Slimy, Gummy and Crunchy Oyster Cake!

Mann Hann, Greenhills

Sometimes, it gets to a point when I rather have my meal at a familiar place where I don't need to open the menu (or ask the servers about their best sellers), give my orders and just wait for my food. Stress-free... for everybody. Tita Nelia and I did just that when we were at Greenhills one time. We were on our way to the car when we passed by Mann Hann. We entered and ordered standard Chinese. Nothing can be more boring than Sweet and Sour Pork, Yang Chow and Oyster Cake. But hey, we l-o-v-e it! 

Mann Hann's Sweet and Sour Pork can never hold a candle to Summer Palace's but it will do. It might be a bit on the tart side but like what I said, okay na yun. And of course, there's the Oyster Cake. It was a little brown than usual but the texture (a deliciously slimy, gummy and crunchy!) I adore was still there.  

Oyster Cake (P250)
Yang Chow Fried Rice (P250)
Sweet and Sour Pork (P250)

Sweet and Sour Pork at Choi Palace!

Choi Palace @ Eastwood Mall

There is only one thing I don't particularly like when Gabby, one of my best friends (he's from Denver), comes in for a visit. And that is... I gain weight every time. As in, I GAIN weight. Both Gab and I love food and he sees to it to try out the restaurants I have posted here in my blog. 

That particular day, both of us were craving for Chinese food so I took him to Choi Palace in Eastwood. I ordered for the "classic" Chinese... Sweet and Sour Pork and Birthday Noodles with Fried Chicken.

How was it? The Sweet and Sour Pork was too tart for me. I want my Sweet and Sour to have that balanced sweetness and sourness. Pero okay pa rin, naubos pa rin namin.  

Who Doesn't Know Emerald Garden?

Emerald Garden @ Roxas Boulevard 

I’m sure that I’ve eaten here at Emerald Garden once in my young life with my family (I just don’t remember when). Who would not know of this restaurant right in front of the US Embassy? Their signage has become a part in the Roxas Boulevard landscape. Sabi nga, institusyon na. 

We were a bit early to Varekai (Cirque du Soleil) in Quirino Grandstand so we decided to have our dinner first. Tita N suggested Emerald Garden. I (excitedly) agreed. We had the usual Chinese noodles, (yang chao) fried rice, sweet and sour pork and broccoli (sorry, I don't remember the prices, we ate there more than a year ago). 

Oh, I remember that the pork of the Sweet and Sour was on the tough side. I want my pork to be tender and yes, boneless and extra crispy.  And the sauce? It must be sour, never tangy, never with a biting sour taste.  Still, we enjoyed our dinner. 

Emerald Garden

1170 Roxas Boulevard | Ermita, Manila, Luzon, Philippines

SUMMER PALACE Serves Probably the Best Sweet & Sour Pork!

Summer Palace @ EDSA Shangri-la Hotel

I never plan to eat at Chinese restaurants. I feel that there are just so many Chinese restaurants that I feel I can go to one anytime I want. 

Diba, when a group couldn't decide where to eat, normally, that group almost always end up eating Chinese... "Sa Chinese na lang." 

It happened to us recently. I originally planned to treat my friend to a fried chicken (of course, it had be fried chicken!) place in Ortigas. We went there for dinner and surprise, surprise... the place was closed (for their summer outing)! 

After suggesting a million other restaurants, my driver/friend decided to drive to EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. That's where her favorite restaurant is (one of a thousand). Her favorite Chinese restaurant.

See?  

I always order Sweet & Sour. 
I would like to think that I
have tasted all kinds of Sweet & Sour from
the good to the bad to the very bad to the very, very bad.

I think that this one is probably the BEST!

The color is not the usual dark-pink-banana-catsup variety. 

The meat is tender and a bit crunchy on the first bite. 

And they have raisins! Why not? 
It adds a sweet and sour
flavor. 

Everything about this Sweet & Sour is perfect.

I'm not exaggerating...

 Go for the large. 

Birthday Noodles

Yang Chow Fried Rice

Birthday Noodles again

Yang Chow Fried Rice again

 

Black Bean Pancake with 

Creamy

Sesame Seed Ice Cream!

Summer Palace

Mezzanine, EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, 1 Garden Way, Ortigas Center

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila