Banawe is famous for its food because it is a hub for authentic Chinese cuisine in Quezon City. The area is home to many Chinese restaurants and food shops that offer a wide variety of traditional Chinese dishes, ingredients, and delicacies. It is also known for its affordable prices, making it a popular destination for foodies and budget-conscious diners. Some of the popular dishes that can be found in Banawe include dim sum, dumplings, noodle soups, roasted meats, and various seafood dishes. In addition to Chinese cuisine, the place is also known for its specialty food shops that sell different kinds of food products. Such as Chinese pastries, roasted meats, and seafood. These shops offer high-quality products at reasonable prices, making them a popular destination for foodies who want to experience authentic Chinese flavors.
Since I have experienced the Binondo Food Crawl, I am excited now to see what Banawe has to offer! If you’re looking for suggestions on which ones to try out on your first food crawl, then you’re on the right page! Moreover, the area is also home to numerous auto parts stores and shops that sell a wide variety of car parts and accessories. So no need to worry if you have some car fixing and customization in queue, this place is a one-stop-shop!
YLAYA LUMPIA AND MAKI
Ylaya Lumpia & Maki is a restaurant in Banawe, Quezon City. The restaurant is famous for its affordable and tasty maki and lumpia, which are popular Filipino and Chinese dishes. They also offer other Filipino and Chinese food like pancit, fried rice, and different types of noodles. Of course being a Pinay who lives Lumpia, I have to try theirs! Ylaya’s fresh lumpia is made with a soft, crepe-like wrapper filled with a mixture of vegetables and pork. The filling is seasoned with a sweet and savory sauce made from garlic, sugar, soy sauce, and other spices. It was a refreshing treat and better with the sauce! For only Php 120, you can have this delicious delicacy already. You can even share it with one more person!
I also tried their Cuapo. It is a steamed Chinese bun that is filled with a huge slice of marinated pork, vegetables, and other ingredients. It is similar to Siopao but has a different flavor and shape. Although it is not as cheap as Siopao, the Php 190 order of Cuapao is already for two. Great price for a great value of food! These are best for merienda and snacks. As of now, Ylaya Lumpia & Maki is not accepting dine-in. Customers drop by buy orders for take out.
EAT FRESH
Eat Fresh is a restaurant that is known for its Hong Kong & Singaporean Street foods in Banawe. It started it in 2010, making it a relatively newer establishment in the area. Even so, it has quickly gained a following due to its high-quality food, unique flavors, and affordable prices. Seeing Laksa on their Menu, which is my all-time favorite noodle soup, I ordered it right away! Laksa is a Southeast Asian cuisine that has spicy and flavorful noodle soup. It has a creamy coconut milk-based broth that is infused with aromatic spices and herbs. It has rice noodles, shrimp, fish cakes, and a variety of vegetables. Although it comes with its own reheating mini burner, I’m surprised that the noodles weren’t overcooked even after a few minutes. It actually adds up the score to the presentation! For only Php 305, you and another loved one can share this delicious meal!
Aside from these, I also tried some of their skewers such as yakitori, fish cake, and pork intestine. All of them were really tasty and has huge servings! The price ranges from Php 55 – Php 155 only. I also tried their soft and smooth bola-bola and asado siopao. Both of them costs Php 150 per order and already have 2 pcs each. Eat fresh is really a great place to go if you’re with family, and friends, on a date, or if you just want to spoil yourself with food!
FORMOSA BAKESHOP
Formosa Bakeshop is a Taiwanese bakeshop chain that first opened in Banawe in 2005. The bakeshop is known for its wide selection of pastries, delicacies, and cakes, with a focus on Taiwanese-style baked goods. One of their most popular items is the Pork Floss bun. This pastry is a flaky buttery pastry that is filled with a generous amount of savory pork floss. Pork floss is meat wool or meat floss that is dried and shredded often used as a topping or filling in various Asian dishes. I love that their pork floss provides a salty and slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with the buttery bun. You can try this too in Formosa Bakeshop for only Php 85 each.
Aside from the Pork Floss bun, they also offer a variety of other Taiwanese-style pastries and delicacies. Such as pineapple cakes, sun cakes, and mochi. Pineapple cakes are a popular Taiwanese pastry that features a sweet and crumbly pastry filled with a sweet and tangy pineapple jam. Sun cakes, on the other hand, are a flaky and buttery pastry that is often filled with a sweet and nutty paste made from sesame seeds or peanuts. Mochi is a Japanese-style rice cake that is often filled with sweet red bean paste or other fillings. Formosa Bakeshop is a great place to visit if you’re looking for delicious Taiwanese-style pastries and delicacies. Their Pork Floss bun is a must-try item that is sure to satisfy your cravings for something savory and delicious. I took home some of their pastries as pasalubong to my kids.
