Mention fast food in the Philippines, and the name that immediately comes to mind is Jollibee. The chain is so popular that they now have over a thousand stores across the world, and are regularly featured as part of many content creator videos (insert Youtuber name “Tries Jollibee for the First Time!”)

But way before the dancing bee captivated the hearts and minds of the people with its fried chicken and fast food offerings, there was… Tropical Hut.

Founded in the 1960s, Tropical Hut is the seventh oldest food chain in the country, with many dubbing it the “OG” burger joint of the Philippines. While it once enjoyed immense popularity, the rise of Jollibee and other global fast food chains such as McDonald’s has left Tropical Hut struggling to keep up in modern times. It enjoyed a brief resurgence last year when a fan posted on social media about how he was the only customer at their branch in Escolta. The post went viral, and people flocked to their outlets to show support and get their hit of nostalgia, so much so that many stores ran out of stocks.

N wanted me to try their food, as having grown up with it, it’s something close to his heart – so we went to the Tropical Hut branch in Q Plaza in Cainta.

We were greeted by this guy:

Maybe this is the reason why people aren’t coming to their stores. Absolute nightmare fuel.

I jest.

Please do not kill me.

Entering the store was like taking a step back in time. The interiors felt dated, not just in terms of design, but also the overall feel of the place, from the dim yellow lights and slightly faded menu boards, to the asbestos-like ceilling and light apple green chairs that seem to have been in existence since time immemorial. Everything was clean though, so that’s a plus.

There were actually a fair number of customers when we sidled into a booth around 4pm. Even though Tropical Hut is supposed to be a fast food chain, our food was brought to our table, freshly cooked and piping hot. Didn’t take too long either.

We got the basic Tropical Cheeseburger (P140 = RM11.70), which is as simple as it sounds: comprising a grilled, seasoned beef patty sandwiched between toasted burger buns, topped with a slice of cheese and some sauce. It was decently sized and the meat was done well, retaining a bit of moisture and juiciness. Bottomline = not a bad burger, but not wow either.

Next was Spaghetti with Chicken (P165), which came with a soft drink.

I’m not a big fan of Filipino spaghetti, unless it’s the stuff my MIL makes. Tropical Hut’s version did not suit my taste; the sweet sauce had a strong, processed flavour to it so I only had one bite while the Hubs finished the rest. The chicken fared better. It tasted rather like homemade fried chicken, with a thin, crispy batter that was not too salty. The gravy was a bit cold, but otherwise tasty.

Food is often strongly connected to memories, and I can see why people would crave Tropical Hut because it reminds them of their childhood, of fond and happy days spent with friends and family. As someone without this association, however, Tropical Hut’s food tasted just okay to me.

If I were to compare them taste wise, Jollibee and even McDonald’s Philippines are winners when it comes to their fried chicken and burgers. Tropical Hut has their work cut out for them if they are to remain relevant among a new generation of patrons.

TROPICAL HUT (Q PLAZA)

3f Felix Ave, Cainta, 1900 Rizal, Philippines

Open 24 hours

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PS2:  All food reviews are at own expense unless otherwise stated. Views here are my own and are based on my personal experience. They are not meant to endorse or disparage businesses in any way.