Last Saturday, we have sampled Wee Nam Kee’s latest incarnation of dishes this 2014. Wee Nam Kee in the fashionable Glorietta 2 Makati was last among all WNK branches to release the chain’s newest menu of reasonably priced plates of Singaporean-Chinese cuisine. The servings are matched with creative drinks and desserts options, and I really appreciated them all.
Review of Wee Nam Kee (Glorietta 2, Makati City)
Ambiance: β β β β β
By far, this is the largest Wee Nam Kee branch in the metro, in terms of floor space. Upon entrance, Wee Nam Kee in Glorietta 2 displays bird cages that I found somewhat irrelevant to the theme. Later, I learned that they’re placed there to symbolize chicken and the role is to entice diners to have chicken rice. Did I get that right? Honestly, I wasn’t convinced. π
Moving on, unlike the ambiance of Wee Nam Kee branches in Singapore, Wee Nan Kee branches in the Philippines are designed in a modern European slash Asian fashion. This one in Glorietta 2, for instance, is a stark opposite to the typical gloomy and uninviting hawker-likeΒ WNK dining areas in SG.
Walk to the function room and you’ll see a wall where framed pictures taken in Singapore are hanged. They serve to inform or remind people that it was in Singapore where Wee Nam Kee was first established and gained popularity. Other pictures consisted of SG sites, and one of the most recognizable was the Singapore Flyer. Overall, the great atmosphere makes this branch ideal for a crowd.
Service: β β β β β
This restaurant is not a palace by any means, but the staff did care for diners and acted upon requests and orders quite fast and kindly. They were unobtrusive most of the time yetΒ were readily available to serve customers in a tranquil way.
Food: β β β β β
Before you continue reading down below, note that everything served here was for sharing, so you may assume that the number of dishes we had was at the direction of the Wee Nam Kee’s marketing manager and not because we’ve gone mad. 
We started with the Crispy Mantou Bread with Condensed Milk (PhP 78), which had such a beautiful golden color with a lovely, firm crust. If you don’t know yet, mantou is a fried but fluffy bun that looks and tastes an awful lot like a doughnut. WNK’s mantou wasn’t airy but soft inside, and I would prefer it to be eaten really hot. Slather it with condensed milk and you have a combo of the best flavors; it could not have been better.
Another appetizer that landed on our table were the Prawn Paste Chicken Wings (PHP 218). Equally superb, the skin of the chicken had optimal crunchiness with unique flavor of prawn paste and the chicken meat had a burst of salty freshness. An order of this dish will give you six pieces of bite-size heaven.
Next served almost simultaneously were the nineΒ mains. My favorites haveΒ to be the Salted Egg Chinese-style Fried Chicken (PhP 295), Hainanese Chicken Curry Noodles (PhP 225/solo, PhP 368/sharing) and the Wok-fried Chicken with Cashews and Sun-dried Chili (PhP 270).
I’ve had my fair share of Wee Nam Kee’s Salted Egg Crabs and I had tried also quite a lot of Salted Egg Prawns cooked the Singaporean way when I was still living in Singapore. Hence, pleasure was all mine when Salted Egg Chinese-style Fried Chicken met my palate. Dressed with soft, jelly-like texture of salted egg, the chicken tasted great. Imagine tasting food that’s been battered before frying and the shaved yolk melting in your mouth as it effectively forms a sauce for the dish.
With alluring fragrance, the Hainanese Chicken Curry Noodles (Wee Nam Kee’s version of laksa)Β can be put as an iconic culinary treasure of Singapore. It’s made with Hainanese chicken and Thai noodles with curry sauce in a concentrated, creamy and not too spicy laksa broth. Again, I was looking forward toΒ more heat!
You’ll also not regret ordering the Wok-fried Chicken with Cashews and Sun-dried Chili.Β Powerfully savory, flavors are here in full force. As it’s packed with spices, the crispy wok-fried chickenΒ is best eaten with plain and steaming white rice.
While theΒ Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet (PhP 280) was, relative to the others, nothing new as it’s almost customary to see this in other Chinese restaurants’ menu. However, on a positive note, it was also memorably good.
Stewed Pork Belly with Steamed Buns (PhP 365) are commonly paired as one. The twist here? Every single cut of meat wasn’t thrifty of fat that’s edible, containing much more moist than a chop.
I came round to think that the unassuming steamed buns made the dish as a whole even more elegant. They sop up the fatty juices of the pork.
