Once Upon A Time At Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

Have you ever eaten in a Chinese restaurant that does not only offer authentic Chinese food, but it also makes you feel like you’re not in the Queen City of the South anymore? Well, that’s what I felt when I first visited a small hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant in the downtown area.

Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

Mingnan Chinese Cuisine is a small restaurant offering authentic Chinese food. While the place looked like any other eatery in the downtown area with minimal decorations, when I first visited the place I felt like I was not in Cebu anymore. Probably because of the elderly Chinese gentleman reading what appeared to be a Chinese newspaper as well as the television showing a Chinese news channel.  The lady manning the counter was also Chinese who did not speak Cebuano or English. According to the food servers, if I needed to ask or tell her something, they will translate it for me.

Inside Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

The Place

During my first visit at Mingnan Chinese Cuisine, there was one other customer who was waiting for her takeout order. Mingnan Chinese Cuisine is rather cozy with two large round tables and two small rectangle-shaped tables. Decorations were minimal and you would not think it was a Chinese restaurant if they sold other types of dishes. The food is displayed on a counter similar to the ones you find in stalls at the food court of the malls in the city. 

Food On Display At Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

It has that school canteen feel, especially when the place is full. People would share the tables. Mingnan has three small rectangular tables that can seat four people and two large round tables that can probably seat eight to ten people. I’m not really sure if they have more seats on the second floor. But, I will not be surprised since the place is rather popular since they offer great-tasting food at a very reasonable price. And, oh, the place is air-conditioned. So, it will be a welcome respite from the heat if you eat at the Mingnan Chinese Cuisine for lunch.  The Plaridel Extension branch is open from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM from Monday to Saturday. The place is closed on Sundays.

Reasonably-Priced Food At Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

The Food

I actually visited the place thrice. The first time was sometime in February 2016 and the second time was during the Sinulog sa Barangay street parade in January 2017. In the first two visits, I ordered food displayed at the counter. On my third visit, I tried their dumplings. 

Two Viands And One Rice At PHP50

While the food was cheap, the taste wasn’t. Even as I cannot say I am a food connoisseur, I did like their food. In fact, a lot of people will likely agree with me. During my first visit, there was only one other customer since they were already about to close. On my second visit, the place was full. In fact, I shared a table with a couple of other customers. 

Love The Food At Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

You can choose to get two meat-based viands or two vegetable-based viands from the display counter. It is all up to you. Aside from the items on the counter, you can also order dumplings and lomi from the food servers. The dumplings and lomi are prepared upon order. You have to ask if these items are available since they do not have a menu board at the place. Each plate has ten pieces of dumplings, which are rather tasty. I didn’t get to order the lomi so I have no idea how it tasted.  But, if the taste is based on the other food items I tried, I’m guessing the lomi is also good.

Dumplings At Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

The meals of two viands and one cup of rice are priced at PHP50, which is very cheap considering you are eating at a Chinese restaurant. The dumplings cost PHP80 per plate. The servings of each dumpling may be big enough for three to four people. The lomi is priced at PHP50 while their soft drink is priced at PHP15.

A Closer Look At The Dumplings

The Location 

Mingnan Chinese Cuisine actually has two branches. The first branch is along Plaridel Extension. It is a small road close to the Basilica del Sto. Niño.  The second branch of the restaurant is located along General Maxilom Ave. It is at the ground floor of the building right in front of National Bookstore. The Plaridel Extension branch is a cafeteria-style restaurant where you order food displayed on the counter. On the other hand, the Mango Avenue branch is a regular restaurant where a waiter or waitress will take your order.

More Dumplings Coming Your Way

Getting To Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

To get to the original location or the Plaridel Extension branch of Mingnan Chinese Cuisine, you should get on a jeepney passing through Osmeña Boulevard.  When the jeepney reaches Basilica del Sto. Niño, you already went past the place. So, you have to get off and backtrack. Your landmark is the Ranola Motor Company or RMC building. Once you see the building, get off the jeepney. Mingnan Chinese Cuisine is on the left side of this side street.

The Food Is The Best Motivation To Go To The Place

One thing to remember is that you should make sure the jeepney you are riding does not take a right turn towards the Carbon Market area after it reaches the intersection fronting Metro Gaisano. If it does, then you have to either get on another jeepney or you can take a walk along the downtown area. You actually will not get bored while walking since you have a lot to see along the road. You might even get side-tracked by the cheap items sold by vendors in the area. If you have to walk, go along Osmeña Boulevard until you reach the building where RMC is located. 

Check Out Some Of The Food Waiting For You

The Plaridel Extension branch of Mingnan Chinese Cuisine has actually been operating for some time already. But, there are still some people who have no idea it existed until the Mango Avenue branch opened. If you ever get to crave for authentic Chinese food at a very reasonable price, you can check out this hole-in-the-wall place along Plaridel Extension. 

