No need for the menu, we got it

As early as I can remember, I have always loved eating dumplings. Guess it’s no surprise coming from a “Chi-noy” Family. If it’s a choice between pastries & dumplings – I choose dumplings, pasta ? still dumplings, burgers? Still dumplings . . . it’s rather obvious right LOL

During my childhood days, dumplings were only available in downtown Chinatown – lovingly called Ongpin until now. Here a wide array of Chinese food is available in a long lane of an assortment of restaurants. My dad use to take

us there. We’d watch a “Kung Fu” flick & then have dinner afterwards. Ah the good old days. As I grew older, Chinatown had a Branching out of sorts, little by little small restaurants serving Chinese food started blossoming in Banawe - Quezon City. One of the earliest of them is LeChing. 

Present day, whenever we’d get the chance, our family would never miss the  opportunity to eat at Banawe. Besides the distance, traffic in this area is horrifying, there’s no window, it’s 24/7 traffic ! My husband Ben had a short business meeting near LeChing – HORAY ! The people managing (not to mention serving) this restaurant knows us well. They’ve known us since we were dating, take note, we have been married 17 years hehe do the math.

We were immediately greeted by “familiars”, no need for the menu of course, we know by heart what we are ordering : Spareribs Rice, Hakaw, Fried dumplings & Beef Wanton Mami for Benz. CAN’T WAIT ! Let me tell you about the Spareribs rice, it’s a rice topping meal with spareribs cooked so tender they fall off the bones. It’s juicy, not dry and it’s not Saucy. It’s cooked just right with a hint of savory sauce with some tausi beans, not drowning. The Hakaw is popularly known as shrimp dumplings, it’s steamed whole shrimp wrapped in steamed white gelatin like wrappers. Then the fried dumplings, this one is made of (guessing thru eating) some ground pork, shrimp & shitake mushroom, crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside, served with sweet & sour sauce. So, did I get you salivating yet ? All of these are perfect with their very own  chili garlic sauce. It’s fried garlic & red chili peppers + some calamansi + some soy sauce and PRESTO ! I must warn you, this condiment is a hazard to rice, just a little & you can’t help stop eating & eating rice ! Lastly is Benz’s Beef & Wanton Mami, don’t get me wrong, she also loves the Spare ribs rice, this Mami is just her order on the side J It’s hot steamy noodles soup in a perfect beef broth with a couple slices of beef brisket & wanton dumplings. Warm & comforting !

Besides the food, the whole staff is very friendly & accommodating here. They’d give us hopia & soup while waiting for our food, fre of charge mind you. All in all, our very happy tummy only cost us around Php600.00, with lots of left over to bring home. Serving is very generous & we really wouldn’t mind eating & eating everything all over again, even if it’s re-heat ,it’s delicious just the same !