Mmmmm! The glistening plate ofΒ Cashew Coffee Spareribs (PhP 298) was by far the most adventurous and unique entreeΒ we had that day. I haven’t ever encountered any dish cooked with cashew coffee. It was fortunate that my first time to taste it made an instant good impression. The tender pork ribs had the intensity and clarity of coffee flavor that suggested the spareribs were made in the kitchen by a chef who cares about delighting its guests.
We were taken aback by how the Butterflied Tilapia with Singapore “Chili Crab” Sauce (PhP 385) was presented. I mean, look at that! The tilapia had crispy skin and the fish meat was simple and hearty. On the average, an order is weighed at 800 grams of seafood. You should not pass up the chance to eat it together with the chili crab sauce. Still, I would want the sauce to be spicier filled with chili and aromatics.
Then, the carbs. Wee Nam Kee’s Pineapple Fried Rice with Pork Floss (PhP 250) was cooked with mixed veggies, roast pork and shrimps. I thought it’s quite Thai in nature. Regardless, this is a great addition to any meal. To say this was just merely fried rice would be an understatement. With the light, thread-like seasoned dried pork product otherwise known as the pork floss, this rice dish just got a whole lot better.
Being reasonably copious, the Spicy Sambal Rice Noodles (PhP 295) featured a distinct taste of sambal with a gentle spicy comfort. These springy noodles will make you feel truly full and satisfied. The taste lingered with a rounded, fragrant and transportive bowl that will bring you mentally closer to Singapore. π
The presentation of the Three Flavor Chocolate Truffle Buchi (White, Dark and Milk Chocolate) (PhP 128) proved the desserts to be a best-selling treat. Predictably tasting good, the three variants of chocolate were so rich, delectable and sinful! This is a must-try in Wee Nam Kee.
Each of us tried a different drink. I got the Green Tea Vanilla Freeze (PhP 130) because individually, green tea and vanilla are always my go-to flavors. At first slurp, I knew they particularly go well together. These two are the perfect duo! A daub of whipped cream on top added to the drink’s yummy-ness. Will I order it again? Maybe yes, when I have a slot for more calories in my body. For macha lovers out there, this one’s for you. π
Price for Value: β β β β β
All the food above are worthy of their prices. I hope by now you’ve learned to order dishes other than the great Hainanese Chicken Rice when in Wee Nam Kee.
Given that Wee Nam Kee has been in the Philippines for merely two years, a generous degree of experimentation and errors is only to be expected. The recipe of these dishes came from the master company in Singapore and I hope that their work will click with Filipinos’ taste. Most certainly for me, each one had exhibited a certain level of proficiency as authentic Singaporean cuisine. I am excitedΒ to bring my family along in my next visit. π
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
great to finally meet you roch! Looking forward to seeing you again soon! π
Hi Berylle! Yup, it was nice meeting you in person, finally! Till next time. π
Didn’t know the bird cages symbolize that! All the while, I thought it was just there for aesthetic purposes which actually make more sense to me. ^^ Anyway, that was a really filling tasting session, no? Hope to bond with you again over great food! π
I was curious so I asked. π Anyway, yes, it will be better if people will think of it as a decor. This lunch was super filling. It was good that I didn’t eat anything before going. Having an empty stomach was wise. π Ditto, see you sometime soon!
So you’ve tried WNK in Singapore? Can you attest to the consistency of the quality? Food and shopping again soon! =) BTW that time Berylle and D went missing… nagfit and nakabili pala siya ng shorts at sale price haha.
Haha as much as I wanted to compare the taste to see their consistency, I could not – because we tried all the new dishes whereas I only had tried the Hainanese Chicken Rice, Salted Egg Crabs and Prawns and few other veggie dishes back in Singapore. π I’ll get those classics next time with my family and report back.
Ahh okay, buti may nagustuhan pala siya. π Yup, see you again!
The ambiance here looks cool. The food looks delicious even in photos. Wil love to try the chocolate buchi.
You definitely should try those buchi. These balls are hard to ignore once you’re in Wee Nam Kee! π
Those all look like some amazing dishes. I really would love to try the bread.
The mantou bread is a must-try at this place. They are miniature but wholesomely delicious particularly when eaten with a dish full of sauce. π
I love Wee Nam Kee!! Its a bit pricey but so worth it.
Yes the bill will add up quickly, but like others have said, if you truly appreciate quality, innovation, and taste, it is well worth it. π
Those dishes are looking great,such nice pictures of them you posted here.
Thanks, Debarpan. π Everything is highly recommended. Try to eat here some time!
Wow I bet that fish tasted delicious! Would have to close my eyes while eating it though lol Everything looks very yummy!
