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| Chinese Dumplings |
I am
particularly fond of Chinese cuisine. I don’t know why, maybe it had something
to do with my Chinese blood. I recently made a short list of my recommended
Chinese restaurants/eateries along with their specialty foods or must-try foods
for you to know what to order when you come and visit them. Most of these
restaurants may have been familiar with you as they’ve been in the food
industry for such a long time. But I recently visited them and found out a few
changes and improvements in both their meals as well as in their services.
Check these out.
Ma Mon Luk
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| Ma Mon Luk's Original Mami |
I’m
not sure if their Quiapo branch is still around. But I’ve visited their Quezon
Avenue branch recently and I’m happy to know that their Siopao Special which
somehow catapulted them to popularity and made them a word-of-mouth among
Filipinos still tastes the same as I had remembered them back during my
childhood years. Their Siopao Special [jumbo in size] consists of Asado,
Chicken and Salted Egg fillings. These siopao buns are being sold at Php90 per
order. They also have regular Asado siopao [Php70], Sang Yuk Pao [Bola-bola also
sold at Php90] and Taw Sa Pao [Mongo filled sold at Php70].
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| Ma Mon Luk's Siopao Special |
These siopao
are best consumed with Ma Mon Luk’s house specialty original chicken Mami,
available in large [Php150] and small [Php140] bowls. Although these original
mami from Ma Mon Luk are what made them popular, I find their Beef Mami better
tasting and a must-try to order than their original mami. They even claim to be
the mami inventor since they have established Ma Mon Luk since 1920. The beef
mami may be a bit more expensive at Php160, but at least I’m definitely getting
what I’ve paid for. I find their
original chicken mami too bland for my taste. The shredded chicken parts which
had served as soup toppings didn’t help at all. No matter how many pepper or
fish sauce I’ve put on the soup, I still find it too bland. But somehow, whatever
kind of soup you choose, whether it’ll be their original chicken mami or the
beef mami, it goes perfectly well when you consume them with their special
siopao.
When it
comes to honest-to-goodness siopao, Ma Mon Luk probably has the best to offer
despite the presence of newly established Chinese restaurants. They still had
that old Manila vibe and somehow gives one a nostalgic feel when you come and
visit their restaurant. More importantly, they remind you of the good old
times, back when life were much simpler and a bun of their special siopao will
make you feel better.
Mr. Ube
I maybe
partial to its restaurant’s color since I love the purple color. But I’m no fan
of ube [taro yam], that’s for sure. I accidentally stumbled upon Mr. Ube restaurant
[from the same company that brought us Eng Bee Tin] during my very first visit
to Chinatown when my godfather was still alive. What do I love about Mr. Ube? A
portion of your purchase goes directly to a good cause as the owner is an
active fire volunteer. He donates firetrucks as well as ambulances.
When it
comes to food, I love Mr. Ube’s Kiampung rice. Kiampung rice is made of sticky
rice with nuts, shallots and bits of pork or meat. Their Lechon Macau meal is
also to-die-for! Not to mention, they’re made affordable so that anyone can
enjoy a good meal without the need to burn one’s pocket. They also have a good
selection of noodles and rice toppings. You can also buy frozen dumplings and noodles
here.
Of course,
since this is owned by the same guy who owns Eng Bee Tin, their products like
your favorite ube hopia and tikoy are also available here.
I love the
fact that I need not go to Binondo to enjoy a meal at Mr. Ube because they have
a branch along E. Rodriguez Sr. [across St. Luke’s Medical Center]. That means,
Quezon City residents like me can just come and visit this branch to get my
favorite Mr. Ube meal.
Tasty Dumplings
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| Tasty Dumplings Hand tossed noodles and dumplings |
Just like
Mr. Ube, Tasty Dumplings has two branches: one in Ongpin and the other one is
in Banawe, Quezon City. Tasty Dumplings has hand-tossed noodles and a really
huge flat pork chop which reminds one of Taiwan’s Hotstar Chicken. Tasty
Dumplings with hand tossed noodles are sold at php160 per order. They taste
really good once you put in their special secret sauce which you can find in every
table at their restaurant. Ask for their free unlimited soup with shallots
because they complement the dumplings and the pork chop. While you’re there,
take advantage of their complimentary hot tea.
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| Tasty Dumplings Huge porkchop with rice |
I don’t mind
travelling all the way to that part of Banawe [N.S. Amoranto Avenue corner Banawe]
just to satiate my Tasty Dumpling cravings. Parking may be very limited
especially during peak hours though. But I can assure you, it’s worth the trip.
Dong Bei
A small and
easy to miss eatery tucked in the heart of Binondo is called Dong Bei. Dong Bei
which meant North Star since the Chinese owners come from Northern part of
China. Here, you can see every dumpling made fresh every single day. You can
order them for dine-in or have them cooked at home by purchasing the frozen
ones. They have radish cakes, oyster cakes and other Chinese specialties but it
is the dumplings that people are really into.
Seats are
very limited so if you want to enjoy your meal here, make sure you come early.
Mein San
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| Mein San beef and wonton noodles |
Among the
restaurants I have here on my list, it is Mein San that’s a little bit more on
the upscale. In terms of prices and crowd, Mein San has a steep price. There
are two branches that I know of: one in Connecticut in Greenhills and the other
one is along Granada Street in Ortigas. They give free appetizer for dine in
customers. The appetizer I was given during my visit was a small plate filled
with freshly boiled okra with a sweet brown sauce which I loved. I had no idea
what kind of sauce it was but it reminds me of the sauce poured on vermicelli
shrimp rolls.
Mein San
offers authentic Chinese food at its finest. I’ve had beef wanton noodles and
they are rich in flavor and taste. The egg noodles are fresh too. Each bowl
ranges from Php300-650. But a bowl can make you feel satiated and full already.
Even if it’s the only order that you make, it’s certainly enough to cover for
one’s meal.
Disclaimer:
I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.
