There's a huge Filipino presence in the western suburbs. In Sunshine, Chadz Chickenhaus (which sounds like a German restaurant run by an American frat boy) is actually the second branch of a Spanish-style chicken shop that also offers a range of traditional Filipino dishes (the original is in Werribee).
There's also great-looking butterflied chicken, a la Nando's, with chips if you like. $10 will get you two choices with rice and your choice of drink.
Halved eggplant with beef mince and egg, cooked to silkiness. I think this is called rellenong talong. It was quite mild in flavour but tasty, even better doused in lots of spicy vinegar available at the counter.
This was a yummy fish cutlet, very fresh and quite firm, somewhat like mackeral. I think it had been lightly fried before being served in delicious, lip-smacking stock. The green veg were really good too. It had bones and I was feeling wussy, so I mainly ate the stock and vegies.
Empanada, $1.00
Flaky, super-short pasty filled with potato cubes, a little minced meat and other goodies like sultanas. Chadz is connected to the Filipino grocery next door where, among other things, you can buy balut (instructions: "boil for 30 minutes") which are fertilised chicken eggs with a chicken embryo inside.
Desserts for next time!
If Filipino food is new to you as it is to me, I think Chadz is a great place to start. It's sparklingly clean, the food is very fresh and it's made with evident care. They have batchoy, a clear soup with pork offal, noodles and crushed pork crackling from Thursday to Sunday. Looking forward to heading there for the next lazy chicken and chip night, gravy or no gravy.
Thank you Clint via Facebook for the tip! You can also check out Dahon Tea Lounge in South Melbourne for Filo-style baguettes and more.
Chadz Chickenhaus (Facebook)
475 Ballarat Road, Sunshine
Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-7pm
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Depending on the route we take on our school runs, we drive past this place frequently. Assumed it was a typical chicken shop! You'd think I'd know better by now!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed - things are rarely what they seem in the western suburbs, aren't they? :)
DeleteThe dessert on the right hand side is called Brazo De Mercedes. It is to die for! Meringue on the outside and a Dulce De Leche-ish kind of filling. I haven't tried this place yet but when my family makes it it's one of my favorites. A must try.
ReplyDeleteThe green vegetable in the creamy sauce is called Laing. It is tradionally made from dried taro leaves, shrimp paste, coconut milk, banana hearts and chilli. It doesn't look too appealing but when made right it is something very unique, in a good way. One of my favorites too :)
If you need any assistance with Filipino food im always happy to help :)
Ooops i meant the dessert on the left hand side :) Long day at work hehehe.
ReplyDeleteMarine, you're a gem! I will be calling on your expertise for sure. The Brazo De Mercedes sounds absolutely unmissable!
DeleteOoh! It's great to see Filipino food featured here! I've been following your blog for some time, waiting for the day I get to visit Melbourne again and check out all your recommendations! I probably won't be hankering for Filipino food by then, but I'm keeping this in mind in case I start to miss it!
ReplyDeleteHi nina - several Filipino places have been on my wishlist forever; I'm so glad I made it to Chadz. Glad you enjoy reading the blog!
DeleteCertainly hardly see Filipino food places in Melbourne. Seeing all the food in Bain Marie reminds me of Singapore Economical Rice! I have been to Manila before, and can't remember how the food was like.
ReplyDeleteYes, there aren't many and those that are are tucked away. Sometimes I like bain maries like this. From a menu with only printed words, it's very hard to get an image of what you might like, but seeing it all there is fantastic.
DeleteWotttttt... Didn't know they sold Balut in Melbourne haha. Now that I do, I think I know what I'm going to get the groom to do next time I'm attending a bucks lol. Filipino cuisine is still really new to me, and it sounds like this place would be a fantastic place to experience it and all its authenticity. Nice...
ReplyDeleteThey are in most Asian grocers in Footscray as well! There's a bubble tea place in Footscray that used to sell them too - maybe even cooked. If you search for it on my blog, you can see the balut-eating meetup we did a long time ago now. Yes, I'm a bit of a newbie to Filipino but look forward to exploring more.
