Inside Paolo Bediones’ new resto Hoolala: 8 things to try

MANILA, Philippines – Sweet, spicy, crispy – there are more ways than one to enjoy your choice of fried chicken, and at new restaurant Hoolala Korean Chicken House, there are quite a few options to sample on your first visit.  

Co-owned by TV hosts Paolo Bediones, Grace Lee, and talent manager Arnold Vegafria, Hoolala is located in Escriva Drive in Ortigas, Pasig City. The ambience is very casual, the interiors simple and perfunctory (with a side of cute, in the cheery chickens you’ll see on the walls). 

Notable at this restaurant is that it’s as easy to dine alone as it is with a big group, with options for solo meals, half orders, and whole orders available. 

Also notable: the restaurant is open daily until 3 in the morning – so you can head here after a long night out. 

If you’re thinking about paying a visit, here are a few things to try:  

Original Fried Chicken (Half P260, whole P490)

Yang-Nyum Chicken. (Half P300, whole P560)

This fried chicken is tossed in a homemade sauce. Choose between Traditional Sweet Chili, Classic Soy, Cheesy-Gooey, Oh-my-Garlic, or Chili Sili 

Yang-Nyum Chicken in Chili Sili sauce 

Yang-Nyum Chicken in Oh-my-Garlic sauce 

Japche. (Solo P70, to share P120)

You can also choose a solo order via a value meal set-up, including chicken, rice, and a drink Take a look:

(One-piece chicken meal P89, two-piece chicken meal, P139)

You can choose to have original, sweet chili, classic soy, or Chili sili sauce on the chicken. Upgrade to kimchi fried rice – just add P20. 

At Hoolala, they also have Snow Chicken, or chicken that’s been shaken in powdered flavoring. This comes in 3 flavors: cheese, hot chili, or garden fresh. (Half P280, Whole P520). 

Here’s the Garden Fresh chicken:

There’s also the Boneless Cheesy Melt, a dish that’s baked just before serving. (Half P330, Whole P620) 

They also come in the available flavors: Traditional Sweet chili, Oh-my-garlic, Chili Sili. Here’s the Chili sili one:

The Pa Dak dish, which is similar to the Boneless dish but topped with spring onions and tossed with a special dressing, is another option. (Half P330, whole P620)

This is the latest of a slew of new restaurants Paolo Bediones is opening this year – therapeutic for him, he says, following the recent sex video scandal. At least two more restaurants are in the pipeline, a Pampanga-cuisine-inspired deli and a Japanese restaurant. 

Did anything catch your eye? Let us know in the comments below! – Rappler.com

All photos by Manman Dejeto/Rappler