Secret Recipe @ Manggis Branch

Before you guys continue reading, let me clarify that I AM NOT PAID TO DO THIS REVIEW (in fact I've never been paid before so don't worry, Food-Hungry's reviews are always reviewed by our sincerest and honest attitudes towards the local eateries)

Finally, I visited Secret Recipe's Manggis branch after hearing so many negative feed backs from people, especially on Facebook (the day when I visited it, it was like after 1 month since SR opened in Brunei). People were complaining how slow the service was and how bad the food tasted and of course, not to forget, how expensive the food is. Lotsa negative feed backs than you could ever imagine.

Once and again, please give these new cafes/eateries a break lar!

The owners of these eateries as well as his or her crew could be very new to the food and beverages business so they might not be well in handling certain situations that could occur especially when Bruneians love to try out new eateries in the first week of its opening. Thus, strong advice to the owners, must be 100% prepared, if not, there is 99.9% of you kena bombed by these patrons.

During my visit to Secret Recipe, although it was already past a month or 2 after it has opened, the service was pretty good. I really must admit that the waitress who served us wasn't wearing any smile on her face but at least she was working hard to serve us better as well as helping us to ask her colleagues more information regarding the HSBC credit card promotion. Maybe she just wasn't too confident to smile at strangers? hahahahaha Food was served soon after we placed our order; the drinks, cakes and chicken chop rice.

Ho Wee decided to go for the HSBC promotion by ordering a set meal which included Black Pepper Chicken Rice and a can of coke for $9.90. SKY, Hubby and I ordered two slices of cake which were Tiramisu and Chocolate Indulgence. SKY was really satisfied with his Tiramisu cake and I was really in love with my Chocoloate Indulgence! Really delicious! Ho Wee didn't like his chicken chop rice cause he felt the portion was too little and it didn't look nor tasted like black pepper at all.

Alright, talking bout price, there are people complaining that the food is very expensive. Well, I think that could be because people were used to paying RM when dining in Malaysia's SR branches like the ones located in Miri as that was the nearest option we could get before the Brunei branches were opened. The cake might cost like RM5-6 per slice? I'm unsure but I'm quite sure no matter how it would be cheaper than Bnd due to the currency exchange.

Well, the thing is, Secret Recipe is a world reknowned restaurant that have many branches in different countries which include Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and etc. and it is very popular with its cakes as well as other main dishes. Brunei's Secret Recipe is selling its cakes at $4.50 per slice. And when you look at local cafes or bakeries which are only well known by the locals are charging a slice of cake ranging from Bnd$4-6 per slice too. Thus, it's actually within the NORMAL price range in our local market so what the fuss? And some people might still be whining that they rather spend RM rather than dining in local branches. Maybe they could also considered the time and effort as well as fuel when they travel down to neighbouring country. I really do hope the locals could give more support to the local businesses to aid our country in developing.

Lastly, I emphasized again that I am not paid to write this review and you might not agree what I've written but these are just my own opinions. So CHEERS! ^^

Red menu




The business was in brisk


There was HSBC credit card _ SR promotion going on


Some fruit juice which I don't remember its name anymore


The Secret Recipe Water haha


Black Pepper Chicken Chop + Coke = $9.90 and it doesn't look like Black Pepper style at all


Tiramisu Cake


Chocolate Indulgence Cake


Ho Wee and SKY enjoying their food


Different varieties of cakes being displayed

Hunnie Signing Off~