In just a few days, we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year! It will be the Year of the Fire Rooster. Just in time for this momentous event, the EATSplorations family together with foodie friends went on a Binondo Food Walk to EAT and EXPLORE Manila Chinatown. Yes, you read that right! We walked around the busy streets of Ongpin, Salazar, Benavidez, Soler, Alonzo, and back just to find some of the best food that Binondo has to offer. Binondo has a lot to offer and to avoid getting lost in its bustling streets, we decided to follow the recommendations of ClickTheCity to guide us in this gastronomic adventure. Are you ready to EATSperience a Binondo Food Walk with us? Let’s go!
First Stop: Tasty Dumplings
Located just on the left side of Binondo Church, Tasty Dumplings has been a household name for steamed dumplings and pork chop rice! If you love chicken chops, you will forget it once you try Tasty’s HUGE, crispy and tender pork chop!
Php 125
641 Norberto Ty Street corner Yuchengco Street, Binondo, Manila
+632 242 5195 or 242 0231
Operating Hours:
10:00am to 9:00pm (Mon-Sat)
9:00am to 9:00pm (Sun)
Budget: 500 php for two
After Tasty Dumplings, we made our way to our next stop. It’s right at the corner of Yuchengco Street (formerly known as Nueva Street). If you have been to Binondo before, you surely have eaten here.
Second Stop: Chuan Kee
Chuan Kee is a “turo-turo”eatery just beside Eng Bee Tin in front of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Ongpin. It is known for Chinese favorites like machang (glutinous rice with chicken and/or pork and mushroom), quekiam (five spice pork rolls), and kiam pong (Chinese version of the paella with seafood and pork). The place is loaded with food but you don’t want to overeat at the beginning of your food walk, right? Make sure you tag along at least 5 friends so that you can order more.
Chuan Kee
650 Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila
+632 288 8888
Operating Hours:
6:00am to 10:00pm (Mon-Sun)
Budget: 500 php for two
Next stop is just around a hundred meters away from Chuan Kee and it is one of the most famous eateries in Binondo.
Third Stop: Sincerity Cafe & Restaurant
This is where the famous fried chicken of Binondo was born! Yes, people from all walks of life visit Sincerity mainly because of its home-style fried chicken (P160 Half and P320 Whole). Aside from that, Sincerity also serves up one of the tastiest fried oyster cakes (P200 Small and P250 Big) in town. We had both dishes and of course, we were blown away! The recipe of their fried chicken simply never gets old. While the oyster cake is as fresh as it can get because of its plump and juicy oysters.
Sincerity Cafe & Restaurant
497 E.T. Yuchengco Street, Binondo, Manila
+632 241 9991 and 241 9990
Operating Hours:
9:00am to 9:00pm (Mon-Sun)
Budget: 500 php for two
After Sincerity, we took a break from munching and decided to just walk and look around for pasalubong. We made our way from Yuchengco Street down to the streets of Ongpin, Salazar and Benavidez. Here are some of the photos that we were able to snap along the way.
Tikoy can be found all over Binondo. All over meaning—EVERYWHERE. Before you go crazy buying lots of tikoy, consider these things first: 1.) List down your tikoy recipients. 2.) Make sure to look around first. 3.) Consider your budget. 4.) Always go for the classic white or brown variants, the other flavors tend to taste too artificial.
Snack: Bitso-Bitso
Php 15 per piece
After a long walk around the streets of Benavidez, Soler, and Alonzo, we finally made our way back to Ongpin to try out one of Binondo’s most famous snacks.
Fourth Stop: Shanghai Fried Siopao
Finally! The Holy Grail of fried siopao, Shanghai Fried Siopao. This is one tasty treat for only 20 pesos each. The super fluffy bun is steamed first. Then, the bottom is toasted. Its filling is made of minced pork and chives. You haven’t been to Binondo if you haven’t had a bun or two from Shanghai Fried Siopao. Tip: Buy lots of it and freeze it so that you can save yourself from the trouble of going to Binondo every now and then.
Shanghai Fried Siopao
Sabino Padilla Street, Santa Cruz, Manila, Metro Manila
A few minutes after chowing down our fried siopao, we decided to keep going as the skies were turning gray. We paid a visit to Salazar Bakery and bought a few boxes of tikoy for ourselves and for pasalubong. Then, we made our way back up Ongpin Street and down to Yuchengco Street to finally try one of Binondo’s most delicious dumplings.
Fifth Stop: Dong Bei Dumplings
Finally, Dong Bei Dumplings! We have been hearing great things about this humble dumpling place just a few minutes away from Binondo Church. Dong Bei’s dumplings are freshly made every single day by their tireless staff. The kuchay with pork dumplings was good. The dumpling wrapper was not too heavy and the filling was flavorful. The fried savory pancakes was the BEST! Same filling but different EATSperience because of the pan-fried dough. Make sure you dip the dumplings and pancakes in their light soy sauce and chili. Tip: Come as early as you can as the place is really small. Get ready to smell like dumplings. Take some frozen dumplings home to save yourself from Binondo’s terrible traffic.
Dong Bei Dumplings
642 Yuchengco Street, Binondo, Manila
+632 241 8912
Operating Hours:
9:00am to 8:00pm (Mon-Sun)
Budget: 300 php for two
Photo by: Beatriz Acosta
As we welcome the year of the Rooster, we wish all of you a Prosperous and a Blessed 2017! Happy Chinese New Year! Happy Year of the Rooster! Kung Hei Fat Choi!
EATSplorations 
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