Just a 10-12min drive from where I live will get you to Banawe---a place in the metro where autoparts are being peddled almost in every corner. It is also in this area where Ma Mon Luk is located.
Ma Mon Luk ia a popular Chinese restaurant known for its special Mami and delicious siopao. It is actually located outside the confines of Banawe (fronting Banawe, to be exact) and is situated along Quezon Avenue.
As I gathered information under Wikipedia, the data states that Ma Mon Luk was born in Guangdong, China, he was a grade school teacher in Guangzhou when he decided to emigrate to the Philippines in 1918. According to legend, he migrated to the Philippines in order to earn his fortune and win the hand of a girl whose wealthy Cantonese family looked none too kindly on his poverty. Arriving penniless in Manila, Ma Mon Luk decided to peddle chicken noodle soup, utilizing egg noodles. He soon became a familiar sight on the streets of Manila, plodding down with a long bamboo pole slung on his shoulders with two metal containers on each end. One vat contained his especially concocted noodles and strips of chicken meat, while the other stored chicken broth heated by live coals underneath. With a pair of scissors, he would cut the noodles and meat to serve to his customers. Among his frequent customers were students from the various schools and universities in Manila, whom he would regale with tales about China. Ma Mon Luk himself called his concoction "gupit", after the Tagalog word for "cut with scissors".
Ma Mon Luk soon opened his first restaurant in Binondo, where he introduced his equally famous siopao, a steamed pork dumpling enhanced by a secret sauce. Ma Mon Luk nonetheless continued to peddle his wares on the streets, advertising his restaurant by giving away free samples. By the 1950s, Ma Mon Luk and his mami were nationally known, and Ma Mon Luk became the iconic Chinese restaurant, sprouting many imitators who failed to equal its success. At one point, in the mid 1990s, there were at least six Ma Mon Luk restaurants in Metro Manila. But, as of 2006, only the branches in Benavidez Street, Mla., Quezon Avenue, Q.C. and Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo, Mla. remain open.
Ma Mon Luk died on September 1, 1961 of throat cancer and is buried at the Chinese Cemetery in Manila. He is succeeded to date by four Ma Mon Luk generations.
And with that information dished out, let me dish out the food they are offering:
Don't forget to take out. :)
And with that information dished out, let me dish out the food they are offering:
I ordered the small size mami because I'm on a diet. Their small size mami is only P95.00
I also ordered their special asado siopao (P65.00) with salted egg. This siopao is literally world-famous because I have heard about this siopao even at that time when I was still living abroad.
Tip though: Despite the number of service crew this particular branch has, I only saw 3 waiters manning the floor---3 out of more than a dozen service staff I saw when I dined there around 3pm++. Probably the kitchen has several staff too. It took me 27 minutes from the time I sat to the time my food was served. And if you try to order extra for take out, it might take another 30 minutes, God forbid. I even saw one man leaving the restaurant due to lack of attendants. I suggest once you have finally talked to a waiter, order everything including a glass of water and pay your bill at the same time. It will save you time, energy, and patience I'm telling you.
Based from the picture above, my table and the 3 tables infront of me (not to mention other tables on my left side) needed to be cleaned but the 3 waiters were too busy taking in orders. If you are too hungry and crave for instant service, I do not suggest this place. But if you really like their mami and siopao like I do, and you have patience of a monk, by all means dine here. It's worth all the cuss words coming out from your mouth for not being serviced right away.
Don't forget to take out. :)
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