There are three certainties in life: Death, taxes, and JSEC stalls serving fried chicken. Case in point: The Caged Chicken is one of the four stalls this year with fried chicken as their focus. Since the JSEC market is pretty saturated with every Atenean’s favorite poultry product, it’s quite difficult to stand out. Yet, The Caged Chicken manages to do so by going back to the basics—serving fresh, no-frills fried chicken and waffles.

Taste

Chicken is the star of the show in the stall’s main dishes. It’s prepared in a manner that has become commonplace from fast food establishments to some of the best restaurants in New York: The Caged Chicken marinates its birds in a buttermilk and spice mix, dredges, and coats them with breading before frying to perfection. The hours spent in the brine gives the chicken its juicy interior, while the breading and skin provide the crispy, dark-brown finish.

The Breakfast Waffle brings together boneless fried chicken thighs, fluffy scrambled egg, and a soft hash brown between a pair of hot waffles, paired with either maple syrup, honey mustard, or their special “CC” aioli. Unsurprisingly, the classic components of the sandwich work well together—the sweet maple syrup contrasts with the saltiness of the chicken. Meanwhile, the subtle tang from the honey mustard sauce cuts through the boneless chicken thighs, providing a medley of flavors in every bite. However, the sandwich’s texture and construction leave much to be desired. The hash brown lacks crispiness, providing no textural contrast with the similarly tender and oily chicken. The waffles can also get soggy over time, making it troublesome to eat. 

On the other hand, their chicken and rice dish offers a simple, mess-free dining experience. The well-seasoned boneless fried chicken can stand alone without the gravy, while the mild heat of paprika rice balances out the richness of the dish. The stall keeps its chicken and rice satisfyingly simple—allowing the oh-so familiar flavors to speak for themselves. 

Concept

Inspired by soul food, The Caged Chicken focuses on the comfort typically afforded by southern American cuisine. While the stall does succeed in providing a warm and familiar treat to customers, the similarities to past chicken-waffle JSEC stall Soul Cone are uncanny, which can disenchant those after a fresher take on fried chicken. Still, it’s undeniable that The Caged Chicken continues the lineage of well-executed soul food, making southern-style fried chicken a go-to JSEC dish for a third year running. 

Value for money

Despite its high Php 110 price point for a sandwich, the Breakfast Waffle succeeds in providing a satisfying meal, whether on-the-go or as a sit-down dish. The variety in sauces also makes for great flavor combinations. But the chicken and rice combination offers the most value at Php 110, providing more than enough carbs and gravy to go with the generous serving of chicken. 

Final Verdict

Staying true to its soul food roots, The Caged Chicken can be summarized by a famous saying from the American South: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The Caged Chicken knows that good fried chicken never goes out of style—giving Ateneans delicious comfort food worth coming back to. 

Rating: 4/5

Photos by Ralph Lim