MAY.
SUMMER.
OFFICE.
Temperature rising and wishing that summer is over and that the rainy season should come earlier as expected. Due to the hot humid weather, I happen to dodge all ideas about GA's, Team Building or Strategic Planning that is located anywhere else outside Eastwood during out of business hours and would require traveling, swim suits and booze.
Philippine Holidays are now time offs (Usually that is, but still insists to go to work for holiday pay) and our team needs to push through with the assembly. As I tried to avoid all ideas, a light bulb appeared. "Why don't we just eat? I mean not once but around Chinatown?"
I was pushing to go with the "Binondo food walk". I heard so much how great Binondo is for delicious yet affordable Chinese food. Good thing everyone bought the idea and we settled with the time and place.
Friday came and I took the train (LRT) from Roosevelt to Doroteo Jose Station where we will all meet. I suffered for 15-20 minutes inside with no aircon and breathing other's air. But thankfully I was able to get a seat.
I was already late with our 12 noon meet up. Upon reaching D.Jose Station, I was beyond excited to step out the coach where it almost felt like an oven and just kneel and catch my breath. I met up with my colleagues and got ready for the walk.
FIRST STOP: WAI YING
Famished, we ordered Beef noodle soup which by the way comes in a huge bowl. For 100 php you can enjoy warm soup with chewy noodles with beef shanks and veggies. Warming the tummy is a good way to start the meal if you haven't eaten on time to avoid tummy aches.
Honey baked rib rice. Generous chunks of beef that is easy to chew in honey sauce.
Hakaw 70 php. I love how the wrapper turned out to be soft, smooth and not dry. You can really taste the shrimp which looks like a fairly medium size shrimp inside that is moist and flavorful.
Roasted duck with fried rice 160php. Roasted duck as it is with like asado sauce again paired with fried rice.
Radish Cake 60 php for 3 fat pieces. To be honest this is what I enjoyed most, aside from the Hakaw.
I skipped on eating rice because I knew I'd get full fast and we are only in our first stop.
I can't believe that Wai Ying is just in Manila. I hope they get to open around QC.
SECOND STOP: La Resureccion
"That Tablea Shop" as I call it but we really didn't notice it while we were walking in Ongpin St. What made us stop is the aroma of sweet smell of chocolate and followed our nose where it led us to this small shop.
More walks around Chinatown.
THIRD STOP: SINCERITY
Sincerity fried chicken which costs 300 php for a whole plate of deep fried crispy chicken is really really delicious! It's so tasty that I had to order a cup of rice. The chicken is well seasoned and tender. It's close enough to be called chinese style but in the boarder line of it.
Last food stop was at New Po Heng in Quentin Paredes St. We stopped by Eng Bee Tin first to buy some hopia and other sweets to take home. Good thing just across it is the Lumpia House.
For 50php, you get a big fat vegetable roll with all the good things inside. I was already full and we all shared 2 pcs of this awesome goodness.
Our last stop was at a huge grocery just outside the "Welcome to Chinatown" sign before the bridge. I bought my mum some dried plums and got myself some flavored strips of codfish like the ones being sold at Aji Ichiban.
I hate walking under the sun, but this one was worth the sweat and heat. :) Affordable delicious food around the town makes me crave at this hour specially the radish cake.
