Photo by Gabriel J. Medina

If you need flavors on beat, DJ Chick’s got you covered. This stall proudly prizes its new spin on fried chicken by gamely redefining classic delights. With creatively curated meals, this gastro-adventure may just become your next favorite hit.  

Taste

DJ Chick’s pops are cooked in a special batter which keeps the chicken crispy for long, but comes up short in the flavor department. The meat itself also has room for improvement, since some pieces are on the dry and tough side. Because of these, their chicken, on its own, did not achieve a distinct taste. 

Despite these pitfalls, DJ Chick still delivers savory delights through its variety of sauces inspired by crowd favorite songs: ILYSB, Uptown Funk, God’s Plan, and Sunday Morning. However, its ILYSB and the Uptown Funk share the crown for bestseller.

ILYSB is a mix of tiny jalapeño cubes in a slightly viscous, delicately flavored cheese sauce. The heat from the jalapeño, before crossing an overly peppery threshold, effortlessly fuses with the creaminess of the cheese—allowing for a gentle, but fascinating finish to challenge the thoroughly spicy variants offered by other kitchens.

Contrasting the mild flavor of ILYSB is another customer favorite: The Uptown Funk. Known for its tangy glaze, the Uptown Funk is a twist to the common soy garlic variant. This innovative blend of honey with light soy creates a sweet and salty harmony that will surely excite taste buds.

But the fun doesn’t stop with the chicken. Customers can add a side of crunchy and salty cajun fries found nowhere else in JSEC. And to cleanse the palate, customers may also opt for either a blue lemonade drink with a sharp, sweet kick or a refreshingly mellow cup of iced tea. These playful tastes help complete the meal by striking an exquisite balance with each chicken dish. 

Concept

Initially a wings concept, DJ Chick developed instead as a flavored chicken bites stall. Its name was conceived from an inside joke about one of its first founders, who is a real-life DJ. The song names of the meals are also meant to capture what their respective sounds are supposed to taste like: The surprisingly tangy Uptown Funk—with a glaze that’s in no way bland—captures the upbeat energy of Bruno Mars’ single, while ILYSB is a cheesy jalapeno meal meant to represent an equally cheesy song. With this, though DJ Chick serves common JSEC fare, its menu stands out through quirkily original and quality flavors rendered through excellent sauce consistency.

Value for Money

A solo plate from DJ Chick is sure to satisfy your hunger at just Php 100, with the number of chicken pops being more than adequate for the amount of rice served. A combo meal at Php 130 pesos is also a bounty—sure to fill customers with a hefty serving of cajun fries and refreshing drinks to choose from, such as iced tea, Milo, or blue lemonade. 

Final Verdict

Although DJ Chick offers a simple chicken dish and can improve on its meat, its meals still move customers to curiosity and satisfaction. For its appetizing flavors, DJ Chick has curated just the perfect mix for the Atenean palate—and that’s a hit you definitely don’t want to miss.  

Rating: 4/5

Editors’ Note: In the interest of fairness, Vantage writers only reviewed food that was offered by the stalls during their respective taste tests.

Photos by Gabriel J. Medina