lemon chicken – Jellybeans in the City

Chinese family meal at Luk Yuen, SM Megamall

For many of us Filipinos, Chinese food has become one of our go-to cuisines when dining out.

Not only has Chinese culinary influences permeated our own cuisine, its sheer variety and rich traditions have made fans of all sorts of food lovers.

The same is true with my family. Most of the time, when craving for a break from our usual lutong-bahay, we would hie ourselves to our local Chinese restaurant.

Since my childhood, Luk Yuen has been a family favorite. After attending Mass at SM Megamall, my parents usually took my brothers and me to dinner at the Luk Yuen outlet at the basement.

Now that I have a family of my own, with each of us having our own individual preferences when it comes to food. I’m happy to rediscover my faves at the same Luk Yuen outlet that my parents used to take me to, and that, despite our widely disparate gastronomic preferences, my husbands, kids and I can all happily enjoy a meal at this restaurant.

We started our meal with complimentary Hot Chinese Tea, traditionally used by Chinese diners to help ease digestion, boost metabolism and prevent overeating, among other health benefits.

We can’t have a meal at a Chinese restaurant without ordering a platter of Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php265). This dish consists of cooked rice sauteed in a wok together with bits or char siu pork, cooked shrimp, scrambled egg yolks, along with chopped scallions, carrots and peas. While flavorful as it is, it goes so well with other Chinese dishes.

Another staple of Chinese cuisine is dim sum, and my family members are all fans of the Steamed Shrimp Dumpling (Php210). Also known as hakaw, it is made of plump shrimp and cooked pork wrapped together with aromatics in a transparent wrapper with its signature pleats. Its Cantonese name

Deep-fried Bean Curd (Php175). A tasty appetizer also known as Crispy Tofu, it is made with cubes of soybean curd, deep fried and tossed in salt, pepper and chilis.

Birthday Noodles (Php465). Also known as Long-Life Noodles, this dish is the forebear of our own pancit and is traditionally served during one’s birthday with noodles consumed without breaking to signify a wish for a long life.

Boneless Chicken in Lemon Sauce (Php345). Marinated chicken thigh fillets, breaded and deep-fried, then drizzled with a tangy lemon sauce.

Peppercorn Spareribs (Php395). Bite-sized pork spare-ribs deep-fried to crispy juiciness and topped with garlic and served with chilled vinegar.

With these dishes, the fam’s combined appetites were sated and we were able to revisit some of my favorite dishes from my childhood visits at Luk Yuen.

All the dishes were flavorful, satisfying and affordable, certainly a great choice for a family meal during a bout of shopping.

This Luk Yuen branch is located at the Lower Ground Floor, SM Megamall Building B, EDSA corner Doña Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 86334396 or +63 956 7366816.

Other branches are located at Cash & Carry, Alabang, Greenhills, Glorietta and Capitol Commons.

Classic Chinese Meal at EmERALD Restaurant

Where do you go for authentic Chinese food when you’re in the Manila-Pasay area?

Well, Hubby recently introduced our family to EmERALD Restaurant, situated along the historic Roxas Boulevard.

It’s one of those no-frills kind of Chinese eateries where occasions such as baptisms, weddings or graduation parties of loyal patrons are celebrated amidst a feast consisting of the fam’s favorite Chinese food.

From its round tables with their corresponding Lazy Susan turntables to help distribute the wide array of dishes served family style, to the frenetic energy as wait staff quickly serve EmERALD Restaurant’s signature dishes to their waiting diners, everything about this place is quite characteristic of much-loved, old-timey Chinese joints that we visited with our parents when we were kids.

During our family’s visit at this restaurant, our brood enjoyed a delicious and bountiful lunch which consisted of:

Spinach with Garlic (Php320 small | Php480 medium | Php1,020 large). A side dish made of spinach stir-fried with garlic.

Seafood Polonchay Soup (Php360 small | Php540 medium | Php1,080 large. Thick egg-drop soup made with spinach and seafood.

Three Kinds of Cold Cuts (Php350 small | Php525 medium | Php1,050 large). Platter of Chinese-style cold cuts which include asado (flavored with soy sauce, five-spice and sugar), century egg and seaweed.

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php320 small | Php480 medium | Php960 large). A popular wok fried rice made with pork, shrimp, scrambled eggs, peas as well as chopped scallions and carrots.

Beef with Broccoli (Php450 small | Php675 medium | Php1350 large). Beef strips stir-fried with garlic, ginger and brocolli.

Lemon Chicken (Php380 small | Php570 medium | Php1,140 large). Battered and deep-fried chicken pieces and served with a thick and sweet lemon-flavored sauce for dipping or coating.

Spare Ribs with Salt & Pepper (Php380 small | Php570 medium | Php1140 large). Marinated and deep-fried pieces of pork spare ribs seasoned with salt and pepper.

Camaron Rebusado (Php450 small | Php675 medium | Php1,350 large). Battered and deep-fried shrimp served with sweet sauce.

