QUICK PICK: SUNBURST CHICKEN.. CHICK N' CRACKER'S!

    I've mentioned time and time again that I lived in Cebu during the late 80's to the early 90's.. Way before it became the blooming metropolis that it is now. Back then, TV shows were recorded from Manila, and aired one week later on local stations. 

    During that time, Cebu didn't have Jollibee.. It had "Orange Brutus". It didn't have McDonald's, it had "MacJoy". Instead of Max's Chicken, we had "Mothers Chicken"..

    And in lieu of Kentucky Fried Chicken, we had Sunburst. And I won't lie to you, Sunburst Chicken is quite good. It's juicy, crispy, and very tasty, but definitely notches below the finger licking good creations of the good Colonel. 

    However, there's one thing on their menu that KFC does not.. 

        The Chick N' Crackers.

      The name of Sunburst has become a legend around Cebu and some areas in the Visayas. from a small province based family restaurant, Sunburst has exploded into a legitimate fried chicken force to be reckoned with, with branches scattered all over the metro.

 

     And if you ask any Cebuano whats the best thing on their menu, the odds are they'd give you one resounding answer.. The Chick N' Crackers (P105 Small, P178 for regular).

   Back in my day, it used to be called "Chicken Chicharon".. But come to think of it, I don' t know if that was the actual name or if thats what my yaya would call it. Regardless, the name seemed appropriate so it stuck. Truth be told, they could have called it "Deep Fried Carpenters Rubber Slippers" and as long as it tasted this good, I still would have eit (I'm glad they didn't call it that).

   Sunburst's Chick N' Crackers is beautiful slices of chicken skin that is patted down unto their trademark bread coating, and deep fried into golden perfection.


   The chicken skin is topped off with Sunbursts own hand cut Potato Chips that are also cooked to a wonderful crisp, and salted just right. 

      For me, what makes this different from Fried chicken skin ive tasted in the past, is how you can still actually feel the texture of the skin with every bite, as opposed to it being strips of fried flour with a small patch of skin.

  The bread coating captures a good old fashioned Southern Fried Chicken flavor, with a subtle, yet distinct pepperiness. another remarkable note about The Chick N' Crackers, is how you would expect it tobe disgustingly greasy and oily.. but you'd be surprised to find out that its not. Dont get me wrong.. by no means am I saying its a healthy dish (Its deep fried chicken skin for god's sake!), but it wont leave a pool of oil on your plate either.
    
   I was honestly contemplating eating this with a side of rice! Funnily enough, This adaptation of Southern Fried Chicken though, doesn't come with any form of gravy. Instead it had a side of vinegar, which I found a little odd. But in hindsight, I realize that the Chick N' Crackers is probably a popular Pulutan dish as well, so it made perfect sense. 

    The actual fried chicken of Sunburst is also quite a delicious dining experience, and their Menu has expanded from basic Chicken parts, to a wide array of Seafoods, grilled items, and popular dishes that Pinoys love, such as Pancit, Sweet and Sour Pork, Lumpia Shanghai, etc. (which I have yet to try)

   I wasn't able to order a full on meal because I had just from a huge lunch just an hour or so earlier, but when I passed by Sunburst in SM, I just could resist ordering a plate of Chick N' Crackers! 

   There are several Branches of Sunburst around Cebu, But I went to the one in SM Cebu, and a day later, I went to the one along A.F. Fortuna. There's also a branch along Mango Avenue. 

   

SUNBURST FRIED CHICKEN MENU