I am a big fan of Chinese food and I love dimsum A LOT. But, my desire to roam the streets of Binondo in Manila to taste the most authentic Chinese cooking/cuisines was heightened the night my mother brought home the best dimsum soup and siomai I’ve ever tasted.
I’ve asked a couple of my friends who are familiar with the Chinese restaurants in Binondo because my mom forgot the name of the restaurant. When my mom and I were at Divisoria last November, we decided to head over to Binondo and she’ll just try to remember where it was located.
After almost an hour of looking for the restaurant, the pedicab driver finally led us to Wai Ying Fast Food. As soon as my mother saw the front of this Chinese food joint, she immediately exclaimed we’re at the right place. Finally, I thought. I was already hungry. π
Wai Ying Fast Food is a two-storey restaurant at Buenavidez Street in Binondo, right across Manila Chinatown Hotel. Wai Ying has been around for over a decade and they are very popular in Chinatown. 
At the very entrance, you’d see ducks and chickens being roasted by the window. They have a mini kitchen at the entrance so you can actually see them preparing food.
If you want a relaxing dining experience, you might not completely enjoy at Wai Ying’s. They’re just a small Chinese fast food restaurant. So, if you’re planning on bringing friends along with you, prepare to wait for tables or head on upstairs for more tables.
Anyway, as soon as we were handed the menu, it was funny to see my mother ordering away. π So, we ended up with around seven (7) different dimsum dishes and other plates of Chinese food. π
First, we ordered 2 cold Lemon Tea (Php 50). It was really refreshing, especially after what we went through looking for Wai Ying all over Binondo (sorry, I can’t get over it :D). The lemon slices and the genuine taste of tea made it one of my fave iced lemon teas.
Oh, by the way, while I was taking photos of the menu, the guy who was waiting on our table approached me and gave me a copy of their menu. Nice, eh? They’ve got very accommodating staff, even during that very busy lunch hour.
Now, on to our orders. First is Wai Ying’s Siomai. You get 4 pieces for only Php 60.00. I’ve tasted a lot of siomai in the past and Wai Ying’s is now on top of my favorites. I love how firm their siomai is and its meatiness. You would really feel it when you bite into each siomai. The shrimp’s crunch and the mushroom bits give the siomai texture you’d really enjoy. 
Too bad we didn’t order more for takeout. We forgot because we ordered a lot of food for the two of us. :D.
Next is their Beef Balls (Php 55.00). You get 3 medium-sized beef balls. I so loved them! Soft, very tasty and beefylicious! It was the first thing my mom ordered ’cause she remembered how good it was.
We also ordered Shark’s Fin Dumpling. We got 4 pieces for Php 60.00. This is actually one of my favorite dimsum dishes. Again, Wai Ying’s is now on top of my favorites. No need to dip their dimsum on any sauces. They’re very tasty.
Of course, we ordered their Hakaw (4 pieces for Php 65.00). 
The shells / wrappers were thin and soft. But, to my surprise, they didn’t stick or break while I was picking them up with my chopsticks (oh, I’m learning!) like most of the other hakaw I’ve had before. You see inside, it’s packed with real whole prawn. I love the crunch I got while biting into them. I wanted to order another set, but backed out considering we still had a lot of orders coming. π 
My main order was Wai Ying’s Roasted Duck Fried Rice (Php 150.00). Oh, I loved it! The sauce was thick and had the right amount of sweetness that was simply appetizing. I was forced to eat rice :D.
We had a separate order of fried rice for my mom. Priced at Php 70.00, it’s good for 2 persons so I had to help my mom finish it (like it was really a burden eh? :D). Nothing really special, but it was still good. There were green onion slices, bits of pork, eggs and shrimp mixed with the fried rice. No trace of oil even. The only thing I didn’t like was it wasn’t as warm as I wanted when it was served. But, still, I enjoyed it.
We also ordered their Chiu-Chao Dumplings (Php 55.00). I didn’t enjoy it that much because I don’t like any kind of nuts mixed in my food.
We also tried their Kutchai Dumplings (Php 55.00). This one, I enjoyed. I loved the flavors brought about by the garlic chives.
We also ordered Shrimp Chong Fan (Php 60.00). Chong Fan is steamed flat noodles. Wai Ying offers 4 variations of Chong Fan – plain, asado, shrimp and beef. The soy sauce mixed with a little sugar complemented the bland noodles filled with crunchy shrimp.
