From its first restaurant in Greenhills back in 2006, the Filipino-owned Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken has since expanded to a handful more stores around the Philippines and very recently, overseas in Myanmar.

Having said that, I actually wonder why they took quite awhile to open a branch in Cebu. But I am glad of course that finally, there is a restaurant that offers the ‘Portuguese-style’ of grilling chicken in this part of the country.

In my unimportant culinary opinion, a typical peri-peri chicken should be savory, slightly tangy, smoky and then packed with welcome heat. The version at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken had these flavors in one form or the other. It was juicy, just like the ones that my dad and I had at their branch in SM North Edsa a few years back.

I would have wanted mine to be really spicy though. But thanks to their Harissa Exotica, I was able to turn the heat up to my liking. It’s one of their eight signature sauces by the way, along with the Mesquite BBQ, Sweet Soy, Garlic Brew Chili Peppa, Honey Pinakurat, Hoisin Sesame and Cajun Remoulade.

My blogger friends and I also sampled a few of their non-chicken dishes in the menu – ribs, pizzas and salads.

But the appetizers were the surprising standouts that evening – the flavorful Mozarella Sticks (Php190) and the utterly memorable Crispy Baby Squid (Php240). A squeeze of lemon would have taken the latter to whole a new level but even with out that, this I imagine, should pair perfectly with your favorite bottle of beer.

We capped off the night with the Torta Gorilla (Php 190), a dessert that we tried to understand and to love. It’s supposed to be a lime pie with dulce de leche and topped with whipped cream and caramelized bananas.

Over-all I think that a meal here at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken is best enjoyed with family and friends. You could share then cost of say a Rio (1 Whole Peri-Peri Chicken + 4 sides at Php850), one more combo platter and some appetizers.

But if you’ll dine solo, a quarter chicken meal here starts at Php 130. For a few pesos more and you’ll have 2 sides.

 

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar
Facebook Page
Meerea High Street, Ouano Street
North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City, Cebu

 

For reservations and inquiries: +63 995 618 7094

Disclosure: While the blogger was invited by the restaurant, he maintains full editorial control of this blog entry.

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