Marriott Hotel Manila opens its signature restaurant, featuring authentic Cantonese cuisine
You don’t have to go to Hong Kong to enjoy the authentic Cantonese cuisine that has captivated the world. Savor the flavors of China at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant at Marriott Hotel Manila, led by veteran chef Law Wing Wui.
Chef Law, a Hong Kong native, has launched Man Ho restaurants at JW Marriott Hotels in Shangai, China and Seoul, South Korea. He’s been cooking for over 35 years and joined Marriott Hotel Manila in 2015 to conceptualize and run Man Ho.
Man Ho Chinese Restaurant is located on the ground floor of the elegant yet modern West Wing, the newest addition to Marriott Hotel Manila. The restaurant, which opened in November 2016, is not your typical Chinese resto. Devoid of bright reds and proverbial Chinese lanterns, Man Ho features earthy tones with a simple yet sophisticated design.
The restaurant can comfortably seat up to 140 diners, but for those who are looking for a more exclusive dining setting, they have six private dining rooms.
The fare
The food at Man Ho is only exceeded by the quality of their ingredients, most of which are flown in all the way from Hong Kong, to maintain the cuisine’s authenticity. But some seafood dishes use some of the Philippines’ best seafood — sustainably sourced from responsible local suppliers. Chef Law’s dedication to having the best ingredients regularly brings him to Binondo, always on the lookout for the finest seasonal and most interesting ingredients.
Man Ho is best known for its Roasted Goose (the first of its kind in Manila) and live wild Garoupa (Chef Law’s personal favorite), but there are dozens of other great stuff waiting to be explored.
With an extensive menu to boot — thanks to Chef Law and his team — dining at Man Ho might seem overwhelming. Aside from their signature dishes mentioned above, here are our recommendations:
HA KAU
Honestly, this writer came to Man Ho for their much talked about Ha Kau – crystal shrimp dumplings that is best enjoyed with some light soy sauce and chili oil to contrast the almost sweet and delicate flavor of the shrimp.
GONG BAO CHICKEN
Familiar robust flavors of Cantonese cuisine come alive with Chef Law’s Gong Bao Chicken with chili and asparagus. It’s savory with a hint of sweetness and a bit of a kick. This writer was looking for something spicier, but diners are welcome to request their level of spiciness when ordering this dish.
SHRIMP-STUFFED FRIED SQUID WITH SPICY SALT
The Shrimp-stuffed Fried Squid with Spicy Salt tastes as good as it looks. Imagine fresh squid stuffed with a mixture of shrimp and Chinese spices, then fried to a golden crisp. The spicy salt adds more flavor to the already savory dish. This dish could easily be your newest favorite Chinese treat.
STEAMED CUSTARD BUNS WITH EGG YOLK
Man Ho’s Custard Buns are like golden pillows filled with sunny yellow custard that’s just the right amount of sweet and a hint of savory (thanks to the egg yolk). No wonder it easily became a crowd favorite.
BARBECUE PORK BUNS
Man Ho’s Barbecue Pork Buns with a crispy and slightly sweet exterior could easily
rival any other pork buns in the metro. Believe it or not, this is considered as a dessert
at Man Ho and once you’ve tried it, you will find out why.
You’ll be glad to know that Man Ho currently offers an awesome six-course Dim Sum Set Lunch for PhP888 from Monday to Thursday (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). The best part: It’s customizable! You get to select your own soup, steamed dim sum, rice roll, and rice or noodles from a carefully curated menu.
Man Ho Chinese Restaurant is located at the ground floor of the Marriott West Wing, Marriott Hotel Manila, 2 Resorts Drive, Pasay City. For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 988-9999. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (lunch), 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (dinner). For more information, visit www.marriott.com.
 
By CHING DEE