Eat – Page 52 – Jellybeans in the City

K-Chicken munchies with Chef Park’s newest flavor: Korean Buffalo!

As we’re all nearly a year and a half into the quarantine, I can say that one of its bright spots is the additional time that can be spent discovering new shows to watch, the bulk of which is comprised of Korean Dramas.

From fantastical tales like Goblin and Tale of the Nine-Tailed, to the stylized contemporary stories such as Crash Landing on You and Vincenzo, K-dramas have done a lot to banish the ennui of quarantine life.

What makes K-drama bingeing even more enjoyable are the food you munch on while watching, yes?

How about some Korean Chicken, then?

Imagine yourself feasting on crisp boneless chicken pieces with tender and juicy meat smothered in flavorful glazes, giving rise to new chicken possibilities.

One such possibility is online fried chicken store Chef Park’s newest flavor: Korean Buffalo!

The spicy and tangy chicken dish was said to have sprung from the city of Buffalo, New York, when Anchor Bar owner Teresaa Belissimo whipped up a fresh take on fried chicken by deep-frying some chicken wings and glazing them with a mixture of hot sauce, butter and cayenne pepper to feed her son’s visiting friends.

Now, imagine that New Yorker-style chicken getting a Korean make-over and you get Chef Park’s Korean Buffalo Chicken.

Chef Park’s crispy on the outside while tender and juicy on the inside chicken pieces are now glazed with a Buffalo-style sauce, making a zesty, bold and spicy dish that’s sure to excite chicken lovers.

Enjoy it as a Solo Happy Meal together with Kimchi Rice for Php295, or get a Chicken Sharing Box good for two to four people for Php495.

Get ready to stream more of your favorite K-dramas while munching on this new K-chicken masterpiece.

You may also opt for Chef Park’s 100% addicting chicken flavors: spicy and tasty Yangyum, sweet and savory Soy Garlic, rich and buttery Garlic Parmesan, and the previously limited-edition flavor but now a mainstay Truffle Honey.

Chef Park’s is a cloud kitchen that operates from #23 9th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City (between Col. B Serrano Avenue and Liberty Avenue), accepting orders from 10am to 7pm daily.

To order, call +63 977 8030111, email chefparksph@gmail.com or visit its website.

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang opens doors to diners

Are you excited to visit your favorite hotel restaurant again? Which food station will you be making a beeline for? Which favorite dish will you be asking for first? Well, we have good news for you!

The Manila Hotel’s famed Café Ilang-Ilang has once again opened its doors to valued clients. The hotel has been responding to queries about the outlet’s reopening. After reviewing the guidelines, as well as heightening health and hygiene protocols, the decision to open Café Ilang-Ilang is an answer to persistent inquiries from its loyal guests and those who have yet to experience it.

The food stations will once again be teeming with exciting dishes, and the aroma of your favorites will surely call out to you as you approach them. As the world-class chefs are busy behind glass enclosures, diners can go around the restaurant in their face masks and face shields to check various food stations. Because of existing guidelines for dining establishments, Café Ilang-Ilang has implemented the Order & Eat-All-You-Can System, where guests can point to what they want from the spread, and it will be plated for them.

Café Ilang-Ilang serves international selections from Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Korean to everything in between; even Halal. You can get your grilled meats at the popular Churrasco station, or the beloved lechon at the Filipino station. You will surely be spoiled in this gourmand’s haven. See if you can resist the selection of desserts, or the local fave and Halo-Halo—the perfect treat to beat the heat!

A gastronomic feast also awaits guests with an amazing gift voucher deal, giving you more reasons to come and visit us. For just P3,000 nett (lunch) and P3,500 nett (dinner), diners can indulge in our vast array of culinary creations. These non-expiring dining vouchers for two are available for purchase until June 20, 2021. They can be redeemed anytime at Café Ilang-Ilang but prior reservation is recommended.

