Big Time Meals | Grilled Liempo with Kangkong

Grilled Liempo with Kangkong (Grilled Pork Belly with Water Spinach) is one of 7 Eleven’s popular Big Time Meals, which is the premium version of the Hotta Rice budget meal. It is for those want a heavy lunch on the go with extras that also includes a side of Atchara that’s been part of this meal. This is an uncommon dish from the Big Time Meals that is rarely stocked, and immediately gets sold out like its budget counterpart. Of course, this is not to be highly expected being compared to the ones being served in restaurants. But it gives you some semblance of having that meal experience.

Like all the Big Time Meals, this is in the black tray that is only have a plastic cover without the cardboard cover that the Chef Creations have. The photography gives you to expect that whatever the image is on the cover would be the same product that you’ll be giving to feel that this product is hyped.

But you know, sometimes you just have to lower down your expectations once you open up the top and see the actual contents, and never feel that the product under- delivered. Though, for those not expecting anything just want to have a decent pork belly experience with a little bit of extra veggies this might be it.

Meat-ing Expectations

The perspective once you open up the top you see the product only needs to be cooked through the microwave as instructed on the cover. The noticeable concern is seeing the Kangkong (water spinach) is mixed with the Atchara side dish. It could have been shaken from its proper arrangement during transport.

But with how they add the Kangkong and Atchara is the balance of having the pork belly, which rests already on top of the white rice. The meat is not as muscled but when it gets ready to be bombarded with microwave rays those brown colours would be giving this meat a waking experience.

Portions, portions, and portions

Understandable is the common word in the past featured dishes like this, but as to keep it under its budget they must have to cut down on something at the same time keep a semblance of quality to still have the Liempo goodness despite the meat is not as thick as you’d hope to be.

The most noticeable is the portions of Kangkong and Atchara all mixed together even though you thought it was shaken during delivery. But obviously, the Atchara like the previous product that carried this side dish it appears to be just a smidge of what you hoped for in the product image, the same with the Kangkong that looks like the veggie was sliced to tiny little bits.

Overall experience is not to have that expectation, and the rice appears to be staggered underneath the Liempo, which is ‘kinda cheatin’ than understanding of keeping the product under its budget cost. If this was a full-on meal, definitely will be a little bit more expensive than hoping to have the ‘budget’ with all the bells and whistles.

• Food Quality: 4 out of 5
• Affordability: B
• Overall: Needs more rice, atchara, and kangkong

Grilled Liempo with Kangkong | Retailed at: ₱ 99.00 Pesos [$ 2.54 AUD | $ 1.89 USD]**

Grilled Liempo with Kangkong | Retailed at: ₱ 105.00 Pesos [$ 3.05 AUD | $ 1.98 USD]** As of 5 June 2022***

** - Currency Converter via Google.com

*** - UPDATED ON 5 JUNE 2022