Best Meal Kits in Manila For 2021

Over the last few days, the meal kit delivery market has taken the world by storm and set in motion a delicious revolution in the way we eat. Truly, meal kits are a global phenomena.  Whereas once, food delivery was limited to greasy pizzas, fatty burgers and (lord help me) dodgy kebabs, meal kit delivery now means that DIY little packets of nutrition can be sent straight to our doorsteps.

Hang on, What Even Is a Meal Kit?

 

Ok let’s back paddle a wee bit. In case you are thus far uninitiated, let me explain what a meal kit is and how a subscription works. A meal kit is a pre-packaged box of ingredients that gets sent to your house along with an easy to follow recipe for cooking them into a meal. All ingredients are precisely measured out (right down to the spice sachets) leaving pretty much no margin for error whatsoever.

 

There are 2 main types or sub-genres of meal kits out there. The most common one is where you sign up to a subscription (ie Hello Fresh) and get a weekly delivery of your meals. The second type, is where you simply order and buy a one-off meal kit as and when you want it – this type is far less common but often they are provided by top gourmet restaurants.

 

You can sign up to a meal kit subscription provider very easily. There is rarely any kind of minimum term and you can always almost cancel at a few days notice. Deliveries typically come once per week and the delivery box contains a number of sub-packaged, wrapped and measured, individual meals. You can sign up to receive anywhere between 2 – 7 meals per week and can get meals sized to feed just yourself, or a whole family.

 

With a bespoke, one-off meal kit, you obviously just order it when you need it and it typically arrives packed, wrapped and ready to cook within 30 minutes.

 

Have I missed anything? Oh yeah, you can get meal kits for a whole range of dietary requirements ranging from vegetarian to low calorie – niche diets like vegan, keto and foods that begin with the letter C, are also available from some suppliers or restaurants but others. 

Who Are Meal Kits Good For?

 

Do you eat food? Well if the answer is yes then meal kits could be good for you. However, they have really been a success with maxed out professionals who don’t have time to shop or cook and with working families who are too busy ferrying the kids to soccer practice to waste time in supermarkets.  They are also a big hit with bad cooks and people who have simply run out of recipe ideas.

 

Who Does The Best Meal Kit in Manila?

 

So, the biggest name in the meal kit industry is almost definitely Hello Fresh who operate internationally and feed millions of families each week. However, bigger seldom means better and homogeneity tends to breed content in my not so humble opinion. The good news is that Manilla is spoiled for choice when it comes to meal kits and food sub providers. Best of all though, some of the meal kits are even inspired if not prepared by some of the city’s finest and favourite restaurants!

 

Let’s take a look;

1.MONGOLIAN KIT From BAD BOWL

https://www.instagram.com/bad.bow

https://www.instagram.com/bad.bow

Bad Bowl has been a Manilla institution for years amongst Manilla’s hungry for some meaty, hearty, nomad inspired stir-fry. Their kit comes with meats, veg and spices.

Bad Bowl Meal Kit Prices

• Keto Bowl Home Kit – P 1,500
• Meaty Bowl Home Kit – P 1200
• Seafood Bowl Home Kit – P 1,200
• Noodle Bowl Home Kit – P 1,200
• Vegetarian Bowl Home Kit – P 1,100

 

2..STEAK KIT From THE TEST KITCHEN MNL

The Test Kitchen is a top notch, private dining establishment operating as the outlet of renowned Chef Josh Boutwood. The Test Kitchen is literally a test kitchen and is where Josh gets to test his new ideas.The test kitchen offers a wide variety of different dishes at all round pretty fair prices. Their meal kit packs are easy to follow and very varied. 

Because of the ever changing nature of the menu here, prices are not available. However note that this is not the cheapest meal kit opinion on the list. However this may well be the best meal kit in the Philippines.

3.KEBAB KIT from PERSIA GRILL

Ok so I knew that I kind of criticized kebabs earlier on but these meal kit kebab boxes from Persia Grill are truly exceptional. You get all the kebab mix sent to your house for home assembly and fresh grilling.

Meal box opinions include spicy herby beef kebab, chicken kebab mix or beef shawarma with pita bread. You can also get various sauce bottles which I highly recommend.

My BIG criticism with this one though, is that for me the whole point of a Persian Kebab is that it’s cooked on a charcoal grill. So unless you happen to have a charcoal grill at home, you may struggle to get the athletic experience.

Persia Grill Prices

• Chicken BBQ – P 1,570 
• Ox Brain – P 1,230
• Keema – P 1,485
• Beef Shawarma – P 1,495

4.UMAMI FRIED CHICKEN KIT from BAD BIRD

Just how bad was this bird that they were left with no choice other than to deep fry it? Anyway, the Umami Fried Chicken Kit (Php 399) comes with ice frozen chicken, the breading mixture, spice blends and spice seasoning, a batter mixture and a pot gravy that’s ready to heat up in case you want it. 

I’ll be totally honest, having to bread and batter the chicken is quite messy work and not easy to perfect. But, if you are patient and take the time to get it right, it’s just delicious. However, in case that all sounds like hard work, they do deliver a ready to eat version – just like KFC who also do meal box delivery in Manila….

 

Call for prices.

1. TSUKE-MEN KIT From THE GRID

“Authentic” Japanese ramen is a treat to behold and is very hard to perfect in a home cooking environment. This is why this meal kit from the Grid is so awesome. You get real (straight to wok) ramen noodles, all the pre-mixed spices and so all you have to do is chop up the veg and cook it all up in a wok.

The Grid Prices

Gyokai – P 840

Spicy Gyokai – P 860

Tonkotsu P 780

Tan Tan Men P 840.