Café Ilang-Ilang still implements physical distancing and reduced capacity measures that are compliant with the IATF and DOT guidelines for restaurants, so you can be sure that #YouAreSafeHere when you come and visit.

The outlet opens for lunch at 11:30am, and dinner at 5:30pm with last call for orders at 8pm. For more information and reservations, please call 8527-0011 or 0998-9501912 or email to restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com. You may also book online.

A taste of Spain with Alba and GrabFood

Considering how Spanish cuisine has been a huge influence on Pinoy food, it’s a wonder that I didn’t get to eat often at Spanish restaurants, even during pre-pandemic times.

From Spain’s richly storied culinary heritage as well as the influx of new ingredients courtesy of the galleon trade, we get the rich and colorful dishes that we have adapted and oftentimes reserve for special occasions.

Since the 1950s, Alba Restaurante Espanol has been the go-to place for authentic Spanish food. Established by Don Anastacio Alba over sixty-five years ago, this restaurant has been satisfying the Filipino palate with tasty Spanish comfort food.

A few years ago, before the lockdowns which arose because of the pandemic, my officemates and I were able to expand our culinary horizons by having one of our happy lunches at Alba’s Tomas Morato branch.

Recently, I was able to revisit Alba’s cuisine for my second quarantine birthday, when my boss had a Paella Valenciana (Php580) delivered to my home as a birthday treat. It’s a show-stopping rice dish made with chicken, pork, seafood and veggies that’s hearty enough to satisfy the whole family, but whetted my appetite for more of Alba’s offerings.

Fortunately, with GrabFood’s Taste the World campaign, I was able to sate my craving for Spanish comfort food. The campaign’s last leg featured European food and granted 50% discount (maximum of Php150), for orders made from 10am to 2pm.

With Alba’s Eatancia branch available for long-distance delivery via GrabFood, I was able to treat the fam to a delicious taste of Spain right in our home, which included:

Salchichas con Champignon (Php250). A tapas caliente (hot appetizer) made with slices of Spanish sausage sautéed with mushroom, garlic and chili.

Gambas Al Ajillo (Php370). Another tapas caliente made with shrimps sauteed in olive oil, garlic and chili, which is definitely becoming a family favorite, especially when paired with hot crusty bread.

Callos ala Madrilena (Php420). Stewed ox-tripe in a rich tomato sauce.

Lengua Sevillana (Php500). Stewed ox tongue with mushroom and olives in a rich sherry brown sauce.

Paella Negra (Php650). Paella given its distinctive dark hue and rich umami flavor by squid ink, stuffed squid and shrimps.

There’s a reason why most of these dishes are only served during special occasions: it’s the sheer amount of time, effort and expertise that go into preparing these dishes. But simply by coursing your order from Alba via GrabFood, you can enjoy these delectable viands in the comfort of your home.

Plus, be sure to take advantage of amazing offers such as Taste the World and GrabFood Signatures to get amazing deals on your food delivery orders from your favorite restaurants.

So go ahead and take your tastebuds on a gastronomic adventure just by ordering via GrabFood!

This Alba branch is located at Level 2, North Wing, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Oranbo, Pasig City.

Other branches are located at:

38 Polaris St. Bel-Air Makati City
Tomas Morato corner Scout Lozano, Quezon City
Westgate Center, Commerce Ave., Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
4th Level, Prism Plaza, TwoEcom Center Building, Bayshore Avenue cor Harbor Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City

About Grab

Grab is the leading super app in Southeast Asia, providing everyday services that matter most to consumers. Today, the Grab app has been downloaded onto over 185 million mobile devices, giving users access to over 9 million drivers, merchants and agents. Grab offers the widest range of on-demand transport services in the region, in addition to food, package, grocery delivery services, mobile payments and financial services across 339 cities in eight countries.

