Wednesday, February 06, 2008

A RESTAURANT THAT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

The hurried phase of the staff in this popular eatery seems inconsequential to Manong. He has been a regular patron for the past 14 years and comes here to enjoy some authentic Chinese dishes with his family, or some cold beer and pulutan just by himself.

Although I must have passed by Delicious Restaurant on the corner of Gonzalo Puyat and Florentino Torres Streets a hundred of times (in the Santa Cruz section of Chinatown), I have never actually gone inside. It must have been because it always appears crowded. Nonetheless, it's old world charm or old panciteria appeal beckons me.

Anyway, after reading about it in an article by Angie O. Chui and Sheryl G. Laudato in Manila Bulletin, I just had to try its foods; dragging my nephew as company right after he got out of school yesterday.

This restaurant has been in business since the '30s, though it has relocated three times before moving to its present address. It specializes in typical Chinese food fare -- such as ma-ki, ma-chang, cha mi, and miki bihon -- and retains the same flavor as when it opened its doors to the public in the 1930s. Moreover, according to the article, it has been serving most of the same loyal customers and their relatives after the business has been passed on from father to son.

I must admit, the dishes we had were all tasty and their prices affordable. Its fried chicken and special sauce has got to be one of the best I've tasted, while its miki guisado is, indeed, delicious.

Now, I understand why Manong has been coming to this eatery for many years.

If you don't mind enjoying some old school Chinese dishes in a place with old tables and floors, I suggest that you try this restaurant.

Delicious Restaurant
580 Florentino Torres Street
Santa Cruz, Manila
Telephone: 733-0401

posted by Señor Enrique at 9:11 AM

29 Comments:

Anonymous said...: hello eric, i love to eat at places like this --- masarap na mura pa. dba? this reminds me of this pnasitan sa may fairview na madalas naming kainan before, they call it jo rose. i wonder kong buhay pa yong place na yon. na reminisce na naman ako ng aking kabataan sa QC. hahahah :D; February 06, 2008 9:53 AM
gmirage said...: Sometimes the best places to eat are hidden...=) B&W really made it look older!; February 06, 2008 3:23 PM
Gita Asuncion said...: oh my, i love to eat in small restaurants like this! grabe, they serve very very good food pero super affordable ang price diba! not just sulit, super sulit!

funny nga, when i married my hubby, meron din pala silang favorite chinese restau like this... mine is in paco along pedro gil (santiago's), his is in kyapo (howa)... and we alternate eating there para fair daw.

thanks for sharing this!; February 06, 2008 7:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Thanks for this. I am not familiar with the place. I certainly would like to try it. Can you send directions, coming from roxas blvd? Appreciate it.; February 06, 2008 9:27 PM
Photo Cache said...: i too love to eat at small mom and pop's eateries. seldom do i find myself going to chain restaurants. these mom and pops have soul and no gimmicks, just good food at an affordable price.

glad you featured this one.; February 07, 2008 12:54 AM
Panaderos said...: Eric,

Count me as one of those people who love and enjoy the old charms and character of an old restaurant. I used to do it a lot when I was still back in the Philippines.

Binondo was a favorite hangout of mine. Panciteria San Jacinto was a favorite of mine. I ought to check out this place you featured the next time I'm in town. Thanks for sharing. :); February 07, 2008 1:42 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Hi Nell!

Quezon City seems so vast for me that I wouldn't have any idea as to the location of the eatery you mentioned. Perhaps, another fellow blogger might know of it.

BTW, speaking of hole-in-the-wall but delicious eateries, check out this article I found:

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/12/16/TSTE2006121682320.html; February 07, 2008 6:35 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Or they've been around so long and have enough loyal customers to keep them busy everyday that they no longer have to promote their establishments, G. Mirage.

Thanks!; February 07, 2008 6:37 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Hi Gita! Where exactly is Hoya in Quiapo? I've been looking for a good Chinese restaurant in Quiapo, but haven't found one, yet. Please share :); February 07, 2008 6:39 AM
Señor Enrique said...: I often walk around this area, Macpower, instead of drive because of the narrow streets. Neither am I familiar with its one way streets and traffic scheme. Better you call the restaurant at 733-0401 for directions.; February 07, 2008 6:42 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Like I said, Photo Cache, I've always been curious about this restaurant, and glad I read an article about it in the paper.

I should also mention that while there, I saw many people coming in to place their take out orders of mostly noodle dishes.; February 07, 2008 6:44 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Where is Panciteria San Jacinto, Panaderos? Would like to check it out?

When I was a kid, there was a huge restaurant in the Santa Crus Plaza near the church. I think its name was Wa Nam. I was looking forward to go back and enjoy their food when I returned to Manila, but was greatly disappointed when learned it closed years ago. Sayang!; February 07, 2008 6:47 AM
Anonymous said...: i like your food talk senor as always
but i'm not familiar with ma-ki and ma-chang. there was a chinese resto in quiapo named del monte closed to r. hidalgo dunno if that still exist,
my bro-in-law recommended it to me
when i used to live there, i like their siopao asado and bihon guisado.; February 07, 2008 7:40 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Hi Tina,

Ma-chang is like "malagkit na kanin" with some diced meat and wrapped in triangular shape with banana leaf. It's good but quite filling. As for ma-ki, I am yet to try it.

And as you may know by now, Quiapo is a regular haunt for me, but to date, haven't found a "panciteria" to frequent. Yes there's a couple I pass by regularly, but they look more like beer houses with fine looking ladies as waitresses ... hehehe. Hence, I'd feel more comfortable to try an eatery if recommended by friends.