Last, we ordered half of Wai Ying’s Soy Chicken (Php 190) for takeout, as recommended by my mom’s colleague who absolutely loves this Chinese food joint. I only got to taste it at home. I had to heat it up in the microwave. It has this sour flavor and when I tasted it with the sauce that came with it (made with ginger, oil and green onions), it was so good I had to eat another cup of rice for dinner. Oh, too much for my no-rice diet, I tell yah! π
Our bill amounted to only Php 945! Pretty awesome, I tell yah, for a frugal like me. Very affordable indeed.
Overall, it’s pretty obvious that I love Wai Ying Fast Food. It’s now on top of my Chinese restaurants/food joints.
I give Wai Ying Fast Food 5 smileys. Yes! That’s how much I enjoyed dining at this Chinese food joint in Chinatown. Affordable prices, very tasty food, and accommodating waiting staff. Quick service, too! We’re going back next month with the whole family.
Wai Ying Fast Food
810 Benavidez St., Binondo, Manila – 7am to 2am
Contact #: 242-0310, 243-0715
816 Benavidez St., Binond, Manila – 7am to 9pm
Contact #: 243-6665, 242-0310
1237-1241 Benavidez St., Tondo, Manila – 7am to 12mn
Contact #: 254-3318, 254-3326
Whaaa? That much for only 945?We love dimsum and there’s one around town which serves all kinds of dimsum and we love it..
Exactly my reaction when I saw the bill. I had to check the list to make sure they didn’t miss any of our orders. Hehehe. Love, love dimsum. π
I hate you right now. Okay, hate is such a strong word, more of envy. I spent most of life in Manila, just one ride away to Ongpin, merely walking distance from my high school but I haven’t had the chance to eat there in Wai Ying. It took me years and an expensive Binondo Wok tour to experience the food orgasm in Ongpin. I will not forgive myself if I skipped on this restaurant before the year ends.
*looking at the photos again* ok. I hate you really. I’m starving now. π
Hahaha I literally LOLd when I read your comment, Gene. My tummy was grumbling for food while I was writing this post. Ahhh… sarap! Wai Ying isn’t part of the tour?
Thanks for visiting! π
what a feast!!! value for money talaga! hubby and i love dimsum, too, but our eldest son isn’t so into it (he prefers Japanese food) so whenever we go out we seldom eat at a Chinese restaurant…good thing meron take-out ung Wai Ying; when hubby goes there magpapabili ako! π
Korak!! Very affordable talaga! Dimsum forever! π
food looks good ha! π
the sight of these dumplings are making me hungry! we have the same choice of fried rice, if i had been there.:p
Yep, love the rice, too. π
Kagutom naman yung siomai… weeeee, Makabili nga later…
I’ve been craving for siomai din for like over a week now. Addicted to dimsum na ata ako.
A friend asked me to do a food trip in Binondo… baka ito ang i-request ko sa kanya. Thanks for the review.
my Food Trip Friday post
Happy weekends!
No prob, sis Jenn! π
Like that looks yummy. Happy FTF!
http://mywpblogonline.com/2010/12/food-trip-friday_17.html
sounds like you had a great deal of fun! i love chinese too!
when craving for chinese food, Binondo is the place to be! π
I agree completely! π
I think I will try this. Looks delicious. I love Chinese and Japanese foods.
Masarap sana i try pero ang layo ko sa Binondo, pag may kasama na lang siguro. Ang dami ngang dimsum! π
You’ll be coming from where ba, sis? It’s worth it, promise! π
OMG. i am soooooooo coming to MANILA in January! can’t wait to try this place.. i hope i can find accommodation near this place.. hehehe
Masarap rin ang kanila fish fillet rice at radish rice.
Uy, will try that next time. Thanks JC! π
wow! love it! nagutom ako… π
Ako rin when I remembered… waaahhh! :))
This is pretty embarrassing to ask but… do they have spoons and forks? Haha. You see, I’m not that good with chopsticks (especially when it comes to eating rice) but I’d really really really like to try this sometime :p <3
Yes, they do! My nanay and I are not that good with chopsticks either! *high 5*
The best dish in Wai Ying is the Beef Curry, it saddens me not to see it in your list. If you enjoyed Wai Ying’s Kutchay Dumplings, I suggest you try Dong Bei Dumplings. Theirs is considered the best in the area.
Thanks for the tip. We’re planning on going back to Wai Ying very soon and we’re definitely going to try their Beef Curry. And I’ll check on Dong Bei too π
WOW LOVE YOUR FEATURE! I WILL BE THERE SOON! IS THIS THE BEST HAKAO PLACE IN BINONDO?
