It has been a while since I last hit up Banawe Avenue in Quezon City (now dubbed as the “second Chinatown”) for a meal. Why? I live in Binondo, at the heart of the first and original Chinatown in Metro Manila, Philippines. Delicious, authentic and solid Chinese food to us is just within an arm’s reach. In rare occasions though, we also try and venture out to discover snazzy Chinese restaurants outside our perimeter and see if the trip wouldΒ or won’t be worth the trip.
YesterdayΒ was one of those times. We recently heard that King Chef has opened a new branch in Banawe called King Chef Dimsum Kitchen following the success of its flagship branch. What else could we have had at this restaurant? Dim sum (ηΉεΏ), of course! π
As a culinary adventure, eating dim sum is a casual affair that’s better enjoyed with a large bunch of people. Especially since King Chef serves over a hundred different kinds of dim sum, you would want to try moreβwithout having to spend more individually and take more than your body can absorb at a time. It also feels fun and rewarding to anticipate and converse about the dim sum with friends/family once the bamboo steamer is lifted and the food is revealed.
King Chef Dimsum Kitchen offers priceΒ discountsΒ on its dim sum during these hours: Morning Tea Time (8AM-10AM), Afternoon Tea Time (2PM-5PM) and Late Night Tea Time (9PM-12MN) daily. If this sounds good to you, take advantage of their promotion and plan for a dining schedule now. π Here’s a sneak peek and review of the food according to my taste buds.
Review of King Chef Dimsum Kitchen (Banawe, Quezon City)
Ambiance: β β β β β
Apparently, King Chef Dimsum Kitchen is where community feeding sessions can be held in mass. This is a restaurant meant for big groups, with square tables that can be easily merged together. If you need a venue for birthday parties and any other celebrations, this Chinese banquet hall has got you covered. The interior design is aesthetically pleasing without much frills. I’m contented with the cleanliness of the space, bright lighting and decent furniture. The place can get a little noisy when it’s filled with more customers but that’s fine with me as I’m already used to the certain festive bustle or the ηιΉ (re-nao) ambiance in most Chinese restaurants.
Food: β β β β β
King Chef Dimsum Kitchen’s menu is organized into categories: Congee, Steamed Dim Sum, Fried Dim Sum, Noodles and Soups, Rice Toppings, Breakfast Sets, Lunch Sets, Rice Rolls, Drinks and Desserts. Everything is characterized by the food’s distinctive taste and the great care taken in its preparation. If you’re a dim sum novice, the key to ordering properlyβa lesson not better learned the hard wayβis to order at least one from each category.
Over 30+ dim sum were served to us, but I have carefully selected only those that appealed to me the most:
Crispy Duck Wantons (PhP 120 regular/PhP 68 promo) featured the concept of fried pork wanton balls, except that the fillings are changed to duck meat. Pan-fried to a light crisp, this was quite a contentment as the duck meat wasΒ perfectly minced inside. Get this as an appetizer or an entrΓ©e. However you choose to go about it, make sure it’s on the table. It’s nothing short of amazing!
The Shanghai-style Xiao Long Bao (PhP 150, 6 pieces) was good but not as delightfulΒ as the others that I’ve had. I thought it’s a litlte dry and lacked on the soup, but that’s maybe because we didn’t eat it at once. For that matter, a return visit and reorder would make a justification.
The Beancurd Roll (PhP 105 regular/PhP 62 promo) was dense and so good that I didn’t bother to know what’s stuffed inside (ground pork? shrimp? mushroom? veggeis?). That rarely happens. I just managed to swallow the half portion entirely and nodded my head in the affirmative: yes, it’s delicious!Β π
Looking cute and awesome, the Carrot Rolls (PhP 90 regular/PhP 62 promo) are not actually carrots but rolls which are only made to look like carrots. Don’t get fooled. π Points are definitely added for creativity. These are filled with lin yong (lotus seed paste)βthe same primary ingredient in traditional mooncakes.Β I would have preferred it to have a stronger dose of carrot flavor to match expectation somehow.
Another aromatic dim sum dish was the Pumpkin Balls (PhP 90 regular/PhP 62 promo) which stood out for me also because I would never have expected that it’s also stuffed with linyong inside. The texture was fine and smooth like butter and the taste was not too sweet, so there isn’t anything bad to say about it. I bet kids would love it. It’s perfect for Halloween!
When meat meets vegetables to form a dumpling, good things happen. This is exactly the case with the Chiu Chow Style Kuchay Dumplings (PhP 95 regular/PhP 62 promo). I enjoyed a plump piece of it and appreciated the mix of flavors and textures in one bite. Wrapped in soft rice paper wrapper, the dumpling wasn’t far too heavy-handed on the kuchay, so for those who are members of the “anti Chinese chives and coriander community,” please don’t say no to this right away. Give it a try!
Doused in sweet soy sauce, the Vegetarian Rice Rolls (PhP 95) were thick, chewy, and not too sticky. They’re made with vegetables including my favorite enoki mushrooms (Japanese golden mushrooms)! π I really miss eating enoki mushrooms because they’re hard to find here in local groceries and markets. This is one of my favorites.
