As someone who frequents Binondo Chinatown, I am very familiar with the Chinese dishes. I posted previously about some restaurants that I dined in Binondo Chinatown such as the Lan Zhou La Mien and Ho Kui Tea House. Eating Chinese food is already passé for me that I am not keen to try one during my trips to Cebu. However, our generous host invited us to a dinner in a Chinese restaurant called A Taste of Mandarin.
It is my first time to dine in a big (and I daresay upscale) restaurant in Cebu City. I usually eat in fast foods and food courts to save money. A Taste of Mandarin is comparable to Golden Bay Fresh Seafood Restaurant, where we held our wedding reception.
We are a big group but our generous host said that we can order anything.
So we ordered Fried Lapu-Lapu in Sweet and Sour Sauce…
…Shredded Beef with Green Pepper…
…and these fried noodles.
I was not able to get good photos of the food because my friends are very quick eaters. I had to take quick shots lest I will not get any food.
All in all, our group had a good time in this Chinese restaurant. The food is quite nice and it reminded me of the good dishes that I had in Binondo Chinatown.
During the Spanish Era, the Chinese were a given the Barrio de Pari-an, which is the area north of the ciudad (or the Spanish settlement). Majority of the Chinese were merchants and the center of commerce is along Calle Colon, which is the oldest street in the Philippines. Unfortunately, much of the old Chinese stores and houses along Calle Colon were tore down and replaced by modern commercial buildings.
The hidden Chinese heritage of Cebu City explains why there is such place as Taoist Temple in the city. Aside from that temple, the only reminder of that lost heritage are the Chinese restaurants such as A Taste of Mandarin.
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Read more of my latest adventure in the island of Cebu!
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 19): Temple of Leah - The House of Vanity
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 18): A Better Stay in Bayfront Hotel in Cebu
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 17): A Great View of Cebu City from Tops Busay
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 15): Taboan the Pasalubong Center of Cebu City
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 14): My Accidental Visit to Mt. Carmel Church
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 13): Another Visit to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 12): Why Cebuanos Call Mama Mary as Birhen sa Regla?
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 11): Sto. Niño Basilica - Mother and Head of All Churches of the Philippine Islands
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 10): A Visit to the Fake(?) Magellan’s Cross
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 9): The Story of Rajah Humabon - King of Cebu
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 8): Calle Colon, the Oldest Street in the Philippines
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 7): The Worst Cebu Hotel
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 6): The Colorful Lighthouse of Lilo-an
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 5): The Mysterious Church of Lilo-an
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 4): Bagacay Point Lighthouse
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 12): Why Cebuanos Call Mama Mary as Birhen sa Regla?
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 11): Sto. Niño Basilica - Mother and Head of All Churches of the Philippine Islands
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 10): A Visit to the Fake(?) Magellan’s Cross
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 9): The Story of Rajah Humabon - King of Cebu
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 8): Calle Colon, the Oldest Street in the Philippines
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 7): The Worst Cebu Hotel
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 6): The Colorful Lighthouse of Lilo-an
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 5): The Mysterious Church of Lilo-an
Laag-Laag sa Cebu (Part 4): Bagacay Point Lighthouse
Sure looks like a very nice place with very nice Chinese delights.
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