Tikim 61:Tim Ho Wan, Best Bbq Pork Buns (Central, Hong Kong)

I was lucky that I got good friends from Hong Kong, they take me to dinner whenever I visit them and vice versa when they are here in Manila. On my recent Hong Kong trip, I asked my friend if we could eat at a local dimsum place because I haven't eaten dimsum (yam cha) since I arrive in Hong Kong. Super happy that she brought me to Tim Ho Wan! 

Tin Ho Ma, Central Branch 

You know the saying "It's worth the wait?" Expect a line when you arrive at the restaurant because a lot of locals and foreigners really flock to Tim Ho Wan to eat some dimsum. 

Best Bbq Pork Buns I've tasted so Far!

I am not a fan of pork buns but this changed my opinion! This pork bun is also the reason why my friend brought me to this restaurant; the pork bun gained the restaurant 1 Michelin star and it's the only Chinese restaurant to have a Michelin star. This is a must order! I even took home some pork buns before flying back to Manila.

Spring Roll

Their spring roll is not the usual ones you eat at Chinese restaurants here in Manila. Their spring roll is made from sautéed vegetables which I like and it's the healthier option.

Turnip Cake 

They cook their turnip cake (known as raddish cake in Philippines) traditionally.

Shrimp Rice Roll 

You add light soy sauce or Worcester sauce to your liking.

Beancurd with meat inside

The only thing I didn't like was the beancurd with meat inside just because Im not a tofu fan :)

When you are passing by Hong Kong make sure you get some of Tin Ho Ma's barbecue pork buns! Just thinking about it makes me hungry! Tim Ho Wan is definitely a must stop for meals!

Taste: 4.5/5

Quality: 4/5

Ambiance: 3/5

Tim Ho Wan
Address: Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1), IFC Mall, Central, Hong Kong
Contact: 852-23323078

Tikim57: Wangfu (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

I noticed that there's a few Chinese restaurants in Tomas Morato area, so when I saw in Il Terrazo that there's a new Chinese restaurant, I asked Evan to accompany me here. Wangfu opened just months ago and I am excited to share with you my food experience in this new Chinese restaurant!

Wangfu

First impression before entering: wow! it's a modern Chinese restaurant. I wonder their price range. Why my thoughts was such? The place looks like an clean-upscale-modern fastfood with simple wooden accents so I wondered if their interiors made food prices higher.

Inside the restaurant

Ordering was a breeze, the menu has pictures of house specialties!

Menu

Menu

Ordered the following:

Shanghai dumplings P58.00

It has 3 pieces of dumplings that aren't actually siomai filling. The dipping sauce is not soy sauce, Im guessing it's light soy sauce with vinegar.I liked it and I ordered 1 more of these guys!

Black pepper beef rice P158.00

The serving size is good, it has enough meat for you to finish with your rice. You can really taste the black pepper sauce; it would be awesome if it's served un a sizzling plate.

Cha Chang noodles P120.00

Evan ordered this, he didn't say anything about it. So it's just a normal dish.

Chili potato strings P128.00

I was carving for fries yet avoiding them to have a better diet; so when I saw this I wanted to order it. Evan told me that it's not worth it but I didn't listen to him. Taste wise the potatoes were a bit sour instead of it being spicy. I think they were cooked with light vinegar that were just topped with chili. Well I wouldn't recommend this dish unless they do something special with it.

Honey Lemon Tea P58.00

This drink is on the sweet side. I thought it would be more citrusy but I guess the honey overpowered the drink. My suggestion got this is to have a small sauce cup so the customer can control the sweetness level.

Food and plate serving was appropriate with their pricing thus answering my thoughts on their first impression. If you want something FAST (sit-down restaurant), friendly to the wallet, and Chinese cuisine in Tomas Morato then go for Wangfu!

Taste: 3.5/5
Quality: 3/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5

Wangfu

Address: Unit G5 Il Terrazo building, Tomas Morato avenue corner scout madrinan street, 
south triangle, Quezon City

Contact: 7090569

Tikim51: Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe (Mall of Asia, Pasay)

I seldom go to MOA because from Quezon City, it takes around an hour for me to arrive there. On the few times that I go to this mall, there's always a reason...a week before the The Dark Knight Rises movie, me and Evan went to MOA to buy in advance imax seats for the much awaited movie! We roamed around the mall, and when dinner time came, this,Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe, restaurant caught my attention. I guess I have been eating too much Japanese food that I kinda missed Chinese.

Xin Wang Menu

Inside, the restaurant has a clean modern look. It is mot like the usual Chinese restaurant you see in Binondo; this one is spacious and it has a youthful vibe. Also, the colorful graphics of Hk landmarks in its wall complements the monotone furniture. 

Inside Xin Wang HK Cafe

Check out the wall graphics

I noticed in their menu that they have lots of specialties; from Hk western to dimsum to congee to bamboo rice it's all available here. You might think that they serve too many specialties but i ate un a Hk cafe just like Xin Wang in Mongkok Hong Kong and their menu really has a large variety; I guess Xin Wang stayed true to a Hk style cafe. 

Siew Mai P95

Deep fried spring rolls P95

The dimsum are a bit normal for me, i hope they do something with the siew mai because it doesn't look appetizing and it doesn't look hand-made. On the other hand, I liked their spring rolls, it has shrimp meat in it!

Hk steamed Chinese sausage bamboo rice P184

Nice concept but bamboo rice does not just mean, eating straight from a bamboo bowl/cup. I hope they put some bamboo shoots with the rice to make it more "Chinese".

Dry chili noodle with char siew and wanton P185

Evan ordered the dry chili noodle with char siew (bbq pork) and wantons. If you don't like spicy food, I suggest you don't order this one. Their chili here is quite overwhelming when you taste it.

Iced HK Milk Tea P75

Whenever I go to HK, I always order some milk tea in restauarants. Xin Wang's metal cup and the milk used for this drink did remind me of my HK vacations.

I did some checking on the net and found out that Xin Wang is actually a franchise from Singapore. If so, I wish they have a branch in San Juan area since there's a big Chinese population in the area; also Quezon City Tomas Morato would be awesome since it lacks a Hong Kong kind of Cafe --- a place which closes late; has coffee, snacks, and real food! I'd go back here for a quick Hk food fix!;)

Taste: 3.5/5

Quality: 3/5

Ambiance: 4/5

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe

Address: G/F SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Blvd,

               Manila Bay Reclamation Area, Pasay City

Website: www.xinwang.com.ph