VERSUS: Deco's Original and Ted's Oldtimer

The batchoy war continues as I found myself in the flagship branches of these two "batchoyans". Though weeks apart they are within the same range and scope, so to speak. This is limited to their branches at La Salette building for it would be different in other branches as experienced before.

Ambiance and service

It’s a green and white motif for Ted's interiors while yellow and brown for Deco's. Both exude a more modern and trendy take which are unlike the original batchoyan stalls.

With a crew to serve you from taking your orders at the counter to giving you additional bowls of “caldo”, both are equally attentive and alert. But I would choose Deco’s over Ted’s in this aspect. No, it's not that Deco's has auto doors by the way.

Presentation

Deco's looks more photogenic and visually appealing because of the contrast of colours but it's not nicely "arranged" as Ted's. The latter has this "mound” consisting of big slices of liver, innards, chicharon (most of which are finely crushed), onion and garlic.

The former on the other hand bigger chunks of chicharon yet smaller slices of pork and innards that seemed to have been tsunamied with the "caldo" (or soup). Obviously Ted's wins on presentation.

Sides

Located beside them are a pasalubong shop for Deco’s and a dessert shop for Ted’s. But this aint the sides I’m talking though it would a tie if considered being a suki in both pasalubong shop and Dulgies.Anyway, it’s the side orders that go well with batchoy I’m talking about.

Ted's make their own pan de sal and (orders) creamy puto while Deco's has pre-war pan de sal, pan de sal ni Pa-a and puto manapla. All of these are good side orders but I love the variety and novelty of Deco's for I am partial to it's miniscule and hard pre-war pan de sal.

Taste

Of course, it you can make your own that suits your taste by adding soy sauce and/or pepper. But “naturally” Ted's is more body and flavour while Deco's is subtle and subdued.

The former serves it with very hot caldo while the latter temperately hot. Deco’s tends to become saltier in the long run because of its chicharon, I believe. Both have the same sahog but Ted’s innard-laden bowl gives it an edge for it’s my preferred bowl of batchoy.

So which batchoyan?

A tie based on the above points of view but let me finish this by saying Ted’s had always been the best batchoy for me but I’d bring my guests to Deco’s first as I did many times.

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FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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