Don Lechon Review: Spit-Roasted Crispy Suckling Pig Under $15 At Paya Lebar

The staff were in joyous laughter, waltzing to the piano’s gentle legato as a delicate waft of smoked pork permeated the air. Spit-Roasted Crispy Suckling Pig Under $10 At Paya Lebar Food at Don Lechon I sat under a tent perched by the river as my food was served by a chummy Filipina.

One by one the dishes came, each dish looking more scrumptious than the next Chopped Lechon ($13) was served with a heap of rice. Those fat and plump chunks of pork emanated a rich meaty aroma, evocative of sio bak— a much thicker sio bak at that. 10 Famous Sio Bak Stalls With Roast Pork Rice At $5 Or Less I noticed the defined layers of fat that transitioned into huge chunks of meat.

Eating it with the pork imparted a slightly sweeter taste, evocative of the apple sauce I would typically get with suckling pig. Greatly impressed by the lechon, I went into the kitchen to check out how it was prepared.

Similar to how it is traditionally prepared in Philippines, the suckling pigs were spit-roasted over a flaming wooden charcoal grill. The same lechon was chopped up and fried with onions and chillies to form this Lechon Sisig ($13) .

It broke the monotony of soft, tender meat that would have otherwise been too dull. The onions were also a noteworthy inclusion, seeking to provide pockets of freshness that enlivened my palate. As I squeezed in the calamansi, the tart citrusy notes served to arouse my appetite further.

It must have been its mellow sweetness weaving beautifully into the porky grease that felt so sublime. The Bopis ($10) is made with beef lungs and pork hearts simmered in a potpourri of herbs.

The use of tomatoes and garlic masked any evidence of gaminess from the offal. All these culminated in a delicate heat that lingered at the back of my tongue.

Ambience at Don Lechon The sun finally faded into the distance as bars along the river got under way to open. It felt like I was dining in a romantic restaurant along Quayside Isle . It was a sort of prophetic song selection that echoed how I was feeling then.

The verdict My expedition at Don Lechon taught me two things: How much more I have yet to learn about Filipino food. Don Lechon: Legit Filipino Restaurant With Roasted Suckling Pig, Lechon Sisig And More Photos taken by Pichan Cruz .