#ItsFunToBeMessy: Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps Opens Second Manila Branch at SM Mall of Asia

Three branches in Davao, and two more locations in Manila, the fun to be messy formula seems to be working for Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps...

Davao's homegrown restaurant concept, Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps, opens its second branch in Manila at SM Mall of Asia, taking Davao pride to the southern side of the metro. Ready to get messy?

At the newest location of Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps at SM Mall of Asia, diners can expect the same casual and cozy feel and familiar color palette from its original branches from Davao, bringing its signature "from sea to table" and unique "it's fun to be messy" vibe this side of the metro.

Partners Glen Lee (L), founders Anthony Ang (center), and Kenneth Hao (R), welcome guests to Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps' newest branch at SM Mall of Asia, its second branch in Manila (see my earlier post on Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps' first ever branch outside Davao, From Davao to Manila: Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps Opens at The Block). Now with a total of five branches in Davao and Manila, the local homegrown concept continues to spread its reach with the opening of even more branches planned in the pipeline (for more on Davao's Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps, see my previous posts, From Sea to Table: A Taste of Davao's Best at Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps on the very first branch in Lanang, My Kind of Crab Mentality: Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps Opens Third Davao Branch at SM City Davao on its recent recent opening of a third location in Davao, and #ProudDavao: A Sumptuous Seafood Feast at Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps on an epic inaugural feast). Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps remains the anchor of a growing food business, which includes Davao's Antonio's Bar & Grill (more on the signature Filipino cuisine of Antonio's Bar & Grill on my post, Flavors of Davao: Good Times at Antonio's Bar & Grill). What originally began as a casual bar established by a group of college friends has blossomed into one of Davao's iconic establishments, and you can expect to hear more from these guys in the coming months. 

Start your seafood feast with Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps' signature Spicy Gumbo Soup (P 189), a hearty and comforting spicy appetizer loaded with fresh seafood in thick and flavorful broth, and the Crab Chowder (P 89), a creamy classic with fresh, succulent crabs.

Just like their branches in Davao, diners can enjoy unlimited beverages with their Nestea Mixology Bar and create their own refreshing concoctions from a variety of flavors, adding to the cool interactive vibe. Mix it all up and see the colors change, and have a long soothing sip...

And in true Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps fashion, guests are encouraged to leave their marks on the interior walls. The blank walls inside Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps soon filled up with graffiti, as the friendly staff handed out markers and pens to guests...

Before the sumptuous seafood spread is served, the staff preps the table with a sheet of food grade wax paper and assist diners with plastic bibs. A wooden chopping board, metal mallets and crab crackers complete the set-up. You can also request for plastic gloves if you wish, after all, it's time to get seriously messy.

The staff then presented a sample of the day's freshest catch...

...filled with live crabs from the south. Sambal, Garlic-Fried, the Blue Posts Boil, Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce, or Salted Egg? It's your call...

Here's a quick guide on getting started at Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps: First, choose your seafood, from fat Crabs (cost based on prevailing market prices), plump Shrimps (P 573), and fresh Mussels (P 589). Then, choose your cooking preference, including the classic Blue Posts Boil, with your choice of seafood simmered in a thick Cajun-style sauce; the Garlic-Fried, with seafood coated in a light batter and fried to perfection with loads of garlic, the Sambal, an Indonesian-Malaysian inspired sauce with a rich blend of spices, Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce, the perfect trifecta for seafood; or the new Salted Egg variant, your choice of deep-fried seafood in butter, garlic and salted egg. For the Salted Egg variant, you won't find the usual salted egg powder or sauce, instead, real cubes of salted egg are used for that distinct flavor. Next, indicate your spice level, from Regular, Mild, and Super Spicy (they love it smokin' hot and spicy in Davao), and finally, top your order with Extras, including Corn-On-The-Cob (P 45), Potatoes (P 45), Pork Sausage (P 45), Hungarian Sausage (P 82), and Steamed Rice (P 55) on the side.

After quick work on the Spicy Gumbo Soup and Crab Chowder, the staff then served buckets of crabs and shrimps fresh from the kitchen, unwrapped the plastic bags, and laid it all on the table, and your Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps seafood feast is all systems go. The deep-fried Crabs in Salted Egg combines the delicate briny sweetness of crabs with the distinct notes of salted egg for rich yet balanced flavors. Don't forget to scoop a load of crunchy garlic and salted egg cubes to top off your rice.

The Garlic-Fried Crabs offer a savory richness with loads of nutty garlic adding layers of flavors to the delicate crabs. Deep-fried to perfection, a light tap with the mallet does quick work on the brittle shells, revealing the succulent crab meat.

The subtle sweetness of fresh shrimps are kicked up with the Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce, offering fresh and clean flavors...

...and once you start, you just can't stop. The sharp hints of the lemon weave in with the nutty garlic and rich buttery notes for a seamless blend, and it just can't get better than that.

But it does. One more bucket of Deep-Fried Salted Egg Shrimps and another round of Garlic Fried Crabs highlights another typical "it's fun to be messy" day at Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps.

At Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps, the table becomes a massive plate for communal dining, adding to the experience. Armed with mallets and crackers, diners get to enjoy shrimpin' and crabbin' with the signature dishes at Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps. Good food, good times, good vibes...

Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps' founder, Anthony Ang (R), chats with guests after a sumptuous meal. Beaming with Davao pride, Anthony Ang described the lengthy process of sourcing and kitchen preps to ensure the flavors are consistent with the original Davao experience.  

For dessert, indulge in a wide selection of sweet treats like Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps sinful Tapioca (P 89)...

...or the creamy, sweet and tart Pomelo Cream Salad with Corn (P 89), featuring yet another Davao icon, fresh pomelos. Ready to get messy? Head on down to Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps and find out why it's fun to be messy, Davao-style...now open at SM Mall of Asia. 

Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps is located at the Ground Floor, North Entertainment Mall (across Seaside), SM Mall of Asia.

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