Why close your eyes? To have a stronger sense of taste? Haha. Indeed, everything was great.
Wee Nam Kee is a big hit here in the South. While I love their food ( the Crispy Mantou Bread is the shizz! ), some of the items on their menu are overpriced. Lucky them, they don’t have competition yet. My Mom and I also had a bad experience in their Alabang branch. Service wasn’t so good, but I guess I will be back because we don’t have that much options when it comes to Singaporean Food here. Nice review though.
Don’t have competition? I thought Boon Tong Kee is a good competitor. But at this point, Wee Nam Kee clearly wins the battle. π Thanks, Russ!
Boon Tong Kee doesn’t ring a bell. Wee Nam Kee is pretty popular.
Hahaha oh well. You should also try Boon Tong Kee dishes to see the diff. π
So happy Wee Nam Kee is finally open in Glorietta! When my family and I are there, we kind of have a hard time choosing a place to have dinner in, so excited to go to Wee Nam Kee next time!! π
Expect that your meal in WNK would consist of really great, traditional Asian flavors punched up to be magnificent. π
It’s good to see some Singaporean restaurants venturing to Philippines. This goes to say that people believe that Filipinos are now open to different kind of food, which is I guess is true. Filipino nowadays are more adventurous when it comes to food.
And oh yes, that butterfly tilapia looks promising.
We’re now very lucky to have an increasing number of options of cuisines to choose from. Since Singaporean food are similar to most Asian flavors we have here, I feel that it won’t be long when more Filipinos will become acquainted with their dishes and soon will crave for the taste. π
Another interesting review. I don’t know about the chicken decorations, but the Three Flavor Chocolate Truffle Buchi is a yes!!!
Haha of course it is. π
Chocolate Truffle Buchi!! It looked so delectable! But the Tilapia looks so funny! π
Why funny? π The taste will get you hooked. The sauce on the side makes one go crave for more rice.
Mouth-watering dishes. I live for 3 months in Singapore but I didn’t see a Wee Nam Kee resto there. I want to try all the entries here and the dessert is very different. Truffle buchi? I like the plain butchi.
Waaa you didn’t? That’s too bad. You should have visited Makan Sutra or the main branch in Novena opposite Novena Square! π I used to live in Newton (one station away) so I walk to there every Sunday after getting my groceries from the nearest Fair Price.
I’m intrigued with the Coffee Cashew Spareribs since I’m a coffee lover I will definitely try this once we dine here. I also love green tea. The green tea shake looks refreshing.
Nice choice for a coffee lover. π There are more interesting drinks to choose from and they are all part of the newly improved menu.
Oh.. You lived in SG pala before. I wonder how much yung Chicken Curry Noodles nila.
Yup for a long time that felt like an eternity almost! π The Chicken Curry Noodles, as mentioned above, costs PhP 225/solo and PhP 368/sharing.
I didn’t know that Wee Nam Kee has only been around for two years. The food looks good and your review comprehensive. I’d give this restaurant a go once I return to the Philippines.
I’m sure you’d also give their food a thumbs up! π
I like the food at Wee Nam Kee. I’ve tried the one in BGC and the one in Ayala Triangle. This must have reminded you of your time in Singapore.
Yes, I miss Singaporean food very much and good thing we have one of the best Singaporean restaurants ever now in the Philippines. π
18 over 20 is not bad, katakamtakam at mukang masarap yung mga foods! This place is perfect place to hangout.
Bring your family and friends here. Wee Nam Kee’s food does not disappoint.
So that’s what the bird cage symbolizes!! Never knew that so I just learned something new today. The food looks and sounds amazing. If I ever make it to the Philippines I would definitely make a visit.
Yes. It’s great to learn something new every day. π
That food looks delicious. the restaurant is simply gorgeous.
Singaporean food will keep you grounded. Get ready to dig in! π
Wow! Love the decor, and the food looks and sounds just delicious. Thanks for the review!
The decor is pretty and everything was great. If you want an intro to Singaporean food, head on to Wee Nam Kee and you’ll not regret it. π
Wow, all the food looks delicious, particularly the mantou, steamed buns, and green tea vanilla freeze!
Oh it seemed like you ditched the mains and preferred the sides and drinks. Haha that’s okay. They’re lighter to stomach but taste great all the same.
These dishes look amazing and delicious!
Yeah, this was one of the occasions when I had to cheat dieting and call eating a sport. The strategy involved? Eat and appreciate the food without getting full at once – because there were more coming our way! π
Wee Nam Kee looks amazing! I’d love to spend a few hours there just soaking up the ambiance and sampling all that delicious, exotic looking food.
