Chicken D’ Lite

what?!? why why why why why :(Why did they close down?!
I’ll miss this place.

I was shopping at the nearby Harbor Freight store and stopped by this place because of the good reviews on Unilocal.
It is a very small hole in the wall fast food type place that specializes in Philippineo chicken. You have a choice of fried or BBQ.
I must say that the staff is very friendly and helpful. When they heard that we had never been there before we were offered a tour of the menu. The combo meals come with egg rolls, rice, soup and soda. The food was good not great and the atmosphere was pretty bad. I gave them 2 stars because the staff was so nice.

Chicken Friggin Good!
Saw this place on Unilocal and was skeptical on how good a chicken place could really be… and it was shockingly terrific.
This place specializes in Filipino styled roasted or fried chicken. I didn’t try the fried chicken but l loved their roasted chicken (whole chicken — $ 11). It came marinated with differently delicious Asian type flavoring and looked so scrumptious (see picture)…couldn’t figure out the seasoning… I think soy sauce based with some five spice powder and some other seasoning? Before I knew it, it was so good that I realized that I had scarfed down half a chicken.
Only slight peeve was that they take credit cards but the owner (nicely) asked for cash if possible so I gave him cash.
Bottom line: Great chicken — not everyone may like the Asian flavoring, but I loved it. Tempted to drive back to East Bay just for this.

My Ratings:
Quantity — 5 Stars
Quality — 5 Stars
Price — 5 Stars
Location — 5 Stars
Service — 5 Stars
Speed — 5 Stars
My Opinion/​Story:
WOW!!! Brings back memories of eating at Aristocrat with their tasty chicken. Portions are plenty, chicken cooked to perfection, service is awesome, price just right. We even got a free tasting of java rice but with the awesome flavor of the chicken, plain rice makes it perfect. I usually couldn’t finish half a chicken but I totally licked the meat off it’s bones. My husband never looked so happy eating Filipino chicken having so many bad experiences before. We were totally satisfied and can’t wait to go back for more. Yummy!

You can find this place in a big shopping center in the corner behind Arby’s. I’ve tasted alot of different style of fried chicken and i can say that this is one of the tastier ones. I’m not just talking about local. I’ve been from New Orleans to Atlanta and tasted fried chicken. One of the workers there was very helpful in selecting from their menu. I ended up with half of a chicken which came with soup and a drink. The soda was refilliable. What? Yes, i said it. free refill+filipino restaurant= unheard of. I just like the fact the service was outstanding and the food was great.

There are no words to describe this ultimate poultry experience. Alas, the sad chewy chicken «product» served everywhere else pales in comparison to the freshness of Chicken D’Lite’s ineffable platters of deep-​fried/​roasted meatiness. Warning: you might never want to eat at KFC again.
The macaroni soup has crunchy bits of fried garlic in it. The java rice is a similar culinary masterpiece. It’s like putting a spoonful of God in your mouth. I don’t even regret writing that.
Noon on Saturday seems to the best time to go.

They specialize in Filipino styled roasted or fried chicken. This means they are cooked so well that you can eat all the meat off and you wont have a hard time picking them off the bones. When it comes to chicken Im usually a messy eater, I end up biting off the meat and not wasting time nibbling off the bones but with their chicken, I leave the bones cleaned out. That’s how tender the chicken meat is.
They also have Savory style chicken, if you were brought up in the Phil, you’ll know what this means. I’m a little unsure how to explain it since I only know one restaurant chain back there that makes it exclusively.
A few cons, they only have ‘java’ rice in the weekends, I believe they spoil easily and also it does take awhile for the chicken to be cooked so order ahead or over the phone.

Me: So… I heard you are the raunchy one?!
Serbelle: Who… me??? *Draws halo around crotch*
Thanks to Anna and Luis for hosting such a huge success of a UYE!
«No Combo D for you!» because I forgot to tell the owners that I was part of Unilocal right before they were closing their normal hours. However, I found that their bbq chicken combo C was just the right amount of food and delicious for dinner!
The halo halo really hit the spot as the dessert, though not exactly restaurant quality. Moreover, I found it to be a bit too sickly sweet once I got to the bottom of the cup. However, overall it was still good!
Not that I’m against drinking, but East Bay has got to get more eats UYE!
P. S. Antonio the manager told me that you can ask to «hold the sugar» on the halo-​halo! Sweeeeet (pun intended)!

