Delivery Snippets: Mapishi x Layka’s Kitchen by Chef Jackie x Popeye’s Chicken

MAPISHI

I first came across Mapishi through one of their posts in Let’s Eat Pare. In the post, they explained that they had to firm up their presence online as they used to be a purveyor in evening food markets which have naturally ceased operations since the onset of the pandemic. Amongst the countless food owners seeking for support, the fact that Mapishi offers East African, specifically Swahili cuisine caught my eye, as I've had zero exposure to the cuisine, which definitely made it exciting!

SEAFOOD BIRYANI (P180)

One thing I love about it is that their offerings come at both solo and for-sharing sizes; so I quickly arranged a solo order of Seafood Biryani for an office lunch. A solo order comes with a hefty serving of biryani lavishly topped with caramelized onions. Honestly, the caramelized onions easily overshadowed the squid and shrimp pieces that also topped the fragrant biryani; but I have zero complaints as it was a killer delicious meal! The solo serving is enough to satiate two appetites; but the caramelized onions successfully whets your appetite that I ended up finishing the tub on my own.

SWAHILI SAMPLER (P800)

I was so excited to let my family try it so I quickly arranged a Mapishi lunch for us during a WFH day for me. Mapishi has bilao samplers which allow you to try out different variants from its menu. I decided to order the Swahili Sampler for my family so that we’d have a taste of the Beef Pilau and the Chicken Biryani of Mapishi. The sampler was massive and can comfortably feed 4 to 6 people. Unfortunately, owing to delivery conditions, the beef cubes in the pilau ended up a bit too tough; making the Chicken Biryani the more appealing option. Both were flavorful and topped generously though; however, the killer caramelized onions of the biryani gives it an unfair advantage.

CHAPATI (P50), CHICKEN ROJO DIP (P20), BEEF MISHKAKI (P60), CHICKEN MISHKAKI (P50)

I decided to also shop around Mapishi's other menu choices to make the most out of our delivery order! Its in-house chapati was too starchy for my liking; but paired amazingly well with the Chicken Rojo Dip! Admittedly, I really didn’t know what to expect from the Chapati so I couldn’t help but compare it to the Roti. The dip was absolutely divine; and would most likely be figured in as a regular add-on to all my future orders in Mapishi since it’s as addictive as it is effective in elevating the flavors of whatever dish you pair it with (similar to my fixation with Yabu’s Layu Sauce). The Mishkaki’s were also delicious, and I was disappointed at myself for only getting a skewer each. Despite being exposed to delivery conditions, both the beef and chicken skewers remained tender and juicy. Flavor definitely doesn’t take the backseat in these skewers; as each piece boast of a perfect balance of char and marinade. Another regular add-on to pair with all future orders in Mapishi!

Dates of Delivery: July 29, 2020 and August 20, 2020 (contact them via their FB page!)

LAYKA’S KITCHEN BY CHEF JACKIE

If you’re looking to feed a party, Layka’s Kitchen by Chef Jackie is a perfect choice. Unfortunately, its incredibly affordable prices come at a cost as quality is definitely compromised here.

We ordered their Paella Overload and Beef Salpicao which they advertise as good for 6 to 8 pax; but could comfortably feed double that! The Paella’s size was overwhelming; especially because of its generous seafood topping. The sheer size of the shrimps and mussels are enough for you to get your money’s worth; but don’t expect it to actually taste like Spanish Paella. Rather, expect it to taste more like buttered rice overloaded with seafood; which again, is still worth it given the price point. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to enjoy our leftovers as the dish quickly soured by the next meal despite being refrigerated.

PAELLA OVERLOAD (P1600) AND BEEF SALPICAO (P1400)

Flavor-wise, the Beef Salpicao was miles better from the Paella Overload. It’s actually something I won’t mind eating on a regular basis BUT it’s a longshot to call it ‘Beef Salpicao’ as it more closely resembles Filipino tomato-based stews like Caldereta, Menudo, Afritada etc. than the famous Spanish tapas.

Date of Delivery: August 16, 2020

POPEYE’S

Dining in Popeye’s has always been a fond memory of my childhood especially as it introduced me to the beautifully mad pairing of honey and Southern Fried Chicken. However, since it re-opened in Manila, I simply couldn’t find the time or the patience to try it out as it consistently drew long queues that I simply found not worth going through.

8 PC CHICKEN BUCKET (P523) and HONEY BISCUIT BOX OF 3 (P284)

Before it was launched in the GrabFood platform, Central Delivery was the platform which carried Popeye’s as a merchant. Unfortunately, a solo order of their chicken meal (even with add-on’s) is not enough to meet its minimum purchase requirement. Fortunately, it launched in Grabfood’s Long Distance Delivery platform while I was on my WFH rotation; thus, I quickly posted our lunch order and enjoyed our waived delivery charge! My family helped ourselves to an 8-pc Chicken Bucket and a couple of boxes of their classic Honey Biscuits. The chicken were perfectly fried, well-seasoned, and still crunchy despite going through delivery. Unfortunately, the biscuits which I was really pretty excited for, definitely underdelivered in consistency and flavor. However, it's nothing a combination of their gravy and honey couldn’t fix! Pro tip: purchasing extra honey packets is definitely a good idea!

Ultimately though, it made for a nice nostalgic comforting meal. Unfortunately, Popeye’s seemed to have lost its magic over the years. Perhaps, my tastebuds are also looking for something else. As someone accustomed to Bad Bird’s Umami Fried Chicken, I found Popeye’s Fried Chicken paling in flavor. I’d still give it another go though as I’m curious to try how its burgers and fries taste like!

Popeye’s

Date of Delivery: September 1, 2020 via Grabfood (but also available via Central Delivery)