With the rain relentlessly pouring over Metro Manila, spicy food felt like the perfect comfort for our hungry tummies. Knowing that Korean cuisine is famous for its spicy dishes, my workmates and I decided to dine at Big Mama. We practically sprinted to the restaurant in Poblacion as the rain started to fall even harder.
This wasn’t my first time at Big Mama. Back at my previous job, my Korean bosses frequented this place and often treated us, their staff, to meals here. Now that I have a new job, I was excited to introduce this authentic Korean restaurant to one of my foodie workmates — and she was eager to give it a try. We also invited three newly found friends to join in the fun!
Big Mama’s Famous Chicken
Big Mama is known as a “chicken and beer” restaurant, so we naturally ordered their signature chicken — ₱730 for 15 pieces. We divided the flavors equally: half spicy and half regular. The order also came with three dips. The chicken here is incredibly flavorful — definitely a must-try!
Ramyon Bokki (Rabokki)
We also ordered the Ramyon Bokki/Rabokki (₱250), a delightful fusion of two popular dishes: ramen and bokki (stir-fried rice cakes shaped like cylinders). The dish was served with a hard-boiled egg, which we cut into pieces and mixed into the rabokki, adding more flavor to the rich red pepper sauce.
How about trying out Japanese ramen like Hokkaido Ramen Santouka!
Fish Cake Soup
Our next dish was the Fish Cake Soup (₱400), a clear broth served with fish cakes, seaweed, and a hard-boiled egg. The fish cakes resembled the fish balls we commonly enjoy as snacks, but instead of being round, they were long, flat, and rectangular — skewered on sticks similar to isaw.
Big Mama’s Vibe
Big Mama isn’t a fancy restaurant, which makes the ambiance casual and unintimidating. Despite its simplicity, the place is often filled with Koreans — a clear sign that this spot offers authentic Korean flavors.
While Big Mama may not be as popular among Filipinos, I assure you that the food, especially the chicken, is fantastic. The prices are affordable, the servings are generous, and the flavors are spot on.
The staff is friendly, though don’t expect a formal dining experience — after all, Big Mama is meant to be a laid-back chicken-and-beer spot. Each table has a bell that you can press whenever you need assistance, which is quite convenient.
If you’re craving authentic Korean comfort food with bold flavors, Big Mama is definitely worth a visit!
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Serving: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Taste: 4.5/5
Big Mama address: Azotea De Bel-Air Condominium Building, 5786 Polaris, Makati, 1210 Metro Manila
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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Photo watermark is named after my old site.