About GrabFood

Operating under the Grab super app, GrabFood is an online food delivery service that connects local food businesses to people. GrabFood presents a variety of food based on what’s available around consumers: Filipino, Western, Asian, European, Fusion and so on. Today, GrabFood’s services are available in areas of Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Cebu, with plans to continue expanding to reach more areas in the country.

Download the Grab app here.

Disclosure: A gift voucher was provided to facilitate the order experience.

Garden Dining by Whitemoon Bar

It’s been more than a year into the quarantine, and while we have gone back to less stringent restrictions, there are many of our life’s former pleasures that some of us still can’t enjoy.

One of these is dining out, isn’t it?

The excitement of venturing outside our home, discovering a new place to try or a new dish to enjoy, and hanging out with our friends – all these and more make up the experience of dining out that we used to take for granted.

Thankfully, more of our favorite haunts are re-opening, albeit while adopting new ways to operate so that they could keep us, the dining public, as well as their staff safe from the still present threat of pandemic.

One of these pivoted but still very welcome returns to the local food scene is Manila Ocean Park’s Whitemoon Bar which recently launched its Garden Dining.

Situated in The Barnyard, Garden Dining by Whitemoon Bar offers a delectable array of Asian fusion dishes that can be enjoyed in a relaxing al fresco setting.

Here, diners can take a brief escape into the outdoors, surrounded by greenery and interesting bric-a-bracs, while they enjoy their meal amidst the gentle breeze from Manila Bay and chirping birds from the aviary.

Sri Lankan Chef Ranuka Hettiarachchi brought his considerable skill sets to bear in whipping up dishes for Garden Dining’s refreshed menu using just a griddle and a stove in The Barnyard’s recently converted kitchen.

Safely served in to-go containers yet still retaining the visual appeal of gourmet food, these dishes put a fresh spin on our old favorites. Together with fellow food, bloggers Jen of sandundermyfeet.com, Anj of anjcolumna.com and Nix of ieatandiwander.com, I was able to check out samples of Garden Dining’s offerings such as:

Onion Rings (Php120). Large slices of onions battered and deep-fried for an appetizing start to the meal.

Corned Beef and Cheese Toast (Php140). Truth be told: I’m not a fan of corned beef sandwiches but this made me change my mind. The combination of grilled cheese and corned beef is a highly snackable treat.

Kimchi Fried Rice (Php190). A blend of tangy and spicy flavors, this fragrant rice complements the viands served.

Pork Satay (Php180) and Chicken Satay (Php160). Seasoned meats grilled to smoky deliciousness and served on skewers with sauce on the side.

Pineapple Glazed Pork Liempo (Php190). Tangy pineapple tidbits complement the savory grilled pork belly.

Spicy Asian-Style Seafood Spaghetti (Php250). A hearty and delicious taste of the sea with loads of seafood and noodles tossed in a slightly spicy sauce.

Whether you’re looking for refreshments or in the mood to imbibe, Garden Dining by Whitemoon Bar also has a great selection of drinks for you, such as:

Watermelon Shake (Php130).

Pineapple Shake (Php120).

Ginger Honey and Citrus Immune Booster (Php100).

A variety of red and white wines from its wine list such as this 2014 Elfo Salento Negroamaro from Italy (Php230/glass).

We’re still a long way from enjoying everything we used to enjoy before the pandemic, but with places such as Garden Dining by Whitemoon Bar, we can recreate those experience we look back on so fondly and even make new memories to cherish.

Garden Dining by Whitemoon Bar is located at The Barnyard, Manila Ocean Park, Luneta, Manila, open for outdoor dining Thursdays to Sundays from 3pm to 9pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 85677777.

To know more about its latest promos and offers, follow Manila Ocean Park on Facebook or Instagram.

Disclosure: Together with fellow food bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to facilitate this feature article

Mix-and-match your food faves via new GrabKitchens in Malate and Paranaque

Don’t you sometimes get those really intense cravings for your favorite dishes from your go-to restaurants but you’re stuck at home in an area where the restos have no branch?

