The Chinese had been doing business in the Philippines long before the Spaniards colonized the country for 333 years. It was the Spaniards who made the Chinese settle in Binondo for cultural assimilation, thus making Binondo, located in Manila, the oldest Chinatown in the world.
While the events of the past may have been difficult for both Filipinos and Chinese during colonization, we can now freely visit Binondo either by joining a guided tour or doing a DIY tour with family and friends in Manila.
Having a do-it-yourself tour in Binondo is not intimidating at all. The streets are easy to remember through photographic memory. My friends and I got off at McDonald’s, and from there, we started taking photos of the Carriedo Fountain near Santa Cruz Church.
Santa Cruz Church
Santa Cruz Church is a Roman Catholic Church in Manila built in the year 1619. It had a lot of renovation and reconstruction. It was made of stone and wood in the beginning. Right now, the church’s edifice is Baroque-inspired.
Arch of Goodwill
This is the very beginning of our Binondo journey. Arch of Goodwill is a symbolism of goodwill between the Chinese and the Filipino community.
Jewelry Shop
Even before entering the Arch of Goodwill, there are numerous jewelry shops to choose from. Binondo is one of the go-to places to buy gold necklaces, earrings, rings, and other jewelry, especially for those who love collecting them. People also visit here to shop for engagement rings or wedding bands.
We saw gold necklaces for sale at the forefront, priced at P1,800. I managed to buy a 24k gold pendant here for P3,500 after a discount. There was also a pair of earrings I liked that cost P2,800. These are some of the price ranges for gold jewelry you can find in Binondo. I’m sure there are both cheaper and more expensive options than the prices I’ve mentioned.
ZCT Delicious Restaurant
This restaurant in Binondo is a hole-in-the-wall type. According to the waitstaff, ZCT Delicious Restaurant is older than she is, but she couldn’t say exactly how old the restaurant really is.
This restaurant was recommended by my friend’s girlfriend, who has lived in Binondo for a long time; she sure knows the best dishes to order. The place isn’t impressive, but their food is good. We ordered mikibihon guisado (P130) and chami guisado (P130). There’s something about their noodles that’s really good, I swear. They’re not dry, and they probably added some “Chinese” ingredients that make them very appetizing for us. However, if we had to choose between the two, the mikibihon won our hearts.
We also tried the Chinese kekiam (P100), but don’t mistake it for the ones sold in food kiosks or grocery stores. This kekiam is meaty and sweet, which we also liked. On the other hand, their siopao wasn’t as good as I expected it to be.
Lucky Charms in Binondo
Even when I was a child, I knew Binondo as a place to buy lucky charms. While I find some stores intimidating, Fu-lai Antique Shop has an accommodating staff member who helped me choose what I needed — luck for career and wise decisions. She’s not pushy, which I think is the reason I came back here twice, the second time with my mother. I got my tiger eye bracelet for P150 and a citrine bracelet for P600. My mom bought some health and wealth charms. They also have charms for love and other purposes.
Fu-lai Antique Shop can be easily found since it’s a corner store. They do not only sell bracelets but also home decorations like Buddha, money tree, coy fish, and other home decorations for luck.
Shanghai Fried Siopao
Shanghai fried siopao (P22) is another must-try food in Binondo. Their siopao is not dry because it’s cooked with strict timing to ensure perfect texture. It’s tasty and eventually fills your stomach. They also sell other products, as seen in the picture below.
Bee Tin Grocery
Sometimes, stepping into a foreign grocery store makes me wonder what to buy. We’ve discovered that every Chinese grocery store seems to have Wong Tsai milk — a red can with a drawing of a young boy. I believe it’s priced around 40-50 pesos, and it tastes good. There’s also a tea in a red can that tastes good as well.
This is also where I bought pork mahu for my former officemate. It costs P230 for half a kilo. Pork mahu is the pork floss commonly seen on top of BreadTalk breads. That’s exactly what my officemate did after I handed it to her.
Aside from that, I bought pork tapa for myself. It tasted like tocino. They also sell dried plum and other dried products. They also have tea, coffee, candies, etc.
Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli
The hopia, tikoy (nian gao/Chinese New Year cake), mochi, and other Chinese pastries are a must-buy from this store. I personally like the custard hopia ube (which should be kept refrigerated), tikoy roll pandan, and tikoy roll sesame. Their prices range from 50-60 pesos. I would love to try the tikoy for the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli has a lot of branches in the metro. Aside in Binondo, they have other branches.
Binondo Church
Another Catholic church that can be found in the area is Binondo Church. Binondo Church is made for the Chinese Christian during the Spanish era. While it is European baroque-inspired, the Chinese bell tower reflects the culture of the area.
Hong Bon Bridge
This bridge is on the way to Lucky Chinatown and also the way to take pictures of this mural. It is also a shortcut from Ongpin to Divisoria.
Lucky Chinatown
Lucky Chinatown Mall is not as old as other malls in the area. This is another good spot to take photos. This mall has a wellness store, feng shui store, Chinese restaurants, and more.
Hao Kang Hongkong Desserts
We capped off our day by eating shaved ice desserts. I honestly forgot what it’s called, but it’s covered in mango flavor with fresh fruits like kiwi, watermelon, and slices of mangoes.
If you have other recommended places to visit in Binondo, feel free to share your experiences in the comment box below. Happy Chinese New Year!
