Konted's Make My Day 2: Savory Fried Chicken

Savory Fried Chicken

I was looking at Rene Reyes's check list. He had just disembarked from the plane. It was an 8-hour trip from Melbourne. He had been away for quite some time. Number one on that list was his desire to try once again the famous Savory Chicken. While fried chicken and the like are readily available in Melbourne, for Rene, nothing else comes close to Savory Chicken.

The Original Savory at the foot of Jones Bridge. It is now owned and managed by the heirs of Jose Ting, one of the four Ting brothers.

The Classic Savory outlets are owned and managed by the heirs of Tony Ting. Take note of the word Classic attached to the restaurant's name.

Savory Chicken was introduced in 1950.

Savory Fried Chicken was first introduced to the public in 1950 by a band of real brothers. The Ting brothers, all four food connoisseurs, concocted a flavor distinct from fried chickens of other restaurants. The white meat, as it is today, is tender and juicy. And the gravy is superb. From their original place in Quiapo, they moved to Escolta, which is at the foot of Jones Bridge. This restaurant is still there.

Rene's order: One whole Savory Fried Chicken

And another whole fried chicken. This one is chopped.

Gravy to go with the chicken

There are now numerous Savory Chicken outlets serving the same Fried Chicken made famous by the Ting brothers. Some outlets use the name Original Savory while others are named Classic Savory. All are owned and managed, independently and separately, by the heirs of the Ting Brothers. And the gravy has not changed. Traditional Chinese dishes such as Pancit Canton, Lumpiang Shanghai, Camaron Rebosado, Nido Soup are served hot. Dining alone or in twosome or with the entire family, Savory Chicken continues to be the centerpiece.

Pancit Canton

Beef with ampalaya

Crab meat

Yang Chow fried rice

Rene Reyes and company took the table nearest the door. Aside from other Chinese dishes, he ordered two whole Savory fried chickens. One was for his three companions, the other was exclusively his alone. Dipping generously into the gravy, he began savoring Savory Fried Chicken. And he was obviously enjoying every bite. Based in Delahey, which is part of Greater Melbourne, Rene had been away for so long that he had missed a lot of good things. And this time, he made sure his craving for Savory Chicken was fully satisfied. The chicken was stripped to the bones.

- Konted