Another View Of Their tasty Dumplings

Know anywhere else we can eat great-tasting food at a reasonable price? Hit me up on the comments section below.

Love The Dumplings At Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.

Dumpling Love At Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

Stop, Pochero Time At Gate 5 Pochero House

I have had numerous fond memories of the pochero. The first time I tasted this well-loved Cebuano dish was when I was just a kid. Whenever our balikbayans grand-aunts and uncles pass by Cebu on their way to our hometown, we used to eat at the famous restaurant along Ramos Street serving pochero.  There were also instances in college when me and my college buddies would go to the same place after a couple of bottles of our favorite brew. We would order the sizzling version of the pochero with plenty of rice to match.

Pochero at Gate 5 Pochero House

The Place

Fast forward to the present, I first got acquainted with this hole-in-the-wall pochero place when I joined a couple of friends for breakfast.  Initially, I thought it was just your run-of-the-mill eatery. But, lo and behold, the pochero at Gate 5 Pochero House was probably one of the best pochero dishes I’ve tasted so far.

Breaking the fast at Gate 5 Pochero House

Gate 5 Pochero House counts many BPO employees as their regular customer since it is located within walking distance of the Cebu IT Park. While it is popular among people working at the Cebu IT Park, it is relatively unknown to people living and working in other places in the city. In fact, when I posted the pictures of the place on my Facebook Page, people started asking where the place is located.

Gate 5 Pochero House

Why is it called Gate 5 Pochero House? Well, the address of the place is No. 5 La Guardia Street. So, go figure.  It is a carenderia-style store where you pay as you order. The place is rather clean and their food servers are courteous.

Dining area of Gate 5 Pochero House

Aside from offering food, the place also has a small karaoke room where you can sing your heart out. Since many of their customers are BPO employees, they open at 6:30 AM. They also close earlier compared to other restaurants at 8:30 PM. Gate 5 Pochero House is open from Monday to Saturday.

Pochero at Gate 5 Pochero House

The Food

Gate 5 Pochero House is well-known for its pochero.  In fact, it is one of the go-to places of BPO employees whenever they want to have some piping-hot pochero.  This sinfully delicious dish readily plays with the taste buds of anyone lucky enough to find the place.

Pochero with Rice

In addition to the pochero, the place also offers barbecued items, pork and chicken. Since the barbecue is on the sweet side, it may not be to the liking of people who like their barbecue to be anything but sweet. However, I found their barbecue as good if not better than the ones offered at a popular barbecue place in the city. Gate 5 Pochero House also serves another heart-stopping dish to customers who want to live on the edge, Lechon Kawali.

Barbecue at Gate 5 Pochero House

The place also has other items on its menu. Since it is a carenderia-style store, the place has a good selection of food items for customers who want to pair of their pochero with other viands. But, I was not able to take a picture of the other food items since I went to the place for the pochero.

Another picture of the pochero at Gate 5

The Price

The pochero at the place is actually cheap. It is priced at PHP60 per serving. On the other hand, their pork barbecue is priced at PHP15 each. While this may be relatively more expensive than the barbecue at your neighborhood barbecue stall, the barbecue at Gate 5 tastes better.  Their rice is priced at PHP10 per serving while their soft drinks are priced at PHP12 each. I wasn’t able to get the prices of the other menu items, but basing on the prices of the items I ordered you can conclude that they are relatively cheap.

Barbecue grilled at Gate 5 Pochero House

The Location and Getting There

Gate 5 Pochero House is located along La Guardia Street, Lahug, Cebu City. It is on the same street where Pizza Republic and Orange Karenderia are located. To get there you should get on a jeepney headed for Apas or the ones marked 17B, 17C and 17D. If you are coming from Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on the jeepney plying the Ayala – Lahug route or the one marked 04M. On the other hand, if you are in the Mabolo area you can ride the jeepney marked 04L or the one that plies the SM-Lahug route.

Look for the Gate 5 Pochero House signboard

You can get off in front of Cebu Aeronautical Technical School and cross the street using the pedestrian lane in front of the school. Just follow the street in front of Pizza Republic and Orange Karenderia. The place is just a javelin-throw’s away from the main road. It is situated after the second corner on the right side of the road.

You can pair off your pochero with rice

You can bring your own car, but they only have street parking. You will have to try to go there early so you have a place to park. You can also take a taxi and tell the driver to bring you to the street in front of Pizza Republic and Orange Karenderia.

Simple dining area at Gate 5 Pochero House

While I have started to watch what I eat, it does not hurt if I satisfy my cravings . . . sometimes. Gate 5 Pochero House is definitely one hole-in-the wall eating place where you can find great tasting pochero at a reasonable price.

