Siopao, Mami, and the Giant Siomai

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI! GONG XI FA CAI! XIN NIAN KUAI LE!

 

No matter how you want to say it, we at The Glutton Guide would like to greet you HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! :) And because we like following themes, why not a review of a Chinese restaurant, yes? I'm sure the water dragon will approve.

Masuki can be considered a hole-in-a-wall restaurant. More popular to the Chinese residents of Greenhills, Masuki has now grown to be known by Filipinos outside Greenhills, mainly through blogs like this. But, even before they established their branch at San Juan, they started at a place where Chinese food would be best - Binondo, Manila. Yes, they are one of the food places you can find along the busy streets of Chinatown. Not everyone knows this, but Masuki is the younger (and hipper) son of Ma Mon Luk. Yes, that really old restaurant in Quezon Avenue. Before it was named Masuki, we believed the food place was called Ma Kong Mami. If you're in the Binondo branch, try looking for the somewhat hidden engraved 'Ma Kong Mami' signage inside.

Chinese Dining...Hawker-Style

Chinese food has been embedded in the Pinoy's dining culture. Whether we like it or not, a lot of the dishes we cook and taste are Chinese inspired. In fact, some of our cooking techniques we even get from them. Chinese dishes are best known for the variety in flavors (and also the insurmountable use of MSG...well, it's a bit exaggerated, but you get the point). The Chinese are very good in integrating flavors, whether it's sweet, sour, salty, or spicy. Here in the Metro, there really is no difficulty in looking for outstanding Chinese food. Metro Manila has a lot of Chinese restaurants that you could choose from. But, when you want the real authentic Chinese food, there's only one place to go - Binondo.

Binondo, Manila, also known to many as the Philippines' "Chinatown", is the place to be when it comes to everything Chinese. Every nook and cranny of Binondo depicts it rich history and Chinese culture. It also is the haven of delectable and authentic Chinese cuisine. If you're asking where to get the best siomai, the most delicious siopao, the most succulent mami or congee, or even the freshest baked hopia, Binondo is the place you're looking for. The busy streets of Binonso are home to the many food places, from the high-end Chinese restaurants to typical carinderias or food stalls. Regardless of where you decide to dine, every restaurant serves the most delicious Chinese goodies. But, if you're more of the budget type, and you want affordable Chinese food, don't fret. We know a food place at Binondo that could be just right for you.

Yakimix-and-match-all-you-can!

To most hungry people, it's all about quantity when it comes to looking for a good food place. Most of the time, it all boils down to which food place can offer the most amount of servings at the lowest possible price. This is the reason why food places which serve the eat-all-you-can promo, or what we commonly know as buffet, continues to flourish in the Metro. Basically, a buffet is like a bottomless iced tea, for a fixed price you can eat, and eat, and eat, and eat, until you get full. There are, of course, downfalls to buffet. Firstly, they don't come really cheap. The cheapest lunch or dinner buffet in the Metro could actually cost 400++. There's a ++ because some restaurants don't include the service charge or the drinks in the buffet price. So, a complete buffet could actually cost as much as 600 pesos. Secondly, there's the value for money issue. Basically, what we're saying is just simple logic. If you're not that hungry, you won't even plan on eating at a buffet. This is because spending 400 or 500 pesos on a meal would not be worth it. The goal in a buffet is to have at least 2 to 3 full plates of food. That's when you say that you have wisely spent your money on a buffet. But of course, it all depends on the price. There's a buffet place that we tried which might not be that cheap, but really has a lot of delicious food to offer.

Yakimix is one of the fast-growing buffet places in the Metro. We actually would not be surprised if it's even more popular than Saisaki or Cabalen. What makes Yakimix different from other buffet places is variety. Yakimix offers Korean, Chinese, and Japanese dishes for customers to choose from. You'll be amazed when you enter the restaurant. There's a long line of raw foods that you can cook on your table on the smokeless grill. There are usual yet delicious dishes that will surely satisfy your cravings and your appetite such as tempura, fried pork lechon, and different types of rice. There's a sushi section where you can find the popular California Maki and Sashimi and the other never heard yet delicious sushis like the Hawaiian Maki and the Tuna Dynamite Maki. There's also a desserts section where it's practically a wonderland of sweets. They have fruits, cakes, flans, ice cream, anything that a person with a sweet tooth would crave for. So, you say it might be quite expensive, but looking on the brighter side, it's practically all you wished for in a buffet! What more could you actually ask for?

