Chao Long in Quezon City

Have you noticed how my blog has turned into a food blog? Blame it on the rainy weather (not a good excuse, I know). Well, I’m sharing this good find again that will surely ease off your cravings from Palawan – Chao Long it is!

I’ve had Chao Long in Rene’s Saigon Restaurant (the best one for me) and in Bona’s Chao Long both in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan and I loved it. Since then, I’ve only dreamt about this Vietnamese-Palaweño noodle dish that a Vietnamese Pho on a Restaurant can’t suffice.

It was mid-afternoon (after my morning shift) when me and my buddy decided to ease our pancit cravings on our favorite Pancit Batil Patong joint in QC. Sadly, the said eatery was closed that day. And by sheer luck (or cosmic design) we found this meek eatery (sandwiched between a bank, an auto repair shop and a laundry shop) right across the road that serves Puerto Princesa’s favorite – Chao Long and French bread.

We went inside the Bread & Bakers shop and asked if they actually serve Chao Long (as advertised on their signage), a guy who’s wearing an apron nodded (that’s a ‘yes’ for us).

We chatted with the guy, which apparently is the owner  - Mr. Jay Lowell Payuyo, and found out that he’s originally from Puerto Princesa City. We immediately asked him if he knew some of our friends who used to live there and he knew everyone we cited. Such a small world eh?

Anyway, back to Chao Long, we got two orders of their Beef Stew Chao Long (50 pesos) from their unassuming posters (no menu list) and some French bread with Pork barbecue (30 pesos).They ran out of their Pork barbecue stuffing so we settled for just plain French bread (10 pesos) and also got some Toasted Siopao (9 pesos).

Waiting time was fast; maybe because there were no diners but us. We were more than excited as the server placed our food on the table; a regular bowl of Chao Long with the optional Basil leaves, bean sprouts and calamansi on the side, French bread and Toasted Siopao.

Minus the super bloody red soup base they serve in Puerto Princesa, the aroma and the look of our noodles are comparable to the “original” ones. The first taste was divine, it felt and tasted legit. After that, I literally dumped everything on the side dish platter (for my buddy didn’t want any) into my bowl and never stopped gulping and munching.

Aside from that distinct taste of the soup, the tenderness of the beef stood out. That feeling when you don’t need any effort to nibble those beef strips and you’d get to savour the meaty taste. It really is that good.

The French bread was also great, I love it everytime I get to dip it into my soup. It truly compliments the noodle dish. The Toasted Siopao was just ok, nothing fancy. Maybe it’s just me and my biases to the steamed version.

Overall, it was a nice dining experience. Sweat filled our faces as we downed the last portion of our Chao Long. For 128 pesos, both of our tummies were happy and filled with good memories of Puerto Princesa City.

Ok naman sa’yo yung Chao Long?

Oo.

Eh ba’t parang hindi naman.

Ha?

Parang ‘di ka naman nasarapan.

Ay, grabe! Sooobrang sarap. As in ang sarap. Grabe!

(That’s me confronted with my inability to express my emotions in a very normal way)

Afterthought. I dunno if it’s pure luck or coincidence but we tend to gravitate towards cheap but yummy regional food favorites. Hmm…Now I’m dreaming of Bam-e, Sinuglaw, Curacha, Coconut crabs, and so on.

Bread & Bakers

282-C Roosevelt Ave., SFDM,

Quezon City, Philippines

Contact Numbers: (+63) 2.416.9058 | (+63) 999.902.6002
Open Hours: Mondays-Sundays | 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

(check here for discounted tours, transportation and activities in Metro Manila)