Going Back to Basics: Good Old Chinese Dining
I have had my fair share of ramen joints, hipster restaurants, and third wave coffee shops; that there are times that I can’t help but feel suffocated amongst the fusion dishes, deconstructed dishes, and overwhelming coffee selections. For times like this, I’m just glad that I can still turn to dependable, no-fuss Chinese restaurants. They may not have Instagram droolworthy photos, but they surely boast of a home-cooking comfort charm that we all love coming back for. This article features Hai Shin Lou, Mien San Noodle House, King Crab House, and Coral Garden.
HAI SHIN LOU SEAFOOD KING RESTAURANT
Hai Shin Lou is an institution in Chinese dining, family-style. Not only does it have an extensive menu, but it also serves dishes in different sizes to make sure that its dishes are enough to feed a family, no matter how big it is!
HOT AND SOUR SOUP (P438/P658/P818)
Whenever we’re in a Chinese restaurant, my family's default soup selection would always be Hot and Sour Soup (Small). The heat of this dish always makes it feel like a warm hug during a cold rainy night. This is comfort food at its finest! This dish tends to fill one up though as it includes a hearty scoop of bamboo shoots, black fungus, and tofu pieces in every bite.
ROASTED PORK BELLY (P408/P618/P818)
I’m a big fan of roasts, so Hai Shin Lou’s Roasted Pork Belly (Small) completely won me over. Each piece was a perfect sculpture: well-seasoned meat, a thin neat layer of fat, and a perfectly crisp layer of skin to top each one of.them.
PEKING DUCK (P1380/P2580)
Hai Shin Lou’s Peking Duck would definitely be your money’s worth. A half order boasts of plates of beautifully sliced duck meat and skin; that the hospitable servers would gladly roll up for you. Service here is absolutely divine! We were surprised to find out that there was enough left over for a second way. My family’s not a fan of Minced Duck in Lettuce Cups, so opting for Salt and Pepper Duck as a second way is always a no-brainer especially if it’s addicting to eat like the one served here!
Other dishes you should not miss out on would be the classic Steamed Fish Fillet with Black Bean and Beancurd (P588/P888/P1178), and the unattractive but really delicious Sizzling Beef Tenderloin with Black Pepper Sauce (P648/1298).
Hai Shin Lou Seafood King Restaurant
810 Arnaiz Ave., San Lorenzo, Makati City
Date of Visit: June 21, 2015 with Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua, and Jem Chua
MIEN SAN NOODLE HOUSE
SPICY WANTON (P88/6pcs)
Mien San has always been a favorite go-to place of my family. From its humble hole-in-the-wall beginnings, the restaurant is now a bigger modern version of itself. I can’t recall the last time we’ve consulted the menu because we already have our ‘usual’. The Pork Chop rice set meal, features tasty well-marinated pork chops coated in light crunchy breading. The side dishes are usually a gamble because at times you get really good ones, at times you get unappetizing ones. The Kuchay with Tokwa is an addictive dish that’s pretty greasy, but I swear the tasty pork strips are worth the oil consumption.
My favourite dish though would have to be the Spicy Wanton. Honestly, it won’t be the wantons which would win you over; but the sauce which is the actual star of the dish. It’s perfect over rice, it’s perfect to pair with the pork chop, and even to take on its own! The addicting spicy sauce is slightly sweetened so you don’t have to worry about burning your tongue while eating them!
Mien San Noodle House
Granada St., Valencia, Quezon City
KING CRAB HOUSE
It’s been years since we visited King Crab as a family; but the memory of the flavorful crab vermicelli definitely can work up any appetite. Fortunately, my mom was also craving for King Crab as much as I did that we spent Mother’s Day’s lunch in the restaurant. We started off with the Hot and Sour Soup, which was lighter in flavor, and less in filling as compared to that of Hai Shin Lou’s. However with an insanely cheap price tag of P280, an order is good enough for 5!
BEEF BROCCOLI (P300)
The Beef Broccoli features tender succulent beef, paired with crunchily fresh broccoli flowers and carrot slices. Top this over a bowl of Yang Chow Fried Rice (P220) and you’re golden! The Steamed Garlic Prawns (P350) that we had didn’t really have the freshest prawns in the market, but I couldn’t stop slurping its indulgent garlic sauce.
SALT AND PEPPER SPARERIBS (P300)
I have mixed opinions on its Salt and Pepper Spareribs, the meat was surprisingly tasty on its own. I’m accustomed to Salt and Pepper Spareribs which depend on the tasty garnish as a crutch; but pairing each piece with just a drop of vinegar is enough to bring out its flavor! Scraping off each and every tiny bit of the salt-and-pepper garnish has always been a guilty pleasure for me; however, in this case, the garnish was sparse and quite bland that I just left them untouched on the plate.
KING CRAB SOTANGHON IN POT (Seasonal)
The King Crab Sotanghon should always be a staple on any table in the restaurant. Compared to the ones we enjoyed previously, the restaurant seemed to be more generous with the serving size of the vermicelli cooked together with the crab in a saucy pot. However, the flavour of the noodles ended up to be more watery and lighter possibly due to the volume of the noodles tossed in the pot. Nonetheless, this nostalgic dish does not fail to satisfy.
King Crab House
327, P. Guevarra, Little Baguio
Date of Visit: May 10, 2015 with Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua, and Jem Chua
CORAL GARDEN
CORAL SUPREME
Stationed alongside the auto shops of Banawe Street is the formidable branch of Coral Garden. Its menu extensively ranges from meat to seafood; however, its specials (those that carry the word ‘Coral’ in their names) are good choices for the indecisive diner. The Coral Soup (P65/P185/P285) is the restaurant’s version of the Hot and Sour Soup, while the Coral Chicken features a richer version of the soy-chicken dish. However, the crowned jewel would be the Coral Supreme. This dish of crispy noodles come topped with its sticky crab meat sauce. You should never miss out on this dish!
Coral Garden
96 Banawe St., Quezon City
