Binondo Boys is a Hidden Gem You Can Find in Quezon City
I'm always on the lookout for new restaurants to try and explore. This time, my friends and I are having lunch at a place that may not look like one of my regular favorites, but we were definitely surprised with the quality and creativity of its dishes that are at par with other fancier restaurants.
Our food adventure today brought us to Binondo Boys which you can find at 37 Scout Torillo Street in Quezon City. This Filipino-Chinese eatery is not where you will usually find Chinese restaurants as it is located on a busy street known more for barbershops and industrial stores, but this is where the unique dining experience begins.
Binondo Boys brings Filipino-Chinese comfort food to Quezon City and beyond. Think about North Park or Ling Nam but with a Poblacion twist. The interiors are simple but creative, which is also how you can describe their menu.
The place is actually quite small for a normal restaurant as it can probably only fit around 20 guests comfortably. Their dining concept is a bit more casual and relaxed, a place where you can enjoy the company of friends whatever time of the day or night since it is open 24 hours daily.
Binondo Boys is owned and operated by Chef Mikel Aguirre of the popular Locavore restaurant which recently received a Michelin award. He is now focused on opening micro dining concepts, small restaurants located off the beaten track but with outstanding menus and friendly prices. This is how Chef Mikel can maximize his creativity and offer dishes that you will not find anywhere else.
Ordering at Binondo Boys can be done using the QR code found on each table. This will lead to a website featuring their menu so you can just choose whatever items you like. For those who are tech-challenged, the servers will gladly assist you with your orders.
Binondo Boys has a selection of classic dimsum favorites like the Pork Somali (P139). These are plump and tasty just the way I like them.
Everyone knows that I love eating Hakaw (P169) so I ordered this for myself. You can judge how good or bad a restaurant is with the quality of their hakao, and this one definitely passes the test.
They also have Asado Siopao (P149) or Bola Bola Siopao (P149) for those who want to enjoy these steamed buns.
Try some of their Lucky Sticks like the Squid Balls, Lobster Balls and the Crab Roe Bun for only P129 per stick. These come with their own individual sauces like sweet chili or mustard sauce.
Other dimsum dishes you can find on the menu include Chicken Feet (P189) and the Taosi Spareribs (P199).
I also love eating noodles so I ordered their Beef Brisket and Tendon Noodle Soup (P399). Their signature noodle soup is served with special noodles, signature soup stock, bokchoy, pickled wood ear mushrooms, white kimchi, fried shallots, fried garlic, onion leeks, and others.
The beef brisket and tendon portion was quite generous, so this is really a filling meal. I would love to try their other noodle soup dishes like the shrimp wonton dumpling and the white chicken noodle soup.
They also offer the Braised Flat Noodles which are hand cut noodles served with soup on the side. We tried the Soy Chicken Braised Flat Noodles (P399) which is served with marinated eggs and a cup of signature special soup.
Those who prefer rice with their meals can go for any of the Rice Toppings on the menu. They have the Chinese staple Sweet & Sour Pork Rice (P329) which would be a great lunch option.
Other rice toppings to try include the Beef Brisket & Tendon Rice (P369) and the Lemon Chicken Rice (P299). You can also add some desserts like the Salted Duck Egg Lava Bun or the Mango Taco.
First time customers will be given this lucky scratch card at the end of their meal. It's not actually a prize item, but it leads to a secret menu that only regular customers of Binondo Boys would know. That is a great prize in itself because these hidden dishes are quite astonishing.
One example is the Brisket and Tendon Kare-Kare Noodz (P590) which is a fusion of Chinese and Filipino flavors and ingredients. I have never seen this combination anywhere else and it surprisingly works very well. You get an explosion of flavors on every bite with this unique and Michelin worthy dish. It uses hand sliced noodles, sesame kare-kare sauce, bagoong XO and extra beef soup.
Another mind-blowing secret menu dish is the Hot Pot Sandwich (P590). Would you ever think of turning your favorite hot pot items into a sandwich? That's how Chef Mikel's mind works and it is fantastic. They put roast beef slices, hotpot aioli, meatballs, and all these ingredients wrapped inside a Vietnamese baguette. It is then served with a Sichuan broth to dip the sandwich into and liven up the flavors even more. What an amazing dish!
Then there's the quirky Mapo Silog (P389), a fusion of the spicy Chinese mapo tofu with the Filipino breakfast silog. This dish is made with steamed soy milk egg and spicy bean giniling doused in Sichuan peppercorns, cilantro, chili oil, wanton chips, plus a side of egg fried rice.
We would like to thank Chef Mikel for hosting our lunch that afternoon together with his trusted team at Binondo Boys. If you are looking for something different from the usual Chinese dining experience, head over to Binondo Boys and ask for their secret menu. I'm sure you will be going back for more.
