Chatter & Chunter — Cheap Eats at Bellinis & Wai Ying

A love for eating and a dislike for cooking have led me to scour the metropolis for eating places that offer pretty good food at reasonable or even cheap prices. When I read the FHM article “Raiders of the Hidden Chow,” I was inordinately pleased that I’ve gone to 5 out of the 11 restos mentioned, namely Bellini’s, Wai Ying, President, S.R. Thai and Balaw-Balaw.

Bellini’s I was introduced to Bellini’s Italian Restaurant at Marikina Shoe Expo several years ago by a friend who loves pasta. I’ve seen it grow from a word of mouth resto to being featured in magazines to being used as a backdrop for a music video.

Roberto Bellini, an Italian married to a Filipina, used to be part of the infamous paparazzi who was brought to the country while covering a news story. Falling in love with his beautiful wife, he decided to stay in the country for good and realized at the same time that he wanted to try another career, that of a restaurateur.

I always end up ordering something from the pasta list; invariably, the ravioli containing spinach and ham with tomato sauce, which I can’t resist. For an extra charge, one may change the commercial grocery bought pasta to hand made pasta (as in made from scratch from flour and eggs).

Their version of the panna cotta must also be tried, not too sweet and that hint of liqueur at the end makes it so elegant.

Although you will spend on the average about Php 200/pax, the quality of the food would have made it so much more expensive if Bellini’s was located in Makati, for example (there was a Bellini’s branch at Greenbelt 3 for a while).

Its present address is 68-69 Gen. Romulo St., Marikina Shoe Expo, Cubao, with telephone number 913.2550. With no traffic, it’s about 3 minutes from Gateway Mall. Marikina Shoe Expo has a U-shaped driveway, with Bellini’s at the very curve of the U, so you won’t see it immediately from the main road. Parking is a flat rate of Php 20. If you go late at night, the parking attendants have usually gone home, so it ends up being free.

Wai Ying A friend who grew up in the Binondo area brought me to this hole in the wall resto last year, where I predictably order the lemon chicken, tofu and cold milk tea. Prices range from P30-150, and the servings are really big, so unless you’re really hungry or you’re a guy, better share with somebody.

Unsurprisingly, since the prices are very low, the ambience is that of a cafeteria and the crew is fast and curt. Smiling and saying thank you will work wonders since the staff is obviously unused to such courtesies. And don’t be shocked if you’re served by one of the owners or their family members, since it is customary to help out with the family business.

If you’re unfamiliar with the area, to get to Benavidez St. where Wai Ying is located, , it would be best to come from Taft, and when you reach the fork, take the utmost left that goes up on the overpass to Binondo. If you turn right at the fork, you’ll end up in Quiapo instead. Now, go all the way straight until you reach the Binondo Church, then turn right at Ongpin St., left at the first street (sorry, I don’t know the name), and the first street on your right is Benavidez St. Wai Ying is about 8m from the corner.

Parking will be quite difficult during the regular working hours, but it is possible on Benavidez St., and the other streets adjacent to it. Barangay employees are around to guard your car for a minimal tip. Or you can try it out after gimik (which my friend habitually does) since Wai Ying is open till around 3am, so you won’t have to worry about parking.

And if you’re a fan of GMA 7’s teleserye Sugo, you might catch them shooting in one of the Binondo streets—a testament of how influential GMA 7 is with Manila’s local government, that they can ask for prominent Binondo streets to be shut down during very busy business hours.

President Restaurant This is the most upscale restaurant in Binondo that most Philippine presidents are wined and dined here when they visit Chinatown. It’s a little known fact, but, according to my Chinese friend, the owners of President and Wai Ying are the same. So if you were dining in Wai Ying’s first level, you will frequently see President waiters rushing in to get some food item that’s also being offered at the more pricey sister restaurant. But don’t get me wrong, aside from the prices, their menus are miles apart.

I have only been able to eat at President because people have treated me. For example, when another Chinese friend wanted to meet up with me, she bribed me with lunch where I ordered the yummy fried squid, but the piece de resistance for me is always the hot shrimp salad, which is supposedly an appetizer but I always make a meal out of it.

President is easier to find than Wai Ying because once you hit the Binondo church, turn right immediately at Ongpin St., and you will see it on your right after you cross the miniscule bridge. By the way, the 2-lane streets are forced to become 3-lane streets, with both sides filled with parked cars, and the center is the only one really used for moving vehicles. So if you’re not used to having other vehicles literally inches away from your own car, better ask another friend to be the driver.

S.R. Thai Although the branch featured in FHM magazine can be found in Sampaloc, the one I encountered was in a building behind Shakey’s Pizza in Katipunan nearly 5 years ago. I haven’t gone there in a while but I do remember vividly the bagoong rice and the vegetable lumpia. And the student prices are also hard to beat with a P50-130 range. Better call 781.4715 to find out the location of the branch nearest you.

Balaw-Balaw Being inside this restaurant reminds me of mga engkantada and dwende. I don’t know, but there’s this other worldliness aura about it. To comfort myself, I always try to sit near the center, where there is a moving bamboo fountain, and which usually has a patch of sunlight from the open ceiling.

The most fun thing to order at Balaw-Balaw is the minaluto, which comes in different sizes of bilao, with the rice in the center and surrounded by different viands such as inihaw na baboy and chicken or steamed vegetables. My college barkada and I usually order this, plus drinks and dessert.

It’s best to go on a Saturday and then go on a museum tour before or after eating. Just ask the waiters for directions to the nearest artist’s place, and from there just inquire again about the other museums to visit. There are numerous ones since Angono plays host to several resident artists. Balaw-Balaw is also owned by an artist and while waiting for your food you can go around and take a tour.

For directions, please call 651.0110.

Note: All phone numbers and addresses are from the October 2005 issue of FHM magazine, but I have to take responsibility for the directions. Aside from what I’ve said, please consult a map. Have fun eating!

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