Binondo Bites

Twinkle Legaspi / February 20, 2012

The Binondo Experience on a Plate

Travel to downtown Binondo for a taste of Filipino-Chinese culture.  Famous for the unique dining experience it offers, it’s hard to decide on where to start the food journey.  Here’s a list of our favorite stop-overs as well as a few hole-in-the-walls that are worth searching for.

1.   Dimsum Hop – Take a detour-off the main streets into Yuchengco street to Dong Bei for a glimpse of how these tiny little pockets of joy came to be.  There are only about four small tables, two of which are sometimes used as make-shift work tables where dimsum dough is skillfully rolled out and filled with it’s vegetable-meat mix.  It may take awhile to get a seat, but it’s worth it.  Order the dimsum, fried stuffed pancakes, wanton noodles and the canned iced tea Wong Lo Kat.  For those that can’t resist having rice, they also have fried rice.  It’s a bit ‘cowboy’ style so feel free to reach into their refrigerator to get a drink, just make sure you inform them of the items you got.  Then hop on to other dimsum favorites such as Tasty Dumplings, Wai Ying, and so many more.

2.    Go Green.  On my most recent trip to Binondo, we decided to give vegan food a chance, and headed to Masangkay street for vegetarian options.  We were with a vegan during that trip and when it was her turn to pick a restaurant first in mind for her was Quan Yin Chay.  Faux barbeque, fried tofu skins and peanuts (think shing-a-ling), vegan sisig, vegan siopao and radish cake topped our list for merienda - it actually wouldn’t be bad with a bottle of beer.  Quan Yin Chay also had frozen items, and was a mini-vegan store.  Surprisingly, Binondo also happens to be the place to go for vegan shopping.  With all the vegetable options, and alternative vegan ingredients (tofu skins, meat substitutes, etc.) that abound at bargain prices it would make sense.  So make sure to check out the great buys, and don’t be afraid to ask the vendors for tips on how to cook unfamiliar items.  More often than not they’d be glad to share a cooking tip or two.  Tofu skin would be a fun item to start with – it’s not usually found in regular groceries and it’s simple to use.

3.    Preferential President’s.  President’s Restaurant has long established it’s reputation for having authentic Cantonese cuisine .  Although the President’s restaurant along Ongpin street may be the initial choice of some since it is more visible being on a main road, the small original dimsum tea shop is still dimsum “headquarters”.  Even if both branches of President’s are within walking distance, locals swear having dimsum at the original branch is better.  Be sure to be there early though because by mid-afternoon most, if not all of their dimsum is wiped-out.  If you make it in time make sure to try the scallop dimsum.

4.   Experience Siopao Love.  When someone first told me about fried siopao, I imagined it to be deep-fried – crisp and golden brown.  It actually looks like any other siopao, except instead of being cooked in a steamer, it’s cooked on a big pan that’s lightly oiled.  There are two noteworthy places to get it, most blogs mention the fried siopao establishment down the same road, but I prefer Shanghai Fried Siopao right next to Metrobank Ongpin.  I’d always buy two bags and go through one bag on the trip back home!  So make sure you buy extra for pasalubong.  There seems to be only one flavor – it’s not bola-bola(ground pork), and definitely not an asado(sweet pork), it’s a simple juicy pork filling that’s so flavorful there’s no sauce.  I’m usually a sauce person, but with this siopao I didn’t miss it at all.

5.  Get your fill at Sincerity – Although there is a branch near Greenhills, I still prefer eating at the original branch.  Check out the fried chicken they’re famous for and the oyster cake my friends and I keep coming back for.  With the generous amount of oysters in it, there’s no doubt it’s an oyster cake.

There are so many other establishments that are worth the try – Tasty Dumplings, Masuki, Eng Bee Tin’s Café, and so much more.  So there’s always something worth going back for.  Just keep in mind that the best day to go visit for restaurant hopping would be a Saturday, because a lot of restaurants are closed on Sundays.  Aside from restaurants, make sure to keep your eyes out for the fresh vegetables, vegetarian ingredients (this is a shopping haven for vegans), and fruits which are all sold at good prices – just don’t forget to haggle.  So grab your chopsticks, and walking shoes and head out to China town for a food adventure that will surely be a mouthful.

INDEX:

DONG BEI

Yuchengco St., Binondo, Manila, Metro Manila

PRESIDENT’S GRAND PALACE RESTAURANT

746-750 Ongpin St., Binondo
Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone Number
(+63 2) 244-5886, (+63 2) 242-1473

QUAN YIN CHAY

821 G. Masangkay St., Binondo
Manila
243-3356

SHANGHAI FRIED SIOPAO

828 Ongpin street, right next to Metrobank

SINCERITY CAFÉ & RESTAURANT

497 Yuchengco Street, Binondo, Manila, Philippines
(02) 241-9972