DeleteDude......... you need to order the charcoal chicken next time. Half a chicken and chips and dine in. Trust me. This place has changed my perception of what is charcoal chicken. I know I'm overhyping but seriously!
ReplyDeleteNOTED. AS IN, 100%, DROOLING-RIGHT-NOW, NOTED. Excited!!
DeleteHi Lauren, so glad you made it to Chadz and thanks for the shout out! : ) I'm sorry I totally forgot that they had a sister restaurant in Sunshine which is alot closer to you than Werribee!……My favourite dishes from Chadz are Palabok, Dinuguan & Laing (Marine is right, it looks a bit grose but is delicious!) Their Filipino-style BBQ Chicken is all about the Marinade…..so good!!!…..You must also try the Leche Flan (Creme Caramel) which they also do in a Ube/Purple Yam and a Pandan version, I have heard their Halo-Halo is very nice too!…..Enjoy!
ReplyDeletePANDAN FLAN?! *head explodes* Yum, Clint! Thanks for all the tips. Dinuguan... you are hardcore! (that's the blood stew, everyone). Is palabok the rice vermicelli with orange sauce? I think I had that at Dahon once. Looking forward to more Filipino foodie adventures soon.
Deletehaha……I haven't tried the Pandan Flan yet cos I love their Ube Flan too much!….yes I love Dinuguan, Balut, Durian and anything else thats funky!….yes Palabok is the Rice Vermicelli dish with Shrimp sauce…..today I had their La Paz Batchoy (Pork Noodle Soup) and it was so good!…….beautiful soup and very tender pieces of pork bits with crushed pork crackling on top!…..I also ate their Sisig and it was delicious as well!…..next time I will try their Arroz Caldo (Congee w/Ginger)…..I can't wait to get down to Dahon as well! : )
ReplyDeleteHave you tried their BBQ chicken yet? :)
ReplyDeleteNot yet but SOON I HOPE! Waiting for an excuse; this rainy weather could be it!
DeleteGoing Back some time the Ric Shaw Run, i am a local of Footscray and have been for some years 11+ I just love the place moving hear from Coolaroo(Broady)-Diggers rest, Ascot Vale, Carnegie and Footscray i would never move anywhere else until i retire at Avoca Victoria.
ReplyDeleteJust love the place......
Scotty
Scotty, that's great to hear!
DeleteHave driven past this place plenty of times thinking it is a chicken and chip shop. Little did I know they sold authentic Filipino food. You select the food from the Bain Marie and have it with rice. Being a Filipino myself my favorite is Kare Kare which consist of beef in a peanut butter based sauce with veggies eaten with shrimp paste!! Went on a Sunday morning and it was a full house, filled with Filipinos which is a good sign. Service is slow so be patient.
ReplyDeleteThey do also have butterflied chicken for sale which I have not tried yet. It looked sooo good!
ReplyDeleteAs a Filipino, it warms my heart to see local Australians trying out and enjoying Filipino food. Considering that this is still new territory for you (and maybe many others), I think another good start for you to try Filipino food is at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival this year.
ReplyDelete“Ihaw,” as Filipinos call it, is an integral part not only of their childhood, but of their lifetime. The term is the Filipino translation for barbecue, a culinary gift to all of mankind. Filipino Barbie has now landed on the vast lands of Australia, and I urge Australian locals to dive in to this scene, for which Filipino food is known and loved for. For the first time, Filipino Barbie is officially a part of the prestigious Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Discover this Filipino culinary flair at the William Angliss Restaurant on March 7 and 9, 2014 at 7pm. For more information, visit http://facebook.com/filipinobbq. Be part of the Filipino Barbie phenomenon happening in Melbourne!
Martha, that sounds delicious! Unfortunately I'm running the Rickshaw Run on those dates. Hopefully there will be a similar event down the track!
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