Taste Test: Which Motel Makes the Best Pancit Canton?

(SPOT.ph) There are times that a pure, animalistic craving takes hold of you, a certain itch that can only be scratched by a quick visit somewhere—we're talking the needs of the stomach here, of course. While the same can be said as the reason for the existence of motels, we thought of combining the two—because why not—by trying out pancit from these places.

We don't know how it started, but whispers about motels having actually decent food have been going around for as long as we can remember. We decided to test it out by trying out pancit from a few. It is a pretty hard dish to mess up, after all, and is always a quick and tasty filler for when you need a quick pick-me-up. So the next time you're hit by a certain desire (for noodles), we say give the ones from these motels a chance.

Also read: Reliable Budget Hotels for Short-Term Stays in Metro Manila

We tried pancit canton from different Metro Manila motels so you don't have to

Victoria Court

The logo of a lady with a finger to her lips is recognizable to the average urban dweller. Her name? Victoria. Her pancit? It's okay. Where Victoria Court does get an edge, though, is that you can order food straight from their website and have it show up at your doorstep without so much as a message. Human interaction is at an all time low within these motels, and it looks like they keep to that system even for their food deliveries; a plus or minus depending on which generation you belong to, really.

We went on their website, headed to a special section called Victoria Bites (not too hard, we hope), clicked on our order, paid via a virtual wallet, and an hour later, got a message from a delivery rider that they were already there. The pancit was good for two, aptly, and at P250, it was definitely worth the price. We got a pretty standard plate of not-too-dry, not-too-wet, on the mushy side noodles, with a decent amount of sahog and a healthy smattering of chicharon bits. All in all, it wasn't bad, but nothing to write home about either. We say stick with their Crispy Pata (P995) if there's a nearby branch that can deliver to your area.

Hotel Sogo

Arguably the biggest motel chain in the Philippines, Hotel Sogo knows a thing or two about keeping their clientele happy—with good food, that is. While they put their fried chicken front and center, their Canton Guisado (P205) isn't something to ignore. They don't have a delivery service, but you can just walk in and order their food to go. Out of all the motels we tried, Sogo had the most extensive menu, that included bento box meals and soup viands like Bulalo (P375) and Sinigang na Hipon (P285). Might as well continue the feast in your room, right?

The pancit came in a big styrofoam container and plastic bag, all entirely unmarked. The noodles proved to be on the saucier side, with the chewy noodles getting a dark tinge from all the flavors. There was a healthy amount of fresh veg and bits of chicken liver to give it a bit of depth—pretty damn good pancit, really. Plus, it would definitely take more than two people to finish the whole order, unless you just had that heavy a workout, but otherwise this would be a great snack for a group study sa SOGO. (Remember that?)

Also read: 10 Places to Stay Near Manila with Spectacular Views

Orchids Drive Inn

Now into the heavyweights. Orchids is a Pasig hotel "and delivery" so yes, they take their food very seriously. A look at their Facebook page shows that it's all about their bilao here. They've got a version topped with lechon kawali but we stuck with the basic one to keep the competition fair. Best part? They're available on Grab delivery. Be sure to check whether you're within delivery distance! If not, you can go the same route as Sogo and head there to get some take-out. No judgment if you check in, too. All the better to eat your pancit piping hot. 

There's nothing small about their "small" bilao (P560), which had serious heft, too. The delivery came neatly wrapped, complete with sauce on the side, calamansi, and even a paper bag with a few paper plates and plastic forks. Removing the foil revealed one hell of a pancit. It was a saucy noodle dish (don't forget they gave us a small tub of even more sauce on the side, too) with lots and lots of sahog. The soy-umami sauce coated each noodle, and the sahog galore was an absolute party of strong flavors: there was cabbage, carrots, pork liver, hard-boiled eggs, and even fried chicken. If you're ever in need of a showstopping contribution to a potluck, this should be at the top of your list.

Mahal Kita Drive Inn

Alright, so this motel has already made a name for itself thanks to its pancit, and we're here to tell you the lore is true. This Pasay establishment's got the best pancit canton we've ever tasted. Their small bilao (P495) was a little smaller than Orchid's, but it certainly made up for it with better, more balanced flavors. It came in similar wrapping, complete with a smaller tub of sauce on the side. The toppings had more variety too, complete with sayote, carrots, fishballs, shrimp, and even the fried chicken had a lighter taste.

You've likely noticed this little drive-in near the Taft MRT station, likely thanks to its very direct name of "Mahal Kita." We say it's because that's exactly what you'll be telling your forkful of noodles while eating right out of the bilao. Bad jokes aside, they're also on Grab delivery; if you're out of delivery coverage, you can hang around their kitchen building, right in the middle of the compound's roundabout, while waiting for your takeout. 

if it's a struggle for you to access it as they're located in Pasay, note that Mahal Kita and Orchid Hotel are sibling establishments. So while their pancit isn't exactly the same—think of this one as the former's more restrained, more sophisticated elder sibling—both are stunning dishes in their own right.