We haven’t tried hakao from other places in Binondo, but for me, best among the ones I’ve tried. We’ll be in Binondo again in a few days so maybe I can tell you more about that π
what about exotic chinese food?do they have it?
this is surely one of the best Chinese tea houses in the country. Been working in Binondo for the past 4 years and yet, i never get tired of this restaurant… ΓΒ
I have a question for this restaurant. Uhm… recently, I’ve been craving for some Xiao Long Bao and I just want to ask if they have it in their menu? Thanks! :).ΓΒ
I honestly can’t remember. We’re coming back in a few days so I’ll make sure to check on that π
Thanks for the tips! Usually we just eat in the President’s restaurant whenever we are in Binondo! Maraming thanks! We’ try your tips Asap!
…..I agree. one of the best Chinese Tea House in Binondo. Great, tasty foods. We were there yesterday lunch time. Kuchai, beef balls, Hakaw. I was supposed to eat different types of dumplings, siomai without rice. But my wife cant eat without rice. So I ordered Roasted duck with rice for her. Then, half soy Chicken, beef curry & 2 cups of rice for me & our daughter Lyka. We’re full after half an hour. weewww!!! the Soy Chicken was not touched. We brought it home & ate it for dinner. I will be back there but next time no rice, i swear!!
You made me hungry!! We’ll be coming back to Binondo soon ’cause our last Binondo food trip was bitin!
I love the food but they need to improve their customer service, i dialled 254-3318 and it was so frustrating! I talked to a lady named LOLA and i ordered 3 beef wanton 100 pesos each=300, and 2 sets of hakaw= 140 pesos total of 440. To my frustrations i had the lady talk to my wife, and after that I asked my wife how much? My wife said 520.00, I said WHAT!!? I dialled the number again talked to the same lady because the lady who answered the phone said “ay sorry hindi ko alam yan” and at the background I heard the lady said “Oh LOLA!!! Siya nanaman!”. I asked the lady nicely (i hope they have recordings) how come she went up to 520. She said I asked for 3 beef wanton, 2 hakaw and Siomai? Where did the Siomai came from? I restated my order. Phew…. to think that the one that I’m talking to is not “Chinese”. Conclusion, Filipino to Filipino= Miscommunication?
I love the food but they need to improve their customer service, i dialled 254-3318 and it was so frustrating! I talked to a lady named LOLA and i ordered 3 beef wanton 100 pesos each=300, and 2 sets of hakaw= 140 pesos total of 440. To my frustrations i had the lady talk to my wife, and after that I asked my wife how much? My wife said 520.00, I said WHAT!!? I dialled the number again talked to the same lady because the lady who answered the phone said “ay sorry hindi ko alam yan” and at the background I heard the lady said “Oh LOLA!!! Siya nanaman!”. I asked the lady nicely (i hope they have recordings) how come she went up to 520. She said I asked for 3 beef wanton, 2 hakaw and Siomai? Where did the Siomai came from? I restated my order. Phew…. to think that the one that I’m talking to is not “Chinese”. Conclusion, Filipino to Filipino= Miscommunication?
Aww.. so sorry to hear that. Baka they were rattled with diners and got confused. But, yes, whenever ordering over the phone, it’s always good to verify if the person on the other line got your order correctly. Php 80 din yun ha!
hello just read your blog about wai ying π and yess wai ying is onev of the best fast food in binondo. we just eat there last night the last time na kumain kami dun mga 8 months ago so ang hirap tandaan kung saan yun. but then ayaw namin kumain sa iba so kahit pahirapan kami sa paghanap go pa rin kami until nakita din namin sa wakas at sobrang sulit kumain don. they offer the best food ever and the price is verv cheap. π
I miss Wai Ying!!!! π
Our experience at ChinatownΓ’β¬β’s Best Food was good. ItΓ’β¬β’s a good place to have an informal or casual celebration with family and friends. They have a lot of good food and theyΓ’β¬β’re not your run of the mill Chinese food. Too bad I wasn’t able to taste nor even see all of them.
went there last year w/ my wife, kasi i have experience na kasi kumain sa chinatown before nong kids pa ako with my father at di malilimutan yon kasi super sarap talaga. anyway i tried the duck pero medyo disappointed ako, wala kasi yong crispiness ng skin at sobrang fat. i like the thai rest when it comes to cooking duck. the siomai is good, taste better than henlin. kaya paguwi ko next year babalikan ko uli ang wai yin, to takeout more siomai and try other dimsum and the soy chicken