Latin American cuisine is deliciously serving up our metro with their roast chicken. The Portuguese chicken, popularly called Piri-Piri, is known for its delicious marinade and smoky finish, and it's best paired with assorted condiments and spicy sauces. Piri-piri (or peri-peri) is Portuguese in origin and refers to African bird's eye chili that flavors the chicken to give an addicting kick.
While Manila is highly abundant with fried chicken restaurants, this flavorful grilled poultry is slowy but surely invading everyone's chicken dreams, one juicy piece at a time. Here's a list of 9 places in Manila (and one spot in Boracay if you're heading there this summer) for your piri piri chicken fix.
1. Churrasco
BF Homes Parañaque (Take-out Counter only)
FB: /churrascoph | IG: @churrascoph | 0906-3797193
It's a little chicken take-out counter in the south, but soon it'll open its first restaurant within the area. If you're in the BF Homes vicinity, call to pre-order your charcoal roasted pollo which they serve with their Chimichurri (special green sauce). Delivery is available in BF Homes, Alabang Hills, and selected Las Pinas areas.
Order: Pollo a la Brasa (P125/Half, P250/Whole)
2. Don Andres
South Triangle QC
FB: /DonAndresRestaurant | IG: @daperuviankitchen|364-4145
At this restaurant offering authentic Peruvian cuisine, they serve ceviche along with Lomo Saltado and Alfajores for dessert; included too is their specialty of Peruvian rotisserie chicken, perfect paired with assorted sides and their three sauces–chimichurri, spicy mayo, and aji dressing.
Order: 1/4 Pollo con Arroz o Papas Fritas (P165, P195/with 1 side), 1/2 Pollo con Arroz o Papas Fritas (P320, P380/with 2 sides), 1 Pollo Entero (P590, P680/with 4 sides)
3. Frangos
Legazpi Sunday Market, Kamagong Makati
FB: /frangos.inc| IG: @frangos_ph | 0917-8007777
It's all about the Portuguese style chicken at Frangos — freshly grilled and bursting with piri-piri goodness. Each order takes 20 to 25 minutes grilling time and is always worth the wait.
Order: Quarter cut Chicken (P165, P200/with 1 side), Half Chicken (P295, P360/with 2 sides), Whole Chicken (P525, P655/with 4 sides)
4. Galo
Venice Grand Canal Mall
FB: /galochicken| IG: @galophilippines | 0927-1696326
Galo, a Portuguese word for 'rooster,' is now serving Latin American cuisine in the fast-casual setting of the Venice Grand Canal Mall Food Hall. Their specialty? A plate of well-seasoned chicken that is flame grilled.
Order: 1/4 Grilled Latin Chicken (P135, P175/with rice), 1/2 Chicken (P265), 1 Whole Chicken (P525)
5. Gostoso Piri Piri
Salcedo Saturday Market, Kapitolyo Pasig
FB: /ilovegostoso| IG: @gostosopiripiri | 0917-5265247
The best seller is their chicken–herb-spice infused and served hot off the grill that you can enjoy with their homemade and highly addicting sauces. Choose among mild, garlic lemon, barbeque, and hot sauces to mix and match with your chicken.
Order: Piri Chicken Meal (P280 with olive rice, side, and iced tea), Piri Piri Chicken (P180/Quarter, P330/Half, P630/Whole) , Piri Chicken Wrap (P235)
6. Gringo
The Block at SM North EDSA
FB: /gringochickenribs| IG: @gringoph| 353-9751
Their flame-grilled chicken comes in two varieties: one with traditional Mexican-Latin spices and the other, a Southern American blend of herbs and spices. Best eaten with two of their signature sauces–lemon herb and hot sauce.
Order: Gringo Original Chicken (P225/quarter with 2 sides; P365/half with 3 sides; P648/whole with 3 sides), Gringo Southern Spice Chicken (P235/quarter with 2 sides; P375/half with 3 sides; P655/whole with 3 sides)
7. Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken
SM North Annex, Capitol Commons, Nuvali, Greenhills Promenade, SM Megamall, Eastwood Mall
FB: /peripericharcoalchicken| IG: @pericharcoalph| 353-9751
Peri-Peri reaches more hungry folk in the metro with the most number of branches among the restaurants in this list. At the restaurant, the poultry is spit-fire grilled with an African-Portuguese spice mix, and is served in many way and portions to cater to solo diners and bigger parties.
Order: Quatro (P140, 1/4 Chicken), Bahia (P180, 1/4 Chicken + Side), Palmas (P205, 1/4 Chicken + 2 Sides), Metade (P280/half chicken), Brasilla (P305/half chicken + Side), Sao Paolo (P335/half chicken + 2 sides), Todo (P525/whole chicken), Rio (P655/whole chicken + 4 sides), The Peri Healthy Meal (P248/quarter chicken + side salad + choice of quesadillas, rappa, or tortilla with salsa)
8. Señor Pollo
Tomas Morato QC, Poblacion Makati
FB: /senorpolloph| IG: @senorpolloph
With its casual kick-back vibe, artsy interiors, and affordable yet delicious chow, both QC and Makati folk get their affordable chicken fix here. Their Latin-style roasted chicken is charcoal-roasted and basted with Latin herbs and spices.
Order: Señor Pollo Roast Chicken in Half (P269, P339/with 2 sides), Quarter (P140, P225/with 2 sides), and Whole (P520, P680/with 3 sides)
9. Sobremesa
Ortigas Center Pasig
FB: /senorpolloph| IG: @senorpolloph
This Filipino and South American inspired restaurant located in Ortigas serves Peruvian Chicken, a signature dish. Their version is marinated in aromatic spices and oven-roasted, and comes with three sauces.
Order: Peruvian Spiced Roasted Chicken (P380/half, P700/whole) with Jalapeno and Coriander, Red Pepper Sauce, and Garlic Yogurt Sauce
10. Spicebird (Boracay)*
D'Mall Plaza, Station 2
www.spicebirdgrill.com | FB: /spicebirdgrill | IG: @spicebirdgrill
*We couldn't help but add a tenth to this list, even if this restaurant is far, far away from Manila and located at the sunny island of Boracay. At Spicebird, piri-piri takes center stage: well-seasoned grills from chicken, pork, to shrimp, that have been marinated for 24 hours. Never skip on the signature sauces at SpiceBird, as each one gives more flavor and kick to their chicken.
Order: Piri-Piri Chicken Board (P295/Quarter, P495/Half) with spice rice, side salad, milky roll, and veggie chips; Piri-Piri Wings (P230), Piri-Piri Chicken Skin (P95)
