Established in 1954, Manila’s Binondo is the world’s oldest Chinatown. It is the heart of Filipino-Chinese culture and is a fusion of traditional Cantonese flavors and local tastes.
Now Wil Dasovich and the BYD Seagull conquer its streets to check out its gastronomic food scene. The compact and capable Seagull tackles the heart of Binondo with ease, maneuvering around cramped and busy roads and slotting right into tight parking spaces along and around Ongpin, making the traditional food crawl an even more pleasant tour. The compact and capable Seagull cruises through the heart of Binondo with ease, paving the way for Wil to taste various delicacies while discovering Filipino-Chinese culture.
Take it all in as the BYD Seagull puts you right in the front seat of this delicious adventure.
The Seagull Swoops in For a Sumptuous Feast
Dong Bei Dumplings
Established nearly two decades ago, Dong Bei Dumplings was named for the Dong Bei, which is Northeastern China or Manchuria, from which the owners originated. Located at 642 Yuchengco St. in Binondo, Dong Bei is known for their Kuchay, or pork and chives, pork Xiao Long Bao, and beef noodles.
Wil and company sink their teeth into the soft and succulent Dong Bei Dumplings, served right at the very shop where they are freshly rolled and filled every day.
New Po Heng Fresh Lumpia
New Po Heng makes their version of the traditional Chinese Lumpia, first brought over by Chinese migrants from the Fujian province of China centuries ago. The eatery sits in the courtyard of the historic Uy Su Bin Building along Quintin Paredes St., and dates back to the 1920s or 30s. Their lumpia is defined by unique ingredients such as the minced vegetables that go into them, the sweet peanut sauce drizzle above, and the Ho Ti (chopped peanuts, crispy vermicelli, and seaweed) sprinkled atop. Our adventures have a delectable go at this traditional delicacy.
Lord Stow’s Bakery Macau Egg Tarts
Lord Stow’s Bakery is named after English pharmacist-turned-baker Andrew Stow, who originally founded the pastry shop in Coloane Island, Macau, on September 15, 1989. He drew inspiration from a traditional pasteis de nata (Portuguese egg tart) that he tasted on a trip to Belem, Brazil. From there he combined the flaky Portuguese pastry with a richer British custard filling. Perfect for providing Wil and company with a sweet break of crusty yet soft custard-filled Macau Egg Tarts.
Vege Select
Located at 739 Ongpin St., Vege Select (formerly known as Quan Yin Chay), is a vegan/vegetarian eatery that is famous for their char-grilled vegetarian BBQ skewers, spicy gluten-based sausages, grilled tofu, ma chang (sticky rice dumplings), and taobao, plus various plant-based raw ingredients.
Our adventurous group try out Vege Select’s unique, succulent vegetarian BBQ skewers and find it much to their liking.
Wong Kei Sugarcane Juice
Our group then turns to a refreshing break from their walking tour in the form of Wong Kei’s sugarcane juice.
Wong Kei (or Wan Kee, depending on whom you ask to pronounce it since it is a phonetic translation of the name in Chinese characters), is the historic store best known for their traditional Chinese baked goods, giant asado or bola-bola siopao, and the aforementioned freshly-squeezed sugarcane juice. Wong Kei always provides that refreshing pit stop on a Binondo food tour, as Wil and company pleasantly discovered.
Shanghai Fried Siopao
Established in 1985 on 828 Ongpin corner Bahama Streets, Shanghai Fried Siopao offers exactly what the iconic name implies, traditional steamed pork buns done in a pan-fried finish, to achieve a crispy crusting with a juicy meat filling, then usually served atop a thin skewer. It is commonly referred to as tsienpao in traditional Fukien. It is one of the more affordably-priced delicacies in what is already a culinary locale known for its value-driven offerings.
Wil tries one of the unique siopaos to find the same favor that these wonderful snacks have enjoyed all these years.
Beanstro Coffee
What started as a home-based business during the pandemic lockdowns transitioned to a pop-up stall along Yuchengco St., then into the full-blown cafe it is today in Tytana Plaza Building along Tytana St. Recognized by its bright orange facade, Beanstro isn’t just famous for their coffee or unique burnt milk sea salt latte, but also for delights such as their Mango Sticky Rice that’s even available in a few special flavors like Ube, Matcha, and Cacao-infused versions.
Wil enjoyed a sweet escape at Beanstro from all the food he’d been trying out the whole day.
The Suitable Ride for a Sweet and Savory Romp
Throughout this deep dive into the country’s culinary center and the cultural heart of Filipino-Chinese fusion, Wil and company found the ultimate urban companion in the BYD Seagull. It ferried them in total comfort, efficiency, and ease its compact footprint effortlessly navigating Chinatown’s narrow streets and tight parking spaces, while its quiet EV cabin offered a peaceful reprieve from the bustling city outside.
Ready to rewrite your city drives? Experience the agility, comfort, and zero-emissions efficiency of the BYD Seagull for yourself. Visit byd.com.ph or stop by your nearest BYD showroom to book a test drive today!
