Halo-halo is a Filipino staple desert during hot days, and it’s an absolute delight when you’re craving for different kinds of fruits and toppings.

I don’t often critique desserts as I’ve never been big on sweets, but when I tried Bebang’s halo-halo, I loved it. It wasn’t too sweet, and when you mix and stir the contents, nothing spills over or very little if you’re too rigorous in mixing. Bebang’s has cracked the code on what makes halo-halo the perfect meryenda, and they’ve got the long waiting list for online orders to prove it.

However, there’s a new player entering the market and I’m heavily recommending this for anyone who’s craving for Halo-halo. We just happened to walking by Forbestown and wanted to try one of the stalls, and who did we find? Danica Lucero. Yes, that Danica Lucero who won a halo-halo challenge against Chef Judy Ann Santos, Chef Bea Qua, and Ninong Ry, and got a signed apron from Gordon Ramsay himself.

I’ll stop yapping with the intro and give you a run-down of what they’re currently serving, the price range, where you can find them, and what their future plans are.

The Menu

Say Halo doesn’t have an extensive menu at the moment because they’re in the early stages of the startup. However, each item on their menu is a winner, and you can personally try the winning halo-halo that even Chef Ramsay can get behind!

Every Halo-halo dish costs Php. 250 (which is around $4.50 for our beloved expats living in BGC). They have 3 flavors. Kamias, Buko Pie, and Turon.

Kamias Halo-halo

This was Nica’s winning dish during the competition. It’s a mixture of nata de coco, sago, macapuno, leche flan, and kamias compote in a mixture of evaporated milk and coconut cream. What brings out the best in this halo-halo dish is the Kamias compote that adds a different dimension of flavor aside from the sweet & creamy taste we’re used to in halo-halo. The slightly tangy Kamias compote and crunchy pinipig adds a layer of texture that you can’t help but love.

The traditional toppings such as macapuno, nata de coco and leche flan were married quite well into the twist of the Kamias.

It’s a must try and I’m giving it a solid 4/5.

Buko Pie Halo-halo

I cannot recommend the Buko pie halo-halo enough. It hit all the right flavors you’ll want in a halo-halo. Creamy, sweet (but not too sweet) and indulgent. But what really ties in the flavors for this dish is the melted Latik.

This halo-halo will remind you what Filipino dessert is all about. The latik was almost reminiscent of biko, and one bite out of it took me back to my childhood.

You cannot go wrong if you order this dish. I’m giving it a rating of 4.5/5.

Turon Halo-halo

Sadly, we were already full and we couldn’t try this dish anymore. But I’m assuming that the base of the flavor will be caramelized sugar on bananas.

How Did Say Halo Start?

Say Halo is the brainchild of Chef Nica Lucero. According to her, after the competition, numerous netizens were RARING to try her halo-halo and were asking if they could order it. From there, she decided to take online orders and it was an instant hit.

Fast forward to 3 months later, Gio, their CFO, joined the team and they’ve been joining bazaars and opening pop-up stores ever since.

Where Can I Find Say Halo?

Today will be the last day of Say Halo at Forbestown Road BGC, near UCC Terrace BGC and Tipsy Pig. Fortunately for those who can’t try it on BGC today, you’ll be able to find them at Rizal Row Estancia, Pasig!

What Are Their Future Plans?

I had a wonderful conversation with the core team of Say Halo and according to them, they want to strategically place themselves in malls to make their delightful halo-halos more accessible to the general public. They’re hoping to execute this plan within 2025 or early 2026.

Conclusion

It’s safe to say that I truly loved these halo-halo dishes, and I’m excited to see the heights they can reach. This company is in its early stages but it’s already showing great potential thanks to the love that Chef Nica is pouring into her creations. Overall rating of Say Halo – 4/5.