Jus & Jerry's: Yummy Chinese Food Need Not Be Expensive

Chinese food is a very common cuisine in the Metro. If you haven't tried a bite at the yummy and flavorful Chinese dimsum, a plate of the delectable Yang Chow fried rice, or even a bowl of the delicious and hot congee, then believe us, you're missing a lot in life. The Pinoy culture has actually embraced the presence of Chinese cuisine. What's great about it is that every dish is always packed with flavors. Chinese people really know how to maximize the use of every ingredient, and they mix these ingredients with excellent cooking techniques. Nowadays, Chinese food can be bought almost anywhere. You can always find a Chinese food chain or a Chinese food cart or stall near your location. The only problem with these stalls and carts is that they're not authentic Chinese food. They might be the same siomai or chicken noodles, but they're not exactly the same as the Chinese would prepare them. If you decide to go to an authentic Chinese restaurant, you'll probably be charged by the hundreds. This dilemma gave us the urge to find a unique Chinese food place that offers dishes that are close to the authentic Chinese food and are affordable at the same time.

Of course, when you talk of Chinese food, or anything Chinese for that matter, Binondo would instantly pop-up in your mind. Chinatown is without a doubt THE place for authentic Chinese products. The food place we found, however, was not at Binondo, but near it. It's just actually within the UST area. The name of the food place is Jus & Jerry's Gourmet Chinese Food. It's named after the owners, Jus and Jerry (It's pronunced Jus, as in Justin...at least that's what we realized hahaha At first we thought it was Jus, as in juice hahaha How should we know, right? hahaha). They've been serving delicious food to hungry customers within the UST area for quite some time now. The place is just small, and from afar it doesn't resemble a Chinese food place. But, the food they have is pretty much the one you should keep coming back for. It may not be the authentic Chinese food, but it's close enough. Jus & Jerry's also offers variety, serving not just Chinese food but other dishes as well, such as all-time Filipino favorites and sandwiches.

Binondo's Authentic Dimsum Place

Having a strong influence on us Filipinos, Chinese food simply cannot be denied. And once you are in a place called Binondo, there is no other way but to give in and enjoy the delicious food. That's what exactly what we did when we found a delicious food place along Benavidez street.

It's a small place, but it's not much of a hindrance to make people come and taste the delicious food of Wai Ying Fastfood in Binondo. You'll know that this place is kind of famous here, because people just keep flocking the place and there's no table that's left vacant. In fact, they have a stall nearby to cater to people who order take-outs, probably to reduce the people entering the dining area.

Upon entering you'll notice the roasted ducks hanging on the window. You'll also see stacks upon stacks of dimsum steamer baskets. The place itself is not at all neatly designed. It's just a simple food place, just like those food stalls you see at Quiapo. But when it comes to the food, we simply were just blown away. The food was good and very cheap. Plus, it's authentic Chinese cuisine. Tasting their food might just make you say the word 'delicious' in Chinese.

Anyways, here's what we ordered:

HK Lemon Tea, 50 php (cold), 45 php (hot)

Glutton Guy: This was my drink since I wanted something really cold because of the heat. I tried one of these when I was in Hongkong. You really have to crush the lemon with your spoon at the bottom of the glass to add some citrus and make it more delicious. It really tasted authentic, like the one I had at Hongkong. It was really good. Plus, it's cheap. I just wondered at first why it's more expensive than the hot version (probably because of the ice hahaha). It's really a good drink that's worth ordering at Wai Ying. : )

HK Milk Tea, 50 php (cold), 45 php (hot)

Glutton Girl: Before we even looked for a place to eat, I already told Glutton Guy that I was really craving for authentic Chinese milk tea. And I wasn't disappointed with Wai Ying's milk tea. It was very refreshing and very very delicious. There was a balanced taste of bitter and sweet. I really liked it. I'm sure you will, too. 

Siomai, 55 php

Glutton Guy: Yummy authentic Chinese siomai really did the trick for me. Dip it in soy sauce with chili sauce, and you have a delicious and mouthwatering siomai. It's very different from the siomai we usually buy at food stalls at malls. It's really authentic, and it's very delicious. What more can I say? hahahaha : )


Glutton Girl: I liked their siomai. It wasn't the same old siomai that I usually eat. There's something different about it that you simply just want to have more. And for 55 pesos, it's very cheap for me. It might not be as cheap as those versions we find at LRT/MRT stations or at stalls at food courts (probably because this is AUTHENTIC siomai), but it's way, way yummier than the siomai we find elsewhere. 

Steamed Spareribs, 50 php


Glutton Guy: Another delicious dimsum. It's perfectly cooked. The spareribs are soft. The flavor is unique and delicious. Dipping it in soy sauce will make it more delicious. Try it out and see what I mean. : )


Glutton Girl: Steamed Spareribs are just one of the best. They're good and I just can't get enough of them. The sauce is very good, plus the spareribs are not difficult to eat and chew. It's another Wai Ying best-seller for me.