I went here for an event that Anna and Luis put on and I need to say that the chicken was extremely good.
I ordered Combo C which included half a chicken, egg rolls and some rice. The chicken was especially tender and was cooked better than the typical half chicken dishes you see at other restaurants.
I talked with the owner outside a bit and he expressed the care in which he obtains the right kind of chickens from a local business and how he focuses on preparing them quickly after purchase and in the right way to allow for the maximum flavor.
I’ve been to other Filipino restaurants in the area, but this one definitely stands out.

I came here with my bf for Anna and Luis’ UYE last night, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect since it was last minute and I had no idea what the menu offered… other than chicken.
The owner was really nice to keep his family up and open his shop late for us Unilocalers after hours, especially when we desended upon the delights of their chicken in a huge hungry mob.
We got here towards the end of the crowd and our food took a while to get to us, and there were a few mix ups which were understandable due to the chaos. The important part is that the chicken is delicious, the lumpia fresh and crunchy, and the owner is very caring and concerned towards making sure that his patrons are satisifed. We had a mixup with our order and rather than argue with us, the owner gave us what we originally ordered with a smile on his face.
I appreciated the chicken and macaroni soup that was given to us to tide us over while we were waiting. Also, I appreciated the random shoe and foot wash I got in line. You really had to be there to understand it, and even if you were there, you may not have understood it.
Oh the situations I get myself in…

Tiny little place tucked away in Newark. Unique and delicious friend chicken. The bbq chicken is also good. The person who seemed to be the owner was there when we first visited. He was very attentive and helped us understand the menu.
The «halo halo» is an excellent dessert, the purple ice cream is absolutely delicious and the ingredients at the bottom of the drink are yummy too. Must try.
Dont come here expecting a healthy meal.

We have seen this place in the corner of the plaza and have just never tried it, until tonight.
This place is okay, nothing to write home to mom about. Basically chicken served two ways, fried or bbq. We tried a combo of both to see the difference. The chicken was moist, just wished that they served some waffles with it. Mmmmmm, waffles.
The owner was nice and came out to explain the menu to us. This place is very Filippino, such as the pinoy channel on the tv.

This place specializes in two varieties of chicken: (1) Aristocrat («barbecue») chicken and (2) Savory («fried») chicken.
If you like fried plantains, you will love the Aristocrat, which tastes identical except for a mild spiking of Chinese five-​spice. It comes with a liquid peanut dipping sauce, that actually tastes like watered-​down molasses. Surprisingly, I liked the Aristocrat, even though I normally do not like dishes containing five-​spice. The mango achara («relish»), which you must specifically request, is a nice chutney that complements the chicken flavor.
However, if you like fried chicken, the Savory may disappoint. It is very oily and devoid of spice, relying entirely on chicken gaminess and frying oil to provide flavor. And, it comes with chicken-​liver flavored gravy. For those eager to try Filipino-​style fried chicken, I suggest Max’s of Philippines as a better place for first contact. Pricing for half chicken + rice + soup are comparable and Max’s ambiance is far nicer.
Surprisingly, not a shred of green is offered on the menu. The only veggie appears to be the cabbage served in the macaroni soup. This interesting soup consists of chicken, coleslaw, macaroni, milk and celery and remarkably tastes better than it may sound.
Thanks to Ramon F for letting me in on this Filipino community secret!

