Food Trip in Binondo

Welcome to Manila Chinatown. The oldest Chinatown in the world.

I was in Manila last February. A friend from the US and from France were in the country so we decided to meet up on a weekend in Tagaytay. The friend from the US, I have not seen her since 2018 and the friend from France, the last time I saw her was way before that. Another reason for me being in Manila is to watch the concert of one of my favorite bands - One Republic. I really enjoyed the concert even though I watched it alone. I met a friend too, who was also alone. I had so much fun that I didn't want the concert to end. I wanted more. And when you're in Manila, you can't pass up the opportunity to do a food trip in Binondo. 

The facade of the Binondo Church.

Binondo Church is officially known as the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz - Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.

For those who don't know, I actually lived and worked in Manila for about 8 years. In those years, I've been to Binondo but only to a few shops like Dong Bei Dumplings, Eng Bee Tin (the famous hopia bakery) and Serenity (I've tried their fried chicken). I have eaten in Dong Bei and brought home frozen chives dumplings. They were so good. I have tried all of Eng Bee Tin's hopia flavors and my favorite is the custard one and black mongo. My go-to flavor for hopia is black mongo. The fried chicken in Serenity is very good. I didn't realize that it was that famous then when we ate there. It was the store in the Lucky Chinatown Mall that we went to.

The Chinese arch in Lucky Chinatown Mall.

So, being back in Manila, after about five years, (the last time I was there was in 2018, to attend a wedding), I actually made a list of places I need to visit but unfortunately, wasn't able to but a Binondo food trip was one of the things I could not miss. It's a must. 

Various lanterns in one of the walkways in Lucky Chinatown Mall. 

We met up with a friend in Lucky Chinatown Mall around 2PM. Our first stop is Wai Ying Fastfood. The famous dimsum restaurant. We thought that since it was around past lunch time, there won't be a lot of people. We should be good. And lo and behold, the store was a box office hit. The line was long. The last people in line told us to go to the guard and have us listed and then wait. I think we were supposed to be the 20th to be served. We waited a bit, probably around 5 to 10 minutes and then got very hungry. Jona, the other friend, went to the store across Wai Ying and bought becho-becho. It's like a donut but a bit softer. We ate that while waiting but then realized it wasn't enough. It was way past lunch time and we were famished. We were staring to get hangry.

Wai Ying Fastfood, the main branch in #810 Benavidez Street.

So, we decided to just visit the other shops and then just come back in time for our turn to be served. While we were walking, we heard one of the padyak (bicycle with side car) drivers that we should just go to the other Wai Ying branch. It's bigger and there would be no line. Well, it was a brilliant idea and that was what we did. The second store was in the same street, Buenavidez, but it's a bit of a walk. You will have to cross Recto Ave. We walked about 2 blocks, probably about 5 to 10 minutes. It's not too far but if you're hungry, everything seems to be a challenge, right? 

The second store. Bigger and no waiting.

Long story short, we made it to the other store and true enough, no line and we were seated right away. We ordered wanton mami noodles since they ran out of roast duck mami. It's their bestseller. We also ordered vegetable dumplings, their famous hakaw, shark's fin dumplings, fried wanton and  fried rice. We didn't finish everything. We brought home the rest of the fried wantons and the vegetable dumplings. The food were all very good, though I was not so taken by the vegetable dumplings. I loved their fried wantons. Next time, I should try their roast duck mami. It's one of their must-try dishes. We paid about PhP1,050.00 for all the things we ordered. What a treat, right? And no need to rob a bank.

A bowl of fried rice is good for 2-3 people.

A serving of friend wantons (12 pieces) with sweet and sour sauce.

Wanton mami (beef noodles with wanton)

Wai Ying's famous hakaw with shrimps inside.

Steamed shark's fin dumplings

Vegetable dumplings - mostly made of mushroom wrapped in rice paper.

Wai Ying's menu page 1

Wai Ying's menu page 2

Our next stop is dessert. After that very scrumptious lunch, we needed something sweet. So, off we go to Eng Bee Tin. Merly was craving their ube milk tea. We went back to the main street in Binondo which is Ongpin. The Eng Bee Tin store I knew was the old one. It's now Chuan Kee restaurant which had a very long line of diners also. The new Eng Bee Tin store is the new and big building right next to it. The line was a bit long also but moving. We ordered the combo which is the ube milk tea with the egg tart for PhP140.00. The egg was good. Sadly, the milk tea wasn't so cold. There was no ice on it too. There were a lot of pearl sinkers though, if you love pearls. We would have enjoyed it much if it were ice-cold since the day was scorching hot. 

The old Eng Bee Tin store, now Chuan Kee fast food. The Eng Bee Tin sign is still there.

Long lines are a common sight.

The new and improved Eng Bee Tin store. More convenient shopping.

Take out counter for milk teas, siopao and egg tarts.

Egg tarts and siopao, anyone?

Egg tart, sweetheart?

Our drinks are ready. The adventure continues.

With our drinks in hand, we went off to search for the lumpia store - Puo Hing Lumpia. It's actually right around a very small street from Eng Bee Tin which is Carvajal. We got lost trying to find their store and had to backtrack our steps. We then realized that it was just very near Eng Bee Tin, like about 2 minutes walk. We ordered our lumpia to-go and in separate bags. They don't have dine in. Each lumpia is for PhP95.00. No long lines when we were there and they serve you very fast also. We ate the lumpia for dinner when we got home. It was so-so. I have tasted a better tasting one. Or it could be that the lumpia should be eaten while it's hot, when it's freshly-made. 

Some of the store staff preparing the lumpia.

Three lumpia to-go, please.

Dig in!

All vegetables inside and it comes with a sweet sauce.

The next store we went to was the one selling fried siopao - The Original Shanghai Fried Siopao which is also on Ongpin Street. So, from Eng Bee Tin, with the Binondo Church behind you, you just walk straight about two or three blocks. It's right after the bridge. You can't miss it, with it's very visible sign and a lot of people lining up. Yes, you should bring a lot of patience with you. Almost all stores have long queues and it was a long weekend when we were there also, so there was a crowd. We lined up again for the fried siopao. Only take out orders. They were very quick in packing the orders also. The lady would take your money and the guy would pack the fried siopao. We ate it for dinner and breakfast. A fried siopao is PhP35.00. We ordered 10 pieces - I got four, Merly got three and Jona got three also. We ate it for dinner and for breakfast. It was so good. I thought it would be fried all over but the top is still like the regular siopao and the bottom is where you will see that it was fried. I would love to go eat this again whenever I am in Binondo.

Welcome to The Original Shanghai Fried Siopao.

Fried siopao it is!

Hang on, you're almost there (talking to myself while waiting in line).

Fried siopao!

The last stop is Dong Bei Dumplings. It's in Yuchengco Street. It's right next to the shortcut going to Lucky Chinatown Mall. The line was long also. A lot of people were waiting. Some were sitting on the sidewalk. The store was preparing the orders and they were not sure if they have enough stock to accommodate all those customers waiting. They will have to see by 5:30PM or 6:00PM. We couldn't wait and it was not a sure thing so we decided to just skip it. Anyway, I've tried their dumplings already so we'll live. We won't be missing out. It was bearable.

Dong Bei Dumplings store. Box office again.

We actually passed by Dong Bei earlier from Lucky Chinatown Mall going to Wai Ying but we decided to just save it for last since it's on the way back to Lucky Chinatown Mall where we were parked and that decision proved to be a dud. But no worries, if we have not tried it before then it would have been a bummer. I was a little disappointed since I planned to take home to Cebu the dumplings as pasalubong but some plans just don't work out. So, we walked back to the mall a little dejected but looking forward to eat the rest of our loot. We yet have to try the lumpia, the siopao and the egg tart. 

Wai Ying kiosk in Lucky Chinatown Mall

In the Lucky Chinatown Mall, there were a lot of kiosks also and Wai Ying has one there too. So, we also brought home more dumplings. And since the Dong Bei dumplings didn't pan out, I decided to just buy Eng Bee Tin hopia. They had new flavors I haven't tried so I bought that. A box of pork floss hopia and another box of the brownies one. A box is PhP270.00 with twelve individually packed hopia inside. I liked the brownie one better. I know, I'm partial to chocolate. The pork floss was just okay. 

Golden pork floss hopia and brownie hopia. Hopia you will like it.

Each box contains 12 pieces of each kind.

The next day was my flight back to Cebu. I did enjoy our food trip in Binondo. Aside from the cardio exercise from all the walking, it was good to be out and about and seeing other people doing the same thing. It was good to see tourists and locals alike enjoying this little strip of food heaven without having to spend much. All in all, I think we spent about PhP500.00 each, way below PhP1,000.00 which is very good considering the prices of everything nowadays. Food trip in Binondo was a total success and thanks to Merly and Jona. I would definitely go back there when I am in Manila the next time and also do a tour of Intramuros. Of course, there's food too. Food is life.

Dimsum buffet for breakfast. Yum!

Thank you again,  Merly and Jona for accompanying me in this food adventure.

From right: Gurlayas, Merly and Jona at Wai Ying.

While waiting in line to order ube milk tea at Eng Bee Tin. 

Till the next adventures of Gurlayas and My Walking Shoes. Busdik Tiyan!