Top 10 fast-food restaurants

With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, fast food is the fastest way to satisfy hunger pangs. It’s comfort/convenient food that’s good for the soul — and kind to the pocket, too. To literally grab a bite to eat, you need not look far because fast-food restaurants are all over the country — there’s probably one smack in the center of your neighborhood. Indeed, we’re fast becoming a fast-food nation.

So, what’s your favorite fast-food restaurant? We did some sniffing around and quickly came up with this list of top 10 fast-food restos in the country today:

1. Jollibee

Network-wise, Jollibee is the No. 1 fast-food chain in the country today, with more than 600 outlets all over the country (278 of them in Metro Manila alone — for delivery, call 87000) and over 30 stores abroad, bringing a taste of Pinoy burger and more to the world. Jollibee is surely busy as a bee. And to think it all started as a small mom-and-pop store 30 years ago. It’s also the most awarded Filipino fast-food chain. Truly, this Pinoy success story, that’s created a big buzz, warms the heart. And guaranteed to warm the tummy are its best-selling and very affordable Yumburgers (really cheap but truly tasty and beefy at only P25), crispylicious Chickenjoy that you’ll enjoy, Jolly good Spaghetti, and a lot more “langhap-sarap” products developed through rigorous scientific methods and state-of-the-art technology.

Isn’t that bee-utiful?

2. Chowking

Literally, this restaurant is the king of chow — food that’s meant to delight both the heartstrings and the pursestrings. Why, at Chowking, you can have a meal fit for a king on a commoner’s budget! Among its top sellers are the chicken lauriat (only P132), a combination of fried chicken, siomai, rice, pancit, buchi, chicharap in one generous plate; beef wanton (P89), a really satisfying steaming-hot treat for people craving great noodles with chunks of tender beef and wanton, and a special beef sauce; and pork chao fan (P39), deliciously filling mixed fried rice with marinated pork bits and the signature Chowking Chinese bagoong.

Today, Chowking has 383 outlets nationwide. For delivery, call 702-8888.

Chowking’s recipe for success is simple: good quality, the right portions, and the right price points based on customer feedback. Because at Chowking, the customer is king.

3. McDonald’s

Here’s where the beef is — at McDonald’s 277 stores nationwide (call only one number for delivery: 86236MCDO). Say “Cheese!” And say it with McDo burgers that have gotten even beefier. McDo also gets “cheesier” with its ongoing ultimate cheeseburger promo. If the cheeseburger is not beefy enough for you, double the treat with the double cheeseburger that’s got two layers of 100-percent pure beef patty and American cheese with choice ingredients in a soft bun. For a touch of green on your burger, there’s the cheeseburger de luxe (100-percent pure beef patty with American cheese, crisp vegetables, and special dressing in a soft bun) or the double cheeseburger de luxe (two layers of 100-percent pure beef patty and American cheese with crisp vegetables and special dressing in a soft bun).

So, what are you waiting for? Pa-cheeseburger ka naman!

4. Goldilocks

As good as gold, Goldilocks’ goodies are good old favorites. With 265 stores nationwide (for delivery, call 888-1-999), its name has become a byword here and abroad. Filipinos living abroad pine for the Goldilocks mamon, among other Goldilocks best-sellers.  For Goldilocks, success is sweet!  But aside from its assorted sweet treats, Goldilocks offers certified Pinoy favorites like palabok (palabok noodles topped with a bright orange sauce delicately flavored with dried shrimps, ground meat, and bean curd, and then garnished with chicharon or popped pork rind flakes and hard-boiled egg, and served with calamansi); fresh lumpia (a mix of meat and chopped ubod or coconut shoots and other vegetables like turnips and carrots rolled in a thin homemade wrapper and served with peanut sauce); dinuguan (Pinoy dish of pork meat and blood cooked in vinegar and seasonings, and garnished with chili finger); pork barbecue (slices of marinated skewered pork meat grilled over hot coals and basted with a special sauce for that sweet barbecue taste); and sago’t gulaman (a refreshing cold beverage of tapioca with caramel syrup and gulaman, served in crushed ice and banana essence).

Certainly, at Goldilocks, you can have your cake and eat it, too.

