Shi Lin at the Podium

Right now, there are a lot of Xiao Long Bao stores opening in Manila. There's Suzhou for one, and Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, and now, there's Shi Lin restaurant in the 3rd level of The Podium in Pasig.



We visited a few days after it opened. They say it's one of the version of the famous Din Dai Fung of Taiwan, but I have yet to try it there. It's now a growing trend to have a see-through kitchen where you can observe how they prepare your food.



Of course, we had to try their Xiao Long Bao, to compare with all others we've tried. We loved it. I say it's one of the best, in you just consider the taste. It's not as big as the ones served in Suzhou, but a crate has 6 pcs in it. Suzhou's shredded ginger and Chinese black vinegar, the one you dip your Xiao Long Bao in, is still the best in my opinion.



We also got their version of Shrimp and Pork Dumpling, which is equally good. You could taste a good combination of shrimp and pork. Next time I would love to try their Shrimp and Pork Shaomai, which I heard tastes better.



Another dish we ordered was the Noodles with Spicy Sesame & Peanut Sauce. Although I would say that the dish was a lot smaller than we expected (because the serving size is only good for one) the overall taste is great. The noodles were cooked a bit on the al dente side, and the flavors of the spicy sesame and peanut sauce is just fantastic! I tried mixing it with the rice, and it was just insanely yummy.



The last dish we got was the Drunken Chicken. It was my first time to be able to sample a cold dry chicken dish served with soup. It was a little bit odd for my taste, but with soy and chili, I guess it worked for me.



We also tried out their Passion Berry Iced Tea (right) and their Green Mistique Iced Tea (left). I love the latter one, which is what I had :)

Good Chinese Food at HK Choi by Choi Garden

HK Choi, located at the SM Megamall Atrium, satisfies mall-goers with their exquisite and scrumptious Chinese dishes for around 9 months now. Ever since I saw it there from way back, I was very curious to try the restaurant. Also, I heard really great reviews from food bloggers and food enthusiasts about the restaurant. Finally, I had the time so I went there and sampled their dishes.

I ordered Hakaw (Php 100), House Special Roast Layer Pork (Php 280), and Beef with Broccoli (Php 260). I like everything, especially the Roast Pork and the Hakaw. The pork's skin was super crunchy. The meat is really tender and juicy. It had a mustard sauce which went well with the pork dish. The Hakaw was crunchy and fresh, but the wrapper can still be improved. The Beef with Broccoli's just normal; nonetheless, it was still yummy and satisfying for me.

HK Choi is managed by Choi Garden, one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Metro (so they say). I haven't tried it there yet. They say it's quite expensive, but the food is really good. If HK Choi is a preview of what Choi Garden has to offer, then maybe I should try it there next time around. We'll see. :)