Doesn’t that make you long for the pre-pandemic days when you can freely wander around the metro and dine where you wish?

Well, take heart, dear foodie! Your prayers have been answered, especially if you live in the boroughs of Malate or Paranaque because a GrabKitchen has opened in your area!

GrabKitchen Paranaque; Kyoto Sushi Bake and Omakase

You can expect the GrabKitchen in your area to greatly expand the number of excellent food options in your community, available for takeout or delivery. For true-blue foodies stuck at home, this means a wider selection of gastronomic adventures are just a few phone taps away!

Plus, we can now mix and match our favorite dishes by cross-ordering from GrabKitchen’s partner restaurants, all with just one delivery fee!

Take my fam’s totally Japanese meal today, for instance. By ordering from GrabKitchen Paranaque, I was able to grab my favorite Japanese dishes from two different restaurants: Kyoto Sushi Bake and Omakase!

Kyoto Sushi Bake

Kyoto Sushi Bake built on the sushi bake craze at the start of the pandemic and made its mark on this quarantine food trend by offering gourmet variants such as Unagi, Cream Cheese Tuna and Baked Kani with Sweet Corn.

Today, I treated the fam (especially my sushi bake-loving daughter) to a Crazy Maki Sushi Bake (Php500). This tribute to the California Maki is made with sushi rice topped with a delectable combination of sliced mango and kani finished with masago (roe), Japanese mayo, nori and crunchy tempura flakes.

It is best enjoyed with a glass of refreshing Kraver’s house-blend Iced Tea (Php59).

Omakase

Since 2002, Omakase has been satisfying the tastebuds of Japanese food lovers with authentic and fusion dishes.

Its name is actually a phrase used when ordering sushi in restaurants – Omakase which means “I’ll leave it up to you” – when customers leaves the selection of food up to the chef.

Here in the metro, Omakase is the home of imaginatively crafted sushi, made by combining textures and flavors of various ingredients into a cohesively tasty dish as exemplified by my orders of Omakase Roll (Php315), made with torched salmon, crabstick and cucumber, and Dynamite Roll (Php345), made with unagi tempura and tuna.

To complete our Japanese meal, I also ordered the fam’s faves such as:

Kyuri Kani Salad (Php230)

Japanese Fried Rice (Php95 cup | Php335 bowl)

Pork Gyoza (Php230)

Tonkatsu (Php235)

Beef Teppanyaki (Php445)

The fam and I absolutely love the flexibility and the sheer number of food options that GrabKitchen makes available.

Aside from Kyoto Sushi Bake and Omakase, food lovers in the South may also order from the other restaurants housed in GrabKitchen Paranaque which include: 24 Chicken, Alishan at the Alley, Army Navy, Cara Mia, La Titas MNL, El Nacho Libre, Sheikh’s Kebab, Breakfast for 2, Black Kimchi! and Dapo at Tisa.

Order fromGrabKitchen Paranaque.

Foodies near Manila can order from GrabKitchen Malate to grab their faves from Omakase, Frankie’s, Recovery Food, Paper Moon, Yogorino, Pepi Cubano, Dapo at Tisa, King Chef, La Tita, Selecta, So Mot, Blu Kouzina, Coco Fresh Tea and Juice, Merienda by Pan De Manila, and Go! Salads.

Order fromGrabKitchen Malate.

So the next time your food craving hits, my dear foodies, just look up the GrabKitchen in your area and order away!

Disclosure: A gift voucher was provided to facilitate the order experience.

Halal-certified food for takeout and delivery from Cafe Ilang-Ilang of The Manila Hotel

Muslims around the world celebrate the end of the fasting period of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast this May 12, 2021. It is celebrated through prayer, gifts, and lavish feast. While the country is predominantly Catholic, Islam is the second largest religion in the country. No wonder, Filipinos have become fond of Halal foods.