These food are not exactly exotic as they’re more exotic food you can find in my other blog posts. π These are decent dishes that you should try to get you started through Singaporean cuisine.
Everything sounds so delicious! And the pictures are to die for! What a wonderful restaurant!
For a moment there, I thought these food could rewire your pleasure centers to make the next bites feel like the best thing in the world. π
You have made me very hungry! I want to go there and eat all of their food! Haha!!!! It very pretty and I so would go there! Thank you for sharing!
Haha my mission accomplished! π You’re welcome, Amanda.
Wow, that place looks amazing!! I love the simplicity of their dΓ©cor and the omg, the food! That fish is something I’ve never seen before, awesome presentation. Great review and pictures! π
This is food I can consider eating every day! Haha. Thanks, Fiorella. π
I wonder if they deliver to Michigan?
Sorry to say but no. Probably in the future, the idea of expanding to more countries other than the Philippines may sound good for the business.
Everything looks good and delectable. I wish we have that over here. I am craving for Asian food right now.
These are essential dishes you should get. π It’s simply a group of Singaporean dishes I encountered on my way that I think you should encounter, too.
Totally sold on this place, except for that fish picture – LOL
It’s so good though. π
Wow this place looks amazing, I love the ambience and even better the food looks so delicious!
There are plenty of distinct dishes in Singaporean cuisine. This post barely touches on all the incredible variety they have. But at least you have an idea. π
The wok-fried chicken looks great but that Tilapia is one scary looking fish! The restaurant seems pretty neat and organized too!
Haha okay, the presentation of the dish was quite unusual but it should not drive diners away. I don’t know what they should do to correct that impression. π
I love the attention to the detail in most of those plates everything looks scrumptious.
Sides were generous in quantity and hearty in character. Wee Nam Kee provides an intelligent and passably up-to-date fusion of classic Singaporean dishes and techniques with local ingredients.
Ohhh i’m a huge fan of mantou and salted-egg everything, i’m salivating so bad while reading this post hahaha! What you called buchi there is a called onde-onde in Indonesian, weird name yes? Anyway, are you a hot and spicy food lover? As in Indonesian who came from Borneo and live in Java, i am a huge fan of super hot and spicy food, and people thinks i am mad by the amount of sambal and chilli that i consume *LOL*
Haha yeah I’ve never heard about onde-onde before. I bet it also tastes good because I just love buchis. π It’s one of my awaited desserts in a Chinese restaurant. Yup, I like eating hot and spicy food but not to the point where my mouth hurts after eating it. π
They all look so yummy!! You did an amazing review..
Thanks, Leira! The quality of food here is exceptional. Try it! π
Pretty sure my husband and oldest son would be over the moon to go to dinner with you. You had a lot of great variety too, and great pics.
Haha thanks, Rosey. I appreciate the way you said it.
The cashew coffee spareribs is the dish I would love to try. Great review. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Rebecca! If you could ever say the cashew coffee spareribs had narrative pace, youβd say it of this one: packed with surprising taste, leaving you wanting more! π
You visit the neatest places with the best pics of food. Well, except for the fish with the open mouth, lol…
Well, I didn’t mind that one because the taste of the fish meat was just good. π
So pretty! And that food! Amazing.
This was my first time to visit Glorietta 2 (newly improved wing of the mall). There’s a number of new restaurants opened but Wee Nam Kee for sure is one of the best out there. π
All of that food looks amazing minus that fish thing. That is kind of creeping me out.
Haha you’re like the third person to comment about the fish. I wonder is there something wrong? π Or it may be presented in an odd way. It’s delicious anyway!
The place looks like a great place to eat. The food looks very yummy.
Yup, everything was palatable. The Wee Nam Kee management team listens to customers and innovates food offerings based on their inputs. I’m sure these dishes will get a stamp of approval from Filipinos. π
the place looks huge! now i am craving for some SG foods too! suggesting this blog of yours to my husband since he always come and visit philippines for work hehe
If not Philippines then go direct to Singapore for Wee Nam Kee dishes but these ones posted here are not available in SG as they were especially made as part of the menu in the Philippines. π
Wow, your blog always makes me so very hungry!
It looks like like Singbal noodles would have been my dish of choice, although the tilapia presentation is not something I would have enjoyed. *shudders*
Fishy faces have always bothered me, although I love seafood! π
Thank you for another great post. Always a pleasure stopping by here ^_^
Thanks, Alysia! I appreciate your comment very much. It makes me more inspired to continue writing food reviews. π