MANILA, Philippines – You can never have enough Korean fried chicken chains in the metro, so we’re not complaining that the famous NeNe Chicken is now finally in the Philippines!
Since late August, NeNe Chicken has been frying at its flagship branch on the second level of One Ayala Mall, Makati City. Named after the Korean phrase for ‘yes, yes,’ NeNe Chicken is enthusiastically catering to the Makati crowd’’s cravings for crispy fried chicken.
The Korean household name offers a wide variety of fried chicken flavors that caters to Filipino tastes, with locally sourced chicken and kimchi on the side, with sauces and coatings flown in straight from South Korea.
NeNe’s Philippine arrival was announced back in January.
NeNe’s Makati branch features a 60-seater casual dining space perfect for quick meals, whether during the lunch or dinner rush. The solo rice meals or sharing sizes are perfect for the busy working crowd or families in the area.
With prices starting at P139 for a single chicken meal with purple rice and P239 for two pieces, NeNe Chicken prides itself on being affordable, simple, and reliable. The chicken parts are substantial in size, with juicy and moist meat and delicately crispy skin. It’s flavorful inside and out.
What sets the Philippine branch apart is its exclusive addition of chewy mochi balls (P109) with different fillings — a new sweet and savory item for local customers. They may be small, but they are filling!
Flavors include condensed milk, chocolate, mozzarella, and sweet potato.
The restaurant also offers fries (P75) and crispy seasoned potato wedges (P75), served with a creamy “swicy” dip made from ranch dressing and sweet chili sauce.
NeNe Chicken’s menu offers 10 signature flavors. The Swicy flavor is generously coated in a smooth and sweet chili sauce with a mild kick, while the Snowing Cheese has a powdered cheese coating that’s subtle and not too salty, but still tasty.
The Creamyon is surprisingly popular and my unexpected favorite, with a tangy, creamy, and almost ranch-like sauce that pairs well with the fresh crunch of raw white onions served atop. Bulgogi brings a familiar savory flavor similar to soy-garlic. These four flavors have quickly become the bestsellers in the Philippines.
The Mala brings a bold, oriental-style spiciness that tingles on the tongue but isn’t too hardcore. The Snowing Vegetable flavor is similar to the Snowing Cheese but with additional earthy herbs and spices.
Other flavors include Freaking Hot, Original (Mustard), and Snowing Spicy.
Regardless of the flavors you choose, NeNe Chicken’s prices are P329 for 3 classic pieces; P599 for 6 pieces; P299 for 6 pieces of wingettes and drumettes; P499 for 10 wingettes and drumettes; and P369 for 300 grams of boneless chicken.
How did the owners decide which flavors to bring to the Philippines, considering that there are way more in South Korea?
The owners refined the menu over years of research and development, specifically during the brand’s expansion in Dubai, where a large percentage (60% to 70%) of the customer base is Filipino. This gave them insight into which flavors would resonate with Filipino tastes, leading to the core flavors in Manila.
Korean fried chicken isn’t complete without the sides — NeNe has Korean rice, kimchi, coleslaw, pickled radish, and buttered corn at P70 each.
There’s also frozen yogurt (P99) in mango, strawberry, and kiwi flavors. The yogurt is slightly tart but more on the sweeter, milkier side of the froyo spectrum.
The K-favorite chicken brand first started as a chicken processing facility in 1995, and then became the NeNe Chicken brand in 1999 with the mission to “create a happy society where people come together.”
It now has over 1,300 branches across 11 countries.
Fresh chicken is sourced from NeNe’s sustainable farmers, marinated in a signature blend, seasoned in flour, and then fried until light and crispy. NeNe’s sauces and toppings are authentic Korean and sourced from Korea, made from recipes that have been perfected since 1999.
NeNe Chicken also boasts a star-studded roster of Korean ambassadors, such as hit K-pop group SEVENTEEN, girl group OH MY GIRL, boy group NU’EST, and even comedian Yoo Jae-suk. NeNe also makes cameos in various K-dramas, such as in Netflix’s She Would Never Know.
NeNe Chicken is open in One Ayala Mall daily from 10:30 am to 10 pm. For more information, you can check out Instagram. – Rappler.com
