When I received an e-mail from Totong’s Streetfood Corner asking if I would be willing to try out their products, I was immediately intrigued. I mean, who in this country does not have a fondness for street-food? When I was a wee child, lumpia dynamites weren’t a thing yet. It only started gaining popularity during my college years.
I fondly remember how my friends and I would often seek it out at our university canteen before stocks ran out for the day. I really enjoy the crunchy, cheesy, slightly spicy blend of flavors and textures of the lumpia dynamite. I like spicy stuff in general so eating green chilli is normal for me, but wrapped and filled with cheese like that, it’s a different experience.
Clearly I’m not the only one who enjoys this little fried treat, if the backstory of Totong’s Streetfood Corner is any proof.
The woman behind Totong’s Streetfood Corner is an Illongga from Bacolod, Mrs. Elma Alvarez Yap. “Totong” was her childhood nickname coined during the time before she was born, when her parents thought she would be a boy. (What a cute story!) At the beginning, Totong made her lumpia dynamite only for friends and fellow housewives, but word got out and her circle of fans grew. This was the encouragement she needed to take the plunge and start her home-based business.
Though based in Pasig, her lumpia dynamite has traveled many miles: sometimes to big parties as finger-food, and sometimes to other people’s homes in frozen, ready-to-cook form. I received a delivery from Grab Express myself of frozen packs of each flavor of lumpia dynamite from Totong’s Streetfood Corner.
At a glance, one can tell the lumpia dynamites are fresh. Though frozen, they were recently made and then delivered. Old lumpia wrappers that have been frozen a long time tend to be yellower in hue and have cracks on them. Right off the bat, I had a good feeling about these.
I decided to prepare the dynamites during a family weekend lunch to have everyone try and review the product with me. Frozen lumpia do not need to be thawed before cooking. Just separate each piece and then fry. We don’t use a lot of oil when frying here at home, as you can see, but of course you can fry it the way you always do it at home.
Cheesestick Dynamite (Php 15/pc frozen, Php 17/pc cooked)
This is the classic dynamite where the green chili pepper’s seeds are removed and replaced with a length of cheese inside. Everything is housed inside a lumpia wrapper that gets fried to golden perfection. These are available frozen in packs of 6.
As I was picking this up to taste, in my head I was thinking, ‘This would probably be the least interesting of the flavors because it’s literally just cheese. Nakain ko na to before.’ But boy was I wrong! The cheese inside this thing is generous and creamy, plus it’s just salty enough to help bring out the flavor of the green chili pepper more. You get a burst of spicy in here that I thoroughly enjoy, and then dipped in the vinegar you get a sour tingle to the tastebuds as well.
Nakakagana kumain pag ganito yung ulam mo. Crunchy, salty, sour, and spicy all at the same time!
Cheesy Chicken Dynamite (Php 22/pc frozen, Php 26/pc cooked)
Cheese-stuffed green chili pepper with ground chicken wrapped in lumpia form. These are available frozen in packs of 5.
I kind of feel like this was the one that caught my attention the least. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I guess you could say it got outshined by the other two. It’s not exactly bland, but it’s also not as flavorful as the cheese or the beef. I feel like the chicken could maybe use a little more pepper? This was okay, but it’s not my top pick.
Cheesy Beef & Pork Dynamite (Php 22/pc frozen, Php 26/pc cooked)
Cheese-stuffed green chili pepper with ground beef and pork wrapped in lumpia form. These are available frozen in packs of 5.
My family and I all agree that this beef and pork one was yummier than the chicken, mostly because these meats complement the green chili and cheese better than the chicken did. It might be the way the beef and pork are seasoned that somehow makes the chili’s flavor come out more. The meat balances out the spiciness of the chili also so I didn’t get much of the heat, but I did get the flavor. The cheese, green chili, and the meats all just come together really well.
Final thoughts
Totong’s lumpia dynamites are pretty good. Ranking from my most to least favorite, I would say I love the Cheesestick the most, followed closely by the Cheesy Beef & Pork. The Cheesy Chicken was just okay for me, though there was nothing bad about it. I just prefer the other two for the flavor they give and how they play off the green chili pepper.
Honestly, there’s nothing bad I can say about the quality of these lumpia dynamites from Totong’s Streetfood Corner. The ingredients used are good and fresh, sans extenders. The cheese is creamy as well. I don’t think I’ve ever had lumpia dynamite with this level of quality and meatiness before. Also, I was so used to dipping these in thick sauces I didn’t realize they would actually taste better with seasoned vinegar!
Personally, I feel like it wouldn’t hurt to have a stash of these lumpia dynamites in the freezer. Any time you need a quick and easy lunch or dinner option, you can just grab these and get them on the table in no-time. I also see how this would be a hit in parties as a finger-food or even as part of the buffet spread in parties. It’s relatable and nostalgic, but most of all it’s delicious. How could you go wrong with something like this? I can certainly see the commitment given to ensure that these products are consistent and won’t disappoint. I also think it’s fairly priced for the quality. Definitely go and EAT the heck out of these!
If you would like to try these lumpia dynamites from Totong’s Streetfood Corner, you can order from their Facebook and Instagram pages. You can also reach them using these numbers: 0919-3197523 (Smart), 0917-8135277 (Globe), 978-2328 (Landline).
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Full disclosure: I received samples of the product to try but all opinions are my own. I have not received any compensation for writing this post.
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