Recently, we had some guests from Manila. She contacted her friends in Bacolod for a dinner together. Where else to enjoy good Filipino food with a Visayan trademark but in Chikaan at the newly opened store in SM City Bacolod?
[UPDATE 2023: The restaurant has closed and is no longer in operation in this location.]
A week prior to that simple dinner with our guests, we were treated to a sumptuous food tasting feast. Andrei and Bianca Picardal, the couple behind Chikaan in Bacolod, were around to make sure that we get a fill of whatever they have prepared for us.
Among the vegetable dishes, we picked Pinakbet With Chicharon. Pinakbet is a favorite Filipino fare but one with chicharon does not go ordinarily, so we decided to try and see how the combination goes. The chicharon gave the vegetable dish a tasty texture.
For fish and seafood lovers, there are plenty to choose from. The two dishes that really stood out for me were the Baked Scallop and Buttered Garlic Shrimp because of their sumptuous cheesy and buttery taste. It was also a delight to have the Sizzling Squid which was surprisingly soft and easily melts in my mouth.
Among the fish menu, the Grilled Tuna Belly and the Grilled Blue Marlin were never a let down because of their yummy flavor. I admit that I am not a crab enthusiast but the Ginataang Crab Meat was something that had me take for a second serving.
Meat lovers will really love their Pochero Steak, which should be eaten upon serving. Otherwise, the bone marrow will harden under the cold temperature. It is too sinful though, especially with the gravy that wraps the marrow itself. The Crispy Pata is another sinful temptation. It is really tasty, crispy and delectable, especially that the meat is very soft.
The Grilled Chorizo de Cebu is an all-time favorite among Chikaan regulars. There’s a special blend, probably a secret mix, that brings a special taste to their chorizo. Now, there’s also the Lechon Kawali, that will also satisfy your hunger.
You can cap your meal with their sumptuous desserts. We got Pinipig Delight and Leche Flan to balance the colorful tastes of all the food we had that dinner.
Chikaan at SM City Bacolod is spacious and is a good place to bring family and friends for an enjoyable meal. Price is also something to look forward to Chikaan because the food are reasonably priced, giving you value for your money.
Though Chikaan originated in Cebu, our neighboring island, it still appeals to Negrenses and Filipinos who visit Bacolod. More so, it is a place where foreigners can also enjoy and have a great experience eating all-Filipino food.
This is not the website of Chikaan. The blogger/author was only invited by the owners to taste their menu. No remuneration was given to this writer. All opinions are solely mine.