Mandarin Sky Wok’s Reputation of Excellence

Mandarin Sky has always been a go-to Chinese restaurant for Sunday family lunches, birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, and self-imposed pig-out days; and for good reason. It may not have the most elegant interiors like those boasted by Gloria Maris; but its food selection and quality easily trumps out most of its other famous contemporaries.

I wasn’t able to catch the proper name of the dish above (as it was just a recommendation by the order-taker); but it completely blew all of us away. This magical dish featured a stunningly delicate nest of deep fried golden mushrooms which served as the perfect foil to the bitter kailan bathed in a tasty oyster sauce. This dish can definitely get the conversation rolling in the dining table.

EEL RICE (Seasonal Price)

One of its most famous dishes would be the Eel Rice; which boasts of a huge serving of sticky rice topped with a mountain made of cubes of fresh eel glazed in a sweet soy sauce. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I’m really not a fan of this dish. I don’t mind eating the rice alone; but I’m simply not into its fresh eel. Admittedly pampered and borderline snooty, I prefer my eel less gummy and whose meat boasts of a melt-in-your-mouth texture ala unagi.

DEEP FRIED OYSTERS with XO SAUCE (P350/P525/P700)

Despite that though, its menu is filled with gems such as the Deep Fried Oysters with XO Sauce. I don’t really like cooked oysters; but this dish definitely calls for an exception. Each oyster comes clothed in a wonderfully crisp and glazed shell that adds some much appreciated crunch to the oysters. Dip these in some vinegar sauce, for that perfect bite!

PEPPERCORN SPARERIBS (P380/P570/P760)

They even take the ubiquitous Salt and Pepper Spareribs (which they call Peppercorn Spareribs) to a whole different level. Each piece is perfectly fried and seasoned that I found myself enjoying munching on the fatty bits of the spareribs. In contrast to most Chinese restaurants; they didn’t have to rely too much on its salty toppings for flavor. The golden fried cubes themselves were perfect on their own.

STIR FRIED SHRIMP WITH SCRAMBLED EGG (P450/P680/P900)

Honestly, people wouldn’t really spend so much on what sounds like a shrimp omelette on the menu; but trust me, the Stir Fried Shrimp with Scrambled Egg is phenomenal. It’s basically fresh shrimp topped with fluffy scrambled egg; but oddly, Mandarin Sky Wok does something to the dish, which makes it memorable and absolutely spectacular. Their Salted Egg Shrimp isn’t a bad choice either!

Mandarin Sky Wok

23 Panay Avenue, Paligsahan, Quezon City

Date of Visit: December 2, 2018 with Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua, Jem Chua, Joel Mendoza, Virlane Mendoza, and Kino Mendoza