Mark your calendars as the Red Corner makes your dim sum dreams come true with its Dim sum All You Can treat every Monday and Friday. From 11am to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm, this Chinese joint operated by Hong Kong Kitchen serves a galore of dim sum like sio mai, nori sio mai, chicken feet, sio pao and a whole lot more.
A few days ago, I personally tried what they had to offer during a luncheon meeting together with Ms. Carol, PR Officer of the restaurant. There I discovered that aside from the dim sum galore once can expect, the buffet also includes soup, noodles, rice, soup, vegetables and at least two Red Corner Specials of the day.
The sweet corn and egg soup started my lunch and even though how delectable it was I had to restrain myself so that I can have space for more food.
I then tried got three pieces of their crunchy lumpiang shanghai to satisfy my craving for lumpia the day before. It was generously filled with meat seasoned so well that I didn’t even bother dipping it in the sauce it came with.
Their sio mai beckons and I didn’t waste time giving in to the gastronomic temptation. It looked good and yes, it definitely tasted better that I came back for another round.
So was their Nori sio mai or Japanese sio mai. Just the same sio mai but wrapped in nori – the one used in making sushi. It gave a hint something Japanese to a Chinese specialty giving sio mai a new dimension in taste and presentation. Hmmm, I could try dipping it in wasabi next time to complete the experience.
The Spicy Minced Pork had been waving at me even just as I entered the restaurant. Of course, I was intrigued to how spicy it was but it turned just to be a mild one but it had something different in the taste – something good that definitely went well with the eggplant.
The Fookien style Fried Noodles provided the right mix of egg noodles and the works – vegetables, pork, and egg, among others. It was a complete meal itself cooked with such nice flavour and visual gastronomic presentation.
The Sweet and Sour Pork is among their best sellers and I don’t need to ask why the moment I took a bite. (Still) Crunchy fried pork swimming in delectable tangy sauce that makes each bite yearn for more.
It was perfect with the Yang Chow Fried Rice that is another meal unto itself. Lightly seasoned but the flavors come out well yet paired with all the other dishes, it was just as good.
And I almost forgot the Chicken Feet! Good thing I was reminded or I would have not tasted the very savory dim sum with the star anise giving most of its flavour. It was jelly like in consistency that it just slides between the teeth, separating the bones.
Dessert was my favorite – Almond Jelly with Sago. I just love how it is flavored light and not overly sweet yet giving my taste buds a hint of sweetness that reminds me its dessert, just a healthier one.
But I really did miss the sio pao. I was already so full that eating one might make me create a scene. And also I just can’t take one get and get one bite for as with all other buffets, No Leftovers, Please! And sharing is not allowed. Good thing this buffet costs only PhP198/pax – a really giveaway offer to the Ilonggos for lunch and dinner, twice a week. So I might find myself back there very soon, hungry for more! (But I’ll have a sio pao first).
Red Corner by HongKong Kitchen
Plazuela de Iloilo, Mandurria, Iloilo City
Tel. Nos. 333-3807 / 301-0864