8. Day-Old
Another sign of the impeding zombie apocalypse is this sweet tooth we have for seemingly cannibalistic delicacies.
The story of the “Day Old” is one for the movies – As a mother hen nurtures and cuddles her baby eggs to sleep each night, a strange figure quietly creeps in the corner and waits, unmoved, unemotional and unseen. This shadowy figure waits for one thing and one thing only, the one day after the chick hatches. He lets the new born chick spend one glorious day with its mother to embrace and bond. It is only after that one day that he coldheartedly snatches the chicks away from their crying momma hen’s grasps, only to bring them to a dark, oily, deep fried demise.
OK, I think I watch too many movies… anyway, it’s really not as dramatic as that… but yeah “Day Olds” are just as they sound, one day old chickens deep fried to crispy perfection.
And if you’re still wondering, these chicks are actually farm rejects. These are male chicks, who won’t grow enough meat on their bodies to be sold as full chickens, nor will they lay any eggs, so the farms supposedly killed at birth. Knowing how Filipinos are very resourceful, they found a way to turn these into a delicacy. They are deep fried as a whole since their bones and beaks are all still soft and can be eaten. They are especially delicious dipped in some vinegar, which is the usual practice.
What do Day Old chicks taste like? Well, it tastes like chicken.
DayOld Sttreet Food Photo above by Charles Angel Lacson
Last 2 “Day Old Chick” Street Food photos by Mark Wiens of Migrationology.com
7. Adidas
Named after having three long toes that somehow reminds people of the three strips of the brand, Adidas are actually chicken feet.
As a street food, Adidas are usually served on a stick and grilled to perfection, but you can also catch this delicacy steamed or stewed at Chinese restaurants around the Philippines.
Another point given to Filipinos for resourcefulness, the often not-so-rich natives would leave nothing to waste when it comes to their catch of the day. So other than the usual thigh, leg, breasts and wings, the gizzards, livers, heads and feet are all turned into some sort of specialty.
Adidas are usually bitten apart and the skin is chewed off while in your mouth. Small bones in the chicken feet are then spit back out. Definitely a must try.
What do Adidas taste like? Well, it tastes like chicken!
Photos below are of steamed chicken feet found in restaurants. You can also find the bbq / grilled chicken feet which is the more common “street food”
6. Buko
The Filipino term for Coconuts, this is probably one of the more “normal” entries to this post.
Nowadays, you’ll see celebrities and rockstars walking around with their cups of coconut juice as it is dubbed the new health drink craze because of it’s low carbs, good for your kidneys and other benefits. But before these A list celebs got their fad loving hands on this, us common people were sipping these straight out of the coconut shell.
Other than drinking the very healthy juice it’s common to crack the whole coconut shell open and scrape coconut “meat” from around the shell for a light snack.
What does Coconut meat taste like? Well, not like chicken at all!
5. Turon
Dirty jokes aside, this is one yummy banana you’d want to get your lips around!
Some call it a “Banana Lumpia” while others just call it “that yummy thing there,” the Turon is a Filipino snack made of sliced bananas and a slice of the local fruit known as the Langka or Jackfruit. It is then rolled in a spring roll wrapper, glazed with a sugar coating and then deep fried to yummy perfection.
Other variations are available that substitutes the Jackfruit when not available, Mangoes, cheese, coconuts and even sweet potatoes.
Photos by Charles Angel Lacson
More must try street foods in Manila and the Philippines on the next page
