Siopao in the city: A quest for the best

Jiecel and Thea's is famous for their siopao and siomai. This snackshop in Mandurriao they say has a cook that came from Ma Mon Luk - a famous Chinese resto in Manila specializing in sio pao. This sio pao is dry - both the pao and teh chicken adobo filling. RATING 3.0 of out 5.0

Kusina Tsina's asado sio pao realy looks like it has been filled with chopped pork asado. I found it weird to see such a reddish sio pao. Their dough is somewhat like that of Tibiao's. RATING 2.0 out of 5.0

Another royalty from Roberto's is their King sio pao. It has almost the same filling as the Queen counterpart but instead of bacon it has ham. Also it is readily available anytime but is much smaller than the Queen and cheaper by 2 pesos. RATING 3.5 out of 5.0.

Believe it or not, this is Yok Pek sio pao. Thought to have disappeared forever, Yok Pek survives but regrettably striving in this hotly contested sio pao industry. But would you believe this sio pao tastes really good. Got this one from Dean's cafe at the Mary Mart Center. RATING 4.0 out of 5.0

A sio pao named Made in Heaven and got this one from a food fair at SM Delgado. I surely regretted buying this one since it didn't taste that good. Fortunately it just cost 20 pesos. RATING 1.0 out of 5.0

At Php39, Goldilocks bola bola sio pao was a letdown. The size of the filling was well worth it but it had a bland taste despite the sauce. RATING 2.0 out of 5.0

Roberto's Queen sio pao is almost famous as this Ilonggo iconic restaurant itself. Not only because its almost as big as a plate but it's available only for 3 days a month. It's filled with bacon, chinese sausage,chicken-pork adobo and egg. FYI, they also have a King sio pao. RATING 4.0 out of 5

Kong Kee, a stone's throw away from Roberto's, is one of the city's iconic chinese restaurant. Considered to be a hole in the wall place, little of this family-run has changed since then including it's famous sio pao that comes in pork, chicken and combination of both. RATING 4.0 out of 5

Dinagyang is just a stall found in most food courts serving turo-turo style. Its claim to fame can be credited to its sio pao that comes in the usual pork and chicken varieties in regular and large sizes. Hala bira! RATING 3.5 out of 5

Tibiao bakery's sio pao is famous not for its filling, but actually for its very soft bun, "pao". Unlike most sio paos, its has almost a breadlike consistency that makes people often wonder if its really sio pao. Comes in pork and chicken. RATING 3.0 out of 5

Wewins is known for its biscocho but their sio pao has always appealed to me. Maybe because it is fully loaded or its classic dough.Whatever the reason, it keeps me going back there whether its pork or chicken. RATING 4.5 out of 5

Dainty House, its being a Chinese resto made me try their sio pao which is of course of chinese origin. They come in pork and chicken plus their sauce is a good one though they might need to have more filling. RATING 2.0 out of 5

Deocampo is synonymous with barquillos but this did not stop me tasting their sio pao. Delicious dough and very generously filled but I think they've overdone their extenders (cant be sure if its potato or kamote). RATING 2.5 out of 5.0

Ocean City is an all around restaurant that serves seafood, filipino and chinese dishes. But it was only recently that I know they also have sio pao. First bite into it, you'll taste a distinct sio pao taste and its dough is almost like that of Tibiao. RATING 3.0 out of 5.0

An Ilonggo favorite - Valenciana

Found in almost all occasions like fiesta, birthdays, reunions and others, Ilonggos really love valenciana because most if not all have grown accustomed of having it in special gatherings at home. A complete " go, grow and glow " dish because it has the carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and minerals in just one spoonful, Valenciana is really an " occasional dish ". Here's the recipe for Valenciana

Ultimate Ilonggo Favorite: KBL Kadyos, Baboy, Langka

K.B.L. or Kadyos, Baboy, Langka is the ultimate favorite dish of most Ilonggos. It is also one of the most missed native dishes as kadyos and the souring ingredient, batwan , are hard to find when outside of the Ilonggo region. Basically, it is boiled/stewed pork dish owing its "deliciousness" to the combination of the soft and tender pork, the tamed sourness of batwan and the malinamnam na sabaw . One of the "secrets" of the malinamnamn na sabaw , is the fact that the pork, whether just the plain meat or pata (hocks) are first grilled or broiled. This gives the broth a rather smoky taste that makes it more appetizing.. Learn how to make the Ilonggo dish KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka) with the recipe below. Ingredients 1 kilo Pata (pork hocks) or pork cubes, GRILLED and sliced into bite size pieces 1 unripe Jack fruit, cubed 2 cups pigeon pea (kadyos) 6-8 pieces batwan fruit (or tamarind powder) 1 piece por...

Easy Century Tuna Recipes

If you're looking for simple, easy and delicious Century Tuna recipes online, congratulations, you've found it right here! How about spicy tuna sisig or tuna sinigang ? Maybe stir fried tuna with pickles or just yang chow fried rice . I love Century Tuna from its flakes in oil variety, the spicier the better, but when I discovered the versatility of its solid variant, it became an obsession. At first I was just into the usual tested recipes; pasta and sandwich filling, but then it got simpler – I just eat it straight from the can! Usually with a piece of bread or an apple. I just add a few drops of vinegar to spice it up a bit. Then came the experiments. Yup I got tired of that habit that one day, I decided to test my skills in the kitchen. Serendipity, you might call it yet most of them turned into good recipes that I have shared now and then. Satisfying my Palabok cravings had me experiment on this recipe on the spot. With Century Tuna in lieu of the us...

Flavours of Iloilo 2012 Highlights: Lovin' February gastronomy

So how to start a month the month of Love in terms of gastronomy? I didn't have to try hard as they come on their own terms.After the revelry of Dinagyang, the next big celebrations in Iloilo are the Chinese new Year, Jaro Candelaria Feast and Paraw Regatta. And it was on the mid celebrations (Jaro Fiesta) that February gastronomy marked its start. I went to two fiestas during Candelaria - the rainforest inspired set up at the Jamerlan residence and one at Afrique's Jaro, where the restaurant business all began. But in between I just got a call informing me of a photoshoot happening at Days Hotel Iloilo and when I got there it was cakes, cakes and cakes all over. Tinapayan was readying for Valentine and the Heart Cakes were at the center of it all. The next day I was out to lunch at the Central Market and got to discover the old way of having Coffee on the Go at De Leonian Cafe . The month also brought in more discovery as for the first time I got to taste a hambu...

Oyster Cake and more new items at Tarzan Magic La Mien Noodle House

Now there's more reason to go back at my favorite noodle house in town! Tarzan Magic La Mien Noodle noodle along JM Basa street may just look like your ordinary Calle Real eatery serving turo-turo and Chinese specialties but once you've tried what's on their menu, you'd surely be back, again and again. A few days ago, I found myself enjoying their latest dish, Oyster Cake. Our order took long that we thought it was forgotten but when the plate of the oyster cake came to the table, we knew then why. It was cooked with a labour of love, the oyster meat was seasoned with delectable spices (the kusay being the most evident) then sauteed and made omelet style then smothered with, at first I thought just plain catsup, but it was a Chinese dressing/sauce which really complemented the oyster specialty. It was one good and savoury find that day. And they also have new noodle varieties and I think I hit the jackpot with my order - Spare Ribs La Mien. The taste of the s...

FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Search This Blog