on a backend of the upper ground floor, someone won't even notice there's a gem hidden on it. Ambience New York subway style with lots of street wall art. The signages are also patterned like the ones on the subway. Food Chicken! Chicken! Chicken! Chicken with fries, chicken with rice, chicken burger, chicken wrap, everything is chicken! But no they are not only about chicken, they also serve seafood. No plates here, they will place your order on a tin box. There are 3 choices for the glaze - soy, garlic or hot. The chicken glaze wasn't salty, the meat was tender and has flavor, too. I like it here better than Bonchon. It is affordable and the serving is proportion to the size and the price. Family friendly too!

I will admit, the name makes it sound cheap. Manag's. It's the kind of name you'd expect from a…read morecorner carinderia, isn't it? But I suppose that's the feel that they were going for: somewhere unmistakably all-pinoy. For somewhere with that kind of vibe, this isn't the kind of place where you'd find the stereotypical adobo-sisig-bulalo combo because Manang's specializes in one thing: fried chicken. And pretty good fried chicken at that. Think of it as a local version of Bon Chon. I'm not kidding. From the soy garlic flavor profile to the sesame seeds, there's evident inspiration from Bon Chon at the very least. But if we can be perfectly honest here for a second, I'd prefer this place over Bon Chon for one simple reason: the flavor reaches the meat. My one problem with Bon Chon is that once the skin peels off, that's it. The meat's pretty bland. It's really meant to be eaten with the skin. Thankfully, Manang's doesn't have this problem. Even if the skin comes off, the meat underneat is still savory and tasty. It does get a little tough and chewy when reheated though. Manang's also boasts its own in-house potato chips which are served in place of fries. These chips are great. Thin, crisp... there's no MSG there, or at least I don't think there is. If you can find one, give it a try. Don't get turned off by the name. (Not to mention, they have this delectable thing called a brownie sundae. Exactly what it sounds like and exactly as tasty as it sounds like. Tell me how many places have brownie sundaes.)

When I first got introduced to Manang's Chicken a few years ago, I totally expected cheap fried…read morechicken that you'd usually find being fried en masse in some street corner, protected only from the smoke and the elements by a thin sheet of paper. But apparently, I stumbled onto what is probably the local version of Bon Chon. Seriously, you can place their chicken side by side and have a hard time telling the two apart. They also taste the same, though Manang's is a bit drier than Bon Chon - but their signature crispy skin and saucy coating are veritable carbon copies. You have a choice: you can eat here, or at Bon Chon. Doesn't really matter much which - but Manang's is a homegrown brand.

By far, best korean chicken wings I have ever eaten no matter what country I have eaten it at. From…read moreNYC, Bangkok and Manila, the taste has remain consistent. In the Philippines, no matter if you order via app or online, the food is delivered hot, juicy and on time. My favorite so far is the soy and garlic flavour. Crispy on the outside and soft white meat in the inside. The meat is not dry when Deep frying the wings. And to quench your thirst, I recommend getting pineapple juice. Fresh juice over ice. Korean fever has definitely hit the Philippines and Bonchon is at the top of the list. Eumsig mas-issda. Translation, the food is freaking delicious!!

Manila got hit with Korean fever and we never really recovered. From hairstyles and dance moves, to…read morekorenovelas and whole pockets of the city converted to Koreatowns, the Korean craze is not just a phase. When you have their fast food chains gaining strong foothold in the Filipino market, you know it's more than just a fad. Korean culture, and its fast food equivalent Bonchon Chicken, is here to stay. PROS: For P155.00 for a 2-piece chicken rice meal, it's just 5 pesos more than the leading fast food chicken two piece meal; The sweet-savory soy garlic coating of their chicken is truly distinctive, making me say "Lasang Bonchon" for whatever other food comes my way with similar characteristics; Those wonderful chicken pieces come in a lot of different flavors; They offer a whole range of other food as well like seafood and snacks. CONS: The insides of the chicken isn't really as tasty as its crispy exteriors; Rice servings that aren't quite enough for the Pinoy tummy. TL;DR: For a distinctive fast food fried chicken experience minus the usual golden-brown breading, go for the delicious soy garlic Bonchon chicken.