Having that squidgy slightly sweet inner wall, the Ham Soy Kok/ Ham Sui Gok εΈζ°΄θ§ (PhP 95 regular/PhP 62 promo) or fried pork dumplings were wonderful. Some people describe it as tikoy (glutinous rice cake) with gorgeous savory pork filling inside. Everyone of us liked it, thanks to the savory crisp and chewy mochi-like skin.
The Hakaw (PhP 110 regular/PhP 68 promo) or shrimp dumpling is one of my staple orders at every dimsum restaurant I go to. This version hasn’t disappointed at all. The prawns used inside were clean and fresh with a natural sweetness that’s hard to resist. The dumpling skin was thin enough to keep the fillings wrapped and not fall apart upon the first bite.
If you want something similar to hakaw but then something more unique, take theΒ Bird’s Eye Dumplings (PhP 110 regular/PhP 68 promo). It’s made with bouncy prawn, asparagus, carrot and fish wrapped in translucent skin resulting to a savory taste. I think of it as the old school hakaw with differing textures and a hidden bonus.
An explosion of sweet and slightly salty flavors, the taro used in the Taro Puff (PhP 120)Β was fresh and refined. Drizzling a piece with the sweet sauce enhanced the natural taste of taro. I like adding chili sauce for a complete knockout as spicy food often wake up my senses and increase my appetite. The taro puff is a timeless classic that has been nicely done. Overall, it’s complete and well-balanced with the almost bland-tasting outer crust layer (nest).
By the look of it, the Beef Wanton Noodles (PhP 190) was just another bowl of standard Chinese noodles, except that this noodle and soup dish dominated in a head-to-head battle against being soggy, over-salty version some of us are used to getting. With a bit of spicy kick on the broth, these are great noodles with solid bites of protein and vegetables along the way.
The Bola Bola Congee (PhP 130) tasted rich and velvety. It was very fragrant, cooked Cantonese-style that’s boiled until it’s mashy and rather soupy. Coming from a Cantonese family, I have always liked this type of congee since I was younger and shall love it most probably for the rest of my life. It’s warm, soothing and memorable.
For desserts, the Mango Balls (PhP 85 regular/PhP 62 promo) brought that subtle sweetness that lingers in the mouth. They’re basically a doughy treat of mango mochi filled with a small mango piece inside and sprinkled with coconut flakes. The presentation was mediocre but these mango balls are a great way to end a fulfilling meal.
Price for Value: β β β β β
With “dum sum” forming part of its name, we’re pretty much guaranteed to have a good meal at King Chef Dimsum Kitchen. Price range is around PhP 80-PhP 150 for most items, and this is actually not bad given the highΒ quality of ingredients used and creative presentations of food.Β If you’re hunting high and low for the best dim sum restaurant in the metro, note that King Chef must be included in the list.
Operating hours:
Mon: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Tue: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Wed – Sat: 7:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Other branches: King Chef Seafood Restaurant
- 987-989 Banawe St, Quezon City 3527534 | Call 4136619, 4414177, 6977781 or delivery hotline 4104919
- 2F Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo, Manila | Call 7208594, 466 5765 (read my review here)
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Hmmmm, Everything looks delicious, nomnom:) Will try to invade that resto! –I’m a dimsum and soy sauce addict,lol–Followed you on twitter dear:)
Haha soy sauce definitely adds to the taste. π I followed you back, thanks!
I love the photos of the food. It’s definitely different from what we eat here π
Oh, I guess each place just has its own specialty but nonetheless, there’s really a wide range of food that can be found in Chinese cuisine that even I still haven’t tried. π
Looks like they all have all the Dimsum flavors here. I’ll try this out when I am in QC.
Yeah, this place is like a dim sum haven.
The pumpkin balls are so cute! Everything looks delicious.
Yes! I also found the Carrot Rolls very cute, too! Hehe But aside from creative presentations, the dim sums and other food here are two thumbs-up. π
I think I’d like to try those crispy duck wontons. Mmmmm. They sound amazing.
Yup, you should try it when you drop by here! π
Oh my! Everything looks amazing! I love Dimsum! My daughter’s from China and loves congee but I can never make it the right way.
Oh, you could try following recipes found online like my sister did. It was simple to make and you could also try adding ingredients of your own choice. π
Oh my gosh! I can’t believe I managed to scroll down to the last photo without actually banging myself in the monitor! I am so hungry! I just wanted to try those dimsums and some other food I haven’t tried like the carrot-thing which isn’t actually a carrot. LOL! You are starving me to death! Whew!
Haha! The Carrot Roll is really innovative. King Chef is actually a perfect place to dine if you want to experience interesting flavors and designs of different dim sums. π
Oh my goodness, another great share. I love dim sum! No one in my area makes any decent dim sum mostly because of it being more rural and less cultured.
Thanks, Nile! Fortunately, I live near our country’s Chinatown so tasting authentic Chinese dim sum is very convenient for me. Hehe Hope you could get to have great dim sum experience soon, too! π
I love eating dumplings especially with beef wanton noodles and pao.Good and spacious place indeed.