Shakes (Php150). Icy shakes made with milk and fresh fruit.

What I love about eating at an old-timey Chinese restaurant is the layering of flavors, from the soup and sides to the mix and match of dishes in each bite. Also, given the family-style of food serving, it was a great way to introduce our kids to dishes that are new or unfamiliar to them.

Considering how many viands we ordered, I was initially doubtful if we could fully consume our spread. However, it turns out, I shouldn’t have worried at all because the fam finished off the meal with hardly any leftovers.

EmERALD Restaurant is located at Ground Floor, Gedisco Terrace, Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, open daily for dine-in and pick up from 6am to 9pm. For reservations and orders, call +63 2 70918137, +63 915 7073167 or +63 968 6009827.

To know more about EmERALD Restaurant, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

North Park delivers via GrabFood Signatures

With many of us still having qualms about dining outside, it’s no wonder that food delivery services have been our lifeline, not just to good food, but also towards supporting our favorite restaurants in this time of pandemic.

In its bid to bring good food to people staying at home, leading super app Grab launched its GrabFood Signatures Program, wherein it partnered with leading food brands. These popular establishments then deliver their famous dishes plus offer irresistible discounts and other promos via GrabFood.

Among GrabFood Signatures’ partner restaurants is North Park, a homegrown Chinese restaurant which brings old fashioned and well-loved Chinese food that have found a place in the hearts and palates of Pinoys.

Wanting to give my fam a break from out usual lutong-bahay fare, and to also give my yaya a break from the stress of cooking and preparing the family’s lunch, I decided to order in via my Grab app and I chanced upon a Grab Signatures promo granting Php150 off my order.

Well, I lost no time ordering my family’s faves from North Park:

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php228). Delicious egg fried rice with shrimps, chopped BBQ pork, carrots, and green peas.

Pork Sionai (Php348/12pcs). Steamed dumplings made with ground pork, vegetables and aromatics.

Boneless Honey Lemon Chicken (Php263). Boneless chicken marinated in freshly squeezed lemon juice and seasonings, thickly coated with a sticky sauce made with honey and lemon.

Braised Noodles with Wanton (Php218). Wanton made with paper thin flour skin filled with diced pork and shrimp generously poured with premium oyster sauce over Hongkong Noodles.

The fam had wonderful meal with such a delicious and hearty fare from one of our favorite restaurants.

North Park branches in Metro Manila include:

Pasig: The Strip Commercial Complex Ortigas
Mandaluyong: Greenfield District
Quezon City: SM Hypermarket Cubao, Tomas Morato, G. Araneta Avenue, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Tandang Sora, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Eton Centris
Taguig: Market! Market!, SM Hypermarket FTI
San Juan: P. Guevarra Street (opposite Petron)
Makati: Makati corner Kalayaan Avenue, Glorietta 3, Salcedo Village, Legaspi Village, SM Hypermarket Market
Paranaque: SM City Bicutan, ASEANA Square
Manila: Manila Ocean Park
Pasay: Mall of Asia Arena Parking Building
Valenzuela: South Supermarket
Alabang: Alabang Town Center, South Supermarket
Muntinlupa: SM Center Muntinlupa

Want to enjoy similar offers? Just check the Messages tab in your Grab App for promo notifications.

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.

Chinese food feast delivery from Yang Chow

Did you know that Chinese food has three key flavors? These are sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy.

The combination and degree of intensity of these flavors have brought forth one of the most varied of the world’s cuisines. As you hop from one region to the next, you will see variations in the dishes they produce: Sichuan, for example, is famous for its numbingly spicy food while Hong Kong leans towards the sweet-salty dynamic. It just goes to show that one of the world’s richest cultures can produce a very diverse culinary heritage.

Those are some of the flavors that came into play when I decided to give the fam a break for our usual ulam fare and order in a Chinese feast from a nearby branch of Chinese restaurant chain Yang Chow.

Our delightful repast included:

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php298 for large). Pre-cooked rice is stir-fried in a wok along with chopped char siu, scallions, veggies and scrambled egg. I wouldn’t dare order a Chinese meal without this staple. The kiddos would surely revolt!

Beef Steak Chinese Style (Php398). Tender beef slices stir-fried and doused in a savory sauce. A new fave for my daughter #ExhibitA!

Lemon Chicken (Php278). Another staple Chinese dish with crispy pieces of chicken served in a tangy lemon sauce. A Chinese food meal won’t be complete for my son #ExhibitB without it!

Brocolli Flower with Oyster Sauce (Php218). Crisp and lightly blanched brocolli flowers served with and oyster-flavored sauce and topped with toasted garlic flakes. It’s the healthy part of the meal our meal and counter-balances the rich flavors of our other orders.

I’m glad to know that every time the fam tires of our go-to ulam dishes, we can just have an exotic Chinese feast delivered to us.

