Hotta Ulam | Lechon Sisig

“Ulam” is a Filipino word loosely translated in English as Viands or side dish. It’s the best pair up when having rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s mostly a home cooking that makes it even better. But as an instant frozen dish has been around with different brands making their version of what is a Filipino ‘home cooking’ as an instant without the need to prepare and cook it from the ground up. There have been brands that have produced their version of an instant viand or “Ulam” to take home and just cook rice to pair with it. Way back a full decade ago there was the brand called Ulalammm that was rebranded to Ulalamammm Plus, and then local pastry and restaurant Goldilocks have their take that for some that’s unknown.

With 7 Eleven, a convenience store known for a Slurpee (that was retired for most of the stores in Metro Manila save for a few in regional areas) and other type of snack and carry all lunch meals they have pushed the boundaries what is good not only for their walk-in customers, but also those around their neighborhood looking for a quick lunch meal or viands that they can get for a reasonable price.

They have collaborated with well-known restaurants and with Rico’s Lechon best known in Cebu City for their famed roast pig and whatnot they continue their partnership in producing viands that’s as affordable as the full meals they have produced for 7 Eleven that starts with the range under the Hotta Ulam!

Lechon Sisig

Rico’s Lechon is already an expert when you talk about a dish that has the word “Lechon” on it, but with Sisig? It takes a different perspective knowing you’d be curious to have it on your plate and enjoy that lunch meal. For those who haven’t tried it, the Hotta Ulam is just a range of viands that Rico’s Lechon has produced and this one of their very few dishes.

This comes in a small packet packed in a vacuum sealed black plastic, where the viand is rested in a small black microwaveable tray. It’s interesting how they put a stamp of premium for such a small product that has become Rico’s Lechon signature along with their other products.

All you need is Rice

You can’t appreciate the meal without having it with rice, it is a very Filipino way of having a good meal. It’s not enjoyable if there’s no rice and just a viand unless you are on a strict carbo diet not having it but this dish. It is one of those dish that gets to disappear during lunch time when office workers from nearby decide to have this.

Of course, the good part is that the 7 Eleven store also sell a lump of steam rice since they also have chicken meals similar to fast food restaurants and have the option to get extra rice if you forgot to put one on a steamer. It’s really that good but often times it is also a messy with the sauce spilled already inside its packaging.

Overall this viand is worth it but not for the price due to its small portion. It would still get you out of the hump not being able to cook and its benefit of convenience to just have one and get an extra rice in case you forgot to prepare a bowl for it. So far the best lunch money can buy but could have at least got more for what’s worth.

• Food Quality: 4 out of 5
• Affordability: B-
• Overall: All you need is rice, but not enough Sisig.

Lechon Sisig | Retailed at: ₱ 85.00 Pesos [$ 2.23 AUD | $ 1.61 USD]**

** - Currency Converter via Google.com