Social media is wild these days. If it’s not some trending dance on TikTok, it’s food people are raving about. While passing by NS Amoranto back in December 2024 on our way to buy Lechon for the New Year, I saw an establishment under construction with a logo of a Why! Chicken. I thought to myself, “Alright, I’m going to wait for this to open!”

Fast forward to January. They’re open. It’s time to see if this is worth the buzz. We decided to grab a whole chicken with biryani rice from Why! Chicken. The receipt said “Why! Chicken Banawe,” but FYI, it’s just near Banawe, not in it. It’s located along NS Amoranto. Anyway, semantics. Let’s talk chicken.

Why! Chicken Review: The Ordering Experience

One thing I liked? You can actually see your chickęn being cooked. It’s grilled indoors right in front of you, which is reassuring. No pre-cooked, heat-lamp chicken here. At ₱350 (roughly $6.00 – $7.00 depends of the dollar conversion) for a whole chicken (promo price), it seemed like a decent deal – soft opening perks, I guess.

Excited to dig in, we headed home and got ready for what TikTok promised would be life-changing chicken.

Maybe It’s the Branch?

Alright, here’s the thing. I really wanted to love this chicken. I wanted to join the “Why! Chickęn is amazing!” bandwagon. But no. For me, it was dry.

And here’s where my expectations might have gotten me into trouble. Apparently, the owner is Lebanese, and this recipe is his creation. Naturally, I expected something reminiscent of authentic Lebanese chickęn – those bold flavors and spices that pack a punch. But nope, this wasn’t it.

How do I know what Lebanese chickęn tastes like? I have three very special Lebanese friends (yes, you guys, if you’re reading this, I said special with all the sarcasm in the world ), and their moms whip up the real deal. So, yeah, my standards might be sky-high, but when something is hyped this much, you’d expect it to deliver, right?

or maybe it’s the branch we bought it from? Maybe other branches don’t overcook the chickęn? I don’t know!

The Group Consensus

It wasn’t just me. I shared the chicken with a friend, and we ended up ranking it against other well-known roasted chickęn brands – Baliwag, Peri-Peri, Kenny Rogers, and Why! Chicken. Sadly, Why! Chicken came in last.  I know the chickęn looked abused but its not as bad as it looks.

Why! Chicken – Why Not?!

Will I try it again? Yes! But as a last resort! The fact it’s so cheap! it’s a whole chickęn with biryani rice for only ₱350?! – Why! Not?! That’s their slogan, after all.

Here’s the thing: I’m tired of overhyped stuff on social media. From food to cosmetics, it feels like everyone’s shouting, “You have to try this!” only for it to end in disappointment. And Why! Chicken is just the latest example. Again, maybe its the branch? Maybe!

That said, this is Why! Chicken review just my opinion – and my taste buds. Maybe you’ll have a different experience. Maybe you’ll love it. And if you do, great! I’m all for people enjoying their food.

As for me, I’m moving on and keeping my expectations in check the next time TikTok hypes something.