Swisher called for another meeting and when I was asked where's a good place to eat I immediately suggested Mann Hann. I heard they moved to a brand spankin' new building and I wanted to see it.
Mann Hann has been around since 1995. They started with one small restaurant and now they have several branches in malls. I think having their own free standing restaurant adjacent to their office is a feather in the cap in their long, successful stint in the restaurant scene.
I think the secret to their success is their consistently good Chinese comfort food. There's nothing extraordinary in their menu. But most of their dishes are what the Chinese in Manila look for when they want a good, simple home cooked meal. Dishes that they grew up eating and want to share with the new generation.
Mann Hann has been around since 1995. They started with one small restaurant and now they have several branches in malls. I think having their own free standing restaurant adjacent to their office is a feather in the cap in their long, successful stint in the restaurant scene.
I think the secret to their success is their consistently good Chinese comfort food. There's nothing extraordinary in their menu. But most of their dishes are what the Chinese in Manila look for when they want a good, simple home cooked meal. Dishes that they grew up eating and want to share with the new generation.
From outside you would think this is a car dealership or a high end art gallery. There's still no sign outside the restaurant but everyone knows what's inside. The restaurant is located in a small residential street in San Juan, not exactly a prime location for a big restaurant. But if you build it they will come. And come they did.
Swisher partners
high ceiling and excellent lighting
2nd floor available for big parties
don't know what this area is for
nice long tables that can seat up to 10
beef hofan P195
steamed dumplings P110
sate chami P195
The oyster cake is one of their most popular dishes. In the Philippines we eat this with ketchup. I realized this was not the norm when we ordered this in Hong Kong and they didn't even have ketchup in the restaurant. I had to go to the nearest fast food outlet and ask for some ketchup packets to take back to the restaurant.
oyster cake P190
Kiampung is sticky rice with meat. You could say it's Chinese paella? Try it instead of fried rice the next time you go to Mann Hann.
kiampung P75/bowl
The squid was crunchy and spicy and served with Chinese bagoong.
spicy squid P215
garlic kangkong P135
Their dessert specialty is homemade sherbet. It's very smooth and creamy and has sago (tapioca balls), buko gulaman (coconut jelly) and crispy pinipig (toasted rice) on top. The picture below is half an order. You can ask them to split an order for you. I think half is just enough.
buko (coconut) sherbet P80
buko sherbet all mixed up
Their menu is back to back Mann Hann and Mannang (Filipino food). When we were there the Filipino food wasn't available yet.
(click on pic to enlarge menu)
Mann Hann (main branch)
233 J. Abad Santos St.
Brgy. Little Baguio
San Juan City
telephone: 726-3706, 725-8515
233 J. Abad Santos St.
Brgy. Little Baguio
San Juan City
telephone: 726-3706, 725-8515
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