(SPOT.ph) We’re sure you’ve already secured tikoy and maci from everyone’s go-to La Fortuna Bakery, but you might have not yet settled on which Chinese restaurant to order from for Chinese New Year. To help with that, we’ve rounded up some of the best local names you need to know when it comes to Chinese food in Metro Cebu.
Also read:
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Check out these 10 Chinese restaurants in time for the Lunar New Year:
Luy’s Classic Tea House
We can’t talk about Chinese restaurants in Cebu without talking about Luy’s Classic Tea House. It’s one of those places that feels authentic but also local at the same time. While they have the usual dim sum and Chinese dishes—everything you can think of, really—it’s not everywhere you find Ham Sui Kok (P120) and Shanghai hairy crab (seasonal price).
Luy’s Classic Tea House is at APM Square, Andres Soriano Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City. For more information, visit their Facebook page and their Instagram page.
Big Mao
One of the first local restaurants to do a bold take on Chinese fusion, Big Mao is now a nostalgic haunt with its hits like Min Min’s Prawn Roulade (P305) and Braised Beancurd with Dried Mushroom (P209). The former is a deep fried shrimp roll with a crunchy exterior, nori, mayonnaise, and sweet and sour sauce, while the latter is silken tofu with large rehydrated shiitake caps in a comforting brown sauce. Consider trooping over to this spot for times when you want non-boring Chinese.
Big Mao is along Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City. For more information, visit their website, their Facebook page, and their Instagram page.
Ching Palace
Ching Palace may be one of the youngest Chinese restaurants to have reached the level of being an institution on this list, but by no means is it a newcomer. It started out with flashy displays of macaws and equally eye-catching fish, but found its footing with its many function rooms. The food is always unequivocally good, but there are a few dishes you might still be sleeping on. The Live Crab (market price) steamed with garlic will always be a classic, but the claypot rice preparation is the one we’ve all been sleeping on. Its pairing of unctuous sticky rice with Chinese sausage makes for a meal worth having by itself. The Lobster Sashimi (market price) is also worth splurging on, if it’s available.
Ching Palace is along Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City. For more information, visit their Facebook page and their Instagram page.
A Taste of Mandarin
A Taste of Mandarin has held its spot in Gaisano Country Mall for as long as anyone can remember. It’s humongous, too, so you pretty much know it’s going to be a large function if you gather there. They serve all the classics like 4 Hot Cuts (P1,120/small, P1,430/medium, P1,760/large), Boneless Chicken with Lemon Sauce (P275, P420, P500), Crystal Prawn with Kikiam in Chili Butter Sauce, and Pineapple Fried Rice (P450).
A Taste of Mandarin is at Gaisano Country Mall, Banilad Street, Cebu City. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
Majestic
This well-loved Chinese restaurant is a mall fixture with its family style portions and snacktime combos. The Fried Bread and stir-fried Noodles is double carb heaven—and it’s now served with Butter Chicken (meals start at P159). They also have the usual dishes like Pata Tim with Fried Bread (P632), Beef Steak Chinese Style (P332), and Bird's Nest With Quail Eggs (P228).
Majestic has branches at Ayala Center Cebu; SM City Cebu; and SM Seaside City Cebu. For more information, visit their Facebook page and their Instagram page. Available online via GrabFood and Foodpanda.
Lumpia House
Lumpia House was that Chinese restaurant with aquariums out front and servers in cheongsams, while also maintaining a more accessible presence at food courts. Now however, they’ve changed tack and are focused on delivery orders and catering. They still offer Cebuano Chinese favorites, a.k.a. the stuff we grew up eating, like Ngohiong (P11), Ba Chang (P90), Kim Koy Ke (Squash Cake) (P260), and Owa Chian (Oyster Omelette) (P155). But what we really miss is their Shrimp Toast, which used a cracker like Fita instead of bread.
Lumpia House is at 262 Manalili Street, Cebu City. For more information, visit their website, their Facebook page, and their Instagram page.
Mameng’s Kitchenette
Mameng’s Kitchenette is a takeout spot that serves Hokkien household favorites like popiah or Chinese Lumpia (P70/regular, P80/special), Pork Maki (P90), and Pe Bok Ni (P90), a gelatinous white fungus in a mildly sweet soup that you can have warm or chilled. It’s thought to have medicinal properties, especially for the respiratory system, so it’s basically a guilt-free dessert!
Mameng's Kitchenette is at 41 Almendras Street, Mabolo, Cebu City. For more information, contact 0917-313-1202 or visit their Facebook page and their Instagram page.
Ez Eats
Though not exclusively Chinese, Ez Eats is one of the few places that seasonally serve Roast Goose (served whole, price available upon request) in Cebu. They also have the usual Hong Kong roasts as well as Peking Duck. Most of their dishes also come in Bento Packed Meals (starts at P150)—perfect for solo diners or for sending to friends in this post-COVID world.
Ez Eats is at 80 F. Ramos Street, Cebu City. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
Chef A&S Kitchen
Chef A&S Kitchen calls itself “Home of Cebu’s Best Peking Duck & HK Goose.” The Peking Duck (P2,000/small, P3,200/large) comes with wrapper, vegetables, and hoisin sauce, while the HK Goose (P4,700/whole) comes with plum sauce. They also have Roast Duck with plum sauce (P1,700/small, P2,900/large). A small portion is good for two to three persons; the large, for seven.
Chef A&S Kitchen is at 152 Don Julio Llorente Street, Cebu City. For more information, visit their Facebook page and their Instagram page.
Tin Gow
If you’re looking for that fancy vibe only a hotel restaurant can give, look no further than Tin Gow. Although not as buzzy as the others on this list, it’s been steadily pumping out great dishes in its own quiet corner in Waterfront Cebu. They even have an Eat-All-You-Can Dim Sum Promo (P650) for lunch. They also have sets for groups of 10 (starts at P7,000). What you can expect are classic dishes with a couple ultra luxe fare—think live abalone (price available upon request)—peppered in, and all executed very well.
Tin Gow is at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Lahug, Cebu City. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
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