Sinfully Tasty: A Lapid's Freshly Popped Chicharon Review

Whenever I start eating a piece of chicharon, I just couldn’t keep myself from having more and more until I’ve eaten more than what I wanted to…then feel guilty afterwards, of course.

But it shouldn’t just be any chicharon. It should still have bits of fried fat and meat on it and of course, it has to be crunchy, just like any chicharon should be. I’ve tried a lot from the ones sold at sari-sari stores, to the ones served at restaurants, but I rarely find that perfect mix of crunchy skin and good bits of fried fat and meat on every piece.

That was until one of our bosses brought Lapid’s Freshly Popped Chicharon to our office.

Oh, the mouth-watering craving I had when I saw the packs. I have been passing by one of their branches (the one in Whiteplains) on my way home from work, and I’ve always wanted to taste one. Having a whole store selling nothing but chicharon, this one should taste good right? Especially one that says “The Rolls Royce of Chicharon” on its label.

And tasted good it did. That “perfect mix” I was looking for? Finally found it. We had two packs that day, each having a variety of the chicharon offered at Lapid’s. One is all skin, and the other one still has fat and meat clung to every piece.

I gobbled on the fat-and-meat variety right away. And apparently, I wasn’t the only one who loved it better too! All of us did. It’s crunchy, oily, salty, and tasty all at the same time. Don’t get me wrong though. The skin-only variety also tasted good, kinda reminded me of a kropek. It’s just that most of us loved the other one better.

You have to make sure though that when you purchase Lapid’s, it has to have the “Freshly Popped” tag on its label to make sure it’s genuine.

Lapid’s is also famous for their vinegar. Another way to know if you got the original product is if the vinegar is orange in color. Only good-tasting vinegar should accompany the perfect chicharon.

And what is a snack of chicharon without some soda to wash down the aftertaste? Trust me when I say it HAS to be soda (preferably Coke). Not juice, not water – SODA.

Okay let’s be honest, chicharon is not healthy. It’s basically fat, oil, and cholesterol. But if you can afford to cheat a little from your diet, you have to try this especially if you’re a fan of salty food. But remember, eat only in moderation. Anything that’s had in excess is never good…especially chicharon. I’m also telling this to myself at the moment.

The skin-only variety costs Php 145.00, while the one that has meat and fat costs Php 195.00. A bit more expensive than the usual chicharon that you can have from sari-sari stores, but a gazillion times tastier.

I did a little research and here are the branches of Lapid’s where you can have this sinful but tasty snack:

QUIAPO BRANCH

Lapid Foods Bldg. I

957 C. Aguila St., Quiapo

Manila City

E. RODRIGUEZ BRANCH

1180 E. Rodriguez Sr.

Quezon City

WHITE PLAINS BRANCH

Lapid Foods Bldg. II

16 Katipunan Ave., White Plains

Quezon City

SHAW BLVD. BRANCH

Lapid Foods Bldg. IV

Shaw Blvd. near cor. Acacia Lane

Mandaluyong City

PASAY ROAD BRANCH

J. Lapid Bldg. III

South Super Highway cor. Van Buren

Makati City

VITO CRUZ BRANCH

South Super Highway cor. Vito Cruz

Makati City

Call them at +632.532.7294

What kind of chicharon do you prefer?