Yey! Finally, I visited Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House! It wasn't actually my first time to visit Binondo because virtually, I visited a lot through blog posts. I only got to visit Sta Cruz branch when we crave for Chinese Deli. I only know two flavors of Hopia before, Hopia Baboy and Mongo but now, it has evolved into different flavors like Pandan, Ube, Langka, Pastillas and more.
Chinatown is a place I always wanted to explore. I've read in other bloggers' story about their awesome experience during their Binondo walk and their amazing food trips. When you say Binondo, you would definitely think about Chinese delicacies and authentic Chinatown dishes. When I was invited for a date with Mr. Ube together with other bloggers, I was really curious and excited at the same time because I wanted to see and discover their top secrets and why Binondo has been a favorite place for food trip. Also, I wanted to meet behind our Hopia cravings, the owner, Mr. Gerry Chua a.k.a. Mr. Ube whom I frequently see on TV during Chinese New Year and other holidays being interviewed by different TV personalities. He's also featured in magazine and TV networks for their famous Eng Bee Tin products. During bloggers date, Mr. Chua shared us stories about how he became the Hopia Man. Interestingly, Mr Chua is also a dedicated fire volunteer and founded TextFire by which I will blog in a separate post later.
How Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli started.
Since Chua is also the visionary behind Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli, some of its varied product ranges can also be ordered at Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House. Its most famous Ube Hopia and all-time favorite Tikoy are available when you visit any branch.
With a rich history that can be traced from humble beginnings in Ongpin, Eng Bee Tin has mastered the art of producing world-class Oriental delicacies.
Because Chua knows his way around business, he found a way to reinvent a rather usual hopia by blending it with ube, the most popular ice cream flavor at the time. The rest is history as Eng Bee Tin’s ubehopia became a household name.
Eng Bee Tin products are locally available in various supermarkets, groceries, restaurants, office, and school canteens. The company is also one of the biggest international exporters of hopia, delivering in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the USA.
Chua also ensures that quality is key. The company uses automated hopia manufacturing processes and implements a strict hygienic standards of quality control by running the final product through metal detectors, and packaging it in a hygienic pillow pack.
Though a businessman, Chua knows his responsibility to the community where his businesses operate from. In Ongpin where Eng Bee Tin is located, the company donated to the local volunteer fire brigade as evidenced by the purple fire engines that make their way through fire incidents and situations in the vicinity. His other business, Cafe Mezzanine, is also making an impact to the community as its revenues are completely donated to Binondo Paco Fire Volunteer. Recognizing the efforts and through the hard work fire volunteers put into their job, they get a 20-percent discount when they dine at Cafe Mezzanine, located at the heart of Chinatown. That is if their free coffee is not yet enough.
“Our commitment to our society should be never-ending,” said Chua. “Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House aims to acquire five units of ambulance to serve the indigents who can’t afford to pay for ambulance service to hospitals.”
Indeed, Chua’s entrepreneurial vision is deliciously complemented by his life mission to touch lives. No wonder he is one accomplished man and his businesses are successful without a doubt.
Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House
Although Chinese cuisine constitutes majority of Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House’s menu, there are an array of food offerings that will surely tickle your taste buds. Take your pick: noodle soup, rice toppings, stir fry noodles, dimsum, and a lot more.
“We take pride in the restaurant's specialty: our noodles. Our noodles are made fresh every day. We use state-of-the-art Japanese technology in making them,” said Chua. “Our ingredients are natural and they have no preservatives. I am proud to say that the food we serve at Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House are MSG-free and they are non-grease.”
From the very basic chicken noodle soup to wanton noodle, Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House also feature a variety of international noodle soups. Want to try Thai? Order Thai Tom Yam. Hungry like a lion? The Singaporean Laksa is for you. Craving for Japanese? Sip some Japanese Shoyu. If Chinese is your choice, then Gokong Noodle should be on your plate. These and more will let you experience a gastronomic adventure in this noodle house.
Thai Tom Yan for Thai food lovers
Japanese Shoyu for those craving for Japanese soup.