Their name is a little hokey, but I’ll let it slide cuz their fried chicken is pretty darn good. It’s not battered nor breaded but just some crispy as f*&%, natural fried goodness with just the right amount of saltiness, and some flavorings similar to Chinese duck, star anise, I’m thinking.
It’s a Filipino joint, so combos can include lumpia and rice (skip the Java, I simply do not get it), and you can get a nice plate for about $ 5. I tried their bbq chicken to-​go once and it wasn’t as memorable, but it would be a healthier alternative to their awesome fried version.
I heard about this place from some relatives who don’t even Unilocal and they were raving about their food. That’s how tight knit the Filipino culture is out here, they know where each other is at, and they talk. I don’t like many Filipino restaurants out here b/​c instead of trying to specialize in something and doing it the best they can, they try to offer everything in the cultures arsenal. So the chances of getting a not-​so-​good item is increased.
Here they focus on Chicken, and they do it right. They do it in their own style that is true to their culture. And that is saying something. Now if only they can change that hokey-​ass name. And their slogan, which is «It’s Finger lickin’ Good» (which it is!), but KUMON man, I think I hear a lawyer knocking on the door.

On behalf of my co-​worker who comes here ALL the time for their halo-​halo, I am giving them an extra star because she truly, truly enjoys their delicious icy dessert. Since she’s been introduced to this establishment, she claims to have gained so much weight from eating their halo-​halo at least once a week.
Summer’s coming so for sure she will be there… everyday!

Fried or BBQ? Fried or BBQ? BBQ or Fried???
This is what I go through each time I come to chicken D’Lite. I can’t ever decide between their fried chicken or their BBQ chicken. Both are so good.
What usually happens is I get the fried and I have the BF order the BBQ (or vice-​versa) and steal some off his plate, that way I get the best of both worlds (I’m evil, I know).
Regardless of which is your favorite, their chicken combos come with macaroni soup, rice (steamed or Java, which is extra) and 3 eggrolls.
The soup always come out first and always piping hot. They say chicken soup is for the soul, well they haven’t had macaroni soup. It’s a light cream-​based broth with chunks of cooked chicken, elbow macaroni and crisp veggies — YUM.
Now the chicken. The fried version is perfectly crispy without being greasy. There’s no breading or coating and this allows you to really taste the chicken. Just delicious. The BBQ is very different but just as tasty. The grilled flavor really comes thru and the sauce is sweet and tangy while the meat is very moist. Just perfect with steamed rice.
They’re quite generous with their plate meals, the chicken pieces are big and the scoop of rice is heaping. When you order the fried chicken you also get gravy, theirs is smoky and creamy, clearly a houserecipe. It’s supposed to be for the chicken, but I love to pour it over my rice — delish.
Their egg rolls are my least favorite item. Took one star off b/​c the wrapper to meat ratio’s a little off. They either need to increase the meat or use less egg roll wrapper.
I’ve yet to try dessert b/​c at each visit, like a fatty, I finish my whole combo and don’t have room.
Maybe I should stick to eating off my own plate?

We finally made it out to Chicken D’Lite after reading about the place here on Unilocal for the last month. This place did not disappoint!
First, the service was excellent. We were greeted warmly and had our order taken right away. As we sat down, I noticed there was a letter from Unilocal on the wall. The letter stated that they had earned high praise from Unilocalers with an average score of 4+.
The macaroni soup came out a minute or so after we sat down. It came out hot and was surprisingly filled with plenty of chicken.
A few minutes later, the combo plate came out with BBQ chicken, shrimp rolls and rice. The BBQ chicken was amazingly moist with flavorful juices oozing through and dripping down the glazed skin. One bite in and I knew we had a winner! This chicken is awesome!
The shrimp rolls were also great. They were basically lumpia with shrimp in the end, but with a bit of a twist as it was also stuffed with cheese. Different, but definitely worth having again.
I paid an extra 50 cents for the java rice, which I’ll probably skip next time. This was the one case where the new flavor didn’t work for me. I’ll stick to steamed white rice next time…
…and there definitely will be a next time! A place with great food and great people working there is an establishment I will support. Plus, they also serve halo halo for dessert!