Halal food is prepared following a set of Islamic dietary laws and regulations that determine what is permissible, lawful and clean. Any dish can be halal, as long as the meat used is religiously slaughtered and no pork or alcohol is involved.

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang Ilang has a Halal kitchen certified by the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board. This kitchen dedicated to Halal food preparation serves Indian and Middle Eastern-inspired halal dishes will whet your appetite and pay homage to its traditional roots.

Designed for proper breaking of the fast, The Manila Hotel’s Ramadan Special Halal Home Buffet set comes with dried dates and juice, chickpeas hummus, Fatoush mixed salad, roti and naan bread, vegetable biryani, tandoori chicken, lamb rogan josh, vegetable samosa,and baklava. The set is just one of the three choices for the Halal Certified Home Buffet.

“Our Lamb Rogan Josh is a must-try. It’s imported from Australia and it has the spices and sharpness that will surely be enjoyed by everyone. We can also customize the food according to our customer’s request. Say you don’t like chili, we can make it milder. We can tweak a dish to please your palate while still being true to its authentic taste,” says Chef Kiran Singh, the hotel’s Halal trained chef.

Celebrate Eid Al Fitr by ordering any of The Manila Hotel’s Halal Home Buffet sets or dishes, available for Takeout and delivery. Visit https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/takeout for the full menu; or call 8527-0011 or 0998-9501912.

Mother’s Day feast from Buddy’s

Ooh! It’s Mother’s Day once again!

And I just have to say: I’m feeling quite loved and appreciated with a rare and very welcome treat: a feast of my favorite Filipino food that I didn’t have to prepare myself nor plan for!

These delectable dishes were delivered by Buddy’s, a home-grown chain of restaurants hailing from Lucban, Quezon, home of the Pahiyas Festival. During this vibrant celebration, held on the 15th of May, all the houses and the streets are decorated (hence the term “pahiyas“) with colorful kiping, leaf-shaped wafers made from glutinous rice as well as local harvest goods.

Festival visitors are invited to partake in every household’s sumptuous array of Lucban’s delicacies, some of which are included in the Mother’s Day spread that Buddy’s provided for me:

Pancit Lucban (Php240 | good for up to 3 persons). Also known as Pancit Habhab, it is Lucban’s version of pancit which makes use of Lucban miki noodles and usually eaten without utensils but is served on a banana leaf. It is also seasoned with some Lucban vinegar for added flavor but I prefer it without. Given how filling and affordable this dish was, I used to celebrate my kids’ monthly develop milestones by bringing home an order of Buddy’s Pancit Lucban for dinner.

Lucban Longganisa (Php220 small | Php356 large | 1 dozen). Lucban’s version of the pork sausage which is characterized by its garlicky and sour taste. Back when my office was located near a Buddy’s branch, I used to make it a point have breakfast there with Lucban longganisa, garlic fried rice and fried egg.

Hardinera (Php185 small | Php220 medium | Php315 large). A type of Filipino meatloaf that combines the ingredients of menudo and the cooking style of embutido, resulting in a meaty dish with a savory and tomato-ey flavor.

Chicken BBQ (Php220). Pinoys love chicken and grilled food, so this grilled chicken dish served with atchara and usually paired with Java rice is a sure hit among diners.

Spaghetti (Php90 small | Php110 large | Php330 family). The Pinoy-style spaghetti (sweet and cheesy) is also available at Buddy’s!

Cassava Cake (Php85). A moist pudding made of grated cassava, coconut milk and condensed milk and topped with a custard layer. A sweet end to a fabulous meal.

With all of these dishes, it made my family’s Mother’s Day lunch seem like a fiesta!

So if you want to have a festive Pinoy meal for the family to enjoy, Buddy’s is your best bet!