Pig out on lechon macau
Snack on pork kikiam
Stay simple with a beef wanton noodle
Delight your taste buds with Sweet and Sour Pork
Cafe Mezzanine's Camaron Relleno
Cafe Mezzanine's Gokong Soup
Cafe Mezzanine's Kiampong
Cafe Mezzanine's Pork Maki Mi
Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli
Mochi Kreme
Different flavors of Tikoy
So here's what we actually savored during the said date that satisfied our stomach til the next day. Yes, because we ate a lot that I can't afford to miss any of the dishes.
Thumbs up and this is my second round! :)
You have to try their authentic meals because they prepared the food only with the safe ingredients. There is no MSG added but it was flavorful and tasty. Oh yummy! I like wanton Soup the best. For noodle lovers like me, one order of wanton noodle serving is too big, good enough for two at a very affordable price.
Tour at Text Fire Office
After sharing some stories, we toured around Text Fire office and gave us a brief info about Fire volunteer. It's just so amazing how these people aim to help other people without thinking of anything in return. It's all for good deeds.
I took this shot inside Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle house. He was featured in a magazine for his being Hopiaman and being the firefighter man.
The souperstar of the House
The saying “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen” is indeed true for most food entrepreneurs. But for Mr. Chua, the heat in the kitchen even more fires up his passion to offer the best dining experience. Only the toughest survive in the competitive space of the culinary business.
Try visiting his restaurant (I provided the links and address below), Mr. Ube Rice and Noodle House and you'll find out for yourself why this food mecca is already making noise among culinary connoisseurs.
Website: www.engbeetin.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/iloveengbeetin
MR. UBE RICE & NOODLE HOUSE BRANCHES:
Binondo
707 Ongpin St. Binondo St.
Binondo Manila
Tel: 288-8888 Loc. 131
Quezon City
284 E.Rodriguez Sr. Ave.
Quezon City
Tel: 722-4505
Pasig City
Ground Floor
GU-16 Lucky Gold Plaza
Ortigas Ext.
Pasig
Tel. 791-7389
ENG BEE TIN CHINESE DELI BRANCHES
628 Ongpin St. Binondo St.
Binondo Manila
288-8888 ; 241-9999
650 Ongpin cor. E.T. Yunchengco St.
Binondo Manila
288-8888 ; 232-1223 Loc. 219
518 Quintin Paredes St.
Binondo Manila
Tel: 522-2289
Ongpin Commercial Center
Ongpin cor. G. Puyat St.
Sta. Cruz Manila
Tel: 735-4658
Unit G-84 Odeon Terminal Mall
C.M. Recto cor. Rizal Ave.
Manila
Tel: 735-0755
GL 8 Welcome Plaza Taft Ave.
Pasay City
8836-2670
Level -2 Waltermart Center
Chino Roces cor. Arnaiz
Makati
Tel: 843-7256
G-41 Victory Central Mall
Monumento Caloocan City
Tel: 332-1579
B-16 LG Victory Park & Shop Mall
Antipolo Rizal
Tel: 661-7615
Ground Floor Cash and Carry Mall
South Super Hi-way
Makati
Tel: 401-6229
Level 1 Padre Faura Wing
Robinson's Place
Ermita Manila
Tel: 401-3063
Cafe Mezzanine Branch
Mezzanine Floor
650 Ongpin cor. E.T. Yunchengco
Binondo Manila
Tel 288-8888 / 241-9999 Loc 230
Te, napadami kain natin dito. Grabe, ang sarap!!!
ReplyDeleteI visited Mr. Ube a lot of times whenever we visit Binondo. I also learned that their earnings are used to help the fire volunteers.
ReplyDeletei love the hopia from eng bee tin. i would always look forward to this pasalubong whenever someone goes on a business trip to manila. i didn't know that they have ventured into noodle specialties too.. my mouth was watering just by looking at the photos! :D
ReplyDeleteI love Eng Bee Tin products! You're lucky to have met the man behind the success of this company and to have tasted some of their best food offerings.
ReplyDeletewe love Eng Bee Tin products! lalo na their pastillas haha
ReplyDeletethere was a time din na we frequent Mr Ube