Chicken Feet, 50 php


Glutton Guy: There's nothing not worth eating when it comes to Chinese food. And that includes chicken feet. Of course, our dimsum experience wouldn't be complete without the authentic chicken feet. And I have to say, the chicken feet was really good. It was soft, and the sauce is as delicious as the chicken feet. I know you're dimsum experience wouldn't be complete without it as well. So, you really have to try this one. : )


Glutton Girl: For me, their chicken feet was not the best. But, what I liked about it is, just what I have said earlier, is that it's authentic. I liked the way it was cooked. It's not too hard, so it's not difficult to eat. The sauce, like Glutton Guy said, is also delicious. But, like I said, I've tasted better versions of this. 

Hakaw, 60 php


Glutton Guy: One of the best dimsums I've tasted. I've never tasted hakaw this good. It's smaller than the ones I've tasted before. But, it's way, way tastier. It's very soft. Plus, it's served hot. Probably the best dimsum I've tasted at Wai Ying. : )

Glutton Girl: I agree with Glutton Guy on this. It is the best dimsum I've tasted at Wai Ying. The hakaw tasted the way I imagined it to taste like, plus more. I liked it more when I dipped it on soy sauce. It's really, really good. You guys just gotta try this yourselves to see what I mean.

Wai Ying Fastfood serves authentic Chinese dimsum at its best. You'll definitely not want to miss this in your Binondo experience. So, if by chance you stumble upon a place that is Binondo, try Wai Ying Fastfood. Their dimsum are simply to die for. Plus, they also have other Chinese dishes such as congee and noodles (mami). It's affordable, and it's authentic. You'll definitely want to put this in your itinerary on your first (or your next) Binondo trip.

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Wai Ying Fastfood is located at 927 Benavidez street, Binondo, Manila. They have another branch in front of Hope Christian School. It's near Metropolitan Hospital.)

Tao Yuan: Where Singapore meets the hungry Pinoy

When you think of Singapore, one of the things that come into mind is the good and comforting food. Well, you don't have to go all the way to Singapore just to taste delicious Singaporean cuisine. If it's good Singaporean and Chinese food you're looking for, why not try Tao Yuan Restaurant at Manila.

The place is kind of hard to find, because it's almost at the end of the road. It took us loads of walking before we reached the place, and by the time we reached the place, we really were hungry. We think you can get to the place though by riding a "padyak" or a taxi if you prefer a more comfortable vehicle. We just don't know how much it'll cost you since we just walked to get there (and boy were we tired).

When you get inside, you'll feel the formal-like ambiance since it really looks like a high-end Chinese restaurant.  And believe us when we say that you'll really feel out of place because everybody seems to know each and everyone inside. Some would stand from their tables and go to other tables to talk. There were some expensive food on the menu, but there also some dishes which are light on the wallet and big in servings. They offer free tea and peanuts, by the way. Wanna know what we tried? Well, here goes:

 (By the way, you might want to reconsider on ordering drinks since theirs cost 100php each. And that's just softdrinks hahahaha)
 
 

 Lak Sa, 328 php

Glutton Guy: I really liked Tao Yuan's version of the Lak Sa. It's taste is very authentic. You can taste the nice blend of the coconut milk and the spicy seafood flavoring which I really love. It was the exact taste as the original Singaporean Lak Sa. The thing that it lacked though was the seafoods. The one I ate before was full of seafood like cuttle fish, shrimp, and oyster. The Tao Yuan version lacked seafoods because there were only shrimp and squid balls. It was still good nevertheless. : )


Glutton Girl: At first I was afraid of this dish because I really had no idea what it was. When I tasted it though my thoughts about it completely changed. It was really really good. The spicy flavor of the soup was tolerable and the noodles were really firm. The shrimps and other ingredients that are in the soup were also good. It's one big bowl of comfort food for me. Overall, I think it's a Singaporean dish worth trying.

Hainanese Rice, 50 php

Glutton Guy: Personally, I don't think it's worth it. It was just like buttered rice. It doesn't have any distinct taste. So I think it would be better if you would just order regular/plain rice. : )

Glutton Girl: When I read other blogs about it saying that it's really good, I expected it to be a good one. However, there wasn't anything special about this rice. It was just like normal fried rice that I could make at our house. Add the fact that it costs 50 php, I'd say that I would go with Glutton Guy's suggestion of just ordering plain rice.

Hainanese Chicken, 445 php (Half)

Glutton Guy: I really liked this dish. What I really don't like about the usual Hainanese chicken is the gingery flavor. Tao Yuan's version was not too gingery, which is why I liked it. True enough, it's also another dish you've gotta try at Tao Yuan. : )

Glutton Girl: What I love about the dish is the tenderness of the chicken. The half chicken is actually good for 3-4 persons. The sauce was good and the just like what Glutton Guy said it wasn't too gingery. Plus, it was beautifully presented.

