Adobo knows no bounds, from the many ways you can prepare it up to the people around the world who cook it (an Iron Chef and an Oscar winning actress included). This quintessential dish of the Philippines–a hearty stew of pork or chicken (or a combination of both) with garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce — uses a method of food preparation that actually predates the country's Spanish colonization. Back when refrigerators weren't around, Filipinos have been using a combination of salt and vinegar to cook their meats, making the food have a longer shelf life.
Photo from Adobo 'To Instagram (@adoboto_maginhawa)
Fast forward to present day, our palates have experienced an entire spectrum of adobo. Many adobo dishes have been incorporating more kinds of protein like seafood and braising other ingredients for that lipsmacking flavor profile of sweet, salty, and sour. It can come as a saucy bowl, in crispy chunks, or dry and flaky treats perfect for breakfast. The trio of vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic have also welcomed more herbs and spices and add-ons, as each cook preparing adobo tweaks the flavors to his or her own liking and modern interpretation. Every region, household, and your favorite tita has their own version of adobo that practically no adobo now tastes exactly the same.
Photo from Adobo Connection Facebook
So popular is this Filipino dish that around the world, people consider it as Philippine's unofficial national dish, and House Bill 3926 (Philippine National Symbols Act of 2014) was proposed to consider declaring adobo as our national food, among other proposed national symbols, like the mango as national fruit and bangus (milkfish) as national fish. Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow shared her own take on the adobo by publishing the recipe for 'Adobo-Fried Chicken & Waffles' on Goop, her digital media and e-commerce company. It features a recipe that simmers chicken in adobo broth before frying them crisp, to be paired with classic waffles and a dipping sauce. Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, on a recent visit to our country for a fundraising dinner for charity, included his version of adobo as part of the dinner — a slow-cooked adobo spiced pork belly.
Adobo-Fried Chicken & Waffles
Photo from Goop.com (4th of July Cookbook Club)
Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's adobo spiced pork belly with with endive, pickled mango, calamansi lime
If you're loco for adobo and can't seem to get enough of the many ways it is prepared and eaten, then this bookmark this edition of The Click List, as we give you a rundown of 9 restaurants in Metro Manila where you can order many versions of our country's unofficial national dish. Don't forget to hit the comments section to share your favorite way of cooking adobo and which restos you visit for your adobo cravings!
Photo from Adobo Connection Facebook
With budget adobo meals, eat all you can rice offerings, many branches all over the metro, and a delivery service, Adobo Connection is your best bet for a quick adobo fix. Many variants available, so stuff yourself Adobo-happy with dishes like Cheesy Adobo (P119), Beefy (P139), Adobo Sa Gata (P119), Adobo Spaghetti (P49), Adobo Paos (P49 each) and Crispy Adobo Flakes (P99).
From being an occasional bazaar concessionaire, Adobo To' evolved into an office food court favorite and a carinderia/restaurant and with a growing number of fans—- most of them, employees from nearby offices. They deliver within the areas of Ortigas, Kapitolyo, Libis, and Pioneer, and also accepts bulk orders for packed meals. Variants include Spicy Adobo (P85), Coco Adobo (P85), Cheesy Adobo (P85), Binagoongan Adobo (P85), Adobo Sisig with Egg (P110), and Adobo Flakes (P85). An order of adobo (in chicken or pork variants) comes with egg, rice, and a ensalada on the side.
3. Crisostomo / Elias by Crisostomo
These two Filipino restaurants are but a couple of the many establishments under the helm of Chef Florabel Co-Yatco. Crisostomo has 4 branches, while its younger brother Elias has 2. Both menus feature turn of the century Filipino cuisine, and highlights adobo in three dishes: lamb short ribs adobo via Cordero (P395), Adobo Rice (P250), chicken and pork Adobo Damaso (P345), and the seafood Adobo Buencamino (P310).
4. Chef Tatung
Let Chef Tatung take your tastebuds on a little adventure of Filipino cuisine. Chef Tatung began as a private dining experience at Myke “Tatung” Sarthou's home, and later on blossomed into a dining destination in Taguig. Adobo fanatics will be thrilled to find an adobo category in their menu, showcasing the best-selling Lengua Adobo (P480), Chicken-Pork Adobong Ilonggo (P380), Yellow Chicken Adobo (P380), and Adobo Bisaya (P390). Chef Tatung offers all four variants which can be enjoyed platter-style, if you can't just choose one kind to devour (Adobo Sampler – P1,400).
Photo from The Aristocrat Restaurant website
Famous for their chicken barbecue and classic treats from their bakeshop, The Aristocrat is a family favorite for gatherings and celebrations since the1930s. Head to the nearest branch to bring in some nostalgia to your adobo with their classic Aling Asiang's Chicken and Pork Adobo (P255), Aristocrat Flying Saucer Adobo Sandwich (P95), and a breakfast order of Longanisa and Chicken Pork Adobo Plate (P270).
Photo from Restaurante Pia y Damaso Facebook
This Spanish-Filipino restaurant's name is inspired by one of Jose Rizal's contributions to Filipino literature, Noli Me Tángere. This small, charming dining space in Greenbelt 5 cooking up 'subversive' cuisine offers a trio of adobo treats for you: Adobo Pork and Chicken (P300), Catfish Adobo Rolled in Bacon (P325), and Crispy Adobo Chicken Skin and Tails (P160).
Photo from Cafe 1771 Facebook
7. Cafe 1771
This colorful cafe at El Pueblo offers you more options on how to best consume a serving of adobo flakes, a type of adobo preparation for foodies seeking a flaky, crisp, yet still flavorful adobo experience. Have their Adobo Flakes (P350 – with fresh fruit juice/coffee/tea/chocolate, garlic rice, tomato and onion scrambled egg), Adobo Flakes Fried Rice with Egg (P250), and Adobo Flakes Whole Wheat Pan De Sal Sandwich (P210).
8. Romulo Cafe
Fashioned after 'Kasiyahan'– General Romulo's house–Romulo Cafe aims to perpetuate his legacy, and at the same time, share to everyone this world-class gastronome's favorite dishes. They have three adobo items on their menu to experience the quintessential Pinoy dish in three different ways: Adobo Rice (P145), Laing with Adobo Flakes (P165), and the twice-cooked Chicken-Pork Adobo Romulo Style (P295).
9. Abe Restaurant
This highly popular Filipino restaurant is dedicated to the late Larry J. Cruz's father, 'Abe' Cruz. Abe offers local cuisine with emphasis on Capampangan dishes, as well as food inspired by the many travels of Abe. Find a mix of familiar and new with their adobo specials: Lamb Adobo (P410), Mutton Adobo with Popped Garlic (P410), and Crispy Pork Adobo ni Lola Ising (P395).
