sweet and sour fish – Jellybeans in the City

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:

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