CocoHut is a casual dining restaurant that serves affordable Filipino food and is popular for their delicious fried chicken. The restaurant has actually been around since 2014, but unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to try any of their dishes up until now. This year, they're releasing a new and improved menu that centers of Filipino cuisine - all of which are currently available in their branches along Jupiter street, Makati City and Glorietta 2.
We had the opportunity to try out a number of their new dishes, and here's what we think you should get...
The store along Jupiter Street is actually quite spacious. The restaurant is from the same group handling army navy, so you're also greeted with an open kitchen and you are welcomed by a very island-like, tropical vibe that suits the concep.
An order of the Coconut Calamares (Php 185) would be a great way to start your meal at CocoHut. The calamares were coated with desiccated coconut and was served with a delicious teriyaki mayo. I loved that the calamares was still nice and juicy while the breading was still quite crispy. I hate soggy calamares and I'm very happy this one's a winner!
You can also have the Shrimp Coconut Fritters (Php 260), which also has the desiccated coconut coating and a serving of that addicting teriyaki mayo. Unfortunately, the shrimps themselves were overcooked and dry, but the taste was certainly there.
The Tahong Soup (Php 350) was a winner, with a generous serving of New Zealand Mussels served with a very tasty broth. I honestly couldn't stop myself from eating it. The broth itself, for me, was actually quite good and with a refreshing seafood flavor - just the way I like it.
The highlight has to be their Hut (Spicy) Chicken (Php 150 per set meal). People have been telling me for quite some time just how good their chicken is and now I believe them 100%. If there's one dish I would come back for, it's this! The set meal also comes with rice and drink.
The chicken is flavored to the bone - still very crispy but juicy on the inside. It's probably one of the best fried chicken I've ever tried in Metro Manila, and that's high praise for a guy who grew up on Mcdo, KFC, and Jollibee.
Highly recommended!
The Laing (Php 170) is a classic Filipino dish of spicy dried taro leaves cooked with pork and coconut cream. It's actually pretty good Laing, not the best one out there but you're getting a lot of flavor at such a good price. It also complements all the other Filipino dishes on the menu quite well.
You can also try the Coco Langka (Php 160), which to me tastes very similar to Laing but is slightly sweeter.
The Lechon Kawali (Php 300) is currently one of their bestselling dishes. I mean, who would say no to deep friend pork belly on a bed of fried noodles? It's served with both liver sauce and a vinegar sauce so that you can eat it any way you'd want to. Personally, I prefer it with vinegar, the Cebuano way of enjoying deep fried pork!
We were also served a few other dishes including Lechon Kawali Kare-Kare (Php 390) and Poor Man's Fish or galunggong (Php 295), which were alright but didn't really stand out in terms of flavor. Although I would have to say you are getting your money's worth when you order these Filipino favorites because of how affordable they're priced.
Note that these dishes are for sharing.
You can have the Coco Gumalan (Php 70) as dessert drink while enjoying your meal. It really tasted like a halo-halo shake and is very good.
I would also come back here in a heartbeat for the Ube Sticky Rice ala Mode (Php 90). I've had some pretty good desserts so far this year and I think this has to be at the top of the pack. It's Ube flavored sticky rice with young coconut strings topped with either Langka or Vanilla Ice cream.
To be honest, if Mango Sticky Rice (which is my fave Thai dessert) and Puto Bumbong had a baby, this would be it. I loved every bite of it that I wiped the plate clean, despite being so full of the other tasty dishes we had.
You can't leave CocoHut without trying out this dessert! Such a winner!
Food Quality: 4.0
Service Quality: -
Ambiance: 3.5
Overall Quality: 4.0
Overall Quality: 4.0
The dishes I mentioned in the article are really the top dishes I would recommend you try in CocoHut. It was my first time there, so I had to ask myself - what would I come back for? The dishes that come to mind immediately include the flavor-packed Hut (Spicy) Fried Chicken, the refreshing Tahong Soup loaded with delicious New Zealand mussels, and of course that glorious Ube Sticky Rice.
What makes the restaurant so great for me is that the dishes are actually very affordable, and you're really getting your money's worth with the quality of dishes they serve. The dishes themselves aren't sophisticated, but rather delicious comfort food that will leave you longing to eat at CocoHut again.
Mark my words, I will be back!
Further reading you might like:
- The Island Cove's Fishing Village Is the Perfect Spot for Your One-Stop Cavite Food Trip
- Empacho: Beautifully Prepared Filipino Favorites That Leave You Craving for More
- Serye Restaurant & Cafe: Filipino Cuisine as It Should Be
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Cheers,
Chef Jay
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored review. The author did not pay for any of the dishes mentioned in this article. This, however, does not impair the unbiased opinion of the reviewer.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored review. The author did not pay for any of the dishes mentioned in this article. This, however, does not impair the unbiased opinion of the reviewer.
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