First-time in You Jie Xiao Chao Restaurant

by: firsttimetravel

It was another holiday in the Philippines as we commemorated the Day of Valor, celebrating the bravery of Filipino soldiers who fought during World War II. Supposedly, my friends and I were scheduled to go to Corregidor Island, the fortress of Japanese soldiers. Unfortunately, the cruise liner called the day before our trip to inform us that the vessel taking us there experienced mechanical trouble, thus, our schedule was canceled.

Not to waste such a good day, we decided to visit various churches in Makati, Pasay, and Taguig, cities in the National Capital Region of Metro Manila. It was an extended Holy Week for us, minus the crowd and throngs of pilgrims.

But the highlight of our day was a dinner in a hole-in-the-wall eatery that one of our companions recommended. When you’ve been living in a place for a long time, you seem to look for unfamiliar places to eat, to try something novel, and to enjoy a newly discovered joint. It’s like finding out a secret and then you’re dying to share it with only your close circle of friends, but careful not to shout it out to the whole world. Nevertheless, it was a good secret to tell, and I’ll explain why.

by Claire Algarme

We went to a modest neighborhood in Makati. The restaurant was inconspicuous with only a simple facade, looking as if just another apartment door. It was until we approached the entryway and read an announcement from their management that confirmed we found the right place. The note stated that the restaurant, named You Jie Xiao Chao, would be undergoing renovation a few days after, a symbol that it was gaining a following.

As we swung open the frosted glass door, we were surprised to find all seven or nine tables full. Most of the customers were Chinese. A framed paper with Chinese characters hung on the wall, giving us a hint of the kind of cuisine we would expect from this restaurant.

by Claire Marie Algarme

The waitress handed us a compilation of photos of their menu. Enthusiastically, we perused what she handed us, huddled in the center of the tiny eatery. While customers were focused on their food, we were equally busy getting our pick and placing our order.

When one table became available, we immediately took the recently vacated chairs as more people arrived, peeking behind the restaurant’s door and waiting for their turn. After a few minutes of waiting, our rice orders came along with the fried string beans and chicken with peanuts.

What followed was a large bowl of steamed fish covered with red hot chili, which we mistook for tomatoes. The fish was truly tasty. Despite its spicy flavor that stung our mouths, we gorged the delectable fish head.

by Claire Algarme

A plate of spare ribs and another one of dumplings were placed before us. We never realized we had so much food! But what can we do when we have so many mouthwatering offerings shown to us?

So, a few days after I found out this little secret of my friend, I’m sharing this hole-in-the-wall, You Jie Xiao Chao restaurant, with you. Be sure to try it out yourself, and keep this little secret close to your heart.

Now, here are some other little secrets that can be whispered to your ear.