Okay, I will look for Del Monte (near Hidalgo) as you've suggested, as well as for Howa as mentioned by Gita. I will then report back to you guys if and when I've tried their offerings :)

Thanks!; February 07, 2008 8:26 AM
Photo Cache said...: oh that is ma-chang...here in chinatown here we just call that chinese tamales :); February 07, 2008 8:31 AM
nutart said...: Thanks for the tip, Eric! Although my classic Chinese resto is Ma Mon Luk both in Cubao and Quezon Blvd. Don't know if they're still there. In Baguio, we would also go in one. Gosh I forgot the name...although I just know where it is. Chinese restos are so affordable. Wherever I go abroad, I go to them for its affordability.; February 07, 2008 8:33 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Aha! Chinese Tamales pala tawag diyan. Thanks much, Photo Cache!; February 07, 2008 9:38 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Ma Mon Luk is still going strong, Bernadette. Their branch on Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo is still very popular and so is the one on Quezon Avenue and Banawe. However, they basically offer siopao and mami.

Yes, even in New York's Chinatown, there's an abundance of affordable eateries that offer delicious foods :); February 07, 2008 9:42 AM
reyd said...: Thanks for bringing back the old school of Chinese eatery.
I used to eat there when I was still single. Most of the time, pa-order ng mga pancit at pulutan and we take them to my barkada's store at magsalo salo kami sa likod ng tindahan nila. Marami pang lugar na katulad niyan nuong araw. But fast-food chain took a big chunk of their business. Anyways, marami pa din naman na maliliit na restos sa Binondo ~ Calle Nueva and Carvajal, di ka magsasawa sa iba-ibang putahe duon. Enjoy your trip around that area.; February 07, 2008 5:17 PM
Anonymous said...: hmmm, whenever you write or take pictures of these eatery places, it makes my stomach sooo hungry i can't resist but ride a jeep and eat there. lol! quiapo and downtown manila is just one hop and skip from my place.

you mentioned delicious restaurant's maki, there's this chinese eatery near st. stephen's school (am not sure if i remember it right and i can't recall the name) along malaybalay st. near recto going to divisoria and they serve the best maki i've ever had. i used to go there a few years back and they serve this oh-so gooey maki. (they say, the best maki has to be mala-"uhog" or has the consistency of... uhm, mucus. i know it doesn't sound so palatabale to hear it that way but, hey, that's how they call it.) i guess it's time to check my old haunts again.

still on the subject of food, there's this little hole-in-the-wall place along gonzalo puyat in quiapo (on that side of quiapo church turning right on quezon blvd. in to puyat, it's at the left side of the street before one reaches raon) that serves the best fresh lumpia. that's the place's specialty - heavenly and always fresh. it's a great merienda joint after one gets tired checking out the stuff they sell at raon. :-)

okay, i'd better feed my churning stomach. this talk of food is making it sommersualt in hunger. lol!; February 07, 2008 5:34 PM
Señor Enrique said...: Calle Nueva is now Yuchengco Street, Reyd :( With all due respect to this man Yuchengco, the city should have never changed the name of Calle Nueva.

Looking forward to exploring the other old school eateries as mentioned by our fellow bloggers.

You know what I love the most? Canton guisado with lots of sauce just they way they used to serve at the old Wa Nam Rstaurant in Palaza Santa Cruz!

Actually, when I came back to Manila, that was the first dish I searched for ... hehehe!; February 08, 2008 6:28 AM
Señor Enrique said...: Please let us know, Daniel, if that restaurant on Malaybalay Street is still there. I, for one, would love to check it out :)

Is it Globe Lumpia House that you speak of? That's a really popular eatery on Raon Street! And yes ... always fresh, indeed.

You ought to try its chicken empanada. It's only like 15 pesos each!; February 08, 2008 6:31 AM
Anonymous said...: thanks for the insight senor. you learn something everyday if you live long enough!; February 08, 2008 7:05 AM
Señor Enrique said...: I'll try to take some pics, Tina, so you'd see exactly what they look like :); February 08, 2008 7:19 AM
grumpyurbanslacker said...: hey senor,

you can also try Cool-In cafe, somewhere in a small st. near Dasmarinas st, in binondo..they have been around for at least 30 years, and they have this bread pudding which is quite good.; February 08, 2008 7:10 PM
Señor Enrique said...: I know where Dasmarinas Street is, GUS, I'll just have to check out the side streets when looking for this eatery. Is it in Carvajal?

Many thanks for the tip. I'll ask some folks in the area to help me find it :); February 08, 2008 8:08 PM
grumpyurbanslacker said...: naku, i'm not so sure re the directions...basta if you're along Dasmarinas St., just walk along the street where Pan-Pacific Travel agency is and take a left turn somewhere after that....sorry if this is not very clear, i always get lost when i go there! :D; February 15, 2008 9:38 AM
Señor Enrique said...: I used to get uncertain of Binondo's narrow side streets, but had learn to get to know most of them recently.

Ok, I will look for it and let you know what I think of it :)

Thanks, GUS!; February 16, 2008 1:02 PM
meloh touch said...: wow I still remember that place,we used to have bottles of beer and special pulutan on payday.
wait for me manong i will be visiting the place on october 3,maybe we can have some beer while talking about yesterday,see you.; September 21, 2008 3:34 PM

Wish you were here

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

A RESTAURANT THAT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

29 Comments:

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