Lechon, Lobster Rolls, and Fried Chicken at The Grid Food Market
There are just so many great food stalls at The Grid Food Market and it seems that I’m not done yet trying out all of them. My first visit had me encountering (The Beefiest Burger in the City) while my second visit saw me sampling some of their (Tapas, Cocktails, and Desserts). Now, it’s time for some meaty lechon belly and delicious seafood as I am back once again at the most popular food hall in the country.
Stall No. 1 by Bucky’s has some very good appetizers to start our lunch this afternoon. Bucky’s started as a cafe in Poblacion serving soft serve ice cream but now it has its own stall here at The Grid.
The Twister Fries (P150) may not always be available in McDonald’s but you can find it here everyday. It’s a good version of these well-loved fries with its crunchy spiral potato strips that you can dip in ketchup.
Bucky’s specializes in childhood-inspired comfort food so the Baked Ziti (P350) is a popular option. This is similar to lasagna but with ziti pasta together with ground beef and lots of cheese.
The best dish to get at Bucky’s for me is their absolutely crunchy Fried Chicken (P260). This is a kid’s ultimate comfort food with its very crispy skin and tender chicken dipped in a rich gravy. Have it by itself or pair it with some rice for the ultimate treat.
While the kids (or adults) enjoy Bucky’s favorites, seafood lovers can feast on crabs, shrimps, and lobsters at Stall No. 11 by Bun Appetit. These were only previously available only during Saturdays at the Salcedo Market in Salcedo Village, but now they have a permanent stall that is open everyday at The Grid Food Market.
Instead of just the simple grilled cheese sandwich, Bun Appetit upgrades this to the Shrimp Grilled Cheese (P350) which is just so good. The gooey melted cheese envelops the plump and juicy shrimp which just pops with every bite. They also have a crab and a lobster version of this sandwich.
Healthy avocado dishes are part of the trend nowadays so they also offer the Shrimp Avocado Toast (P350). These also have juicy shrimp on a bed of mashed avocado-covered bread.
Bun Appetit is very popular for their Rolls like the Crab Roll (P495) with its delightful crab meat on top of a toasted potato bun.
But the dish that put Bun Appetit on the foodie map is their exquisite Lobster Roll (P695). They started serving the lobster rolls at the Salcedo Market in 2014 and it is considered as one of the best lobster rolls in Manila. I was really excited to finally give it a try and it did not disappoint.
The price may be on the high side, but just look at those huge chunks of Maine Lobsters slathered in melted butter. I took one bite of the lobster roll and now I understand why people keep coming back for more. Since they have their own stall here at Powerplant Mall, these lobster rolls are now more accessible for everyone.
For those who really want a meaty carnivorous dining experience, head over to Stall No. 3 where you can find Le Chon by Happy Ongpauco-Tiu. Happy is no stranger to the foodie community and this chef and restaurateur brings her roasted lechon specialties to The Grid.
I’m really a big eater, so Happy makes it easy to get your favorite lechon dishes with her 5-Step ordering system. Step 1 is to choose your Le Chon or roasted dish. Choose from Porchetta, Angus Beef Belly, Chicken, Spicy Tuna, or Pork Sisig.
I wanted to get the Le Chon Porchetta (P365) so that is what I ordered. Step 2 is to choose the lechon flavor from Original, Tanglad Butter, Sugarcane Gata, and Truffle and Garlic. Step 3 is to choose your side dishes from among Kamote Fries, Banana Cue Chips, and Grilled Talong with Baba Ganoush.
Step 4 is to choose your rice between Le Chon’s Original Butter Rice or the Sexy Brown Rice. Lastly, choose from among the Labuyo Lime Sauce, Adobo White Sauce, or the Muscovado Liver Sauce. These servings are quite big and can actually be good enough for two persons.
There are many different combinations to try. The Le Chon Gourmet Manok (P299) is also a good option with its roasted chicken in garlic. This one has the grilled eggplant as its side dish.
For big groups or really big appetites, they also offer porchetta for sharing. Order the Half Kilo (P800) or the 1 Kilo (P1350) Le Chon Porchetta which the entire table can share.
We’re not done yet because the Soft Serve Ice Cream (P150) from Bucky’s are some of the best desserts you can find at The Grid. The Milk flavor is just so good as it is made from carabao’s milk topped with caramel syrup and drizzled with brown butter polvorone. Due to the food hall’s overwhelming success, its expansion is currently underway to offer even more unique food stalls and dining areas. I’ll probably be back here really soon since there are still other stalls which I have yet to try. So see you at The Grid Food Market!
The Grid Food Market
R2 level Expansion Wing, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati
759-4605
www.facebook.com/thegridfoodmarket
www.tasteless.ph