Beef Tenderloin with Special Sauce, 328 php

Glutton Guy: This was my favorite amongst all of the dishes we ordered. I really loved the sauce and the beef was very tender. Plus, the servings was big. I'd have to say, it's another must-try for you Glutton Guys out there. : )

Glutton Girl: I really loved this dish. It's also my favorite. No wonder that sauce is so special - it was really really good. The beef was very soft and perfectly cooked. It was like a better version of beef with broccoli, minus the broccoli. This is probably one of the dishes that I would order again upon my return at Tao Yuan.

Mango Dessert, FREE

Glutton Guy: I liked it very much. It's free, so I just appreciated the generous gesture. Anyways, the mango was really sweet. You can tell that it was juiced out from fresh mangoes. It was a really sweet end to a glorious feast. : )


Glutton Girl: Just when I thought that nothing is free anymore. And this is one delicious free dessert. The mangoes were sweet and were pureed evenly. There were no mango lumps, which was an added plus. The tapioca was soft and good as well, a perfect add-on to the dessert. One word to describe it? Lovely.

Don't forget that they also offer delicious Chinese food. They offer hot pots, dimsum, live seafood, and even shabu-shabu. There's a lot of dishes to choose from at Tao Yuan so you'll never run out of good things to try.  So next time, if you're up for some good Chinese or Singaporean food, why not give Tao Yuan a try? Bet you'll love it there. We did. : )




Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Tao Yuan Restaurant is located at General Malvar Street, corner A. Mabini Street, Malate, Manila. It's just near Pan Pacific Hotel and in front of a Korean store.)

CAUSEWAY: Dimsum Heaven

If you want authentic Chinese cuisine, especially traditional (and needless to say, yummy) dimsum, at affordable prices, Causeway is the way to go. They offer a wide variety of dimsum: pork siomai, sharksfin, shrimp hakao, kuchay dumpling, asado siopao, chicken feet, spareribs, fish head, and many more. What's great about this restaurant is they have a dimsum cart that goes from table to table so the customers would just get what they want to eat right then and there. You might think this roving dimsum cart will increase your bill to be paid as you just eat continuously, but it is rather the opposite. Causeway's dimsum are so affordable you can eat 2 whole stacks of dimsum trays and just pay below 500php. If you think that's quite cheap already, that's still not the end of it. Each branch has a dimsum promo during their off peak hours wherein they lower dimsum prices by as low as 30php (Talk about AUTHENTIC and CHEAP Chinese dimsum). The Libis branch offers the promo from 9pm until closing time while the Timog branch offers the promo from 2pm to 6pm. We're just not sure about the Banawe branch but we've asked some waiters and they say that they offer the promo at the Banawe branch the same time as the Libis branch. For viands and rices, you have to order them from the waiter and wait for about 10-15 minutes. They offer the normal sweet and sour fish and Yang Chow fried rice to the eccentric sauteed ostrich meat. You basically can get everything authentic in this restaurant.

What we ordered:
Seafood Fried Rice, 2 bowls of plain congee, 4 trays of chicken feet, 2 trays of spareribs, 1 tray of hakao, 1 tray of siomai, and lots and lots of water and Chinese tea hahahaha


All of those for 740php only. Amazing, right? :) (The rice actually cost around 200php. So, yes the dimsum is absolutely cheap hahahaha - Glutton Guy)

Glutton Guy: Since I'm part Chinese, I have been a fan of Chinese food (Well, who doesn't, right?). But when my family and I think of good spareribs, soft and easy to eat chicken feet, and delicious hakao and siomai, Causeway would be at the top of our list. What I like best are the spareribs and the chicken feet. Basically, all their dimsum are tender and easy to eat. They're flavored really well and you'll never regret ordering almost anything from that cart of theirs. It'll leave you with a bulging stomach, a satisfied appetite, and a craving that will keep you coming back for more. : )
Glutton Girl: I love Causeway. My family and I have been going there since I was in college, and what we usually do is we just order plain congee and plain rice, and finish the whole dimsum cart. Haha! It is that affordable. I especially love their chicken feet, of which I can finsih about 4 trays, all by myself. (Yes, Glutton Girl indeed. Haha!) What I also like about Causeway is they give on-the-house tea, which is very essential to eliminate that bloated feeling after eating so much (delicious) Chinese food.

Rating: Buddhalicious!

(Causeway has 3 branches. Banawe-Banawe cor. Del Monte Avenue, Quezon City/ Libis-8th Acropolis Center, just in front of Shopwise/ Timog-Timog Avenue, near Burger King)