For many, Chickenjoy is often the first name that comes to mind when crispy and juicy fried chicken is brought up.
With crispy skin, juicy meat, and its savory gravy, it has rightfully earned a place in the hearts—and on the tables—of Filipinos everywhere. But what if I told you that Ligaya’s Fried Chicken, an old-school spot in Marikina, might just give the fast-food favorite a run for its money?
Despite first opening in 1965, the family-run restaurant eventually closed in the 1980s, leaving a long gap before making its much-awaited comeback during the pandemic in 2022. And yet, despite all those years away, Ligaya’s has managed to win over the hearts and stomachs of Marikeños once again, which says a lot about their food.
After all, you don’t just bring back a decades-old fried chicken recipe and expect people to care. There has to be something worth coming back for—and at Ligaya’s, it all started when Lola Ligaya tweaked a friend’s fried chicken recipe to suit her own taste.
The Story Behind Ligaya’s Fried Chicken
While the name ‘Ligaya’ naturally invites comparisons to the world-famous Chickenjoy, this recently-revived Marikina favorite has its own unique story—and at the heart of it is Lola Ligaya’s original fried chicken recipe.
Because, apparently, their best-selling bird is her spin on a friend’s already-delicious fried chicken recipe. Rather than being the product of a corporate test kitchen’s many months of R&D, theirs came from someone taking an existing recipe and making it her own.
Who would’ve thought that a personal take on a familiar dish would eventually become the signature offering of a restaurant that would leave its mark on Marikina’s food scene with simple meals that people remember and continue to crave years later.
But of course, a good story can only take you so far. The chicken still has to deliver, and thankfully, it does.
Crispy, Juicy, and Ready to Rival Chickenjoy
The first thing that stands out about Ligaya’s fried chicken is its crisp, golden exterior. Unlike chicken that’s coated in flour or cornstarch, theirs is dipped in a batter before being deep-fried, giving it that satisfying crunch without a thick, powdery coating.
Served hot and glistening, sticking a fork and knife into it triggers the must-experience reveal where juicy meat and a satisfying crunch take center stage. And since the meat is tender enough to shred easily off the bones, it’s especially enjoyable for anyone who likes picking apart a piece to get every last bit.
The chicken also comes with a bright orange, sweet-and-sour sauce that might look familiar to anyone who’s ever dipped lumpia into the same kind of condiment. Tangy, sweet, and slightly sticky, it adds another layer of flavor to an already flavorful dish.
Like most Filipino-style fried chicken dishes, though, this is a straightforward meal that doesn’t need elaborate coatings or unnecessary garnishes. Instead, Ligaya’s does the basics well with crispy skin, soft, tender meat, and a dipping sauce that brings a little extra punch—all of which seem like compelling reasons to reach for another piece.
So, does Ligaya’s deserve to stand alongside Chickenjoy? I’d say it makes a compelling case. While they both have their own identities, Ligaya’s delivers the kind of familiar, satisfying fried chicken that might make you reconsider where you go the next time a craving strikes.
And considering that the restaurant managed to return after decades of being away and still find an audience all over again, it’s clear that there’s still plenty of love for Lola Ligaya’s chicken.
Make Room for the Pancit Palabok
If you’re visiting with an appetite, don’t stop at the chicken. Ligaya’s also serves pancit palabok, and it’s a welcome addition to the table.
The noodles are generously coated in the signature palabok sauce and topped generously with slices of boiled egg, chicharon, and even small shrimps. With no shortage of toppings, each forkful will always twirl together noodles, sauce, a little softness from the egg, crunch from the chicharon, and sweet meatiness from the shrimp.
Pair that with their fried chicken, and you have a satisfying Filipino-style spread. You get the crispiness and juiciness of the chicken alongside a saucy noodle dish with plenty of toppings. It’s a familiar combination that makes ordering more than just the chicken a good idea.
A Little More Ligaya, Decades Later
Ligaya’s has had quite a journey. After opening in 1965 and closing in the 1980s, it returned in 2022 to introduce its food to another generation of diners. And while Lola Ligaya may have passed on, the recipe she helped shape continues to bring people together over a good meal.
And for a restaurant named ‘Ligaya,’ there’s something wholesome about giving people a joyous reason to gather around the table—making their return less of a nostalgic comeback, and more of a reminder that food made with care can leave a lasting impression, even after a long absence.
Chickenjoy may have the name recognition, but Ligaya’s has a story worth knowing, a recipe that has endured, and chicken that delivers on crispiness and juiciness. Add a generous plate of palabok to the order, and you have a comforting Filipino-style spread that’s hard to argue against.
So, the next time you’re in Marikina and craving fried chicken, consider giving Ligaya’s a try. And with every crispy bite, they’ll prove that while good fried chicken can bring joy to a meal, the right recipe can carry the happiness it brings across generations.
Ligaya’s Fried Chicken is located at 794 J. P. Rizal St, Concepcion Uno, Marikina.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ligaya’s Fried Chicken is a family-run restaurant in Concepcion Uno, Marikina, that first opened in 1965. It closed in the 1980s and returned in 2022. It is known for batter-fried chicken served with a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce, alongside pancit palabok.
Ligaya’s Fried Chicken is located at 794 J. P. Rizal Street, Concepcion Uno, Marikina. The restaurant is an old-school, family-run Marikina spot that first opened in 1965 and reopened in 2022 after closing in the 1980s, serving Filipino-style fried chicken and pancit palabok.
Ligaya’s fried chicken is dipped in batter before being deep-fried, rather than coated in flour or cornstarch. This gives it a crisp, golden exterior without a thick, powdery coating, while the meat stays juicy and tender enough to shred easily off the bone.
Ligaya’s serves its fried chicken with a bright orange sweet-and-sour sauce similar to the dipping condiment commonly served with lumpia. The sauce is tangy, sweet, and slightly sticky, adding another layer of flavor to the otherwise straightforward, Filipino-style fried chicken.
Ligaya’s also serves pancit palabok, with noodles coated in its signature palabok sauce and topped with sliced boiled egg, chicharon, and small shrimps. It pairs naturally with the fried chicken for a full Filipino-style meal combining crispy chicken with a saucy, well-topped noodle dish.
