When it comes to comfort food, burger, fries, mac and cheese and pizza are bound to come to mind. Now that itβs March, your idea of comfort could use a little update. There’s nothing more comforting than food you’ve been eating while growing up. To me, it’s Chinese food, which half of the world, if not more, also crave for.
To keep us fueled, last Tuesday, we were treated to a “thanksgiving lunch” by colleagues in one of the most famous Chinese restaurants in the country: David’s Tea House, SM Mall of Asia. Yay! This branch of David’s Tea House in MOA is relatively new, as the restaurant has moved from the front side (near Hypermarket) to the back side facing Seaside Boulevard.
Review of David’s Tea House (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)
Ambiance: β β β β β
With tall seats, high ceiling, huge chandeliers and spacious dining area that could fit about 70-80 people, David’s Tea House in MOA displays modern interior design with a cozy vibe. The place was quiet since we were the only customers there, even at the peak of lunch hour. It was like the room was reserved all for ourselves, yet it didn’t feel wrong but just provided us with an advantage: shorter waits. It might be an exact opposite story come dinnertime.
Service: β β β β β
Our orders arrived fast. The waiters refilled water and tea and fulfilled requests quickly, too. They were kind and polite, but what could add another star to this rating would be their smile. They all seemed so tense and serious. A pleasant smile would invoke a charming countenance and make customers feel more welcome.Β As long as they are doing their job well, that’s okay I guess.
Food: β β β β β
As an appetizer, the Nido with Quail Egg Soup (PHp 245) may be the most basic, almost tasteless soup that will surely cleanse your palette and soothe your stomach for the dishes to come. This soup was not the best version I came across, but still it was okay.
The kitchen of David’s Tea House produces a very fine plate of Yang Chow Fried Rice (PHp 195). Of all items on the menu, I think this is the one that’s most ordered. The perfectly cookedΒ grain rice was mixed with bits of fried eggs, salty ham, small shrimps and green peas for that much needed dose of herbal brightness.
We also had Pineapple Fried Rice (PHp 255), which is similar to how the Yang Chow Fried Rice tastes but with added pineapples. This is another Chinese classic with a twist. I liked how the sweetness of pineapple merged with the friedΒ rice’s flavor. The smell could instantly put everyone in a good mood.
For our vegetarian viand, Buddha’s DelightΒ / Lo Han Chai (PHp 240) was served. Filled with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, carrots and young corn, David’s Tea House’s lo han chai was not enjoyable mainly because it didn’t have many ingredients that are typically present in the oriental dish.
I was silently hoping for glass noodles, wan yu (dried cloud ear fungus) and dried gluten balls.Β Like always, when dining out with friends, I notice that anything that seemed like a herbivore’s meal would always be the bridesmaid and never the bride. Truth be told, the vegetables were again overshadowed by the meat. Up next: chicken, beef and pork.
The Crispy Fried Chicken (PHp 250, half) was a hit on our table. The chicken skin’s crispiness was so addictive that one might want to put a ring on it! The white meat was lean and even without adding extra sauce or condiments, the taste was satisfactory.
Credits must go to the chef as the natural taste of ampalaya in Beef with Ampalaya (PHp 265) was pronounced without being too bitter. The bittergourdΒ itself would have made the meal, but the soft and tender beef really sealed the deal here. Taking the entire saucy dish to new levels of deliciousness, the thin slices of beef did not give us a hard time to chew.
I had initial reservations about trying the Fried Spareribs with Salt and Pepper (PHp 240) because it’s pork. The last thing I wanted was to be punished by formations of red patches and acne only to discover later that eating it is not worth the investment. Anyhow, I took the knife and cut a piece of spareribs for a small bite. My say? The spareribs punched way way above its weight in flavor. It was savory, so even if I do have an acne now on my forehead, it’s well compensated.
Finally, we had the Fish Fillet with Beancurd (PHp 340), my favorite among all these food. Actually it was ordered just as an “insurance policy” (we had too many food already), which paid off. I loved that the skin of the beancurd and fish fillet was fried and still crispy outside despite that they were swimming in sauce.