Oh, that’s heaven! Dining in a Chinese restaurant with dumpling and noodles is definitely a must. π
So many awesome looking foods.I have never had dim sum!
Why oh why? Dim sum is like a must-eat food in one’s life! Hope you could try one and I’m sure you’re gonna crave more for it after. π
That’s a lot of dimsum there! And the price here is fairly affordable! π
Yes! Considering its good ambiance and very interesting and exciting food like its dim sum, it’s certainly not a regret to spend a little. π
I like that they just specialized in Dimsum. Most restaurants try to offer everything yet they haven’t mastered anything.
It’s good that King Chef has decided to differentiate between its seafood restaurant and this dimsum restaurant.
Wow! cozy ang place and quite big. I love dumplings and yes, beef noodles.
Yup! It’s a very commendable place for gatherings and celebrations especially if you love dim sums and other Chinese dishes! π
Yum! With over 100+ flavors to choose from, no two visits should ever be the same! The pumpkins are super cute. Thanks for sharing!
That’s right. There was a more than adequate selection of items to choose from. All the dishes we had were fresh, hot, tasty, and well prepared and presented.
The presentation is super nice… pero ang affordable. I agree that Banawe is the second Binondo. π
Come here if you have a big craving for dim sum. π
I can’t wait to visit. I’ll be checking out this place when I come to town. Everything looks delicious by the way.
The food was reasonably authentic and decently prepared. So if you’ve got a hankering for dim sum or just want to try it the first time, stop on by for savory Cantonese treats.
All that food looks really good. I love your pictures, it makes me want to eat there.
Thanks, Bonnie. You will be satisfied with the pretty well-made dim sum here. Special mention are the dumpling skins that are thin and tender and stuffings that are good quality and generous.
The pumpkin balls are so cute.
Yup, it’s a must-try, a unique find in the metro. π
Though I am personally not a fan of chinese foods and restaurants – my family loves king chef – and tend to dine in there all the time.
Well you have to really count yourself lucky because this is one of the best Chinese restaurants there is. π
I was fooled by the carrot rolls lol! I thought they were real carrots. The pumpkin balls are adorable π
Try them next time you have dim sum here. π
Everything looks good even though i’m not the biggest fan of dim sum, i’d usually stick to congee and siu mai hahaha so unadventurous!
Haha that’s okay. You just be the next siu mai or congee connoisseur! π
The photos of the food are awesome. They make everything look delicious. I would love to try this type of food someday.
Thanks, Deanna! I thought that the food was pretty authentic and true to the ingredients. The dim sum being served here is definitely the way to go.
This looks and sounds like an amazing restaurant, and the food looks divine!
They sure do. I was super excited to taste everything but then my stomach space was only limited to be filled by these at most. π
Everything looks so good! But I have to say that the Carrot Rolls & Pumpkin Balls were what would really draw me in.
You have to try them–and your kids should, too. π
This place looks and sounds amazing. The food is beautiful and looks so amazingly delicious. I wish I could eat there just once. Thanks for sharing.
Yup. This restaurant has awesome food, clean area, attentive service and overall great peaceful experience. The food was diverse and light. I guess becoming full takes a longer time when eating dim sum than taking a whole plate of meal.
I love the little pumpkin shaped things. Too cute! Looks like an awesome place to eat! π
Those pumpkin balls are good as appetizer and/or dessert. π
I have never seen the pumpkin shaped dumplings before. they are so cute.
Me too, and I thought so, too. π
How festive!?! I would love to take my family here, all your photos look scrumptious! <3
Thanks, Tanya. This place Is always crowded with diverse customers sharing same taste and enjoying Asians best food. You get best service, best taste, satisfying entrees that suites your palate.
I love carrots, but when you say it is not a real carrot roll I am more curious what’s inside and how was the preference!
Haha. You’ll enjoy dining here not only for trying the carrot but everything else with your families and friends.
This looks like such a unique restaurant and the food looks delicious!
What is great about it is there is so much variety to choose from. King Chef Dimsum Kitchen is family-friendly, and I think this kind of food caters well also for kids.
AWESOME!! ROCH!!! hehehehe the carrots and the pumpkin got us fooled. I definitely agree with you that the carrot and the pumpkin should have had more flavor similar to carrot and pumpkin π π π see you next time dear π
Haha yup, we learned a lesson that day: don’t be afraid to try and experiment — we won’t be disappointed. π Thanks, Jeng! See you soon!
What a cute little restaurant. All the food looks delicious.
I was raised on Chinese food and I find King Chef to be one of the more authentic Chinese restaurants in Metro Manila. The dim sum is excellent! π
This food looks yummy. I LOVE Chinese food, it may just be for dinner now!
Yay. Chinese food is the best! π
This looks like delicious Chinese food! I absolutely love dim sum!
Indeed, they’re all delicious. I can have dim sum anytime of the day. π
Love their Xiao Long Bao and Sharks Fin! Nice place too!
Hey Roch, great pics! Would you mind us using your shot of the xiao long bao for one of our listicles? We will credit you of course! Have a great day ahead. π
OK that’s fine. Sending me a link here in the comment so people can also refer to it.