A Taste of the US Midwest: Racks

When it comes to barbecued ribs here in the Philippines, one place would usually come to mind: Racks, which boasts of its "Flame-Grilled, Falls of the Bone" Ribs. With over a dozen branches primarily in Luzon, Racks is indeed the go-to place of hungry Filipinos who would want their fill of beef or pork ribs. 

My family and I visited their TriNoma branch, which opened in 2012. Tucked away in a little corner right beside the chapel, Racks TriNoma's location is perfect for those who would want to enjoy a meal with their family, away from the "chaos" that usually goes on in TriNoma, especially on weekends. 

Outside the Racks TriNoma branch

True to their specialty, Racks maintains a homely American Midwest feel to it. Compared to other Racks branches I've seen, the one in TriNoma is considerably smaller, but I guess this only adds to its charm. It feels "homelier" than the bigger restaurants, like, say, the one at the SM Mall of Asia, which can get quite chaotic especially during the busy hours. 

A glimpse of the menu

Inside the Racks TriNoma branch

For starters, my mom ordered some of their Mushroom Soup for herself, though I did get to try some of it. It was pretty good, actually. It did remind me of the canned mushroom soup variety that I enjoyed when I was younger, though this one tasted better.

Mushroom Soup with Croutons

A trip to Racks wouldn't be a legit trip to Racks without trying their Ribs, which is exactly what we ordered. We had two platters of their Kansas City Style Baby Back Ribs, which comes with a side serving of salad, and our choice of side dishes. My dad had Coleslaw, while I went for the Potato Salad. My mother, meanwhile, ordered Corn on the Cob. 

Kansas City Style Baby Back Ribs, Salad, Baby Potatoes, and Coleslaw

I absolutely loved the ribs--it was very tender, and as advertised, the meat does fall off the bone easily. Using a knife or even your hands (which they do in the United States) is unnecessary, as the meat is very soft  that you could easily cut it with a fork. Every bite has that right amount of juiciness with just a hint of spiciness. When paired with their famous homemade barbecue sauce (either Regular or Extra Hot), each bite just becomes absolutely irresistible!

Looks good, doesn't it?

Another favorite of mine would be the potato salad which is served with turmeric dressing. The potatoes-and-turmeric-dressing combo is just right, as one does not overpower the taste of the other. It's just the perfect blend. As for the corn, well, it is corn on the cob, and I don't think much can be done to make it any more special, really. It is interesting to note, however, that Racks' Corn on the Cob is noticeably softer than the others, and therefore a bit easier to eat. 

Racks claims to have the best ribs--and they make sure the  customers get the message 

When I eat out, I don't usually order drinks--I just go for a glass of water. While I was browsing through their menu, however, the Hazelnut Milkshake caught my attention. It was definitely something new for me and I just had to try it. At P145, you might hesitate to try it since it's a bit expensive. But, if you want to indulge yourself, then I guess this would be an ideal treat. It seems to be a bit too thick for me, though--but I guess that's how other people like their milkshakes. 

A bottle of their famous Barbeque Sauce and a Hazelnut Milkshake

(Racks is located in over a dozen locations around Luzon. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.racks.ph. You may also like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for the latest updates.)