This Yang Chow branch is located at Industria Mall, Indusria Street, Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 6.30pm. To order for delivery, call +63 2 79009907 or +63 915 4470765 or course your order via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

Check out my reviews of other Asian restaurants:

Chinese dinner feast from Eat Fresh Famous Hongkong Street Food, Maybunga

Back when I used to spend a lot of time in San Juan for work, one of the potential highlights of the day would be a visit to Eat Fresh Famous Hongkong Street Food along Jose Abad Santos Street.

This unassuming resto is famous for serving tasty and affordable dimsum, street food and claypot rice toppings.

Since my office moved locations a few years ago, I haven’t been able to go back there for a Chinese food trip, and when the quarantine was effected last March, a trip to San Juan became all the more unlikely.

Imagine my delight when I discovered that a new branch opened right in my hometown of Pasig City. Better yet, it delivers via GrabFood!

So I took advantage of GrabFood’s FREE delivery promo for my Friday night dinner with the kiddos, and we feasted on:

Salt and Pepper Spareribs (Php322). One of my favorite Chinese dishes made with pork spare ribs seasoned with salt, chili peppers and five spice powder, then deep fried until the outside is crispy to complement the tender meat inside.

Lemon Chicken (Php322). Crispy lightly battered chicken breast pieces doused in a sweet and tangy sticky sauce. For my daughter, a Chinese meal is not complete without this dish.

3 Kinds Mushroom (Php270). This dish is the answer to this mommy question: “How do I get my kids to eat more healthy food?” Well, this delectable dish made with three different kinds of mushroom braised in flavorful oyster sauce got my kids to expand their palates to non-meat dishes.

Special Fried Rice (Php138). Filipino comedian Jo Koy tells how his dad said “Rice is rice.” Well, I beg to differ. This rice dish is special: cold day-old rice is tossed with meat, seafood and scrambled in a wok and flavored with soy sauce, aromatics and other seasonings. It goes so well with almost any Chinese dish that I can’t imagine eating Chinese food with any other type of rice dish.

So foodies, if you’ve got a craving for Asian flavors, bring out your phone and check your food delivery apps. There might be an Eat Fresh branch that delivers in your area.

This Eat Fresh Famous Hongkong Street Food is located along C. Raymundo Avenue, Maybunga, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 7pm. For delivery, call +63 915 5827695 or course your order through GrabFood.

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Other branches are located at:

691 Jose Abad Santos Street, Little Baguio, San Juan City
92 Jose Abad Santos Street, Behind Little Baguio City Hall, Little Baguio, San Juan City
32 General Ordoñez Corner Bayan-Bayanan Avenue, Marikina Heights, Marikina City
100-A Maria Clara Street, Santo Domingo, Banawe, Quezon City
48 President’s Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City

Check out my reviews of other Asian restaurants:

Chinoy lunch fest at North Park, Tomas Morato

I may have said this several times before: the workday lunch hour is a sacred time.

It is that one spot in the day wherein people can pause their daily labors, recharge their batteries by resting and refueling, and maybe even spend time with their coworkers.

One busy workday, I went to North Park Noodle House in Tomas Morato with a few of my officemates to spend our lunchtime with good food and good company.

For over twenty-five years, North Park has been the destination of Pinoy foodies who want Chinese food in large servings that they can share and enjoy with family and friends. The dishes that this restaurant chain offers may not be strictly true to their Chinese origins but they features tastes and textures that we have grown to love.

For our lunchtime food fest, my coworkers and I feasted on:

Century Egg and Jellyfish Salad (Php188).

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Php203).

Taiwan Pechay with Black Mushroom and Pacific Clams in Garlic Sauce (Php238).

Salt and Pepper Spare Ribs (Php238).

Salted Garlic Squid (Php258).

Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet (Php278).

Boneless Honey Lemon Chicken (Php238).

There’s nothing like a fine time spent with great people and great food!

This North Park branch is located at Tomas Morato corner Lazcano Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City.

Want some Chinoy food goodies but can’t go to North Park because of the enhanced community quarantine?

North Park Noodles delivers through its delivery hotline +63 2 87373737, through its website, and through GrabFood.

Download the Grab App on the App Store or Google Play. Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Other branches in the metro are located at:

Pasig: The Strip Commercial Complex Ortigas
Mandaluyong: Greenfield District
Quezon City: SM Hypermarket Cubao, G. Araneta Avenue, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Tandang Sora, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Eton Centris
Taguig: Market! Market!, SM Hypermarket FTI
San Juan: P. Guevarra Street (opposite Petron)
Makati: Makati corner Kalayaan Avenue, Glorietta 3, Salcedo Village, Legaspi Village, SM Hypermarket Market
Paranaque: SM City Bicutan, ASEANA Square
Manila: Manila Ocean Park
Pasay: Mall of Asia Arena Parking Building
Valenzuela: South Supermarket
Alabang: Alabang Town Center, South Supermarket
Muntinlupa: SM Center Muntinlupa