Delivery Snippets: Tim Ho Wan x Panda Express x Beefier

TIM HO WAN

I’ve always had fond memories of dining in Tim Ho Wan with my BPI colleagues. We’d usually have to start our lunch break a little earlier to account for the long walk from the old BPI Head Office to Glorietta + have a little allowance for the long lunch queue that’s guaranteed to be there. The pork buns will always be a staple, but a personal favorite would always be the vermicelli roll. Most of its menu items are perfect for sharing, which meant that prior to Tim Ho Wan’s release of its own bento sets, you’d usually have to just settle for its chow mein or rice topping (both really aren’t top of mind for me) if you're dining alone.

CHEF’s REGULAR MEAL TO GO 1 (P438)

Fortunately, like most restaurants, Tim Ho Wan has expanded its menu to include more dishes that's perfect for solo dining. I decided to try out its Chef’s Regular Meal to Go 1– which featured their Chow Mein, two pieces of siomai, four halves of spring rolls and of course their world-famous BBQ bun. The Chow Mein was just okay on its own as it tends to be on the bland side, but if paired with the other items in the meal, then it serves as a nice contrast. The siomai pieces were incredibly tasty and juicy; and the spring rolls became a surprise favorite of mine. Stuffed with egg white and vegetables, you’d initially think this was just meant to be a space filler in the dish, but each tasty and crunchy bite you take will definitely keep you satisfied. I do find myself craving for it every now and then! Of course, no introductions are needed for its famed pork buns – admittedly, over the years, I’ve tended to favor Tuan Tuan’s, but nonetheless, Tim Ho Wan’s still packs up a nostalgic and substantial bite.

Tim Ho Wan

Date of Delivery: November 10, 2021 via Grabfood

PANDA EXPRESS

I’ve learned from my previous order from Panda Express that their serving sizes are huge – even for those with big appetites like mine! So, I took some more time to review its menu and discovered that you can opt for a half serving of veggies to be paired with either half serving of noodles or fried rice – and yes, the half serving is definitely more than enough to fill you! This way, there would be no force-feeding required!

BLACK PEPPER STEAK, SAVORY SHRIMP, HALF FRIED RICE AND VEGGIES PLATE (P451)

Although I did enjoy eating its famous Orange Chicken and the indulgent Honey Walnut Shrimp, I’m not really a big fan of eating sweet dishes during mealtimes – so I decided to try its Black Pepper Steak and Savory Shrimp for this order. The Black Pepper Steak cubes were unbelievably tender – despite having to bear delivery conditions – and came with nicely sauteed onions and bell peppers. Its Savory Shrimp had a similar taste profile with the Black Pepper Steak – but I’m definitely not complaining! I love that the Half Veggies actually featured quite a generous serving of broccoli – it’s a nice refreshing sight as I honestly expected that the bulk of the veggies that would be served with just be your typical cabbage and carrots! Also, I finally got to experience the full Panda Express treatment as the fortune cookie was finally back in stock (previously, they traded it up with some M&Ms) - unfortunately, I think I do prefer the M&M's option over the fortune cookie as mine was a bit stale.

Panda Express

Date of Delivery: November 15, 2021 via GrabFood but also available via https://www.pandaexpress.com.ph/en/

BEEFIER

In time for the holidays, Beefier released its Smoked Beef Lechon Tray and it was epically amazing. Yes, this was during the time when Andok’s Lechon Baka was the talk of the town. I was personally curious about the hype for Andok’s Lechon Baka – but upon ordering, it just wasn’t for me as I found that it smelled way better than it actually tasted.

Enter: Beefier.

With its more expensive price point, beef quality is instantly elevated – no need to deal with the chewy bits of Andok’s as you’re served with glorious slices of succulent beef which boast of having just the right meat to fat ratio.

SMOKED BEEF LECHON TRAY (1789)

The tray feeds my family of 5 comfortably (with a few leftovers to spare) as I usually pair it with a side order of Flowerboy’s Crab Omelette (since Beefier allows cross-orders from its sister company, Flowerboy)! A tray comes with potato dill salad, grilled romaine, and garlic rice. Furthermore, it also comes with gravy and chimichurri. Make sure not to waste the beautiful smokiness of the beef by drowning it with gravy! Opt to pair it with the chimichurri and instead, layer the addicting gravy over your garlic rice and potato dill salad!

Beefier

Date of Delivery: November 21, 2021 via https://eatlowbrow.com/