Buddy’s branches in Metro Manila are located at:

Makati: Kakarong Olympia, The Link, Kalayaan Avenue
Quezon City: Eastwood, Fisher Mall, Araneta Center, Timog Avenue
Taguig: Market! Market!, Venice Grand Canal

Course your orders for delivery via GrabFood, FoodPanda or Buddy’s on Facebook Messenger.

To know more about its latest promos and offers, visit its website or follow Buddy’s on Facebook or Instagram.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Brunchmate Premium Tapa for a quick and easy family meal

Being a working mom myself, I know the struggles of juggling the demands of family and work responsibilities.

Despite the many freedoms that working from home has allowed me, I still sometimes feel like I’m falling short in my duties at home.

Take our family meals, for example. I always want to make sure that my little brood enjoys our mealtimes: tasty comfort food, therefore, is always the order of the day.

Sometimes, though, my Zoom meeting would go overtime, or I would be too engrossed in my work that I find myself pressed for time in preparing the family’s meal.I’m sure a lot of other moms out there have the same problem.

If only there was a way to quickly and easily whip up a wholesome and delicious meal for our family, yes?

Well, that’s what the couple behind Brunchmate Premium Beef Tapa – AR and Jam Periquet – set out to do.

Both love to eat out, but with the pandemic and the quarantine strictures, their dining adventures were curtailed and they were forced to spend more time at home.

Being a foodie himself and beef tapa connoisseur, AR sought to elevate this Pinoy comfort viand by using premium Angus beef and incorporating some secret ingredients.

The result? Strips of tender Angus beef strips, marinated to perfection, packaged into 350 gram packs.

All we need to do is thaw out the packet, pour its contents into a pan and cook over low heat (no need to add oil). Spread the strips evenly across the pan and allow to fry in own juices until, flipping occasionally, until the beef strips are tender and brown. These are best served hot.

Brunchmate’s Premium Beef Tapa come in four variants – Original (Sweet), Garlic, Seeet & Spicy and Spicy Garlic – all at Php280 per pack. My Original tapa was juicy and flavorful, and went well with rice and fried eggs, much to the fam’s delight!

Too bad there were none left to make into tapa flakes the next day.

Fortunately, ordering my Brunchmate Premium Beef Tapa is a breeze with this online form. Payments via BPI, BDO, GCash and COD are accepted. Brunchmate delivers from Las Pinas to anywhere in the metro.

To know more about Brunchmate Premium Beef Tapa, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

So to stop yourself from stressing over mealtimes, momshie, order your Brunchmate now!

Disclosure: A product sample was provided to facilitate this feature article.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

Snackable baked goodies from Breadtalk, SM East Ortigas

To be honest, my quarantine life has been made so much more bearable by the joys of snacking.

Munching on some sweet or savory pastries in the afternoon after office Zoom meetings or during tutoring sessions with my son help to tide me over until dinnertime, giving me that much-needed energy boost. When my kids and I get a case of the munchies late at night, we also reach for some breads that we pair with our favorite spreads.

Fortunately, there’s a Breadtalk branch in the mall near my home which lets me grab delicious and affordable baked goods whenever I go out for a supply run.

Here, some of my go-to breads and pastries are made fresh everyday. In keeping with safety protocols, it already accepts cashless payments via GCash.

My favorites among its offerings include:

Kick Kick (Php39). Soft pillowy bread split in the middle to give way to a creamy sweet custard.

Rocky Rocky Milk (Php45). Fluffy Danish pastry with milky cream.

Strawberry Rocky (Php45). Rocky Rocky Milk breads halved then split in the middle to hold some tangy and sweet strawberry jam.

Prosperity Polo (Php56). Similar to a Danish pastry, this is topped with a pineapple ring with a creamy sweet custard in the middle.

Earthquake Cheese Toast (Php159). A toasted airy loaf filled with cheese bits.

Almond Frenzy (Php41). A fluffy baked doughnut topped with sliced almonds.

Custard Bun (Php35). Soft milk bread with a rich custard filling in the center.

