Members of the South Korean hip-hop trio Epik High—Tablo, DJ Tukutz, and Mithra Jin—wandered through the city of Manila to explore fast-food chains known for their highly acclaimed fried chicken. Their mission was to verify the claim of being “the world’s number one chicken.”
Epik High posted a video on their official YouTube account to take their viewers along on the adventure. Ready to kick off their food adventure, the trio set off in a van.
Tablo shared, “So we hear the best chicken in the world is right here in Manila.” He then informed the other members about the specific locations where they would be sampling different variations of fried chicken, introducing the popular food chains: Jollibee, 24-Chicken, and Uncle John’s.
Hitting their first spot, Jollibee, Tablo goes to mention the reviews he’s heard about the place and voiced, “This place is totally a hot spot.” Mithra Jin went straight in with his hands as they each dug into the original flavored chicken, and instantly complimented the taste, stating, “Oh, it’s got a nice saltiness.” The rest of the members moaned in delight, especially when they dipped the chicken into the gravy and remarked, “When it meets the gravy the flavor is complete.”
Their second stop was Uncle John’s, a visit that gained significant traction online among Filipino social media users after a Facebook page posted a photo of the members eating their meal outside the shop.
Before they got meals of their own, the group got the verdict of two other women in line and asked which they would choose between Jollibee and Uncle John’s. The latter won the women’s favor, heightening the group’s curiosity and got DJ Tukutz to raise, “If the locals recommend it, then it must be good.”
After a few complications with the cash-only transaction, as the group only had a card on hand leading to their experience on the culture of “utang” (borrowing money) from another customer, they finally bit into the meat and reviewed its flavor.
While Mithra Jin pointed out that the chicken was not as crispy anymore because of the delay in payment, he would still agree with the two women’s preference in opting for Uncle John’s, stating, “The seasoning is really well-absorbed.” The two other members agreed with the sentiment before they headed off to their final stop— 24-Chicken.
The Korean-inspired chicken shop got the three excited as they recognized familiar flavors such as Yangnyeom. The group tried out the store’s most recommended flavors being the Original, Jack Daniels, and Yangnyeom with a side of kimchi that evidently was a hit for them after Tablo happily munched on his first bite. After getting a taste of each chicken, it was safe to say that each member was very much pleased. Tablo couldn’t help but repeatedly say, “Oh my god, oh my god,” and proceeded to shake the hand of the cook and thanked them for the delicious meal.
The food trip finally came to a close and the final verdict was quite relatable with Jollibee ranking as number one for Tablo and Mithra Jin. DJ Tukutz, however, found that 24-chicken was the one that really left an impression on him, going as far as saying, “24-chicken, if you need investors hit me up. I could move here and work with you.”
Epik High’s “Manila Chicken Tour” was truly a ride to enjoy and appreciate, as they promoted the Filipino-style in meals to their wide range of viewers, encouraging them to visit these shops when in the Philippines.
Other POP! stories you might like:
Kim Soo-hyun’s upcoming drama ‘Knock Off’ faces possible cancellation as sponsors reconsider support
Kim Sae-ron’s AI-generated memorial video prompts fans to come to the late actress’s defense
Harvard boosts financial aid, offers free tuition for families earning under $200,000
Saudi Arabia closes US$3.5 billion deal to buy Pokémon GO, sparks concerns over users’ location data
Ne-yo introduces his four ‘loves’ on Instagram