This Little Eatery in Banawe Is the Place to Go for Taiwanese Eats

(SPOT.ph) Banawe is a known food haven. Everybody know's this Quezon City street is lined with all sorts of restaurants and eateries, from authentic Chinese and Japanese spots that have been popular go-to's for decades, to smaller, lesser-known-but-no-less-deserving spots like, say, Fong Wei Wu. Right on the corner of Samat and Banaue streets, this cozy little eatery serves up homecooked goodness worth adding to your next food-trip's itinerary. 

Also read: 10 Must-Try Restaurants for Your Next Food Trip In and Around Banawe

Get Taiwanese eats and more at Banaue's Fong Wei Wu

Fong Wei Wu calls you over with its bright red sign, "Authentic Taiwanese Cuisine" written right below the name, hanging right above the corner shop. At night, you can clearly see the cozy space, with 20 or so seats, brightly lit. Step in, and you'll immediately be greeted by a homey atmosphere. The restaurant is shaped a lot like the duplexes familiar to most Filipinos, with a glass counter where the food is displayed placed under the stairs. There are a few posters here and there, with a stand in one corner holding Taiwanese goods and more for sale.

You can order from their regular menu, or you can take your pick from whatever food they have on display. Think like your usual turo-turo spot, only this time you're choosing Taiwanese and Fil-Chi dishes, with a bit of Japan thrown in too (Curry rice, anyone?). 

What we ordered from Fong Wei Wu

We decided to order one thing from the display and one from the menu. We were powerless to resist the Hong Ma (around P200 per 100 grams) what with the tender-looking pork belly slabs neatly tied up and swimming in a light sauce; thankfully, the looks matched the flavor. They served up the braised pork neatly sliced so you can get a closer look at the glistening fat and soft bits of meat; each bite yielded a perfect balance of grease and meat, with the sauce leaning a little more on the sweet (but not sticky at all) side.

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From the menu, we chose the Beef Noodles (P320). As they cook it upon ordering, we were told it may take around 10 to 20 minutes but we got it in much less time. The huge bowl came to us full of steaming hot broth—like rich bulalo, only with more spices; each slurp went straight to the heart—tender chunks of beef with bits of tendon, and even pechay to add a little brightness. The star of this bowl, though, has to be the springy, chewy noodles. Stuff yourself full of them, and they still manage to keep from being too dense. We're willing to bet they make their own, as it had that certain quality storebought ones could never replicate. And if, for some reason, you do not like these type of noodles, you can choose to get bihon or sotanghon instead. 

Banawe has no lack of places to go for great eats. Fong Wei Wu, having been there for 23 years, is a part of what makes Banaue special. From the folks coming in to get take-out, to the regulars asking after the couple that runs the place, to the posters on the walls that remains unchanged, this little spot is proof that it's the small things that matter. So the next time you're in the area, stop by for genuine eats.

Fong Wei Wu is at Samat corner Banawe Streets, Quezon City. They are open daily from 10:30 to 9.