Review: Hainanese Delights

HAINANESE DELIGHTS: Barbecue & Hainanese Chicken Rice


Ever had the pleasure of a piping hot bowl of Hainanese rice topped with tender chicken? This originally Chinese offering was made popular in Singapore, so much so that it is now their "national dish." The uniqueness of this rice dish is that the grains are specially prepared to absorb all the aromatic flavors it is cooked with, such as garlic, ginger, ginger, pandan, coconut milk, and of course, the Hainanese chicken broth. The combo of these two rich elements plus a side of smokin' chilli sauce is an Asian favorite. And now, we have it in Cebu!





My first encounter with the Sing staple was at the Chatterbox restaurant on Orchard Road, Singapore. It looked pretty dull and unappealing to be honest but as soon as I tasted it, I was sold! Lately with the number of Asian restaurants cropping up all over town, Cebu's growing pallette has had a taste of Hainan cuisine. But as far as I know, it can be a bit pricy. Enter Hainanese Delights. Located on the second floor of  Robinson's Cybergate Cebu (across Chong Hua Hospital),  the spacious restaurant is ideal for people on the go and affordable at that! 



The Hainanese Delights experience is quite refreshing. You come in and place your order, like in most fast food chains. Then you are seated by one of their friendly servers. On the table are 3 sauces: ginger, chilli, and a mixture of soysauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil. Once seated, you are served with a complimentary bowl of hot Hainanese chicken broth that is sure to soothe the soul. Then shortly after you are served your order, hot and fast!





Hainanese Delights is perfect for those who are looking for something out of the ordinary. It's a refreshing change of pace from the usual rice and adobo  lunches, as well as a healthier alternative to fast food burgers and fries.



Katy Recommends



The Singapore Staple, P130:hearty pork and noodle soup with (half) Hainanese chicken and unlimited Hainanese Rice. This will surely fill you up with the energy you need for the next half of your work day. It's delicious and incredibly reasonable!



A Bite of Both, P110: shrimp and pork dumplings deep fried to a crisp and served with unlimited Hainanese Rice. Don't have much time for a 2-course meal? No problem! This will fill you up the same way but in lesser time!



Combo Meals, P65: a choice of Hainanese Rice topped with breaded pork or deep fried pork dumplings. For those on a budget and who have a short break, this is your best bet!



Hainanese Delights has a lot more dishes to offer. What's more is that they also brew some interesting tropical teas that are perfect for cooling off on these scorching hot summer days. And that's not all, to celebrate their 2nd anniversary, they have some fabulous promos in store! So check out HAINANESE DELIGHTS: Barbecue & Hainanese Chicken Rice and experience something new!