What is a typical Chinese restaurant for you? If you ask me, a lady with 0% Chinese blood, my response would be this – A restaurant with almost everything red and gold. When I look to the left, then to the right, I’ll see chairs, linens, curtains and other decorations colored red, gold with a touch of white and black. Big round tables with rotating circular glass on top of every table is also a distinctive description of how Chinese restaurants look like. There are still numerous Chinese restaurants who keep that image until now despite modernization. One of them is Taza De Oro in San Juan.

A strategic choice of Taza De Oro to be near Chinese schools like Xavier School and ICA was what I noticed while I was driving my way to the restaurant. I had high expectations to begin with. Given that its location’s market are mostly Chinese, the food should cater to the kind of flavor Chinese fancy. 

I entered Taza De Oro seeing the restaurant with mostly Chinese customers. Not surprised at all! Haha! Thank goodness I wasn’t alone. Together with some foodie friends, we all had a feel of Taza De Oro’s favorites. Our group had the opportunity to be served with some of the “bestsellers” of Taza De Oro. 

Hot & Sour Soup (Php160/Small; Php300/med; Php490/large) Rate: 4/5

My choice of soup in Chinese restaurants used to be limited to Bird’s Nest or Crab & Corn soup. That same day was the first time I had myself try Hot & Sour soup. No awkward sour taste that blended in my soup. The soup is not the kind of sour wherein your face would turn wrinkled and distorted. I’m glad to discover this new soup flavor I can order next time. 

Mixed Vegetable Fu Yong (Php 250 / Php480) Rate: 4/5

A vegetarian’s favorite I must say. Those who are allergic to vegetables should try getting their spoon in this Fu Yong. Nothing to abhor because the packed flavors of their Fu Yong cover up the real taste of these vegetables. Vegetarian-looking but its taste isn’t at all. 

Sweet & Sour Fish Fillet (Php 280 / Php 520) Rate: 4/5

Adjacent from my seat, I had to spin the circular rotating glass on our table and bring me the fish fillet. My first fish was the one with a tiny portion of sauce. I appreciate almost any type of fish with tasty sweet & sour sauce on it. I had to get another piece because it was worth eating for dinner. It was fish anyway. However, eating the deep fried and breaded fish fillet with too much sweet & sour sauce didn’t work out for me. Better not to drown my fish fillet with sauce. 

Golden Butter Chicken (Php 240 / Php 460) Rate: 5/5

My favorite at Taza De Oro! From the moment the server placed the plate of Butter Chicken on our circular table, I already knew that it would be my favorite. The aroma of butter and chicken made everyone want to grab a piece of that chicken. Literally, it was appetizing, just because of its smell. Going to its taste, I can say their chicken is one competitive fried chicken to go for. Other than their Butter Chicken, those prawn crackers or ‘kropek’ added more reasons to justify my favoritism for their Butter Chicken. Please don’t miss this out when you try Taza De Oro! 

Braised Pata Tim (Php 680) Rate: 4/5

Two options for foodies: 1) Eat with rice. 2) Eat with bread. 

I chose to make use of the bread and treat Pata Tim like Siopao. Their meat allows your manly way of eating to be suave because of its soft and tenderness. Using your spoon and fork, you can simply slice the meat and place it inside a small white siopao bun. 

Salt & Pepper Squid (Php 280 / Php 520) Rate: 3/5

Sate Miki Guisado (Php 150-450)

Noodles to live a long life, normally an order during birthdays. I don’t know if you believe in that saying but I agree that you order their noodles on your birthday. They give generous amount of noodles to serve your guests. Thick and long noodles may fill your stomachs up, as it is also mixed with chunks of vegetables and meat. 

Almond with Lychee (Php 90 / Php 450) Rate: 4/5

I seriously expected this dessert! I was 99% certain a traditional restaurant would either serve Buchi or Almond with Lychee for dessert. The only thing I found amusing was the number of Lychee in one bowl. Taza De Oro was generally generous in serving us their dishes. Hopefully that wouldn’t change. 🙂

Chai Tea with Black Gulaman (Php 85) Rate: 3/5

The only Thai in the “Chai” resto. I picked to have their best-selling drink while tasting various Chinese dishes. A simple milk tea cooler with big chunks of black gulaman became my good companion as I eat out as the Food Scout. 🙂 Not a remarkable drink but it was the best option to partner with tasteful Chinese dishes of Taza De Oro. 

Lucky in red. A strong color to paint the Chinese restaurant’s success to be stronger. So many traditions Chinese have but all I cared that night was my dinner satisfaction from Taza De Oro. 

The building space of Taza De Oro can accommodate several cars to park in front of them. Don’t be surprised at night if you run out of parking. Most of the time, people usually dine and fill out the restaurants in that building when the moon starts to show up at night. 

Dine in with your family and friends for a Chinese type of food trip. It may not be like the ones in Binondo, but the food in Taza can surely be a good place for you to give it a try. 

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Cheers,

Location: Madison Square Ortigas, North Greenhills, Ortigas Ave., San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines

Operating Hours: 7:00am-10:00pm

Contact: (+632) 721-0381 / (+632) 721-0382

Website: http://www.tazadeorofoodgarden.com/

Budget: PHP300++ 

Rate:

Food	9/10
Ambiance	8/10
Service	8/10
Cost	9/10
Overall	8.5/10