Wai Ying : Highly Recommended
The lure of Chinatown is that irresistible. And the force usually takes us to the LRT train terminal in Santolan, Pasig for a short trip to Old Manila. Just like last Monday, but this time, we took another route. We walked at the western side of Azcarraga and stopped at Arranque Market. In the old days, people would go to Arranque to buy pigeons and love birds. There are still pet shops at the renovated market. One store owner was offering a Pomeranian dog with thick double coat for only P5,500 but without PCCI papers: Pag lumabas po na hindi pure breed yan, ibalik nyo po dito at babalik ko pera niyo. Garantisado po puro yan. We continued walking till we reached Wai Ying Fast Food at Benavidez Street.
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| The LRT terminal at Recto |
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| Arranque Market along Azcarraga Street (Recto) |
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| Love birds at Arranque Market |
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| Dogs for sale |
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| Rabbits for sale |
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| Finches |
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| Pomeranian without papers |
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| More dogs and cats |
Wai Ying, perhaps the most popular restaurant along Benavidez Street, serves the best dumplings such as Hakaw, Pork Siomai, Beef Balls, Radish Cake, Steamed Spareribs, Chicken Feet and Hamsoikok. It also offers delectable noodles like Beef Mami, Gutchap Mami and Wonton Mami. A best selling item is Pork Asado. With a not too spacious dining area, waiting for your turn is worth it once you begin tasting Wai Ying's much vaunted food delights. Service is generally good. Prices are reasonable.
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| Benavidez is one of the busiest streets of Binondo. |
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| Some stores sell auto parts |
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| The busiest part of Benavidez |
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| Wai Ying's entrance is partly blocked by food carts. |
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| Dining area at the ground floor. |
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| View of the dining area from the main kitchen. |
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| Counter at the main kitchen |
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| Food counter and small kitchen near the entrance. |
At Wai Ying, almost all food items are served hot. When you open the nice bamboo baskets containing the mouth-watering dim sum, steam rises up and you smell the aroma. It begins to touch your heart. After all, dim sum means "to touch your heart". And once you take a bite, you crave for more. And Wai Ying has a wide variety of dim sum to choose from. And don't miss their Black Gulaman. It is the coup de main.
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| Free Chinese tea |
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| Pork Asado |
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| Hakaw |
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| Pork Siomai |
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| Beef Mami |
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| Special noodles |
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| Fried Rice |
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| Chicken Feet |
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| Steamed Spare Ribs |
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| Soy sauce with calamansi |
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| Soy sauce for take out orders |
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| Bamboo baskets for dim sum |
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| Ready for steaming |
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| Ducks and chickens ready to be chopped |
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| Chopsticks |
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| Pork Mushroom, Hot Salad Rolls, etc. |
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| Radish cake |
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| Service at Wai Ying is generally good. |
At Salazar Street, a vendor was selling Ugat ng Kugon: Sir, pakuluan nyo po ito at inumin palagi. Tanggal yang rayuma nyo. Pati diabetes at madaming sakit kayang gamutin nito. At sisigla kayo sa kama. There were four of us looking and listening. Yet it was as if he was addressing it to me. I retorted: Bat sino may sabi di ako masigla? We took the T. Alonzo route on our way back to the Recto LRT Terminal. We positioned ourselves at the section nearest the driver which is always reserved for seniors. The train, as usual, was travelling fast. I was somewhat slumped near the door. Something kept flashing through my mind: Sir, sisigla kayo sa kama. In a few minutes, I heard the voice over:The next station is Katipunan. Ang susunod na istasyon ay Katipunan. I put on my Monster shades, looked for my LRT card and held tightly a small paper bag containing three bunches of Ugat ng Kugon. It was almost sundown when we reached home.
- Konted
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| Salazar St. is near Benavidez St. and Ongpin St. There are many stores along this street that sell pastries and other Chinese delicacies. |
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| President Tea House is located along Salazar St. At right is another food store selling cakes and Taiwanese candies. |
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| Fresh fruits |
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| Mangosteen |
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| Shin Ton Yong sells sausages, dried meat, spring rolls, squid balls, etc. |
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| Sibuyas Tagalog and Bawang |
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| Vendor says Ugat ng Kugon is a cure for various ailments. |
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| Mahjong tables for sale |
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| Grapes |
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| Cherries |
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| Another shot of this high-rise building along Ongpin Street |
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| I was looking for the rig driver but could'nt find him. |
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| At T. Alonzo Street. This is strange to me. |
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| Another unusual commodity being sold at T. Alonzo St. |
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| Is this Kimchi? I could'nt ask as the store owner was busy. |
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| The place to be |
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| Another calesa waiting for passengers at Azcarraga St. (Recto) |
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| Commuters wait for the next train at the Recto terminal. |
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| At the Santolan, Pasig terminal |
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