Binondo: Wan Chai at Benavidez

i ♥ dimsum

A trip to what is reputedly the oldest Chinatown in the world will not be complete without experiencing its gustatory delights. And since no one would know the place better than someone who grew up there, I elicited help from a friend, who's Chinese, in navigating this veritable maze of narrowly winding streets, canals, alleyways, and all-the-commerce-you-can-get in between. The district is abuzz with consumerism - from drugstores specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, to charms stores, to purveyors of Chinese cuisine (either Hokkien or Cantonese and its consequent outgrowth). Luckily, she is not one to back out from an adventure, much less a gastronomic one. So off we went and explored the streets of this vibrant and sometimes intimidating (to an outsider) cultural hodgepodge that is Binondo.

the deliciously tender chicken feet

We decided to eat at one of the restaurants lining Benavidez Street called Wan Chai, which is owned by the family of a friend of hers. We started off with dimsum and tea. This, in my opinion, is the quintessential Chinese way of starting off a meal. But really, whatever floats your boat, right? You can have it whichever way you like.

We ordered Chicken feet and Steamed Spareribs. This, of course, is best paired with a spicy, tangy soy sauce mix - soy sauce mixed with calamansi and chili paste. I love how the chicken feet's meat is soft to the bite, falling off the bone, but still strong enough to hold itself before reaching your mouth.

Wan Chai's specialty - the 2-way rice

One of the restaurant's specialties was the Two-way rice - large servings of white rice topped with two types of thick sauces which you mix together to form one solid mixture. One sauce is bright orange reminiscent of sweet & sour. The other, thick white, similar to a rue or cornstarch thickener you put in chopsuey - another Chinese classic. Both sauces have chicken pieces in it. The orange sauce has carrot strips, red bell pepper, and maybe leeks or onion stalks. The white sauce has green peas and shrimps. The servings are big enough for two, no kidding, so you can actually tag an extra person along if you want to.

We were full to the brim. A nice conversation over good meal certainly makes for a pleasant experience. I sure will explore more of this food haven and will keep on coming back. New adventures lie not far away, I can feel.