Cafe Mezzanine: This Chinoy (Chinese-Filipino) Restaurant in Manila Chinatown (Binondo) Supports Fire Fighters!
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Cafe Mezzanine is one of the food icons of Manila Chinatown in Binondo. It’s owned and managed by the Chua Family, who is also behind the viral Chuan Kee Fastfood and the popular hopia maker Eng Bee Tin.
Cafe Mezzanine
As its name suggests, Cafe Mezzanine is located in the mezzanine or second floor of a building, directly on top of Chuan Kee. They serve Chinoy (Chinese-Filipino) dishes similar to the ones offered in Chuan Kee, albeit slightly more expensive compared to the latter.
But more importantly, this restaurant supports volunteer firefighters (Cafe Mezzanine is also known as the “Fireman’s Coffee Shop”). Gerry Chua, the family patriarch, was once a volunteer firefighter and is passionate about firefighting (Gerry also happens to have invented ube hopia). So part of Cafe Mezzanine’s profits are donated to the Binondo Paco Volunteer Fire Search & Rescue.
Cafe Mezzanine supports firefighters
There are many firefighting paraphernalia spread inside the restaurant:
Inside Cafe Mezzanine
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Aside from being airconditioned (Chuan Kee isn’t), their cause may be a factor for their higher prices. I wouldn’t mind paying a bit more if it’s for a good cause. But will you be paying for good food? Here’s what I think.
The Asado (barbecue pork similar to char siu) with Adobo Egg is tender and fatty, covered with a rightly sweet thick sauce.
Asado with Adobo Egg (PHP175; Family Platter: PHP495)
The Lechon Kawali (deep-fried/roast pork belly) has a nice fat and a crunchy skin. But I wish the meat to be more tender.
Lechon Kawali (PHP160; Family Platter: PHP495)
You can’t visit Manila Chinatown without eating Kikiam (deep-fried meat roll covered with beancurd skin, and not the ones sold in the streets). Cafe Mezzanine’s version is plump, has a nice five-spice flavor, and wrapped with crisp beancurd skin.
Special Kikiam (2 pcs.: PHP210)
And you can’t have a Chinoy meal without Kiampong, a glutinous rice casserole dish with Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, and roasted peanuts. Their version is moist and savory, with crunch coming from the peanuts.
Kiampong (PHP80; Family Platter: PHP350)
Their Polonchay (Chinese spinach) is fresh and has whole cloves of garlic. It’s the perfect counterbalance to all the “sinful” dishes above.
Polonchay (PHP250)
To wash down all the food, their Black Gulaman, a Filipino refreshment with black grass jelly. It’s rightly sweet and super refreshing in the Binondo heat.
Black Gulaman
So is the food good? Yes! Not only will you have a good Chinoy meal in Cafe Mezzanine, but you will also be supporting firefighters. I highly recommend it to you!
Cafe Mezzanine
Address: 650 Ongpin St, Binondo, Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9AM-10PM; Friday-Sunday, 7:30AM-10PM | Facebook
Reference:
https://vogue.ph/lifestyle/binondo-cafes-connecting-to-the-manila-chinatown-community-through-a-cup-of-coffee/
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