Ihawan

Overall CID rating 4 out of 5

Thumbs Up: bbq pork, lumpiang, fresh melon juice, value for the dollar

Thumbs Down: closes early, doesn’t accept amex, not much in decor

Recommendations: Order the dessert to go if you get too full on dinner!! It’s not worth missing.

“CID Highlight” - Pork BBQ: CID Rating 5 out of 5

I have a new love of sweet marinated pork. The Pork BBQ definitely takes the cake over my long time love, the grilled porkchops at Pho Bang (in Elmhurst). The only thing missing was that delicious carrot citrus dipping juice that Pho provides. That would absolutely make this dish complete. Coming in at $2.25 per stick, this dish was a steal!! The pork melts in your mouth leaving a sweet after-taste from the delicious marinade.

Melon (Cantaloupe) Juice: CID Rating 5 out of 5

Delightfully refreshing especially the shreds of fresh cantaloupe swirling in the tall glass. There is a true flavor and taste of cantaloupe without too much sugar syrup.

Sago At Gulaman: CID Rating 2.75 out of 5

This drink may take some getting used to in terms of the flavor. The liquid itself is very strong in flavor similar to the taste of grass jelly. It was a bit too sweet while the colorful tapioca pearls were flavorless and the gelatin had a hint of sweetness. It seems the liquid needed to be toned down while the rest needed a kick. I probably wouldn’t order this drink again.

Iced Calamansi: CID Rating 2 out of 5

This drink wasn’t bad. It’s similar to lemonade but with a stronger and more distinct flavor. I gave it a 2 for the value for the dollar compared with the Melon drink. Coming in at $2, the Melon drink was cheaper (only $1.50), bigger and more refreshing.

Lumpiang Shanghai: CID Rating 5 out of 5

Amazingly crispy-crunchy on the outside and moist with flavor on the inside. The filling was definitely there. It was worth every last cent coming in at only $5.50 for 12 pieces with rice. Such a good deal!

Grilled Pork Belly: CID Rating 4 out of 5

The sweet, tangy sauce was a great pair to the perfectly grilled pork belly. Without it, the pork belly may need a bit more seasoning. The skin was crunchy and the meat was tender. A great choice if you’re craving pork belly with a bouncy bite.

Lechon Kawali: CID Rating 2.5 out of 5

This was similar to the pork belly but not as flavorful because the pork belly was char-grilled so it had a smokiness. This dish, fried crispy pork, was just fried and barely seasoned if at all. The dipping sauce was similar to a nutty duck sauce. Nothing to write home about either. Though the portion size was good, the skin was a little too crunchy and some parts were fried to a point where it tasted like you were chewing on wood. Not pleasant but not horrible which lands it at 2.5.

Pinakbet: CID Rating 2 out of 5

If you’re a fan of shrimp paste and bitter melon, than this is the dish for you. Personally I think they should warn you about the bitter melon. It has a very distinct taste after it’s own name and the shrimp paste as well. I think this would be one dish where I would agree you can do better at home. Not worth the value for the dollar coming in at $6.

Halo-Halo: CID Rating 4 out of 5

This dessert was different which is one of the great things about Asian cuisine. You see unfamiliar ingredients and different items mixed together that you would normally not see in any other cuisine. This dish had (ready for this?) mixed tropical fruits, red & white beans, some sort of nutty custard, w/ crushed iced and milk. There was more but that’s all I could decipher. Mixed tropical fruit is an understatement. When most of us think of tropical fruit, we think pineapple, mango, whatever… But this had palm fruit, some shredded tangy spicy fruit (resembling mango/radish), and what seemed like jackfruit?? A great medley of ingredients none the less.