Hot Star Large Fried Chicken is now in Manila -- at the new Blue Bay Walk along Macapagal Avenue, just a few minutes away from the SM Mall of Asia.
A popular fast food chain in Taiwan since 1992, the restaurant specializes in huge, deep-fried chicken breast fillets, sizing up to 30 centimeters in proportion to an ordinary person's face.
But unlike the fried chicken kiosks found in Taiwan, Macau, Singapore, Hong Kong and other parts of the region, the Philippine branch looks more like a quick-service restaurant that comes with an express counter.
The menu has also been tweaked to suit the Filipino palate, with rice meals and other alternatives such as spaghetti, sandwiches, chicken poppers, chicken skin and even deep-fried fish fillets.
The Hot Star technique
Local chicken breast fillets are cut and prepared using a technique perfected in Hot Star Taiwan. The rest of the ingredients – from the marinade to the powder used for the meat – are imported.
Customers may choose from three types of fried chicken – original, crispy and barbecue, which is coated with barcebue sauce and topped with sesame seeds.
To those who want a bit of heat, chili powder may be added upon request.
Another technique done is that chickens are not cut that much to preserve its juiciness. They do this in all Hot Star branches.
One order of Hot Star’s chicken breast fillet is at P110 (P125 for the barbecue variant) and can be shared by two people because of its large size. Add P35 and it becomes a meal with rice and drink.
Of course, the PH price is cheaper than some fast food outlets in the country, and even some Hot Star branches abroad. In Macau, for instance, one order costs HK$30 or around P173.
Another value-for-money item on the menu is Hot Star’s chicken skin, which only costs P45 for three sticks. Crunchy and a bit sweet, it can be enjoyed both as a snack and as a viand.
While the chicken is the star of the show at Hot Star, the deep-fried fish also deserves some attention. The soft, flaky fish coated in crispy batter is a great alternative to those who want to try something else on the menu.
Desserts
There is not much that can be said about Hot Star Philippines’ spaghetti (it’s your typical Pinoy-style pasta) and the other side dishes.
But, instead of the usual chocolate or vanilla, Chua decided to add an Asian twist by offering soft-serve ice cream and smoothies in black gulaman and almond flavors.
The black gulaman and almond soft-serve were mildly sweet and very refreshing, making them ideal summer treats. It’s hard to say the same thing, however, for the crunchy fruit salad, which tastes quite odd.
The dessert is basically canned fruit cocktail coated in a mixture of cream and mayonnaise and topped with bits of chicken skin. It’s best to stick with the black gulaman- and almond-flavored treats.
After its Blue Bay Walk branch, Hot Star is already looking at stores in Tomas Morato, Quezon City and Greenhills, San Juan.
The Hot Star Large Fried Chicken is located at the Blue Bay Walk, Macapagal Avenue corner EDSA, Pasay City.--Source: ABS-CBN News