Baguette (Php62). A long thin and crusty loaf which is a perfect companion for the the Shrimp Gambas I sometimes make for dinner.

Wholemeal Toast (Php109). Fluffy bread which serves as a perfect foil for my son’s favorite tuna spread.

So if you’re looking for savory breads for your sandwiches or to complement your viands, or for sweet pastries for your snack or dessert, drop by a Breadtalk branch near you.

You can also have your orders delivered right to your doorstep via GrabFood.

For the latest updates from Breadtalk, visit its website or follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

This Breadtalk branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City East Ortigas, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Pasig City.

Other Breadtalk branches in the metro are located at:

Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, Trinoma Mall, SM City North EDSA The Block, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, SM City Novaliches, SM City Fairview
Marikina: SM City Marikina
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, Shangri-la Plaza
San Juan: V Mall Greenhills Shopping Center
Taguig: Uptown Place Mall, Market! Market!, Bonifacio High Street, SM Aura Premiere
Makati: Powerplant Mall, Century City Mall, Ayala Malls Circuit, Glorietta, The Landmark, Ayala North Exchange, Assembly Grounds at The Rise
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila, SM City Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall
Pasay: SM Mall of Asia
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall

Check out my posts on other bakery establishments in the metro:

Birthday lunch from Lido Cocina Tsina, C. Raymundo

Celebrations call for good food enjoyed with loved ones and my recent birthday was no exception.

My family and I sat down for a sumptuous birthday lunch of delicious Tsinoy comfort food in hearty servings delivered right to our doorstep from Lido Cocina Tsina.

This homegrown Chinese food chain came about in the 1930s when Cantonese chef Mr. Lido started a modest eatery in Binondo called Panciteria Lido. Rebranded as Lido Cocina Tsina, it has become a byword for Chinese dishes that appeal to Pinoy taste buds.

During my recent birthday, I was able to introduce the fam to some of my favorites from Lido Cocina Tsina as well as tried some new dishes:

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php132). For me, a Chinese meal wouldn’t be one without this egg fried rice mixed with shrimp, pork, carrots and spring onions.

Sweet and Sour Fish (Php374). Lightly battered and fried fish fillets served in a sweet and sour sauce with carrots, bell peppers and onions.

Manchurian Wings (Php392). Crispy chicken wings coated with a gingery, sweet and spicy oriental sauce, another showcase for the Pinoy’s penchant for flavor combinations.

Spareribs Salt and Pepper (Php380). Crispy pork spareribs sauteed in Chinese five-spice mix, and then served with house-made vinegar, another mainstay in my Chinese food spread.

Shrimp Foo Yong (Php468). Ever since I had my first taste of this Lido-style egg omellete with shrimps, mushrooms and vegetables, and served in a nice and light oyster sauce a year ago, I haven’t been able to resist it.

One thing I’ve noted about Chinese food, especially the ones here at Lido that have been adapted to the Pinoy palate, is that varied combinations tend to mesh well together. The dynamics of sweet, sour, salty and spicy, as well as the different textures from various ingredients complement and play off one another, making it easy to select a new dish to add to your go-to orders when you’re feeling adventurous or looking for a change.

My sumptuous birthday lunch was a delicious revisit of my Tsinoy food favorites. Why don’t you give these a try and tell me how your Chinese food adventure went?

This Lido Cocina Tsina branch is located at GA 1-GA 2, 8003, C. Raymundo Ave, Barangay, Rosario, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 9pm for dine-in, take-out and delivery. For delivery, call +63 2 88885436 (LIDO) or visit lidodelivery.com.

Other Metro Manila branches are located at:

Quezon City: New Manila, Project 6, Batasan Hills, Project 8, Z Square Mall Banawe,
Makati: San Lorenzo
Manila: Ermita
Paranaque: Don Bosco, San Isidro
La Pinas: Talon

Check out my previous posts on Lido Cocina Tsina: