Taste Test: Where to Get the Best Beef Mami in Metro Manila

(SPOT.ph) Imagine this: It's been a long and tiring day at work. You've just gotten off the clock and are contemplating what to have for dinner. We know what you're thinking: a warm bowl of mami probably sounds good right now. A dish said to have Fujianese roots, it has become popular with the Filipino-Chinese community. Mami is typically made from a flavored beef broth, aromatics and, sometimes, a hint of spice. 

There are numerous mami places in the metro and we have no doubt you have your fave, but we're on the lookout for the best version of this heartwarming dish. To find it, we ventured on a mami crawl, visiting five restaurants ranging from hidden gems to the more known locations.

Also read: Taste Test: Which Motel Makes the Best Pancit Canton?

We tried five restaurants to find out which has the best beef mami:

Charlie Wanton Special

If you don't live or work near the area, chances are, you've never heard of Charlie Wanton Special. The relatively small restaurant is tucked away in Mandaluyong's Haig Street, one of those narrow streets you likely won't remember unless you're on Waze or Google Maps.

Charlie Wanton's take on the Beef Wanton Mami (P285/regular; P330/special) has thin, firm but chewy wonton-style egg noodles and a broth that's flavorful and light. Whereas our idea of beef mami in general is that it's a pretty straightforward dish with little to no variety, this Mandaluyong hidden gem's take was a pleasant surprise. Instead of the typical salty beef, this version leans towards a pares-style approach—which means the flavor has a slight sweetness to it.

Charlie Wonton Special is at 265 Haig Street, Mandaluyong City.

Chinese Beef Noodle House

If you're seeking real-deal Chinese fare—you know, the type Chinese mainlanders tend to patronize here in Manila—then it's Chinese Beef Noodle House you need to visit. They have a couple of branches around town but we visited their outpost in Makati.

The Braised Beef Noodle (P380) is one of the pricier bowls on this list but that shouldn't discourage you from trying it out. Fair warning though: it isn't for the faint of heart (read: those that can't tolerate their spice) as you can tell from the dark reddish broth. The bowl has a good amount of bite-sized braised beef chunks that are so tender they easily break apart with the lightest pressure from a pair of chopsticks. If you're particular about your noods, Chinese Beef Noodle House offers udon-style noodles that while firm are still plenty chewy.

Chinese Beef Noodle House is at Makati Avenue, Makati City. They also have branches in Pasay City and Parañaque City.

Ma Mon Luk

When one thinks of mami, Ma Mon Luk tends to be top of mind. The QC branch has been around for ages and is considered an institution of sorts—some even say this was where the idea of mami originated! We arrived around dinner time and were surprised to find out their version of the Beef Mami (P180) had already sold out. "Konti lang kasi ang pag gawa ng Beef Mami kasi mas mabenta ang Original," said the waiter who served us. 

Not wanting to waste our visit, we ended up getting The Original Mami (P160/small; P170/large). For our tastebuds, it was rather underwhelming. Yes, it tastes good but we were somewhat expecting to be mindblown, considering the  high praise people often give the place. If there's a saving grace to the dish, it was the broth; light but very flavorful, the best on this list, we'd even dare say. In terms of the noodles, they're hand-pulled and soft and chewy.

Ma Mon Luk is at Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Wai Ying

Admittedly, Wai Ying isn't exactly known for their take on the mami but we knew we had to give the restaurant a shot. The popular Binondo haunt had a line that ran for miles (we're exaggerating) and it took roughly an hour and fifteen minutes before we got ushered inside the small two-floor restaurant (we're not exaggerating). 

We got the Beef Mami (P220) which has a light and flavorful broth. The egg noodles were also slightly firm and very chewy. However, we were slightly disappointed with the beef chunks. The meat was a bit tough to chew—perhaps it needed more time in the slow cooker. But overall, the bowl of soup was a warm, welcome affair after spending quite some time waiting for a taste of the Wai Ying mami.

Wai Ying is at 810 Benavidez St, Binondo, Manila City.

San Guo La Mien

Seldom would you find a mami spot that serves a mean bowl inside a mall but that's exactly what San Guo La Mien in Lucky Chinatown Mall does. Their Beef Wanton Lamien (P390) is a dish that can be described as one huge bowl of happiness and is worth braving Binondo traffic for. The soup has a hint of spice and you could taste the mix of umami flavors that the combination of spices, greens, and meat brings. Meanwhile, the hand-pulled noodles, or lamien, were soft but chewy while the beef brisket was very tender and melted in our mouths. Our only quip about the dish was that the wontons could've been bigger—but were that the case, we might have been too stuffed to finish what we ordered.

San Guo La Mien is at Ground Floor, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo, Manila City.

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