5. Greenwich

Volume- and network-wise, Greenwich is the No. 1 pizza chain — the one true Pinoy pizza chain — in the country today. It’s got 240 branches all over the Philippines (for delivery, call 955-5555). It’s got probably the best-tasting affordable pizza you can find. Want proof? The proof is in the eating. Blind taste tests show Greenwich pizza tastes better than the others. And now, there’s more to tickle the taste buds with Greenwich’s new overloaded pizza, the result of a survey that says that consumers like toppings — lots of ’em — on their pizza. The Greenwich special pizza has all of seven toppings! In 1999, Greenwich loaded all its pizza flavors with more toppings of choice meat and vegetables at no extra cost to consumers. How extra generous!

At Greenwich, making pizza is an art — ingredients must be cut into a certain shape, at a certain prescribed thickness, and at a prescribed ratio.

But Greenwich is not just about pizza. It also serves pastas and more. Pizza on earth and good food to all men!

6. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)

Pinoys just love fried chicken — don’t you? And Col. Sanders’ (yes, the bespectacled and mustachioed guy smiling in the signage) Kentucky Fried Chicken has certainly captured Filipinos’ taste buds. The legendary KFC original recipe that dates back to the 1930s is a perfect blend of 11 secret herbs and spices especially formulated by Col. Harland Sanders who was obsessed with coming up with the best-tasting chicken recipe. Sanders’ recipe is such a well-guarded secret that the original handwritten copy is safely stashed away in a vault in Louisville, Kentucky.

In the Philippines, Col. Sanders’ famous chicken can be enjoyed in 165 KFC stores (call 887-8888 for delivery).

Of course it’s no secret that KFC takes its chicken very seriously. Every piece of chicken is freshly delivered every day and carefully marinated, breaded, and cooked to golden brown perfection in KFC’s kitchens. To let you in on a little secret: KFC’s original recipe chicken undergoes a special pressure-frying process perfected by Col. Sanders himself to make sure that every piece of chicken that comes out of the KFC kitchen is juicy, tender and, yes, finger-lickin’ good! And to complete the finger-lickin’ good experience, your chicken comes with the original recipe gravy, mashed potato, coleslaw, and macaroni salad.

Col. Sanders would surely be bowled over by KFC’s newest product that combines favorite KFC flavors in one bowl. What’s in the KFC famous bowl? It’s chock-full of creamy mashed potato, bite-sized KFC chicken, cheddar cheese, sweet corn, and KFC’s signature gravy. Col. Sanders must be burping in heaven!

7. SHAKEY’S/PIZZA HUT

Yes, everyone wants a pizza of the action. Pizza is one of the most convenient tummy fillers. And when it comes to pizza, it’s a toss-up between Shakey’s and Pizza Hut.

Shakey’s has been serving not just great pizzas but also a lot of fun for over 33 years now.  Now on its 99th store (the latest being Walter Mart in Muñoz, Quezon City) and preparing to open its 100th store, Shakey’s is well loved for its Original Thin Crust Pizza, Manager’s Choice pizza, the all-time favorite Bunch-of-Lunch, and the fried-to-a-perfect-golden brown mojos.

For people at the STAR Life Section, nothing beats Shakey’s Friday Special that’s loaded with shrimps and anchovies. Somebody said it’s like eating pizza with bagoong.

But of course, we also love Shakey’s tasty appetizers like the Calamari Crrunch (emphasis on the crunch) and Buffalo Wings (as spicy hot as you’d find ’em in Buffalo, New York, where the dish, simply called chicken wings, originated.

For delivery, call 77-777 (that’s five 7s).

With the opening of two new stores, expect a lot more to be shaking at Shakey’s.

So, what’s hot at Pizza Hut? Currently drawing hordes of pizza habitues are the Bistro’s Italian specials. For starters, have a Tuscan salad (a refreshing combination of mixed greens, fresh tomatoes, olives, walnuts, and shaved Parmesan in sweet balsamic vinaigrette at P175). A must-try is an appetizer called Mussels di Napoli (plump imported New Zealand mussels in white wine, served with crusty bread, P189).

