Minnan-Minnan Kitchen: A Hidden Gem in Banawe

Quezon City is one massive foodie destination. We have Tomas Morato which is a great place for nightcaps, Maginhawa for comfy lunch or dinner with family and friends and Banawe for Asian finds. Home to many great Chinese restaurants, I was happy to come across Minnan-Minnan Kitchen. 

Hello, Minnan-Minnan Kitchen. 

Walking along Banawe is like going on a treasure hunt. You get to see a bunch of unfamiliar names and dining inside is like betting on the lottery... uncertain if you'll hit the jackpot or end up losing money. One name I've never seen before was Minnan-Minnan Kitchen. 

First Bite: Eatogether Food Hall's Hawker Lane

Eatogether is the newest food hall in the metro. Its innovative cashless system makes ordering and paying hassle-free. It is not surprising that this hip place is getting a lot of attention, not just from millennials but foodies of all ages. And one of the busiest stalls here is the one that offers Asian favorites.

Hello, Hawker Lane.

Hawker Lane is tucked inside Eatogether and you have to go past all the tempting stalls by the entrance to get here. But you'll surely see it if you plan to grab some drinks as this right beside the bar.

First Bite: East Ocean

Chinese cuisine is no stranger with us Filipinos. We were exposed to several of its dishes ever since we could eat solid food. But only a few could be named worthy to be called great. And recently, several taste makers claim that a ginormous Chinese restaurant at the golden Entertainment City is a real deal.

Hello, East Ocean.

This multi-level Chinese restaurant has been the talk of town since it opened. With several private rooms and massive luxurious dining hall, it is no surprise why this is favored by socialites. 

R's parents decided to treat everyone to dinner here after our Pangulasian trip since it's just a few minutes away from the airport.

First Bite: DaTang Jardin

I was planning to head to Baguio last long weekend but an invite to a restaurant opening made me skip vacation in a heartbeat. This time around, it was for a Taiwanese restaurant’s grand launch in Burgos Circle. 

Hello, DaTang Jardin.

Named after the Tang Dynasty which is also known as the Golden Age of ancient China and era of prosperity for literature and food, this new and only Chinese restaurant in Burgos Circle boasts of its extensive menu that features all eight Chinese cuisines— Shandong, Cantonese, Szechuan, Jiangsu, Hunan, Zhejiang, Fujian and Anhui. 

As a treat, its multi-awarded executive chef, William Liu, prepared DaTang Three Cup Chicken, one of the restaurant’s recommended dishes, for the guests and curious bystanders to try. 

I tried a piece and it had a slight barbecue sauce taste to it. Nothing extraordinary. 

After 10 or 15 minutes, we were asked to go inside for the actual food sampling.

I was pretty impressed with the restaurant’s interiors as it doesn’t look Chinese-y at all. The place was not as flashy or decorated as other Chinese restaurants I know. 

It also had a nice and light ambiance to it. 

First served to us were some cold appetizers—Simmered Beef Shank in Homemade Sauce (PHP350), Homemade Kimchi (PHP130), Tofu Salad (PHP130) and Tomato in Plum and Red Wine Sauce (PHP130). 

First Bite: Xiu Fine Cantonese Dining

Xiu has been making a lot of noise since it opened last week. Socialites and food bloggers have been posting their favorites on Instagram and I could not help but get curious. Luckily, I was not the only one eying this place. R's dad wanted to try it too and asked R to make reservation arrangements given that he knows one of the owners. But the place was fully booked on its first week so we had to wait for the following weekend. And finally, the wait was over! 

Hello, Xiu Fine Cantonese Dining!

R's family was already there when we arrived and they did the ordering and picked Roast Goose (PHP1,980, half | PHP3,800, whole), Tiger Lobster Baked with Cheese and e-fu noodles (market price, ours reached over PHP10,000), Mashed Taro Puff with Scallop and Truffle (PHP1,080), Fried Squid in Chili and Salt (PHP580), Sweet and Sour Pork (PHP480) and Mixed Mushroom with Truffle Paste (PHP680).

While waiting for our food, we were served some crackers and vinegar which we paired with... our Malvasia-Chardonnay. Odd pairing but it was better than being (h)angry. 

First dish served was the Roast Goose. Given its price, we expected it to be good. 

The skin was slightly crispy and the meat was fatty. The darker meat on the other hand was quite chewy and tough. 

Taste-wise, it was flavorful enough to be enjoyed alone or with minimal sauce but its fattiness and toughness made this dish a disappointment. R's mom even said that we should have just ordered from all-time favorite Summer Palace.

The Mixed Mushroom with Truffle Paste was served next and it was delightful! I loved the soft yet subtly crunchy bite of mushrooms and the heavenly taste of truffle. It was so good that I had to get three servings of this! 

While still in mushroom heaven, the Fried Squid in Chili and Salt was next to be devoured.

There was really nothing much to say about this one as I always believe that it would be hard to mess with a deep-fried dish, especially if you claim to be a good restaurant. The squid used was fresh and not tough at all. The breading was not oily and the dish was not overly salty. 

The most anticipated dish of the night, Tiger Lobster with Baked Cheese and e-fu, made quite an entrance. We were so lucky to be able to get the last lobster for the night as a bunch of diners seemed to have placed their orders in advance.

Love at First Bite: Hong Kong Banjum 0410 Plus

When I watch Korean dramas or even when I lived in Korea for several months, I didn’t really understood why Koreans are so into jajangmyeon (black bean noodles). But boy oh boy, when they slurp those thick noodles with fragrant black bean sauce, it sure looked scrumptious. But back then, I wasn’t really adventurous with food. I’ll just have bulgogi or samgyeopsal with my mekju (beer) and soju. And I never realized what I was missing until I dined in Hong Kong Banjum 0410 Plus.

Annyeong, Hong Kong Banjum 0410 Plus!

This place was recommended by my local friend E. She said that this is one of her favorite restaurants in Dongdaemun and since I trust her taste, off we go to this jajangmyeon restaurant.

And when we arrived, it was packed! Good thing though that one table was available when we got there.

We ordered Tangsuyuk (9,500 ₩ for medium and 15,000 ₩ for large), Bokkeumjjamppong (5,500 ₩) and Jajangmyeon (4,000 ₩, or add 1,000 ₩ for extra size).

Service was pretty fast and our jajangmyeon was served first.

It was HUGE! And I can’t believe that it’s just 5,000 ₩ or PHP200. It tasted divine too with the slightly sweet black bean sauce and well cooked noodles. It was really heavy dish (I can’t even lift a chopstick full without exerting effort) so it is best for sharing.