My taste buds are ready for a flavor-packed adventure as I dive into the heart of Manila's Chinatown – Binondo! Randomly decided to go on a culinary escapade where history meets the plate with my friends. It was pre-pandemic when I last visited Binondo and I am excited to see what's new to try. So, let the feast begin!
San Guo La Mien
Experience the artistry of hand-pulled Chinese noodles at San Guo La Mien. Aside from the food make sure to enjoy watching skilled chefs at San Guo La Mien hand-pull delicious Chinese noodles right before your eyes! The open kitchen window offers a captivating view as they expertly stretch and shape the noodles to perfection.
The Kan Pan Lamien and Spicy Beef Lamien both come in big portions, featuring a generous amount of beef. Each dish is suitable for sharing among two to three people. Personally, I have a preference for the Spicy Beef Lamien due to its mild spiciness and flavorful broth.
Lonely Owl Cafe
The latest addition to Lucky Chinatown's array of cafes! It's impossible to overlook as its aesthetic design is sure to catch your attention. Upon our arrival at the cafe, it was crowded, and we had to wait until some people left for us to secure a table. With numerous options on their menu, making a choice can be a bit overwhelming, so we sought recommendations from the servers.
We ordered The Lonely Owl Fruit Tea, one of their top-selling items, is a refreshing blend of various fruits. As someone who likes watermelon, I opted for the Watermelon Coco Milk Slush with Pink Salted Cheese Cloud—a beverage with a floral taste that grows more enjoyable with each sip and the Golden Summer Slush with Sago is another invigorating beverage that leaves a "floral" aftertaste.
The Lonely Night Rolls include dark chocolate, rolled crepes, chocolate chips, and chocolate syrup. It wasn't terrible, but I didn't find it enjoyable. Perhaps my expectations influenced my experience, as I was looking forward to a different taste when we decided to order it.
Lonely Owl Malt-Chi Fruits Icy Grass Jelly based on its appearance, may suggest a refreshing dessert, but, truthfully, it falls short. The blend of flavors didn't quite work, the fruits being sweet which was good, but the overall taste was a bit off. This is not a dessert I would recommend.
Eng Bee Tin's Fried Xiao Long Bao
Eng Bee Tin is a treasure trove of delightful treats, offering an array of mouthwatering goodies that enchant both locals and visitors alike. From their iconic hopia to artisanal mooncakes and an assortment of delectable pastries, they're indeed a haven for those with a sweet tooth.
While we're accustomed to Xiao Long Bao as a steamed dumpling, brimming with delectable broth, have you ever considered it in its fried form? Well, that's precisely what Eng Bee Tin is bringing to the table with their latest offering.
Queueing for an hour was a small price to pay for the crispy delight of the fried Xiao Long Bao. Available in both original and spicy variants, we decided to try both. The spiciness in the latter comes from the chili garlic and sauce, but surprisingly, the sauce leans more towards sweetness and not really "spicy", but all good. The flavor was so rich and enticing that you'll find yourself yearning for an extra serving.
We also indulged in their Lava Buchi while relaxing on the second floor and sipping on drinks from The Great Buddha Cafe. To our delight, we discovered that you could place an order for the fried Xiao Long Bao and wait comfortably on the second floor, sparing you from standing in line outside. The wait was definitely worthwhile, and I would highly recommend the experience, giving it an 11/10 rating!
We booked a room at Hotel Lucky Chinatown for an overnight stay. We brought along some snacks to enjoy while watching movies. The following day, our culinary adventure continued, kicking off with a visit to Beanstro for their famous Pinoy Affogato. Naturally, we couldn't resist giving it a try! Check out my experience below:Choosing the Ube Affogato Bliss justified the early wake-up call, especially considering that Beanstro operates exclusively on weekends. We took a leisurely stroll to snag some fried siopao and fried donuts— while they're not really new, they're still worth a visit!
I'm delighted to see the bustling streets of Binondo return to life after the pandemic. I'm looking forward to returning and revisiting the restaurants I enjoyed years ago! Have any other recommendations? Please feel free to comment below or join me on a gastronomic adventure in Binondo! :)