So it hasn’t been quite a year since my first visit but I have come a couple more times and the BBQ chicken tastes consistently good! I noticed that they now offer java rice which they ran out of today. They also ran out of the quarter pieces which I did not understand. Couldn’t they have just served half of the half-​chicken meal? It’s not like the pieces are connected.
I ordered the BBQ Half Chicken Combo ($ 8.50) with an extra side of rice and two extra sides of macaroni noodle soup. How did the sides total $ 4? That sounds like a slight rip-​off to me. I could tell that the shrimp lumpias were fresh which I enjoyed and they still give you the same orange sweet sauce. The chicken also comes with that teriyaki-​ish sauce and if you’re not into it or get tired of it, you can grab some sriracha or banana ketchup (which was very jiggly by the way).
During the dinner hours, there was a healthy flowing amount of people. About 75% of the seats were filled and more people were coming in. So much that their garbage can started to overflow. The TV was tuned onto the Filipino station but most of the programs are in English. I really do like the chicken here but a lot of the Filipino cuisine lacks veggies (unless you count the couple slices of cabbage in the soup)… and so it isn’t exactly the healthiest thing to eat.
**Note from the business owner:
«As for the quarter leg, we uses 2 kinds of chicken. For the whole and half chicken, we use a chicken that is just a little bit bigger than a spring chicken. We cannot use the quarter leg of our whole chicken because of its size! It will be too small to cut and serve. Therefore, we buy a quarter leg with a decent size but the problem is, it has to come from a bigger chicken and the meat is not as tender as our whole chicken. Because of this, not too many customer are buying our quarter leg. Therefore, we limit the preparation of our quarter leg to a fraction of our whole chicken. There are also times where we have to throw away our quarter legs because no one bought it and I don’t believe in serving old prepared chicken to our customer. What my customer do when quarter leg is not available is that they buy the half chicken and share it with whomever they’re with or they take it home for later consumption.
As for your side order, our steam rice cost $ 1.25 a cup and $ 1.50 for our soup. I believe Cousin Café (not too far away from us) sells a cup of their steam rice for $ 2.00. FYI — we only serve a good quality and expensive Jasmine rice.»

Cocka doodle dooo… chicken dinner for two! Support your local small business. They’re good people with a dream. Noël and Josephine, the owners of this fine establishment, are just that. F Boston Market. F KFC. Chicken D’Lite is a labor of love.
If not to support your local small business– if you have money to spare in these tough times– go for the chicken. You will not be dissapointed.
Came here with my boyfriend, and we could not choose between the savory fried, or the barbeque chicken. So they hooked it up with a mixed plate, half fried, half bbq– 100% tasty. The thing about the fried chicken– they boil it in spices before frying. This process renders out the fat underneath the skin, and leaves it moist and flavorful. Added result– a thin crispy outer skin that won’t have you feeling fried-food-eater’s remorse. The grilled bbq chicken? Well just as moist and flavorful, with a nice tangy sweet sauce, and just the right amount of caramelized char on it.
Eating the chicken macaroni soup was like getting a hug from the inside. It had just the perfect balance of salty and creamy. The veggies in the soup were not overcooked and still had a nice fresh bite to them. Shrimp eggrolls– bomb! And the java rice!?! .infused with spices and fragrant lemongrass. Yummy yummy in my tummy.
A great touch, they give you extra sauce, on the side, for everything. The peanutty gravy for the fried chicken, the bbq sauce for the bbq chicken, and sweet and sour sauce for the eggrolls. Did I mention the mango atsara? It’s a picked mango slaw that freshens the pallet between bites. I love when sauces let you customize your meal to taste.
Overall lovely food, lovely proprietors… loves it! Check it out.

Key points:
–premium quality chicken
–great tasting sauces and gravy
–you get a lot of food for the price you pay (see attached menu)
–clean restaurant
–nice service/​friendly staff
–family owned
–very simple yet effective menu
–fast service for what you get
Definitely worth every penny
6÷17÷08 update: been on an eating out hiatus. I shall peep the updated menu once i get a chance and write more
6÷27÷08
okay so the new menu is a huge improvement, especially for those who want more variety and choice as well as those who want to save some money. Today, i got a quarter leg/​thigh bbq chicken with a scoop of rice and macaroni soup for only $ 4.75. you really cant beat that especially when you compare what you get here to what $ 4.75 can get you over at mc donalds or any other fast food. Also had the special halo halo with mango ice cream and it was really good too. Took a few other friends of mine here and they all love it. Check out the new menu posted to get an idea of what they have to offer.
Premium restaurant quality but at a fast food price? hard to beat that.
Look at the new menu posted