Chicken Charlie, Now Open at eBloc2, Cebu IT Park

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Pinoys, especially the young ones, LOVE fried chicken. If I were to exaggerate, we live to eat fried chicken. When you ask a child what his/her favorite food is, the top response would be fried chicken. Personally, I could live by eating just fried chicken every single day. I know it’s unhealthy but I can’t help it, especially if its crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and I have ketchup to dip it with. If we think about it, fried chicken is boring as preparation can be as simple as marination then frying. But, yesterday, I was able to taste a different kind of fried chicken. Something that I know you will love too.

CEBU, say hello to Chicken Charlie!

What’s in a name?

An establishment’s name and logo are two things simple things that could make or break a business. For Chicken Charlie, owner and founder Ifore Yu wanted something that was easy to remember and “kid-friendly”. And then, from out of nowhere “Chicken” and “Charlie” (which happens to be the name of his dad) suddenly rang through his head. Just like that, Chicken Charlie was born!

First look at the logo would tell you that chicken is the primary offering here.

The Chicken Charlie story

The idea for Chicken Charlie came about when Ifore Yu, a young and dynamic entreprenuer, learned of a Korean method of cooking chicken that was unlike anything available in the Philippines. It wasn’t long before he mastered the cooking technique. With perseverance and hard work, Yu spent the next several months in New York, formulating, perfecting and “Filipinizing” the sauces that would become Chicken Charlie’s signature flavors.

The first branch, which opened at Banawe Quezon City in April 2010, was an unassuming structure, able to seat about a dozen people. Nobody knew what Chicken Charlie was, but that did little to slow the drive of the young owner. For the first few months, Yu himself manned the small kitchen, working 18-hour days to realize his dream. The rest, as they say, is history.

Chicken Charlie in CEBU

Two years and ten branches after, Chicken Charlie opens its first branch in Cebu and in the Visayas. JP Sy of Charlie One Ventures, franchisee of Chicken Charlie, expressed his enthusiasm about the opening of their Cebu branch. “We’ve been open since two Saturdays ago and we’ve already had many repeat customers!”, he shared. Currently, Chicken Charlie can be found in Metro Manila (8 branches), Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and now Cebu.

When asked about their expansion plans, Sy said that they are currently looking for a space at Ayala Center Cebu. By the end of the year, they would have opened four more branches, two of those would be found in SM Bacolod and SM Marikina.

Chicken Charlie positions itself as a fast casual restaurant, because food is cook as ordered. Normally, waiting time should not go beyond 15 minutes. Now, let’s explore their menu:

Chicken Charlie serves purely fried chicken but here’s something for those who are not that into fried chicken.

Fish Strips (pickled radish included) + rice + iced tea = P115 only!

Charlie’s Bowl, perfect for those who want a quick meal. P59 only, add iced tea for P15

Charlie’s Greens, ideal for the health conscious. This delectable Asian salad for only P110.

Tasty Wedges, P55.

I love cheese! So the Cheesestick Dynamite is an instant favorite! Green chili in a wrapper stuffed with cheese equals an explosion of flavors! It’s not necessarily spicy so those who aren’t into spicy food have no reason to fret. 8 pieces for P119, 5 pieces for P83.

Now here is Chicken Charlie’s main attraction, their double fried chicken!

The preparation involves a double-frying technique. Using vegetable oil, the chicken is fried to render out the chicken fat. The second round of frying would make the chicken skin exceptionally crispy but retaining its flavor and juiciness. Each order is consistently made and brushed and glazed with their signature flavors: Soy Garlic and Hot Sweet. You might ask, “do they have gravy or ketchup?”. The answer is, NO. Who needs ‘em? Haha. They have hot sauce though.

For starters, the Chicken Wings is a must-try. As seen in the above photo, the wings with toothpicks, are the spicy ones. But then again, for those who aren’t into spicy food, don’t worry as it really isn’t spicy, just a tad bit. P162 for 6 pieces, P215 for 8, P259 for 10, P310 for 12. Orders for 10 and 12 pieces come with a side of pickled radish.

If the Chicken Wings aren’t enough, you can get the Drumstick. Unlike your usual fastfood fried chicken, this one has none of those breadcrumbs that compete with the meat itself. 4 pieces for P213, 6 for P315, and 8 for P425. Orders for 8 pieces come with a side of pickled radish.

Combos are also available. 2 Drumsticks + 4 Wings for P209, 3 Drumsticks + 6 Wings for P315*, 4 Drumsticks + 4 Wings for P315*. Value meals are also available for those who are dining alone or in a group.
*served with a side of pickled radish

One more thing that sets Chicken Charlie apart the rest is this:

Bundaberg, P90. These authentic Australian-made full-flavored non-alcoholic beverages are probably the perfect pair for the drumsticks and wings. The Ginger Beer is a must-try! Real ginger pieces, brewed to a genuine old recipe to release the natural flavours of ginger. Meanwhile, the Sarsaparilla reminds me of the great ole Sarsi. *San Mig Light, P55 can be an alternative pair to your chicken.

Yummy and reasonably-priced, I think I found a new favorite dining spot! At first, I thought the menu was quite limited. But once I took the first bite, I just nodded. Chicken Charlie is love!

For more information on Chicken Charlie you can visit their website at www.chickencharlie.net

They can be found at:
QUEZON CITY
- Banawe, Katipunan Ave., Eastwood, Panay Ave. corner Timog Ave.
MANILA
- Adriatico St. in Malate, Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo
SAN JUAN
- J. Abad Santos St., Little Baguio
TAGUIG
- Bonifacio Global City
VISMIN
- The Peak, Gaisano Mall of Davao, Davao City
- Grand Prix, Cagayan De Oro City
- eBloc2, Cebu IT Park, Cebu City

Chicken Charlie – CEBU
Ground Floor, eBloc2 (beside Army Navy and Chatime)
Cebu IT Park (see map below)

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