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MANILA, Philippines – Filipino cuisine is rich and diverse, and Filipinos being big foodies means we are always open to try new, even exotic, food. We love a lot of different kinds of cuisine, not just our own.
When this writer was in Glasgow, Scotland in 2009 for several months and craved Asian food, I went to a Chinese buffet restaurant to try to get a feeling of home. The Chinese dishes never failed to make me feel like I was back in Manila, but I safely concluded that even when it came to preparing Asian cuisine, Filipinos were definitely at the top of the list.
TriNoma mall in north Quezon City is a place not just for shopping and entertainment but also for gastronomic delights. At a recent visit, I discovered 3 places that can satisfy a craving for Asian food, however which way you like it.
SINGAPOREAN: Wee Nam Kee
Wee Nam Kee is at the 4th level of TriNoma, flanked by a gaming area and a buffet restaurant. It stands out because it is quiet and calm, and looks warm and welcoming from the outside.
Wee Nam Kee is a hawker place in Singapore. In the Philippines, it takes on the form of a restaurant. But the hawker elements are there: minimal, clean, no-nonsense interiors, and kitchen windows that show you what goes on inside, how your food is prepared.
TriNoma is one of 7 branches; others are at the Ayala Triangle, Serendra, Alabang Town Center, Glorietta, The District Cavite and the new East Wing of Shangri-La Mall.
“It’s not about being new; it’s about being authentic,” says Geneve Gutierrez, assistant operations manager, to Rappler. She acknowledges that while they are a new player in the Singaporean food scene in the country (they opened their first branch in November 2010), they are all about giving clients the authentic Singaporean food experience.
According to Geneve, another must-try is their barley drink, made fresh everyday. “It is sweet but not overpowering,” she says.
Business hours: 11:00am to 9:00pm, Monday to Sunday
Phone: (02) 576-6318 / 0917-828-5017
Facebook: Wee Nam Kee Philippines
Twitter: @WeeNamKeePH
JAPANESE: Ramen X
Ramen became a pop culture sensation in the food category in 2012. Foodies either experimented with their own concoctions or went on the hunt for the best ramen place in town.
Husband and wife owners Charles and Anna Paw were two such foodies. The couple — also travel buddies — considered themselves part of Generation X, hence the name Ramen X.
“Ramen is now a kind of comfort food for Filipinos,” says Windy Tiongson, Ramen X’s training manager. “We have embraced the noodle culture because it’s an all-in-one meal: sabaw (soup), ulam (viand), noodles as rice and vegetables.”
Ramen X is at the second floor of TriNoma, right beside Recipes. They also have branches in Eton Centris and Alabang Town Center. They offer original ramen recipes based on Charles and Anna’s trips to Japan and use only homemade noodles.
Windy says their Ramen X milk teas perfectly go with their hot dishes. Non-meat eaters will find options here, too, like the Spicy Chikuwa 7 Ramen.
Business hours: 11:00am to 9:00pm, Monday to Sunday
Phone: (02) 628-1603
Facebook: Ramen X
CHINESE: Peking Garden
Peking Garden reminded this writer of the Chinese restaurants of ’80s Manila: expansive, minimal, full of round dining tables with a Lazy Susan in the middle. I felt at home upon entering the place, considering it was my first time to visit.
Peking Garden is an affiliate of Maxim’s Caterers Ltd HK, a company that has 600 restaurants all over the world. The franchise opened in the Philippines in 1995. Their chefs are from Maxim’s, as well the restaurant manager who has been with them for 15 years.
“Peking Garden serves Northern Chinese cuisine, which is different from Cantonese food,” says Mario Tan, the restaurant’s marketing consultant and publicist. “It is the only fine dining restaurant in TriNoma.”
They only have two branches in Metro Manila: their flagship restaurant in Greenbelt 5, and their TriNoma branch (3rd level, garden area) that opened in 2008. Peking Garden is perfect for families when celebrating special occasions (even if the occasion is as simple as a weekend family lunch).
Business hours: Lunch (11:00am to 2:00pm) and dinner (6:00pm to 10:00pm last order), Monday to Sunday
Phone: (02) 729-0567 / 729-0719
Facebook: Peking Garden
– Rappler.com
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