Maki-Kain

After watching a play at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater in RCBC Plaza, Mom and I checked the restaurants at the 3rd level for dinner. Since Mom is into Chinese food, we decided to try Manosa Noodles, Seafood, & Chops. (Chinese food is always the safest choice when addressing her cravings and hunger.)

Manosa Noodles, Seafood, & Chops is located at the 3rd level of the Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. The food court of RCBC Plaza is studded with good restaurants and has been one of my favorite dining places since the year 2001. The original and parent Manosa restaurant is located in Ongpin, Binondo and was built in 1940. It is delighting to know that there is a branch of this authentic Chinese restaurant in the heart of Makati. Thus, I can enjoy their dishes without having to travel all the way to Binondo.

The interior of the restaurant is simple but appealing. The walls are decorated with sepia-toned photos of Old Manila. The chairs are made of woven rattan -- a subtle contrast to the modern-designed tables, and gives the ambiance of fusion of the old and the new -- thus bringing and adapting traditional Chinese flavor to contemporary and urbanized Makati taste.

Manosa is known to serve delicious maki, just like Ha Yuan and Maki Haus. Maki is a humble dish that is full of flavor. It is made simply of breaded pork slices in thick, gooey, soy-based soup and topped with chopped scallions. This big bowl of maki serves 2 and costs only Php 100.

Chinese food is not Chinese food without noodles. The one in the photo is pancit bihon, a popular Filipino-Chinese dish composed of rice noodles cooked in soy sauce and mixed with meat (usually pork) and vegetables. The aroma of this dish is distinct and really appetizing. Serves 2-3, only Php 125.

Mom is so in love with this one -- kikiam. The real Chinese kikiam, as depicted above, is a large pork roll filled with ground meat and spices, a far cry from the more popular and cheaper "kikiam" that is made almost entirely of flour and flavorings, and shaped into shriveled spindle-shaped nuggets. Manosa kikiam is fried-toasted and served with sweet-and-sour sauce. I can't remember the price, but it is less that Php 100. Also serves 2.

Our pantulak, generous servings of iced tea and watermelon shake in big glasses, each costing less than Php 60.

Mom and I living the infamous line of food bloggers, "click before you eat". All in all, we spent approximately Php 400 for our dinner, and that's still exclusive of the senior citizens' discount. And as for the food, yummy. No need to go to Binondo. Manosa (RCBC Plaza) is just a quick 10-minute ride away from home.