Can't get enough of the pochero at Gate 5

Do you know of any other hole-in-the-wall places in Cebu? Give me a heads up on the comments section below.

Check out Gate 5 Pochero House

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.

Nuff said

Get Some Great-Tasting Chicken At Bok-Bok By The King Of Chicken

“I love the smell of fried chicken.” – Giancarlo Esposito

The chicken at Bok Bok by King of Chicken is not your ordinary chicken. It is so good that it can give the chicken of the world famous colonel a run for its money. The owner of Bok Bok by King of Chicken was able to improve the 11 secret herbs and spices used on the chicken of the international fast food restaurant.

Bok Bok by King of Chicken

Bok Bok by King of Chicken was actually the original King of Chicken before the owners decided to add more items into their menu. The added items are available at the the restaurant close to Cebu Doctor’s Hospital. The new restaurant was christened the King of Chicken, while the smaller stores selling only chicken were renamed Bok Bok by King of Chicken.

Chicken of Bok Bok by King of Chicken

Majority of the customers of Bok Bok by King of Chicken are students of a nearby university as well as the residents of the area. Doctors and nurses of a nearby hospital also drop by the place. They would either eat at the store or order take out.

More Chicken at Bok Bok by King of Chicken

The Food

The chicken of Bok Bok by King of Chicken is crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The flavors have seeped into the meat due to the secret method the place uses in preparing the chicken. The spices, well . . . it’s a trade secret. It will likely take you more than a lifetime to replicate it. By the time you are able to duplicate the spices they use, Bok Bok by King of Chicken will have raised the level a bar or three higher.

Bok Bok by King of Chicken

The chicken is so good that some people just go to the place to have a taste of the chicken they offer. In fact, some have even asked if they have branches close to where they live or work. For the moment, Bok Bok by King of Chicken has three locations: in Urgello Street, along R. Landon Extension close to the St. Vincent Hospital, and in the Punta Princesa area in Labangon.

Can't Get Enough of the Chicken at Bok Bok

Bok Bok by King of Chicken offers different parts of the chicken for its customers. They have the thigh, breast, drumstick, wings, and neck. The meatiest part is the thigh, while the wings and drumstick has a good amount of bones in them. When you think about it, the neck may be considered as the least preferred part of the chicken. But, Bok Bok by King of Chicken has brought this unwanted chicken part to the next level. You see, the chicken neck sold at the place is not your ordinary neck since they prepared it in such a way that it has a good amount of meat. For me, the neck probably is the most flavorful among all the parts of the chicken.

Tasty Looking Chicken Wings

The store also offers three kinds of dips. These dips are the home-made gravy, their clear vinegar concoction, and the dark-colored vinegar concoction. These dips are not your ordinary dips that you can easily make at home since these were specially-made by the owner to complement the chicken. You can try any one of these dips or try all of them one at a time.

More Chicken Wings

The Price

The different cuts of the chicken have different prices. The thigh part costs PHP32 while the breast is priced at PHP28. On the other hand, the drumstick and wings part are priced at PHP25 each. The neck at Bok Bok by King of Chicken costs PHP17 per piece.

Chicken Neck at Bok Bok

The Location

The first branch of Bok Bok by King of Chicken opened a number of years ago near the corner of Urgello Street and Uytengsu Street close to the Sacred Heart Hospital of the Southwestern University. This particular store was actually relocated since the original store was a stone’s throw away from its present location. The Urgello location had a number of competitors who were unable to beat the taste of their chicken. In fact, some of these other chicken places opened right in front of the store and were not able to last a year. People prefer Bok Bok by King of Chicken over their competitors. You can also say that Bok Bok by King of Chicken was able to conquer its rivals in the area.

Interior of Bok Bok by King of Chicken

The second branch of Bok Bok by King of Chicken is located in front of the St. Vincent Hospital, close to the Cebu City Sports Complex. The newest branch of Bok Bok is located along Tres de Abril Street, close to the Lourdes Church in Punta Princesa, Labangon, Cebu City.

Another view of the interior

Getting There

To get to the Urgello location, you will have to ride a jeepney headed towards Urgello Street. Just get off at the corner where the jeepney would turn right towards Uytengsu Street. The store is located a few steps away from the corner. It is at the right side of the street. If you are in the Osmena Boulevard area, you can simply walk along Uytengsu Street from the corner of the gasoline station in front of the Sony Service Center. Just before you reach Urgello Street, you will see the store at the left side. Or you can let your nose guide you to where the best-tasting chicken this side of town is sold.

More Chicken at Bok Bok

Bok Bok by King of Chicken is gradually becoming one of the go-to hole-in-the-wall eating places in Cebu. Do not let its unassuming appearance fool you since the chicken they offer will definitely make you keep coming back for more.

King of Chicken

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.