Hatched from the idea of all-day breakfast everyday, The Coop is a Matteo Ricci Study Hall stall that will surely have you clucking for more—one way or another.
Taste
The Coop serves three kinds of sandwiches: the Biddy, the Broiler, and the Banger. Each creation features eggs, either scrambled or sunny side-up, coupled with a variety of sauces and viands, and wedged between two brioche buns. They also offer an optional side of satisfying starchy kettle chips or thick-cut fries with their mains.
Their first dish, the Biddy, is a symphony of flavors and textures that will make your buds zing with delight. The most novel and intriguing of the three, at least flavorwise, it boasts moist, silky scrambled eggs that are topped with chopped scallions, caramelized onions, and a good dose of sriracha mayo. The fiery heat from the mayo and umami from the onions combine well with the creamy eggs and tender buns to produce a lasting impression that coats your mouth in savory warmth.
But it’s not all novelty for The Coop. The Broiler, for instance, brings a familiar albeit generic taste to the table. Showcasing a beautifully runny sunny-side egg, crispy bacon, and tangy chipotle ketchup sandwiched between fresh buns, the Broiler ticks all the boxes but fails to excite. It’s reminiscent of a classic bacon and eggs breakfast—homey but uninspired, something that might as well be made at home. The clincher, its chipotle ketchup, falls flat on its face. Neither smoky nor spicy, it’s practically just plain ol’ tomato ketchup.
Still, for those who crave ingenuity and shun stale flavors, The Coop has one more dish up its sleeve: The Banger. Packing a sunny-side egg, a sausage patty, and a slathering of spicy maple syrup, the Banger has a polarizing combination of flavors that will confuse some and gratify others. What sets this sandwich apart is its chili-infused maple syrup which takes its cue from savory waffle recipes and brings a unique dimension of sweet and spice to an otherwise conventional dish. The egg is wonderfully cooked as usual, the buns are tender as before, and the patty is savory and juicy, but it’s the syrup that gives this dish its (some-might-say-too-bizarre) kick. If pancakes with syrup is a forest of maple trees, the Banger is that forest caught in a wildfire—would you brave it?
Concept
Though The Coop is not the first to come up with the idea of serving breakfast items all day, the owners share that they “want to break the stereotype” that breakfast foods, particularly eggs, should only be served, well, for breakfast. Whether their mission is necessary and meritorious is up for debate, but one thing’s for sure: They’re the only JSEC stall to have a focus on eggs and the different ways to serve them.
Price
Solo sandwiches cost Php 90 each while combo meals, your choice of sandwich with sides and a 500ml bottle of water, cost Php 120. You can add another egg, another sausage patty, or two more strips of bacon for Php 15.
Solo or combo, the price is steep for an egg sandwich with some condiments and either alliums or processed meat. The Coop plans on increasing their portion size in the future, but, upon writing, portions are small and not filling. For the same price you can buy a more substantial meal elsewhere. But if you’re really craving for some egg, buying add-ons will get you a more robust sandwich.
The Final Verdict
Though The Coop’s offerings are far from being the most bang for your buck, they serve a couple of unique sandwiches well worth a try especially for the egg-thusiasts out there.
Rating: 3.5/5