In any way it’s cooked, the fish may not have the sex appeal of an oyster, but it’s got romance. And with a sip of David’s Tea House’s lightΒ jasmine tea, it’s true love. β₯
Price for Value: β β β β β
David’s Tea House is a restaurant that can boost your confidence in spending for authentic Chinese food specializing in the taste of Hong Kong. Portion sizes of food are good for sharing, making food prices here totally reasonable in my sunny corner of the universe. If you’re really on tight budget, simply getting the Yang Chow Fried Rice (their flagship) sans additional viand may be fine as a completely filling meal.
David’s Tea House in MOA accepts reservations for parties of all occasions. Book a party and avail of their free photo booth. Discover how and why their name became famously synonimous with hotpot table top cooking with their shabu shabu packages: PHp 780 for 2-3 people and PHp 1080 for 4-5 people.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Wow, lots of food to choose from…the glass noodles looks delicious. When I visited Mall of Asia, I used to eat at Tokyo, Tokyo. Next week, I’ll visit this David’s Tea House.
Tokyo Tokyo is a good fastfood restaurant. David’s Tea House is considered a bit fine dining. π
Nice post! I’m practically salivating right now. And since you gave this place an average of 4/5, considering that you have an exquisite taste, I think it’s worth to try. I might try some of these dishes in David’s Tea House when I visit MOA. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the trust, Prince, and you’re welcome. π
Fried Rice is really my favourite,I just love it.This one looks great too and the place also looking awesome.
Fried rice is my favorite, too, but not at this joint. I’ve tasted other better versions of the Yang Chow Fried Rice in restaurants here in my hometown – Chinatown, Manila. π
I am not a fan of Chinese food but i do love fried rice and the yang chow fried rice looked very yum (not a good thing to see and read at almost 1 in the morning! My stomach’s growling now). Btw, are you allergic to pork or something? Just a bite and you already got acne from it?
Haha yes, I am. I’m very sensitive when it comes to eating meat because we grew up as pescetarians and we were only served with vegetables and seafood at home.
That makes me hungry -_-,It looks delicious with its unique ingredients. I want to eat all of that specially “Beef With Ampalaya”.
The deeply flavorful dishes don’t let up on the heat. I’m a fan of the beef with ampalaya as well. π
David’s is one of our favorite Chinese places. Food is really authentic Chinese plus prices are reasonable. Makes my mouth water just seeing your post. π
Well, it’s not the best Chinese restaurant you can find in Manila, but it does in a pinch, and I’ll admit it: I like gloppy Chinese food every once in a while, and Davdi’s does it pretty well.
I’m always at the SM Mall of Asia but I haven’t tried this place. It’s my sister’s 20th birthday this month. Maybe we can celebrate it here. Do you know if they have promos for events like birthdays? π
Are you referring to promos like discounts for the birthday celebrant? No, they don’t have those hehe.
Yes We at Davids Tea House SM MOA Have promos for events like birthdays and Wedding just look for our Supervisor. Thanks!
You’re welcome. π
that beancurd and mushroom dish looks very yummy! fried rice is a must in chinese foods! and we often have pineapple fried rice here in malaysia
Pineapple fried rice is quite ubiquitous nowadays, but then I don’t grow tired of the taste.
I love David’s Tea House!! Yummy and Affordable this place is really great value for money.
Value for money, it is! David’s Tea House a great crave-quencher for Chinese food.
I Love Davids Tea House. Our favorite among others are : Beef Brocolli, Pata Tim, Salt and Pepper Pork. They are serving hot cola here right? I remember ordering the hot cola after a choir performance.
Hot cola? I have never heard to that before. Hmmm maybe I’ll ask for that next time. The name sounds interesting. π
For some reason (I don’t know why), I just LOVE Chinese food and David’s sure have some nice choices available. I certainly want to try the Lo Han Chai =)
Haha you don’t know why??? π OK lah, the lo han chai was arguably a little boring and way too oily, but I loved the variations of texture and the light sweetness of the sweet corn. It wasn’t my favorite, granted, but it was a solid vegetarian option in the midst of so much meat.
