Hainanese Chicken Wars

i have made it my life's mission to find the best Hainanese Chicken in Manila. like i have anything better to devout myself to.

first let me introduce to you the fabled Hainanese chicken. named after where it began, Hainan, China, but have been made famous predominantly in Singapore. Although other neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand and even the Philippines have adapted their own versions of this famous chicken.

the process: the chicken is steeped into boiling water together with garlic and ginger, then the stock will be reused for the making of the chicken rice. for some who are weirded out eating pale, raw-looking chicken (eyes rolling), there's the roasted chicken too.

Tao Yuan and Wee Nam Kee aced the Hainanese Chicken test, comparing it to my encounters in Singapore. both restaurants originated form Singapore, by the way. no surprise there.

Tao Yuan's Hainanese Chicken (whole chicken-880php).

Tao Yuan branches: 

General Malvar St. Malate Manila

Greenbelt 3, 2nd floor, Makati

Resorts World, 2nd floor, Newport City

also try their Mango Lapu-Lapu and Spareribs in Garlic. 

Wee Nam Kee (whole chicken-890php). 

Wee Nam Kee's branches:

Serendra Piazza, Taguig

Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati 

Glorietta 2, Makati

Trinoma, Quezon City

Shangri-la Plaza, Mandaluyong 

Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa

must-try their chili crab!

Both are the melt-in-your-mouth-kinda-chicken. that simple flavor of quality chicken seasoned and cooked to perfection, paired with rice oozing with chicken broth goodness, and an overflowing supply of crushed ginger and chili sauce on the side.

yes, both are worth the drool.

but there can only be one victor in this Hainanese Chicken Wars. 

Wee Nam Kee- 1   Tao Yuan- 0