Konted's Make My Day 2: ma mon luk

Friday, 20 November 2020

MA MON LUK

MA MON LUK

Before Henry Sy, Lucio Tan and John Gowengkei, there was MA MON LUK.

A poor migrant from Canton, China, Ma started walking the streets of Manila in 1918, peddling mami noodles.

Magiliw, masayahin siya and people liked his noodles.

Soon, he had outlets on Salazar St. in Binondo, Quezon Blvd. near Quiapo Church and at Quezon Avenue near Banawe in Quezon City.

Ma became rich, super rich.

Today, after 102 years, there is still a legion of diehards willing to brave the rain and endure heavy traffic to have a taste of Ma Mon Luk.

Ma Mon Luk remains a force to be reckoned with.

KONTED

Whenever this lady buys beads and accessories at Villalobos St. in Quiapo, she makes it a point to have a bowl of Chicken Mami paired with Special Siopao at the Quiapo branch of Ma Mon Luk.

After more than 10 decades, it is still the same broth, the same noodles, the same chicken strips, the same sauce and the same aroma. Nothing has changed.

Ma Mon Luk along Quezon Avenue near Banawe St. in Quezon City. With my dog, I had to wait for a parking slot as the resto was filled to the brim.

Brace yourself for a longer waiting time at Ma Mon Luk in Quezon City

Certified diehards

First on this balikbayan's bucket list: a bowl of Chicken Mami and Special Siopao

When Ma Mon Luk was peddling Ma Mi noodles, he would cut, with a pair of scissors, the chicken strips. It was termed 'gupit'.

Siopao Asado, Siopao Bola Bola and Special Siopao

I used to see this wall sign at the Quiapo branch of Ma Mon Luk in my college days. (philstar pic;;caption is mine)

Ma Mon Luk Ma Mi King restaurant on Salazar St.in Binondo in the early years(g-gle pic;caption is mine)

Ma Mon Luk branch in Cubao, Quezon City in the 60s, 70s and 80s when the legal heirs of Ma Mon Luk decided to expand the family business. (D.O.T pic; caption is mine)

Whenever there was a crisis or calamity, Ma would respond by donating sacks of rice. (g'gle pic; caption is mine)

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Sunday, 16 February 2014

From the LRT 2 train terminal, we crossed Avenida Rizal, turned left at Tomas Mapua St. and turned right at Soler St. From there, we were tracing Benavidez St. To make things easier, we asked a fruit vendor: Dalawa po yang madadaanan nyo na tulay. Bago dumating yung pangalawang tulay, Kalye Benavidez po yon. Matamis po itong mga Ponkan. We passed by Peace Hotel and Golden Fortune Restaurant. A light green calesa was waiting for passengers by the side of the road: Sasakay kami mamaya. Hintay mo kami. Kakain lang kami sa Masuki Mami House.

Travel time from the LRT terminal in Santolan, Pasig to the Recto Terminal is approximately 20 minutes. Fare is P15 per person. P12 if you are a senior citizen. A section is reserved for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and employees of LRT on duty. The following are stations where one can board or alight: Santolan, Katipunan, Anonas, Cubao, Betty Go Belmonte, Gilmore, J. Ruiz, V. Mapa, Pureza, Legarda and Recto.

Rizal Avenue is one of the principal streets of Santa Cruz District. It is more commonly known as Avenida Rizal.

Benavidez St. is one of the busiest streets of Binondo. Ask vendors or barangay tanods and they will surely tell you where it is.

Calesa waiting for passengers

Fire trucks are stationed at strategic areas for any eventuality.

Masuki is near Peace Hotel and Golden Fortune Seafood Restaurant.

Masuki boasts of serving delicious mami and siopao. And as highlighted in the ads, Masuki has been in the business since 1930. They have been selling mami and siopao even before the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established and even before World War II. Its original name was Ma Kong and it was only recently that the owners changed it to Masuki. Framed photos and news clips adorn the walls of the restaurant. Pointing to an old photo, I asked a waiter and got a quick reply: Yan po ang may-ari. Yung tatay nila, pamangkin ni Ma Mon Luk.

Masuki Mami House at Benavidez Street

Steaming mami as Masuki's logo

Masuki's one and only entrance

Masuki is one of the more popular restaurants in Chinatown.

Masuki's dining area is generally clean.

Where food is prepared

Masuki helper cuts noodles and meat using scissors.

It is called "gupit".

Masuki's original name was Ma Kong

Owner of Masuki (right) being interviewed

Masuki is known for its generous servings of Chicken, Beef and Original Mami. Its siopao is bigger than the usual siopaos of other noodle houses. The choices are Asado and Bola Bola. While Masuki's siopao is comparable to that of the original Ma Mon Luk, I cannot, for the moment, say the same for its mami. You see, at Masuki, you add the condiments such as spring onions, soy sauce, white pepper and asado sauce. And I am not one good in mixing condiments. I was supposed to add that asado sauce but I didn't. The mami broth was bland. I suspend passing judgment on Masuki's chicken mami. I have to try it again and do the right thing.

Soy Sauce, fish sauce, white pepper and hot sauce as condiments

Asado sauce

Spring onions

Free Chinese tea

Masuki's Original Mami

Chicken Mami. You have to add condiments.

Asado siopao

Generous servings at Masuki

I forgot to ask the waiter what those Chinese letters stand for. Next time.

The green calesa was no longer there. We looked for another one. There was a commotion near the bridge. The lady owner of a vehicle was in a panicky mode: Asan yung sasakyan ko? Asan? The watch-your-car boy answered: Nahatak po. Hinatak ng wrecker. Puntahan po natin doon. Onlookers started gathering around. We boarded a red calesa after crossing the bridge: Iikot ikot mo kami diyan. Basta sa simbahan ng Sta. Cruz kami bababa. Bahala ka na. And then I heard again the sound of the galloping horse.

- Konted