Manila: Around Chinatown with the Big Binondo Food Wok Map
The Big Binondo Food Wok Map at Dong Bei
I have always relied on Maps when I travel. Whenever I visit a place for the first time, I always try to get a map first. If I have a reliable map on hand and a compass, I’m not afraid to get lost as I’m confident I’ll find my way back. When I heard famed Binondo Food-walker Ivan Man Dy released the Big Binondo Food Wok Map, I got really excited because Manila really have a shortage of good Art Maps like this. So last weekend, a couple of my friends trouped to Chinatown to taste-drive this map.
The Author at Salazar St. Photo by Lagalog
I remember taking a few foreigner friends and first timers in Binondo before for a food trip here. They told me they wouldn’t remember all the places I took them to eat if they go there by themselves. I guess this would be the same case with first timers who would want to try out food tripping in Binondo.
Our lunch at Zhen Hu. Watch out for the Happyfoodies post
Here comes The Big Binondo Food Wok Map. The 10.5″ x 4″ folded and 10.5″ x 24″ spread map contains beautiful illustrations, heritage trails, a bit of history, Traveler Tips and especially restaurant listings in Binondo. The restaurant list also includes snippets of information about the restaurant’s specialties and offerings. I’m sure adventure foodies would love this.
Had trouble finding Seng Guan Si Temple
We started our trail at Sta Cruz Plaza. We headed to Benavidez for lunch. I wanted to try something different from the places we have eaten before in Binondo, and decided on Wai Ying for the roasted duck Congee but unfortunately, the place was packed. So we checked on the map what else is there and found Zhen Hu just further up ahead for some traditional Hokkien style food.
Seng Guan Si Temple, the biggest Buddhist Temple in Chinatown
Sated, we decided to check out some of the heritage trails we haven’t been to like the Seng Guan Si Temple. Now this is where it gets a little confusing. Seng Guan is farther off the map but I was confused at first on it’s placement along Alvarado and assuming Narra st is the small street beside it. So going by Yuchengo past Dong Bei Dumplings, we crossed this little Hong Bon bridge (dating back to 1969) which is not on the map heading to Alvarado Street only to find them not there. I had to check google maps a couple of times on my phone to check where we were.
Crossing Hong Bon Bridge connecting Alvarado and Yuchengco Streets
We did find Seng Guan but it’s on the side opposite Reina Regente and past Soler and Recto streets. The same goes for the San Nicolas District Stonehouses which have several streets. But these places are further out of the field but if you try finding them it can be confusing.
Preparing Dong Bei’s famous dumplings
Other than that, since this is firstly a Food Wok Map, the central area where the main restaurants and heritage trails on the map are fairly easy to find. If you are wondering why there are some Stars on the numbered listings of the restos, our art-director friend, Jocas noticed that they are the ones who have ad spaces on the map. The Budget Guide there is also handy.
Kudos to Ivan Man Dy for creating such a handy and good looking map of Binondo. It’s about time someone does something like this and I hope there would be more projects like this. If one wants to explore Binondo on their own this would be a nice guide. Of course it doesn’t replace being part of Ivan Man Dy’s Binondo Food Wok tour but it’s a start. The Chinese New year is just ahead. Make sure to bring this map along. It’s only Php 100 and can be bought at Bahay Tsinoy, Libros Filipinos Bookshop at the Filipinas Heritage Library, and La Monja Store in Intramuros. You can also order from Ivan Man Dy himself at fun@oldmanilawalks.com or call 0917-329-1622.
Starting and capping the tour at night at Carriedo Fountain
Join the Backpack Photography Workshops in Banaue (March 19-21), Batanes (April 9-12) and Palawan (23-26)!
Tags: Binondo, China town, Manila, Maps
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Monday, January 18th, 2010 at 8:00 am 
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January 18th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Binondo is one of my favorite places. But for sure I could use that map to further discover the place.
January 18th, 2010 at 9:38 am
It is really a fun map to have. Save for the outlying areas where the relative distances get to be confusing, the places at the periphery of the Basilica Menore are fairly accurate and easy to spot.
January 18th, 2010 at 11:06 am
panalo yan map na yan.
san makakabili ?
January 18th, 2010 at 11:12 am
It’s one of my favorite places in Manila as well Sidney! This would surely help a lot.
I agree Og! The periphery from the Basilica is fairly accurate but it would difficult for the outlying areas. But as a Food Wok map, it’s really very helpful in spotting the places
Yep Azrael! Check out the last few paragraphs on where to buy.
January 18th, 2010 at 11:25 am
uy. gusto ko nyan. di na ko maliligaw sa binondo nyan pag bumili ako eng bee tin.
January 18th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
wow, even map to hunt for food is for sell now…
definitely catered to all the hungry stomach of the travelers..
the tourism industry is expanding so much…
so easy for first timers to explore the place!!
thumb thumb!!
January 18th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
lagi kaming kumakain sa wai ying.
i love their white chicken with mushroom lalo na kung may ginger sauce. yum yum. masarap din century egg congee sa kanila.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
wow! seng guan. when i got this guide, the first thing that really captured was the seng guan temple. all i thought it was just great chinese food around binondo.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Haha! At mamimili ka pa kung sang Eng Bee Tin Oman
Yup Carmen! Binondo is one of the best food trip destinations in Manila
Will try out Wai Ying pagbalik ko dun iRonnie
Yep Dom! It also includes some heritage trails aside from the food stops
January 19th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
hoy Ferdz mas gwapo ka yata dito sa photo mong ito, hehe! I’ve only been to a very few places in Binondo, medyo takot kasi ako dun e. Yung Ongpin ba e Binondo na? Its the most frequently visited place ko, however i haven’t seen Carriedo fountains yet. Meron palang tunay na tubig yun, kala ko lumang design lang yun. Yung Hap Chan lang sa T Mapua nakainan ko kasi i was trying to compare it with other Hap Chan franchises like that in McKinley owned by my very good friend. What do you say about Hap Chan’s food?
January 19th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Thanks for sharing this one Ferdz! Punta na din kami ni Erick this Saturday. Hehe.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Hahaha! Malakas lang kasi ilaw kaya me illusion dun Andrea. Yep Ongpin is a street in Binondo. Yung Carriedo fountain is in front of Sta Cruz Church. Haven’t tried Hap Chan yet
Wow! Enjoy kayo Cedric.
January 20th, 2010 at 1:35 am
love the last pic . Man, I’d love to take the walking tour of Bindondo. I haven’t seen the place in years !
January 20th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
If you go back here in the Phil, you should BW
January 21st, 2010 at 9:22 am
i haven’t been to Binondo for ages now. but it’s nice to know that there is already a map to go around the place, esp for food hunters. awesome photos as usual.
January 26th, 2010 at 8:20 am
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February 3rd, 2010 at 11:08 am
[...] Ferdz Decena’s Ironwulf.net: En Route [...]
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:06 pm
I live in Chinatown and I really love food tripping. The food is great and you’ll come back for more as long your wallet holds out XD