Food
TRAVERSE THE Far East with JSEC Challenge 2026’s Asian Cuisine food stalls! From the tantalizing crunch of familiar fried chicken flavors to warm bowls of phở, this year’s student entrepreneurs offer a mix of traditional and contemporary interpretations of classic Asian staples that are sure to satisfy you any time of the day.
Crispify
Inspired by distinct East Asian flavors and cooking techniques, Crispify aims to offer the Ateneo community a familiar yet innovative culinary experience with their twist on fried chicken. Though they promise an elevated taste journey through the stellar cuisines of their chosen region, the dishes prove to be mostly unadventurous in their attempts.
One bite of the Japanese-inspired Teriyaki Chicken (Php 149) delights the tongue with its signature sweet and savory sauce, while the breaded exterior provides a much-needed crunch. Despite these highlights, the chicken is hampered by a certain dryness that detracts the palate from the richness of the umami glaze.
Now traveling into the popular Korean gastronomy is their Yangnyeom Chicken (Php 149). Aiming for a more spice-forward dish, the chicken is imbued with a rich, tangy flavor and a slight kick of added smokiness, courtesy of the gochujang-based dressing. The chicken skin remains crisp, raising the dish’s quality—though it still suffers from the same noticeable dryness in the meat.
Building off the K-Food vibes of the previous dish, their Honey Soy Garlic Chicken (Php 149) is a delightfully robust and barbecue-tasting dish. The caramelized honey and rich soy garlic blend together to create a tantalizing sauce that just leaves you salivating. The chicken, in particular, lacked the dryness evident in the previous two servings, upping the meal’s overall quality.
Alongside these mains is a choice of either rice or a handful of Cajun fries for Php 149, while opting for both is priced at Php 199. The fries, while palatable, leave much to be desired. Perhaps a dash more of that bold spice and fresher potatoes could have elevated this faintly seasoned, tart side dish.
All in all, Crispify served up perfectly average chicken meals that present the iconic flavors of the region in a straightforward manner. While not breaking the mold, these dishes can still satisfy a hungry stomach.
3/5 🍗🍗🍗/🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗
Pilosopho
Pilosopho takes on a daring challenge of their own with the promise of bringing Vietnamese street food to campus. As the only stall serving soup amid an array of dry grills and stir fries, all eyes are on their Hanoian street food lineup that seeks to fulfill cravings of brothy, aromatic, and intricate Asian dishes.
Hitting students strictly with that phở is their Beef Phở (Php 180), a bowl of bouncy and chewy bánh phở noodles submerged in simmered beef broth. Instead of the expected thin servings of phở tái, a thick cut of air-fried beef belly and pre-made vegan mushroom balls are served on top, promising a more filling meal experience to students. However, the meat’s stringy texture and lack of seasoning, and the faux-meatballs’ artificial flavor fail to deliver the expected savory and saucy contrast to the soup’s mild taste.
While the beef phở’s presentation screams balanced flavors of greasy and rich, its soup, which should ultimately hold every component of the dish together, leaves behind a slick aftertaste rather than a light mouthfeel. Coming off as a straightforward yet flat umami flavor, their Pork Phở (Php 160) shares this same weakness of insipidity, with the only difference being the choice of meat.
Their Bún Cha (Php 120) compensates for the two mediocre phở soups as its broth is packed with fruity, sweet, and smoky flavors. The same patties from the Pork Phở in this soup act as a harmonious counterpart to the zest of their dish. Completing the experience of eating a full serving of soup are the crispy bean sprouts that mix well with the slurping of the dish.
Overall, Pilosopho may have fallen short on fulfilling their bold promise, but their Bún Cha is proof of their potential in quenching the campus thirst for timeless and delectable Vietnamese food.
1.5/5 🍜/ 🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜
