The ultimate Binondo food trip

To be honest, I’m not much of a fan of Chinese cuisine until I went to Binondo. There’s something about the authenticity of that place that satisfies my taste buds unlike the commercialized faux Chinese restos in Manila. So when I went with Team Kaladkarin to have the best Binondo food trip, we made sure to max out our experience (and cash) and ate for 9 hours in 10 different restaurants/stores.
Some of us met up in Ongpin St. and each had their own adventure going here because we were not familiar with the place. In short, medyo nawawala kami nung umpisa. Smarla has The Big Binondo Food Wok map by Ivan Dy, but she won’t be joining us until lunch so we had to rely on my beautiful sketch of the area:

1. Shanghai Fried Siopao
Our first stop was the Shanghai Fried Siopao. It’s kinda hard to spot this place because they only have a small signage and it doesn’t stand out with the rest of the shops so if you’re not too careful, you could easily pass by this place. The only direction I can give is that it’s along Ongpin St. and a few steps before you reach Mang Inasal.




Maliit lang yung siopao but it’s really fulfilling because it’s cooked fresh. For P16.00, a couple of it and you’re busog na. I say it’s the best siopao I’ve ever tasted, hands down.
2. Wai Ying Fastfood
Another one of my favorites is Wai Ying because of their awesome Milk Tea (P 50.00) and they’re popular dimsums. This is where we had our lunch so we ordered a lot because they had a lot of interesting things on their menu. The place is along Benavidez St. right after you take a right turn in Salazar St.
I’ve read a couple of blogs that recommended their Roasted Duck Congee (P120.00) so we ordered that for sharing. The trick in having a good food trip is to split everything so that everyone can have a taste of each dish and in the end, may space ka pa to eat at other restaurants and hindi masakit sa bulsa.






We also ordered and fell in love with their Curry Beef Siomai (P55.00) because of the interesting taste the curry gave to the siomai, their Century Egg Siomai (P65.00), and the Shrimp Chong Fan (P60.00). All 3 tasted great and I would definitely come back for the Curry Beef Siomai and Shrimp Chong Fan and try other dumplings as well. The Shark’s fin (P60.00), though I’m not a fan of, also tasted waaaaaay better than the ones in malls.
3. Masuki
Also along Benavidez St. is the famous Masuki. They’re well-known for infusing siopao sauce in their noodles and for having the biggest Siopao and Siomai in Binondo. For a little over P100, you can already have a big serving of their noodles.
Their Beef Wanton Noodles (P55.00), which I had in my previous Binondo experience was a steal! Huge serving for a small damage to your wallet. But when we went there, they already ran out of beef so we opted for their Original Mami Special (P110.00) which all 6 of us shared. They give you each a small plate of their siopao sauce para ikaw na ang bahala magtimpla sa soup. We also tried their Special Siopao Taipao (P75) just to see how big their siopao really is and I must say that it’s already good enough for 2-3 people as a side dish. Inside it is a wealthy serving of pork asado, sliced chicken, and salted egg. Yum!



We were already so full after this and it was only our 3rd stop!
4. Shin Tai Shang
Naisip namin na we wanted something sweet for a change, so we dropped this store that sells TONS of sweets pastries. Shin Tai Shang is like a mini grocery along Salazar St. where people can buy small cakes and packaged drinks. And yes, they taste as good as they look! If you’re a Green tea lover, you have to try their Green Tea Plum Cake (P40.00), it’s a little pricey for the size but it’s worth it. I also bought their Assam Milk Tea in a pack out of curiosity. They also have green tea, milk tea, and jasmine tea in powder form which you can buy in huge packs for around P200-ish depending on the brand.




5. President Tea House
At first, some of us were a little hesitant to try the President Tea House because we were already running low on cash. So we went in prepared to order just one main dish and maybe a few dumplings. Because all of us felt really adventurous that day, we ordered their Crispy Fried Pigeon (P360.00) na may kasama pang ulo. The pigeon meat was a little heavy and thick compared to the common chicken. I even said that if chicken meat was like chocolate, then pigeon meat would be dark chocolate. Oh, and I ate the head part! The pigeon’s brains tasted like isaw.



We also ordered a couple servings of their Bird’s Eye Dumplings (P65.00), which weren’t literally made from birds eyes but of shrimp instead. It was okay. President Tea House is right beside Shin Tai Shang.
6. Café Mezzanine
A good Binondo experience wouldn’t be complete unless one is brave enough to try the infamous Soup # 5, which is a soup made from a bull’s testicles. We headed to Café Mezzanine, a fireman themed restaurant above Eng Been Tin in Ongpin St. just for this dish. After tasting their Soup # 5 (P250.00) all I can say is masarap naman pala talaga siya. As long as you don’t fuss about it being the bull’s family jewels, you’ll realize that it tastes similar to the other more common bull parts.





Café Mezzanine is also popular for their Kiampong (P48.00) but I forgot to order it because we were all excited to try the Soup #5 so I guess that’s one reason to come back to this place next time!
After eating, we saw Ivan Dy enter the place together with his tour group! I was a little bit star struck, konti lang naman, and we had a picture with him right before we left the place. Nakita rin naming si Vicky Belo as part of the group pero I don’t really care much about her.

Cafe Mezzanine is a restaurant created by the same person who owns popular hopia chain Eng Bee Tin. All proceeds of this restaurant go to the volunteer firefighters of Binondo, thus the fireman theme of the place.
7. Tasty Dumplings
Moving on, we headed a few steps along Ongpin St. to try Tasty Dumplings. Even though their name suggests that they have really good dumplings, they are more popular for their Porkchop Noodles (P99.00). You will be served a good serving of noodles and thinly sliced porkchop on separate plates, malamang. For a better experience, slice the porkchop intotiny strips and put them in the noodles. In fairness, ang sarap ng combination and for a hundred bucks, it was reaaaaally good!



During our lunch at Wai Ying, Mary said that their Winter Melon Juice (P40) were “heavenly” so we expected a lot from it. I expected that it would be very sosyalin and even created a body gesture while saying the drink. Pero when I saw it I was a little let down because it was served in an ordinary glass and it didn’t even taste as good as heaven.
8. Estero Food Alley
To continue our adventurous gastronomic experience, I took the group to Estero. They place is a bit rustic and dingy and you might be concerned about the cleanliness of the food because of it’s location beside a river, but I think it’s something one needs to experience just for the heck of it. Here we ordered some Fried Frog Legs with Salt & Pepper (P200.00). The price ranges depending on how many pieces of frogs you’ll order. 8 pieces of frogs = 16 frog legs = P200.00.
Last year, I had their Spicy Fried Frog Legs for P110 for 4 pieces.



9. Dong Bei Dumplings
Undoubtedly THE BEST DUMPLINGS in Binondo, hands down!!! I wasn’t really looking forward to this place because I’m not a fan of dumplings, I think dumplings are just okay. But this place seriously changed my mind. I can confidently say that this was the highlight of my foodie experience during the day in Binondo. In fact, if only I had more money left, I would order their raw dumplings to go and cook it at home. Located along Yuchengco St., this is one of the places I strongly recommend you visit in Binondo.



It’s a small place with only 4 tables available for customers, there’s another table that the staff use to prepare the dumplings. Yes, you’ll actually see them preparing the dough and everything while you wait for your food. We ordered a mix of Steamed Dumplings (P150.00 for 21 pcs!) and their Fried Stuffing Pancake (P100.00, 4 pcs). When we were downing the steamed dumplings, I was already raving about how I love the flavor, but when we got to the Fried Pancake, I was in heaven. Their both actually similar only the latter was in pancake form. I can still vividly remember how much I enjoyed both dishes.
10. Ang Tunay na Beef House
After having an orgasm at Dong Bei Dumplings, our final stop was sort of a let down. Because a lot of us were already short on cash, we only ordered one dish for the entire group to share. The Lake Palos Soup (P220.00) is made of eel and it wasn’t really up in my alley. It was too malansa for my liking and madaming tinik. However, I’m giving the place a good benefit of the doubt since we only tasted one dish from their wide array of food choices. They even have a cheaper Soup # 5 and frog legs, although I’m not sure if the serving is as big as the ones we had in other places. For P220.00, we felt that their not-so-inviting Lake Palos Soup fell short.

I thoroughly enjoyed my 2nd Binondo food trip and would come back again for more. These are only 10 places out of sooo many food options in the area and I would like to explore the rest. Also, if I were to come back again with Team Kaladkarin, I’d definitely eat again at Dong Bei Dumplings, Wai Ying Fastfood, Café Mezzanine, and Tasty Dumplings.

Also, if you want to have a food trip of your own, I suggest buying Ivan Dy’s Food Map of Binondo as it has proved helpful in our exploration of Binondo’s finest! Each restaurant has a brief description about their specialty and their location is well represented in the map. The map is available at Bahay Tsinoy Museum, Libros Filipinos Bookshop (Filipinas Heritage Library) or the La Monja Loca Store for P100.00.
If you want to be part of our next Binondo Food Trip, just say so in the comments section below and I’ll keep you posted. We will definitely come back for more!
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Christine
September 17, 2011
Thank you for this very helpful post! :) I’m organizing a get-together this Sept 24 and we’re doing the Binondo food trip.Your site was a great reference. Excited ako kasi I love dim sum, hehehe..Btw, I created a foodies group on Facebook. It’s called Manila Foodies. It’s not related to any website, it’s just an avenue for sharing everything about food. Hope you can share your food adventures there as well. :) Again, thanks for this! :)
Robbie
September 17, 2011
Hi Christine! I heard about that nga! Marky mentioned it to us sa Pinoy Travel Bloggers na FB group. Hahaha.
I’m glad you found my post very helpful! Don’t forget to buy a copy of Ivan Man Dy’s Binondo map! It’s very helpful! :D
jessie villegas
September 29, 2011
im looking forward to experience what u’ve experienced!!! so excited to go to binondo and try exactly wat you guys did!!! tnx for the info^^
RAMADA Manila Centra
November 2, 2011
Hi Robbie, I hope you don’t mind that we linked your page to our facebook site. Ramada Manila Central is located at Ongpin corner Quintin Paredes streets in Binondo, Manila and we just thought that your post was an excellent compliment to the location of our hotel. Thanks and more power!
Robbie
November 4, 2011
Sure, no problem! Thanks also. =)
Ryan
November 4, 2011
awesome post… I’m planning to have something like this for my family and now I know where it would be…
mari
November 6, 2011
nice post, especially since we’re also having a food trip in binondo this coming days. hope u’ll be posting more kainan places near the metro..for our future reference also.hahaha. keep it up!:)
ian
December 12, 2011
Nice post, I will surely visit those place. :)
The year that was.
December 30, 2011
[...] from my surgery back in February, I organized a food trip to Binondo with Team Kaladkarin. The food was exceptional and it made me realize that you don’t have to [...]
Karen
January 17, 2012
Your blog was a big help to map out my plan for this weekend. I’ll definitely try the places mentioned here. Super thank you!!
Quidditchcer l jiao
January 18, 2012
nice post po …ang lupet ng mga exotic food especially fffffffrogggggg legsssss and lake palosss soup … itatry namin yan now na kasi related yan sa cultural awareness module namin ..in our subject cultural anthropology ..thank u sa much sa post nyo !!!!!:0)….more powerzz mga dre
celler
January 18, 2012
hey mga dre, mukhanng delicious mga pagkain na yan… mamaya ita-try namen yan hahaha
Isla
January 20, 2012
mmm! Great blog sounds and look fun! :) we wiil try at least 5 restos tom! :) esp Wai Ying :)
Robbie
January 22, 2012
Cool. Good luck! Wai Ying is a must! :D
Mindy Moore
January 20, 2012
Interesting adventure. I hope to experience this too especially now that Chinese New Year is just around the corner!
crimespider
January 22, 2012
The Big Binondo Food Wok is a Big Disappointment! Top Reasons Why.
1. The tour guide (Ivan) arrived 30 minutes late and didn’t even apologize for it. We we’re already drenching in our sweats waiting for the tour to start. And setting the church as a meeting place is so not ideal.
2. The tour guide is a bit too snotty. While on the tour I kindly asked for the guide map to which I was arrogantly replied to with a, “Later”.
3. Do you really think you’ll feel comfortable to be in a ‘food walk’ tour of 30 people while minding their table manners? A lot of the patrons have a huge lack of it.
4. The history lesson you’ll be walked through is too tacky. You feel treated like a 4th grader. And supposed this is a Food Walk tour, imagine your dismay when 80% of the time is consumed blabbing about history you already know from Grade 1.
5. And the biggest disappointment is the food tasting part. Even if you are not a foodie I think you can discover for yourself better eats to find in our China Town.
Recommendation:
You’ll be far off better doing your own food walk tour. There are many individual sites that can recommend the top secrets of Binondo Food where you’re money will also go a long way. And the best history lessons you can take are the random conversations you make with restaurant owners or servers. These are what I learned when we finally decided to ditch and split from our ‘Binondo Food Wok’ group at some point along the tour.
eddieboy
January 28, 2012
I will be in Manila this coming March…I can’t wait to visit this place!! Galing ng blog mo~
Robbie
February 1, 2012
Thanks Eddie!
I hope you find time to go on a food trip here as well. =)
jm
February 1, 2012
nice blog.. im just searching for a food supplier for my “small business with chinese food”. then, after i read this blog… i should go at binondo with ivan map.. hehehhehh and experience the taste of binondo’s food. ;)
vicky s. ignacio
February 8, 2012
we love ESTERO FOOD ALLEY,
the butter chicken,
mix seafoods,
the sweet &
sour lapu-lapu….
My Binondo Trip : Who Ron The World ?
February 13, 2012
[...] We have to credit Robbie for his blog post, which served as out guide for our first Binondo [...]
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March 11, 2012
[...] we have to credit Robbie for his blog post, which served as our guide for our first Binondo adventure. My friend Nitu even [...]
Ica
April 24, 2012
how much did you spent?
Robbie
April 24, 2012
Less than 1,500 if I remember it correctly. =)
Bern
April 27, 2012
1500, for everything na ba yan? Or per person? :) Thanks!
Robbie
April 27, 2012
Per person, of course. =)
Lai
May 23, 2012
This post makes me wanna go on a foodtrip to Binondo as well! Great post! :)
wey
June 14, 2012
Sincerity resto is also a good stop if you where in Binondo. Tried their fried chicken & fried oyster cake, yum!
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June 29, 2012
[...] red map put together by foodie and walking tour guide Ivan Dy, but with a little help from this very detailed post about doing a self-guided Ultimate Binondo Food Trip (thank you!) plus Juay’s Excel and Google Maps printouts, we conquered Binondo like a [...]
Michelle
July 12, 2012
awesome blog! I studied in Letran and was always in Binondo. I have a classmate and he’s chinese they have this shop there but back then I am young and I don’t really care about establishments name. LOL Anyway, I promised my boyfriend a trip to Binondo on December (which is not a very good date to go because of Christmas rush) but i will take him anyway. He’ll eat anything (He’s British) and the very cool thing about him is that he’s not into posh places,, Thanks for this blog at least I have an idea now where to go. God I miss the place! The Dumplings and Siopao (he loves siopao). How can I get the map?
Tammy
August 3, 2012
Thank heavens for this food blog! I’ve always wanted to do food trips like this as well. You’re such a big help! now we know what places should we visit once we get there. Anyway I have a question, how do you get to Binondo coming from lrt2 recto station? What jeepney route should we take or any public transportation except for a cab?
Pa Ul
August 3, 2012
Hindi ko man gamay ang Manila palagay ko maganda ang Binonda pasyalan except other places in Manila like here in Makati.
Nickie Esmero
August 8, 2012
Great blog! Would love to join you in your next Binondo food adventure, please keep me posted about it. Thanks and more power!
Bing
August 19, 2012
Nice blog. Just what I was looking for. I want to go on a food trip to Binondo soon and will surely use this info.
Rigel
August 20, 2012
Hello Robbie… I would like to thank you for this post as it helped us a lot on our food trip in Binondo earlier. We have a foreigner with us and your guide definitely helped us go to the “recommended” restos and you didn’t fail us.
Hands down really on Dong Bei’s dumpling. My friend said it raised her bar for dumplings. Wai Ying’s curry beef dumpling is also a winner! Thanks again.
Andrea
August 25, 2012
Hi robx, i hope u wont mind, i borrowed ur shanghai siopao pics. By the way it is located in ongpin and bahama st. Tnx.
Zef
August 26, 2012
Thanks so much for the useful info! Will definitely try this out! Actually we’ll try it out tomorrow hehe.
Binondo Bite PART 1 « The Movable Type
October 10, 2012
[...] 2. For those who want their piece of Binondo, someone is offering a walking food tour of the area (check these pages). But anyone with a sense of adventure can do this without a [...]
Chris Flores
November 4, 2012
This is a very nice post since I looovveeee chinese foods. I also love the idea of sharing so we can try more in Binondo. hehe! keep it up, sir.
Mike Smit
November 8, 2012
Hi there
I am coming to visit Manila 15/16 Nov and 18/19 Nov and wondered if there was anyone wanting to do a Food Tour…I would very much like to join some people.
marianne ravanera
February 13, 2013
hi! stumbled upon your blog. i’m currently on house rest after my surgery and i had to pass up on the Binondo field trip of the school i work in. Sayang. Anyway, since my colleagues will be going, I had requested them to purchase a few things for me. Googled for popular foods in Binondo and I got to read your entry. very interesting indeed. will definitely do the food tour with some friends sometime and will follow your suggestions. thanks!
Robbie
February 20, 2013
Get well soon, Marianne!
I hope you get to visit Binondo eventually. For the love of good food! :D
sophia
April 5, 2013
good choices ! try hand-pulled nodles also, about 2 or 3 establishments away from wai-ying. you wont ever want to eat machine-made noodles again. try their steamed dumplings and their best-selling noodle named ba bao sha guan ( hope i got it right). four seasons as well which sells turtle adobo (haven’t tried it yet though). quite surprised you didn’t order beef noodles at Ang Tunay, that’ what they’re famous for. :)