Delivery Snippets: Habanero Kitchen Bar x Cibo x Yabu
HABANERO KITCHEN BAR
I’ve always seen rave reviews about Habanero Kitchen Bar’s Lechon Habanero, but somehow I've never gotten round ordering from them until my sister decidedly did so.
OYSTERS SISIG (P355), ONE KILO LECHON HABANERO (Level One – P795 + P100 for Mustasa and Buro), BEEF HANGING TENDER SALPICAO
Each order comes in a one kilo tray of beautifully sliced lechon. They give you two options for the heat level - we opted for Level One which was at P795 – which was already pretty spicy for us; but you do have the option to intensify the heat to Level Two for the price of P856. Don't forget to add in a side order of their Mustasa and Buro for P100 to enjoy the full experience of the Lechon Habanero. Wrapping it in mustasa leaves and topping it with a tiny dollop of buro and a sprinkle of their spiced soy sauce makes for an exceptionally flavorful bite. Honestly, I’d choose this over samgyumpsal ANY DAY. A kilo of the lechon also goes a long way, so you’d definitely have enough meat to also pair with a steaming cup of rice.
We also got a couple of their main dishes; but honestly, tasting them felt like a blur after the tasting the heavyweight Lechon Habanero. I do recall that the Oysters Sisig was a delightful appetizer which easily cures any longing for Two Seasons’ famed Oyster Sisig. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a big fan of the Salpicao. Apart from it lacking in visuals, I wasn’t a fan of the cut of meat they used. Ultimately though, you don’t need to order anything else other than its Lechon Habanero to make any meal memorably spectacular!
Habanero Kitchen Bar
Date of Delivery: May 2, 2021 via https://m.facebook.com/habanerokitchenbar/
CIBO
Cibo is unquestionably an institution with decades of serving quality Italian fare under its belt. Admittedly though, grabbing a meal from Cibo feels a little more indulgent as the years go by as solo sets can easily go north of P500.
RIGATONI ALL’ALFONSO SHRIMPS (P565) AND TE FREDDO PESCA (P165)
However, apart from the nostalgia that Cibo brings (as I literally grew up dining in its many branches growing up), it serves consistent quality delicious comfort food all the time. A personal favorite is the Rigatoni All’Alfonso: which always boast of al dente rigatoni that efficiently serve as the perfect vessel to scoop up its creamy and fragrant stewed tomato sauce with. Juicy shrimp pieces further boost its flavor profile.
I usually ignore the garlic bread/house bread served with pasta - except if I eat the Alfonso - as I end up using the focaccia served with it to soak up every last bit of sauce of the pasta. In line with maintaining its top-tier quality, Cibo thoughtfully serves their pasta with pasta water and extra sauce when you order via delivery. I paired my pasta with some Te Freddo Pesca, which admittedly I was not fond of. This was probably my second cup of their signature Peach Iced Tea since the pandemic hit, and both tasted artificially flavored, incredibtly lacking ‘the fresh brew’ notes it came with when served dining in.
Cibo
Date of Delivery: May 15, 2021 via Grabfood but also available via https://www.cibo.ph/delivery/
YABU
Another restaurant which also placed a lot of thought in to their delivery packaging is Yabu. Obviously, its unlimited servings of rice, side salad, miso soup and fruit is something we’d have to live without for the time being; but the restaurant makes sure you get a little bit of everything. Each item is carefully packed and vacuum-sealed. It may not be ideal for Mother Earth, but you’re definitely guaranteed a spill-free delivery.
CREAM DORY LUNCH SET (80 g) – P345 with LAYU SAUCE (P75)
I usually opt for the fish options in Yabu, alternating among its Cream Dory Katsu, Salmon Katsu and its Salmon Don. Unfortunately, even if we're a year and a half in the pandemic, they still haven't figured out how to serve (or source) the Salmon Don as it's still unavailable in its delivery menu.
For the Cream Dory Lunch Set (and the Salmon Katsu set), they trade the traditional katsudon sauce for a creamy tartar sauce with pickles. On my end, a Yabu meal isn’t complete without its Layu Sauce. Admittedly, its add-on price on Grabfood hurt my wallet a bit, given how little the serving was, but the Layu Sauce is definitely the cherry on top to every Yabu meal. Of course, like any delivery order made from The Standard Group, expect a sweet handwritten thank you note to arrive with your delivery!
Yabu
Date of Delivery: May 19, 2021 via Grabfood but also available via https://www.standardtable.ph/