If you're in a hurry, but still want to eat something great, and a plus if you're a chicken-lover,…read moreWorld Chicken could be your next favorite. They offer grilled chicken with different flavors of pasta or rice, with side dishes that include mashed potatoes, veggies, etc. For a very reasonable price, you can achieve the combination of great food and a happy budget for lunch or dinner. Or merienda, like I do. I recommend the Bacon Rice (you wouldn't be disappointed), the Pesto pasta, and for the sauce, you can go with classic gravy or level it up to ranch dressing and cheese.

"You can never really go wrong with chicken," is what I have been told many times before. When in…read moredoubt, order the chicken. I'm happy to see that World of Chicken caters to a whole market of chicken lovers who like their chicken as simple as it can be. Every piece if filled with the most amazing mixture herbs and spices that bring out the best flavors. Pair the chicken with a serving of pasta or rice and you're sure to have a filling and fulfilling meal that is worth the price tag. A little tip though, ask the server to add an extra heaping of sauce to your chicken instead of asking sauce on the side. You won't be charged for the extra sauce as long as you politely ask to do so.

I'd hear about Frankie's all over, especially from friends who were into sports, it seemed to be a…read moreplace where athletes flock to after a game or a training session - I was intrigued. I consider Buffalo wings to be one of my favorite foods, so when someone declares this place to be one of the best wings in town, I had to find out for myself. Frankie's set-up is like the typical wings diner: homey and pleasantly cluttered. I had the garlic parmesan as recommended by the waiter, and the Frankie's Classic Buffalo. As it was the one flavor that took the restaurant's name as its title, the Frankie's classic was definitely the better order of the two. Everything I've been hearing about the place was right; this might be the best Buffalo wings place in the city! The Frankie's classic is a masterpiece, I don't know how many kinds of Buffalo wings I've tried in my life, but this time I think I've found the perfect original no frills wings.

Among your list of happy food, there would be items that make you happier more than the others. For…read moreme, this would be Buffalo wings. Going further, some places would inevitably prepare the dish better than most. To me, this is Frankie's New York Buffalo Wings. I usually head to Frankie's after a night run. This could get as late as midnight. The place is open until 2 am, and by this time the horrible parking situation at the City Golf Compound would already be more manageable. (Of course, provided it's a not a weekend.) I always get the Classic Buffalo (spicy) with blue cheese dip, and ask for more blue cheese dips. (They charge extra). I like the chicken because of the way the skin has been cooked to a crisp, all the while keeping the meat rather tender; I think it's breaded. The sauce is spicy yet with just the right bite, meaning there is a dimension to the flavor and not just plain crazy-fiery. Like, I can still taste the butter and the vinegar all coming nicely together with the one-two punch of the hot sauce. Oh-yeah! The best part is you don't even have to worry about getting your hands dirty because they give away disposable gloves. To be honest, I don't really use it since I am used to working with utensils in dissecting my chicken, but I just think it's rather thoughtful of them. As my personal motto goes: it's the useless stuff that builds character.

Crazy Chicken is a cozy diner along Lilac Street in Marikina City. It may look small in square feet…read morebut this restaurant is big on flavor, offering a wide range of choices on its deep fried chicken wings. After a road trip to Antipolo, we decided to swing by Crazy Chicken for a quick dinner. We ordered the Loaded Fries and the 16-piece chicken wings meal in four flavors: Original Buffalo Cheesy Cheese Lemon Pepper Asian Sriracha The Original Buffalo wings were an easy favorite, despite not having blue cheese dip with it. The level of heat in this variant is just a smidge over mild, which is perfect for the warm weather we've been having lately. The Cheesy Cheese wings were generously dredged with cheese powder, and delivered that salty umami kick that I was craving for. It may look simple and basic, but looks can be deceiving. The Lemon Pepper wings were a bit timid in terms of flavor, so this would be a good choice for the least adventurous member of your party. Serious foodies might take a pass on this variant. The Asian Sriracha wings were as hot as the weather, which tasted more like hot sauce instead of sriracha. Too spicy hot for me. The Loaded Fries are a great complement to the chicken wings, and Crazy Chicken was very generous with the bacon.

Crazy Chicken is definitely one of my favorite dining places along Lilac Street in Marikina because…read moreaside from flavorful chicken drumsticks, wings, and thighs, they also have other offerings including a generous helping of taco salad and a huge burger aptly called "Overload." Currently, my favorite flavor is the original Buffalo, followed closely by the cheesy cheese and garlic parmesan! Their houseblend iced tea is also good, probably the best along Lilac!