For your entree, the choices include cheese ravioli (cheese and mushroom-filled ravioli in tomato and pesto sauce, P155); Italian grilled chops (tender and moist grilled pork chops with herbed rice and grilled tomatoes, P189); seafood portofino pasta (linguini noodles in olive oil and white wine sauce with shrimps, scallops, and New Zealand mussels, P175).

Of course, you want your pizza. Your fave Cheesy Pops Pizza has just gotten cheesier with its rich cheddar dip at no extra cost. Not only do you get to pull a cheese-filled pop, you can also take a dip! The ultimate cheese indulgence, there are 24 pullable cheese-filled pops you can dip in rich, creamy cheddar cheese (only P530 for family-size pizza).

Please pass the pizza!

Pizza Hut has 150 outlets nationwide. For delivery, call 911-11-11 and get your order hot and fresh in Pizza Hut’s oven pouch.  Visit www.pizzahut.com.ph.

8. GOODAH!!!

Then as now, if you want goto, you know the place to go to. But of course, it’s Goodah!!! For a steaming bowl of the ultimate in comfort food, everybody hied off to Greenhills Shopping Center, where Goodah!!! opened its first store in 1983. Ladling out “pagkain good for every all,” Goodah!!! has become part of the Filipino pop culture. Yes, “what’s your step,” Goodah!!! is open 25 hours.

Rain or shine, Goodah!!! continues to serve Pinoy faves fast and hot at its more than a hundred franchise outlets all over Metro Manila.

Still a top seller is the tapsilog (tapa and sinangag, P70) which is served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (altanghap), and comes with sunny-side up egg and atchara.

Of course, Goodah!!! has other si foods like longsilog (longganisa), and tocilog (tocino), among other dishes made genuinely Pinoy.

 Ahh!!!

9. TOKYO TOKYO

Hai, you don’t have to go to Tokyo to satisfy your craving for Japanese food. When Tokyo Tokyo opened on April 22, 1985 at the Gift Gate Center, Quad Car Park (across what was then the Manila Garden Hotel), this tempura freak was one of the first in line. People still remember the samurai ribbon-cutting done by Ayala tycoons Jaime Zobel and Fernando Zobel, and Sanrio owners Mr. and Mrs. Kunihiko Tsuji. The truly star-studded show marked the directorial debut of Martin Nievera. Today, Tokyo Tokyo has 55 outlets.

Finally, good Japanese food that’s great on the palate and easy on the pocket!

Unlike other Japanese fast-food restaurants, Tokyo Tokyo’s beef is freshly grilled daily.  Beef is sourced from Brazil and the US.

At Tokyo Tokyo, diners are spoiled for choice. On the menu are 26 different main dishes (including a combination of dishes and different serving sizes of the best-sellers, five side dishes, three appetizers, and three desserts).

Every three months or so, a new item is introduced. This month, a new chicken line called Fried Chicken Karaage is being launched.

For a truly filling meal that will satisfy even a sumo wrestler, the Tokyo Tokyo Imago Bento can’t be beat. To complement the beef misono, the bento’s got miso soup, Red Iced Tea, and a creamy delight.

Dining at Tokyo Tokyo is never complete without the refreshing taste of its signature Red Iced Tea. Truly tea-licious!

Shall we take a trip to Tokyo Tokyo?

10. KENNY ROGERS ROASTERS

What’s roasting at Kenny Rogers? 

We’ve always loved Kenny Rogers’ flame-broiled chicken that’s tasty enough even without the gravy and is best enjoyed with the yummy corn muffins.

Kenny Rogers has 35 branches nationwide. For delivery, call 533-8888.

The fresh and hot news is that Kenny Rogers Roasters now also serves good old-fashioned gourmet sandwiches with tender meat or fish, fresh greens, and a tasty swirl of dressing.

You get a taste of home sweet home in every bite of the gourmet sandwiches meticulously prepared fresh with every order. Brimming with freshness and flavor, each sandwich promises a tongue-talizing experience!

There are 10 different kinds to choose from: roast chicken sandwich, cheeseburger sandwich, Philly cheese steak sandwich, bbq pork sandwich, tuna melt sandwich, jumbo chili hotdog sandwich, jumbo hotdog sandwich, cold chunky chicken sandwich, cold chunky tuna sandwich, and fried chicken sandwich.

Now, which sandwich will it be?