Taste Test: Can Andok’s Dokibab Ace the Kebab Game?

Taste: Good without the sauce, better with at least one, best with both.

Portion Size: One's enough if you're snackish, but you'll want two if you're really hungry.

Price: P99 in-store, P114-120 via delivery, depending on which service you use.

Verdict: It's a budget-friendly kebab rice meal that delivers on flavor.

But it hasn't stopped there: Andok's continues to expand its menu, and we're here to see whether this newest addition tastes as exciting as it sounds. 

I mean, it's right there: the grill, the chicken, and it's not like the spices to make the marinade are hard to source either. Of course it was just about time Andok's came out with their version of the kebab. It just makes sense!

Traditional kebab, which can be made with beef, pork, or chicken, is a Middle Eastern street classic, usually served with garlic sauce. It's commonly used as a filling in pita wraps, but it can also be served with rice… and you can probably guess where we're going here.

We ordered two Andok's Dokibabs via GrabFood, and it cost P120 each. On the Andok's website, the Dokibab costs P114, but if you chance upon an Andok's branch that carries the Dokibab, you can get it for just P99. It seems like not all branches carry it though, as Andok's Facebook page says you can message them to ask about availability.

The first thing that hits you is the smell when you open the container. It is unmistakably marinated in all those delicious Middle Eastern spices, and you can't miss the cumin. This is a good thing, especially when the char-grilled aroma hits you. Not only is it spiced; it's been properly grilled.

Each container comes with two strips of chicken; for those on the go, you'll be relieved to find that the kebabs have been removed from the skewers. What will please our mobile diners more is the way the pieces are so tender you could get away with consuming the whole thing with just a spoon; it's not hard to chop up the chicken at all.

And the chicken kebab itself? Without the sauce, it actually holds up well. It’s not just the cumin that you get; it's got well-rounded flavor. The best part is that it's quite juicy, even after delivery. The thing with chicken skewers is that you can end up with a dry, unpleasant texture if you overcook it for even just a minute or two, but it's juicy and flavorful when grilled just right. We are happy to report that the Dokibab falls under the latter.

Let's talk about the sauces. The white one is garlic sauce, while the orange one seems to be a chili garlic version. The garlic sauce is (surprise!) garlic-forward, but in a good way: the flavors are balanced with a creaminess and a tanginess that gets you excited for the next bite. It's deliciously complementary to the kebab, and it gives the meat  that essential pop of brightness that balances out the warmth of the spices. 

On the other hand, the spicy garlic sauce has a nice heat to it: enough that there's a kick, but not so much that it overwhelms the kebab or the white sauce. My tolerance to spicy food is not particularly high (and by that I mean it is quite low), but I could eat enough of it that I added the spicy sauce to every bite. 

After you register the heat, the toned-down creaminess and tanginess of the white garlic sauce comes through, as if it's just another side of the same coin. Or, you know, the spicy version of the same sauce. With the kebab, the spicy garlic sauce gives you a different experience—it's the kind of spice level that urges you to take another bite, then another, then another.

But the best way to eat the Andok's Dokibab? Put the sauces together! The white garlic sauce is tangier and makes every bite refreshing, while its spicy sibling adds a nice hot kick that will spur you on. It's a debilitatingly good combo, and if you've got a big appetite… you'll want to order at least two Dokibabs.

The short of it is this: At P120 a bowl through GrabFood (plus delivery fees), I would say it's on the pricier side. P114 on Andok's delivery might be more acceptable, but given the portion size (which was consistent, by the way), I think you'd get the best value for your money if you purchase the Andok's Dokibab at a brick-and-mortar branch for P99. It depends highly on how much you're willing to pay for the convenience of getting your food delivered to you, because the Dokibab itself isn’t going to disappoint. 

Be warned, though: for a rice meal retailed at P99 in-store, you're definitely getting the portion size you're paying for. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; while I wasn't loosen-my-pants full after consuming 1 Dokibab meal, I was satiated. So if you're hungry hungry, you might consider ordering two (or more, we won't judge).