Flaming Wings will always have a soft spot in my heart. It is an unassuming hole in the wall along…read moreKatipunan Ave, and was home to some of the best times I had with my friends when we were all still studying in the area. This was a while ago, and so many other restaurants around it have come and gone, but it has proven to have what it takes to be yet another Katipunan institution. Being students, clearly we worked around a tight budget. Flaming Wings always did the trick for us, because you got more than what your money would normally get you. A favorite, for example, is their Chicken Tenders Meal, which includes strips of buffalo chicken tenders (your choice of Original, Mind n' Sweet, Smokey BBQ, Wild, Caribbean Jerk, or Oriental Zing -- I always go for Original), dip (your choice of Bleu Cheese, Wasabi Mayo, Balsamic Mayo, Ranch, Honey Mustard, or Aioli -- I always get Bleu Cheese), a cup of rice, and a drink (your choice: iced tea, lemonade, or bottled water). All for P130. It used to be cheaper, but I'm not complaining about its present price. Here's a tip: Ask your server for some of the sauce (not dip) on the side. There's a little extra cost, but if you love sour buffalo wings sauces like I do, it is such a thrill. A cheap thrill, but a thrill. Their chicken aside, a Super-Stuffed Pork Chop, which goes for only P190, is also a worthy meal... or an adversary, depending on your appetite. The serving is as big as the plate, which leaves little room for movement, but so much bang for your buck.

Thanks to my friends who are constantly looking for new places to eat because fast food chains are…read morealways full and making us sick. Back in college, this became our hangout and lunch place because they serve different food other than what fast food chains serve and also their food prices are budget friendly especially that most of their market are students. When I graduated from college, I missed their buffalo wings that's why I got excited when they opened a branch in Katipunan--the other side of Taft Avenue. Though I don't really come back for their wings, I come back for their wicked oreos. I fell in love with it even though I really don't eat oreos (yes, please feel free to judge). The only thing that I don't like is that Katipunan is so jam-packed and its not easy to find a parking slot so better come in earlier preferably on weekends to avoid the hassle.

I'm a World Chicken devotee. I cannot deny it, and every time that I find myself in a food court…read moreand there's a World Chicken, I am quickly there at the queue, scoping out the sides and figuring out which I want to enter my mouth. I don't know what makes them so special to me and I'm not sure if it makes my standards so low, but I love them! The chicken is tender, and the sides are great, if a little homogenous flavor. But a delicious homogenous! The flavors are in a very home-cooking type way, and it fills you up with comfort and goodness. If you're the kind of person who enjoys mixing things that shouldn't go together, like sweet chili sauce on chicken with a creamy pesto pasta, World Chicken is definitely for you! For less than P200, the make your own platter meal is quite substantial. It's not the most glamorous meal at all, but for basic food court fare it's pretty dang good.

I've been here several times. Sometimes I come out satisfied and sometimes I am just disappointed…read more I suggest you don't come too late because they run out of sides! One time they even ran out of their roasted chicken and only had fried chicken (which isn't as good as the roasted). Also there was a time they didn't have Mac & cheese as a side. But they have it back now thank goodness. Another side I like is the sweet potato mash. It goes great with the chicken. One time I got the chicken quesadilla. It came out cold. Nothing special. I could have made something better. Their chicken sisig is good! Comes out sizzling. Like I said some days it's good and some days it isn't. The chimichurii (green sauce) makes up for it sometimes :) Happy hour is 4-7pm!

Basing the stars of today's run-in with Señor Pollo. First time here. It's so close to other food…read morespots in Scout Rallos! I would've given it another star if there was seating on the ground level. This sucks as one would need to go a flight of stairs. I wish they'd put something for those with handicaps so they can also taste the goodness while enjoying it sitting down. They do have some seats downstairs but bar-like to the side. The interior design to the place is pretty swagged out. Cool art definitely. The chalk art on their menu downstairs is intriguing. The upstairs pieces are colorful too; check out the restroom as well. Meanwhile, I tried their Quarter Roast w/ a side of Patatas Bravas, and Fried Plantains. That's a hearty meal already. But it being the first time here, and it's QC (far north from me during the weekdays), I went to split the Chicken Sisig as well. * The Roast was so good. Tender and juicy chicken! The Plantains were a must. Glad I made that choice. The Bravas were a nice sub if you're looking to not eat rice. * The Sisig can possibly be good enough for 3! Big portion for it definitely. You can nicely pair it up with a cold brew. I'm definitely putting SP as a must or default spot to go to if in the area.