Southcenter Trip! - Jollibee & Red Ribbon

Another week, another new post! You're seeing this one a little later than planned, thanks to that surprise Cheez-It pizza post. On the 23rd of September was the brand new MAC x Pony Park launch day for brick-and-mortar locations. My best friend and I decided to make a day of it and took a special trip down to Southcenter in Tukwila for a little retail therapy. We met up with another friend and spent time doing a good bit of walking and browsing through cosmetic stores. Made for a great Monday off! (No makeup haul photos, since I'm not one much for those, haha!)

Any time I am down visiting that mall, I cannot help but visit the walkway leading to Seafood City. It is practically a requirement for me, and if I don't leave without at least stopping for a snack it doesn't feel right. I love both Jollibee and Red Ribbon to death, and they are my usual stops. So I figured it might be a fun change to give you some savory on today's post!

 Jollibee makes some of my favorite fried chicken I've ever had. If you like spicy food, definitely try their spicy fried chicken. The chicken itself is the same as their original recipe but coated with a dry spice blend that offers big flavor and plenty of heat. Our meal also included Peach Mango Pies and Mashed Potatoes. The pies have a super light and crispy crust and are packed with filling. I also ordered a helping of spaghetti, which comes covered in a banana ketchup-based sauce. The spaghetti won't be for everyone, but if you like your red sauce on the sweet side, I'd really recommend trying it!

After a really filling lunch, we spent some time walking around and later circled back to Red Ribbon for dessert. Halo-halo was on the menu and cold nor rain would stop me! We also opted for a slice of Ube Overload cake. The cake is not the star of this review, but deserves an honorable mention for sure! If you enjoy lighter fluffier cakes, do try one from their case.

 While halo-halo is the popularized spelling, haluhalo is the other and the technically more correct way you'll see this name spelled. The name actually is derived from the Tagalog word for mixed, which is the best way to enjoy it! Different places offer a different mix of toppings (though most of the ones you find in the area around Seafood City will all be very similar) but they always include a scoop of ice cream, agar jellies, a mix of fruit native to the Philippines, a mix of sweetened beans, shaved ice, and evaporated milk. Ours also offered a chunk of leche flan, and nata de coco (a jelly made from coconut water). It may sound like a weird mix, but haluhalo is one of my favorite desserts and you should absolutely try it! I love all the different textures, and the varying levels of sweetness you get. And Red Ribbon's offering when we visited offered Jackfruit ice ream, which offered a nice amount of tart to all the sweet!

Hopefully, you enjoyed this week's review, and it's inspired you to seek out some treats you may not have tried!