This is a really nice post
informative as well as well written
fabulous presentation
Thanks, Akshay. π
I love to drink tea, so very refreshing…
Tip: you can also get refreshing iced tea by requesting for a glass with ice and syrup. Pour the hot tea and voila! You’ve just made your own concoction without added cost. π
I really love tea, but I have never been to any Tea House, I also like to taste different asian cuisines but I don’t get the chance to visit a place that offers that food. I hope to do it all this year and reading reviews like this will give me great ideas on which I will visit.
Maybe visiting a tea house would really make you happy. So you just buy tea leaves and make drinks on your own? That’s also fine and cool. π
OMGGGGGG!!! My favorite food π Looks scrumptious xx
David’s Tea House in wherever branch is full of great but heavy food competing for your attention. π
I’m not an Asian cuisine foodie but man your review and pictures made want to try it! π
Yay! I just gave you a change of heart. π
Buddha’s Delight looks so delicious! But I think, there are too many mushrooms. I dunno but does it really need to have lots of mushrooms? Vegetable dish should have a balance of ingredients for me to make the dish presentable and colorful.
And it’s also a big deal for me that the waiters should at least wear a smile as they’re serving customers. It’s their job no matter how tiring the day is. π
There really was way too many mushrooms. Don’t panic; it’s normal. Haha lo han chai seems to be different in every Chinese restaurant. This one’s just a bit off. Yeah, you’re right, the more colorful the dish is, the more appetizing and yummy it appears to be.
Somehow attending to customers on a bad day is hard, but it’s part of the job.
I’ve tried their branch in Baguio and I really enjoyed the food there.
Oh I didn’t know David’s also has a branch in Baguio. Nice. π
David’s Tea House is popular there and has a large following within the City.
Glad to know that many people also like Chinese food the same way I do. π
Haven’t had the chance to sample the food at David’s Tea House but the food you featured here look very delicious, probably something I will order for myself and my family.
Oh, dining in at David’s is an experience you dare should not miss. π
Omg!! love the cozy and modern ambiance of this tea house!!. Will raid this on Friday with my friends haha naghahanap din kasi kami ng mga bagong place and restaurants around the metro :D.
Ahh this is a nice catch. Why not wait until Saturday to go for a date with your friends in MOA? Then you’ll get to watch the pyromusical at night. π
[…] would be the Yang Chow. And that’s exactly what we had. The judgement? I loved it, more than David’s Tea House‘s […]
I am also a fan of Chinese Food! I can’t wait to try their version of Lo Han Chai!
Hehe there are other more interesting dishes to try in this restaurant. So while Lo Han Chai is a popular oriental dish, it’s no win against all the remaining items on the menu.
It looks like a good restaurant with yummy food! Although I also like my waiters to smile, don’t need sour faces during lunch π
Naomi, x
Customers visit restaurants not to be more stressed with its ambiance including its people. A smile should not cost a thing. π
I like that their pricing for their food is good. I can eat a lot without spending that much. I want to try the pineapple fried rice π
David’s Tea House has a lot of branches nationwide. Go to the one nearest you now – or maybe later at lunch time. Get these recommended dishes and you can thank me later. π
I’ve never had fried rice before, but I would love to try it out one day π
You can make your own fried rice with simple ingredients by following a quick recipe. π
I’ve been in David Tea House on another branch – it’s cheap and yummy and the food is actually great – worth it!
Value-wise, David’s Tea House is one of the unbeatable Chinese restaurants. Others have great lunch deals, but not much else.
Kinda expensive to dine here at Davids but in terms of Chinese food for this price range, it’s better to dine here than dining at Savory (except Binondo branch where the Savory chicken is so delicious).
Thanks for the tip. π I can’t identify the difference between the chicken cooked in the Savory Binondo branch versus chicken cooked in another branch though.
[…] our “thanksgiving lunch” at David’s Tea House MOA Branch last March, we had a chance to try several dishes at this Chinese restaurant yesterday. At lunch […]