Location: 2F S Maison at the Conrad, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
Telephone Number: 828-8333
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm Daily
Official Website: www.paradisegp.com
Facebook: ParadiseDynastyPH
Instagram: paradisedynastyph
Twitter: @dynasty_ph
Paradise Dynasty Manila Menu
Paradise Dynasty Philippines, S Maison at Conrad Manila
Happy New Year 2017! Coming from the Big Apple gives me a lot of fresh perspective and appreciation for our cuisine here in Manila, Philippines. While many believe NYC is the ultimate melting pot for all things food, it’s wildly a hit or miss, and it’s extremely evident in Asian cuisine. There are some restaurants back in NYC which are awesome, but after all of the foods I ate, NYC is one giant hype. When it comes to Asian cuisine, nobody does it better than Asia. (of course!) I don’t buy it when Nan Liang Xiao Long Bao in Queens is hailed as the best Xiao Long Bao ever!
Popular franchise restaurants such as Paradise Dynasty, opening in the newly minted S Maison at Conrad Manila, proves the tagline, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”. Almost all brands are already in Manila, and be thankful that we have that body of global knowledge, a valuable treasure that we can carry with us everywhere. I’ve witnessed that after living quite some time in NYC. We’re well-versed in globalization, and this makes us open-minded when it comes to people of different ethnicities and culture.
The year 2017 is all about appreciation for our country. To better illustrate it, I’ve discovered that there’s not one Din Tai Fung restaurant in NYC. Tim Ho Wan has just opened in East Village, the first of its branch in USA, while all of us here in Manila have been snacking on pork buns for the past 2 years. And Ippudo Ramen is outrageously expensive, when we all enjoyed it in Japan, less hyped. Come on, a bowl of ramen for P750 ($15) plus tip is just too much.
So let’s celebrate with the opening of Paradise Dynasty Philippines, who has just opened two months ago, the best time to open a restaurant in the entire year. Paradise Dynasty is a well known restaurant group specializing in Xiao Long Bao, La Mian and Szechuan cuisine hailing from Singapore, with branches in Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Dubai, Indonesia and Taiwan. I love its interiors, a huge dragon is beckoning on us as we enter the restaurant.
The waiting time for our group was less than an hour, and we were #12 on the list, which made it bearable. I’d rather queue for this substantial meal, than queue in NYC for more than 2 hours just for a skillet of baked eggs.
Original Xiao Long Bao (6 pieces) – P188
To those who follow my blog religiously, you would know that I am a purist. Thus, while Paradise Dynasty is well-known for its 8 wonderfully colored Xiao Long Baos made of Original, Ginger, Cheesy, Truffle, Crab Roe, Foie Gras, Garlic and Szechuan, I opted for the original Xiao Long Baos. Comparing this with Din Tai Fung, Paradise Dynasty wins my vote. It has enough soup inside. The wrapper is neither too thin nor too thick. And the taste of the meat just succulent to make you eat for more. This is by far, the best Xiao Long Bao in the metro.
Deep-Fried Garlic Pork Ribs – P338
I loved the crunchiness of their pork ribs, the breading is light and airy and not too heavy.
Dry La Mian with Pork Wonton in Chili Vinaigrette – P280
While they are most certainly known for their Xiao Long Bao, Paradise Dynasty makes incredible La Mian noodles. The noodles are dainty and chewy and though being soaked in the spicy sauce, it doesn’t get soggy. One has to wonder how they managed to pull this off. The dumplings are also extremely succulent and rich in flavor. I love how the wrapper doesn’t make you feel like you ate too much flour. (On the contrary, dumplings in NYC are so shitty. I am not kidding.)
Radish Pastry – P138
Inventive and delightful, the Radish Pastry is a huge twist to our favorite radish cake. Imagine delicate slices of raddish stuffed in a crunchy pie pastry. Slice it in a half and you see layers and layers of radish cake beckoning you to take a photo of it. I am, hands down, in awe of this pastry.
Stir-Fry Shredded Pork in Black Bean Sauce served with Chinese Crepes – P288
I almost had my jaw dropped when I took a bite of this crowd favorite dish. A bite of this shredded pork wrapped in a Chinese crepe is reminiscent of Peking Duck. The sauce is not too overpowering for one. There’s some sorcery here.
The crepes are just fantastic. They don’t tear easily and there’s a slight chewiness that makes it the best crepe I’ve ever eaten.
Pan-Friend Pancake with Red Bean Paste – P168
This dessert was alright. I feel like they still have room for improvement with this. However, I like the fact that it’s not too sweet, and that’s a fact because I am not a fan of red bean desserts.
Pan-Fried Pumpkin Pastry
This was chewy and really fun to eat as a dessert but you can skip this in your experience.
Service was friendly and a cut apart from other restaurants in the metro. I really appreciate how Filipino workers serve with a smile. I missed that because people in NYC restaurants are a little too bitter. And that was pre-election.
If you’re wondering where to celebrate Chinese New Year, Paradise Dynasty is one place to put on your list.
Paradise Dynasty Rating:
[usrlist “Taste and Originality: 4” “Customer Experience: 4” “Value for Money: 3.5” “Brick and Mortar: 4.5”]