Holdak: Boneless Korean Fried Chicken at Mezza Residences

The Korean wave has already reached Manila! And I'm not just pertaining to the rise of KPOP, K-dramas and Korean barbecue houses that flock the Metro, but also of the continuously growing number of restaurants offering Korean-style fried chicken. And while I've had my fair share of these extra crispy treats, I recently came across one Korean chicken house called Holdak offering my kind of fried chicken -- boneless ones.

Located in Mezza Residences (SMDC's condominium development in Sta. Mesa), the fast casual restaurant Holdak is not homegrown but a franchise of a popular chain of restaurants from South Korea with branches all over Busan, Seoul, Daejeon, Chungnam and even China and Japan. And just earlier this year on January of 2013, Mr. Carl Tan who was himself a patron of the chicken offerings at Holdak, finally opened the first branch here in the Philippines to give Filipinos a taste of the real Korean fried chicken.

Being a Korean fried chicken spot, Holdak takes inspiration from Myeongdong, one of the most famous commercial districts for foodies in South Korea, for its interiors. And although it definitely speaks fast casual-dining restaurant, the place was still comfortable.

Click the menu photo to enlarge.

Holdak's Korean Fried Chicken (4 Kinds of Sauces)

I've mentioned earlier that Holdak offers boneless Korean fried chicken, and this is actually the first time I've heard of this great feat from a Korean chicken place. They use thigh fillets too to ensure not just convenience, but also a juicy and flavorful chicken eating experience. And before I blab some more, let me go straight to what we've tried.

Yang-Nyam (2-pc. Mini Meal P99; 3-pc. Solo Meal P145; Box of 6 P279; Box of 12 P549)

This serving of Yang-Nyam is the original Korean-style fried chicken recipe sauce of Holdak. And while I honestly don't have any idea what its name means, it's definitely enjoyable -- sweet, sour, salty and savory with hints of a peanuty taste.

✓ Spicy Yang-Nyam (2-pc. Mini Meal P99; 3-pc. Solo Meal P145; Box of 6 P279; Box of 12 P549)

Since the Yang-Nyam was a little too tamed for my palate, I resorted to eating more of the Spicy Yang-Nyam which also has the same sweet, savory and peanuty flavor like its original recipe sibling but with a strong kick of heat that will surely linger for quite a while.

Jack Daniels (2-pc. Mini Meal P99; 3-pc. Solo Meal P145; Box of 6 P279; Box of 12 P549)

One of Holdak's bestsellers is the Jack Daniels which is sweet and is topped with caramelized onions. While this is definitely in line with the Filipino palate, I found it a little too sweet for mine. Nonetheless though, this is a variant kids and kids-at-heart will love.

✓ Padak (2-pc. Mini Meal P99; 3-pc. Solo Meal P145; Box of 6 P279; Box of 12 P549)

My most favorite variant at Holdak is the Padak, a spring onion-topped serving which oozes with light, zesty and refreshing Asian flavors. Among the four sauces, this I think is the safest bet since its familiar yet subtle taste will surely sit well on everyone's palate.

All 4 Korean fried chicken variants were quite big and are made up of extra crispy chicken fillets with a lot of skin. And since they were made from chicken thighs, they were indeed succulent and tasty even on the inside, perfect either to pair with a serving of rice or to just enjoy them by themselves. Papak, papak!

The Extras

Aside from the fried chicken, Holdak also offers some side dishes to go with the mains.

✓ Salad (P35)

This Salad which is a bowl of shredded green and red cabbage with creamy sesame dressing comes free if you order either the box of 6 or 12. But even as a la carte, I say this is worth ordering as it's great along with any of the 4 sauces, most especially with the hearty serving of Yang-Nyam and Spicy Yang-Nyam.

Curry Fries (P55)

Fries lovers can also get either the plain Fries (P45) or this Curry Fries serving. And while I generally love anything potato, this didn't jive too well with my taste buds. Don't get me wrong, I like curry, but I guess I was just not digging the curry powder too much.

Ramen (P85)

I've become quite a ramen fan lately. So being a little pickier with my noodle soup, Holdak's Ramen unfortunately didn't satisfy me. However, if you're up for something at par with (or a little better than) instant Korean noodle brands, this is a good order.

Cheese Ramen (P95)

Although I'm generally not a fan of Holdak's Ramen, I can definitely say that this serving of Cheese Ramen is better than its plain Jane of a sister. Since it has melted cheese in the mix, the soup became creamier which makes every spoonful a little more enjoyable.

✓ Melona Ice Cream in Melon and Strawberry (P35 each)

Since we're in a Korean fast casual restaurant, it just follows that we should close the meal with Korean ice cream. And we're definitely in luck as Holdak offers not just Melona Ice Cream Bars (in Melon and Strawberry), but also Samanco Fish Ice Cream Waffle (P45), Encho Pinipig Bar (P40) and Snow Ice Coffee (P65).

THE VERDICT

Although there are already a lot of Korean-style fried chicken players in the market, I think Holdak stands a good chance especially with its crispy, juicy and succulent boneless chicken thigh fillets. To add to that, there are also 4 kinds of sauces to choose from, so everyone in the family or even in the barkada will surely find something to suit his/her palate. With that said, I'm actually already planning a returning trip. I want to take home all 4 variants since I'm curious to know which sauce would prevail in our household.

Taste - 3.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Holdak Chicken, Mezza Residences
Mezza Residences, Aurora Blvd. cor. Araneta Ave.,
Doña Imelda, Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 354-2195
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Holdak was very generous to give a gift card during Holdak's Bloggers' Night last May 30. And since I want to further share with you my satisfaction from Holdak's boneless Korean fried chicken, I'm giving away this Box of 12 gift card to one lucky winner.

Prize: (1) winner of FREE BOX OF 12 (worth P549) gift card from Holdak Chicken.

PLEASE READ!
Guidelines to enter the giveaway raffle:

1. Be a Metro Manila resident or someone (even not within Metro Manila) who can actually use the prize, or have a person you'll give this prize to in case you can't personally use them.
2. Free shipping to Metro Manila addresses only. Non-Metro Manila winners can opt to shoulder the shipping fee. (Really sorry about this.)
3. Follow the Rafflecopter mechanics below to join.
4. Make sure you do all the first eight mandatory steps to be eligible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The giveaway raffle will run from today until July 5, 2013. The winner will be drawn the next day and will be contacted within that week. So join now and get a taste of the real Korean fried chicken from Holdak Chicken!

Disclaimer: Prize was provided by the good folks from Holdak Chicken.