Filipinos have a deep penchant for garlic, with the allium playing a crucial role in many of the country’s well-loved dishes. It is this love for garlic that prompted The Bistro Group to launch Krazy Garlic a few years back. The restaurant was a homegrown concept that featured the aromatic root vegetable through a menu that featured Asian and Western dishes.
Today, Krazy Garlic opens the doors to its new home at the Al Fresco dining on the 3rd level of One Ayala Mall in Makati. The new location offers an updated youthful look with a wider menu featuring classic favorites and new dishes, as well as a dizzying array of drinks and cocktails.
Krazy Garlic sports a sleek, new logo that complements its modern, minimalist aesthetic, incorporating greys and earth tones alongside warm terracotta accents on the walls, ceiling, and furniture.
Diners are welcomed by signs like “Krazy is Welkome Here” and “We Need More Garlik,” playfully hinting at the judicious use of garlic cloves in every dish.
The restaurant’s director of Operations, Brian Peck shared that the dishes were developed with the help of all The Bistro Group’s chefs. “We did it Master Chef style, where the chefs had their own entries. We organized a competition. Everyone synergized in creating a special menu for Krazy Garlik,”
The result is a menu that spans different flavor profiles, from the rich and unctuous Wag the Ox which is very similar to the Spanish Tuhod y Batoc, to the comfortingly familiar Krazy Karne con Salsa Blanca with its beef and ox tongue cubes in a rich creamy mushroom sauce. Start the meal with the Wild Wild West chips which feature crisp potato chips topped with shredded Monterey Jack, jalapeno, pico de gallo, and candied bacon. Or for those who want something richer, the Why So Crabby features lump crabmeat dip seasoned with mayonnaise, cream cheese, sour cream, and Worcestershire sauce all served with toasted baguette slices.
For the main course, the 40 Kloves Chicken is always a favorite. Other dishes worth trying out include the Shrimp on a Roll and the Bag o’ Seafood. Those who want to bring on the heat can pair these hearty dishes with the Hara-Kiri, a fiery rice dish that is one part Jambalaya and one part Japanese fried rice.
