China in Manila: Golden Fortune ~ Simple Delicious Food Recipes

Binondo is a haven for those who want to grab a bite of authentic Chinese dishes. With a bunch of old time favorites still busy as ever in the bustling Chinatown, many opened branches just a few miles away from where it all started. Such was the case for Golden Fortune which opened back in the 70's. And throughout the years, this place has not lost its touch as it continues to delight every guest's taste buds with its delectable dishes.

Hello, Golden Fortune.

Golden Fortune has been one of the household names when it comes to great Chinese restaurants. It being around for three decades is enough proof that it stood the test of time and remains relevant to the discerning market today.

I had the chance to swing by its Seascape Village branch last Monday and got to try some of its bestsellers namely Soya Cake with Three Kinds of Mushroom (PHP450), Pan Fried Suahe (PHP530, small), Iced Spareribs (PHP430, small), Baked Liempo with Leeks (PHP430, small), Pan-fried Pompano with Garlic (PHP1,200/kilo) and Three Cup Chicken (PHP480, small).

You may also opt to pick some fresh seafood from the aquarium or from the Seascape Village wet market and have your favorites cooked by Golden Fortune.

Service was pretty fast as most of our dishes arrived in 10 minutes or less.

I was pleasantly surprised that the small orders of Golden Fortune are pretty big given that these can be shared by 3 to 4 guests.

Our plate of Soya Cake with Three Kinds of Mushroom was a lovely way to start lunch. The light flavor of the soya cake was beautifully complemented by the assorted mushrooms in a thick sweet and savory sauce.

I usually dislike eating shrimps when dining out as I find it a pain to peel the shell off. Pan-fried shrimps are awesome though as you could eat the whole thing! The perfectly fried garlicky shrimps had that addictive crunchy taste which made me eat more than I intended. I enjoyed this best with rice.

The baked liempo was tender in every bite. Its light taste enhanced by the onion-y flavor of leek made it a nice item to have with saucier dishes.

Another light flavored dish was Pan-fried Pompano with Garlic. I really enjoyed the crunchy skin and I would have loved it even more if the garlic bits were crunchy too. I liked this even more with soy sauce.

A whiff of Golden Fortune's Three Cup Chicken whet my appetite instantly with its strong and enticing aroma. Surprisingly, its taste was not as bold as its smell which I found a good thing as my taste buds get easily overwhelmed by bold flavors.

But my ultimate favorite was Golden Fortune's Iced Spareribs. Beautifully glazed spareribs served on top of shaved ice, this was nothing short of glorious! Expect a burst of sweet and savory flavors and light crunch in every mouthful.

And if you happen to be in the area at night, make sure to drop by Golden Fortune for its dimsum promo. We got Siomai and Hakaw for just PHP78 and PHP108 instead of PHP110 and PHP150 respectively.

It may not sound so big of a discount but it'll matter if you plan to have a dimsum feast! The dimsum promo runs from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight daily. (Trivia: Golden Fortune has been doing this for years and it actually gained even more popular because of this.)