From the Condesa side of the Binondo Church (the Norberto Ty St.), we strolled to the direction of the San Nicolas district in Binondo, where period houses are getting fewer and fewer to make way for commercial buildings. The narrow streets are still dimly lit, giving you a feeling of the olden days.
On Ilang-Ilang St., where you will find the oldest Chinese restaurant in Manila, there is also another century-old restaurant that bears the name of the street. It is so out of the way that you tend to forget there’s a visit-worthy Fukien restaurant if you’re longing for nostalgia. Still owned by the Chings, the restaurant’s ambiance is not too old anymore, but the food that dates back to 1910 is one and the same. My husband says, his father and his friends used to linger at the restaurant when they were younger. They all came from the same province in China to settle in the Philippines.
Today, Ilang-Ilang is a popular caterer, reaching as far as the provinces. They prepare lauriat for the Chinese Temple festivities here in Ilocos, occasionally.
We had disagreements on what food to order, so the dishes on the table kinda look alike except the liver with garlic and snow peas, which my late father-in-law used to cook at home. The diok pit he (stuffed prawns) is a dish I’ve loved since I was little.
The camaron rebosado wasn’t as good as the salt and pepper pork. The specialties are lomi, chami, taro guisado, fried pigeon, jeweled chicken, steamed fish or suahe (prawns). In fact, there’s quite a long list.
Ilang Ilang Restaurant 551 Ilang-Ilang St., Binondo, Manila Open 8 AM – 10:45 PM Tel. No.: 241 9297 / 241 9298/ 241 6135 / 242 3266 CP. No.: 0922 841 9298 Email: ilangilang@lycos.com
Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014
