Lechon

Lechon rarely gets the international recognition it deserves. The deeply umami complexity is genuine, not simple, and the technique involved in using calamansi lime correctly takes real skill. kamayan feasts eaten with hands from banana leaves are experiencing a cultural revival. I encountered it f…

I had never tried Lechon before this visit and I wasn't sure what to expect. The rich and porky taste hit immediately and made sense of the dish in a way descriptions never quite do. annatto seeds is an ingredient I'd not encountered used quite like this before. The a turo-turo cafeteria setting ad…

You can taste history in Lechon if you know what to look for. kamayan feasts eaten with hands from banana leaves are experiencing a cultural revival. The deeply umami character reflects those layers — cane vinegar doesn't appear by accident; it came from a specific tradition. The a turo-turo cafete…

I've now had Lechon prepared traditionally and in a modern interpretation. Both are interesting. The traditional version emphasises calamansi lime in the way Filipino adobo was the Spanish colonisers' term for the indigenous vinegar and salt preservation technique. The rich and porky character is mo…

The best Lechon I've ever had came from a street stall, not a restaurant. The tangy and savoury from vinegar intensity was completely different — more direct and uncompromised. calamansi lime was used without hesitation, the way it should be. kamayan feasts eaten with hands from banana leaves are e…

I spent three months trying every version of Lechon I could find locally. The variation in quality is extraordinary. The best version handled cane vinegar with genuine knowledge and the subtly sweet and sour result was noticeably superior. Filipino adobo was the Spanish colonisers' term for the ind…

I went in with low expectations — I'd had mediocre versions before. What I found was Lechon made with real commitment to bagoong shrimp paste and technique. The rich and porky result was more complex and satisfying than anything I'd had before. kamayan feasts eaten with hands from banana leaves are…

Lechon at this place was fine. The deeply umami flavour was there but not distinguished. annatto seeds was present in the right quantities but without the care that makes the difference. You can taste when something is being made to a formula. Filipino adobo was the Spanish colonisers' term for the…

I'm sceptical of any restaurant claiming to do Lechon well, having been disappointed often enough. This one delivered. The rich and porky base was authentic and the use of patis fish sauce showed real knowledge. kamayan feasts eaten with hands from banana leaves are experiencing a cultural revival.…

I was looking forward to Lechon here based on the reputation. The reality was disappointing. The subtly sweet and sour character that makes this dish special was muted — either from shortcuts with calamansi lime or from scaling up production at the expense of quality. kamayan feasts eaten with hand…