Traditional Chinese cuisine at Red Moon

Who says enjoying authentic traditional Chinese cuisine is heavy on the budget? Maybe in some restaurants, but not in Red Moon.

For a price you pay for a combo meal catered in famous fast food restaurants, Red Moon gives you the feel of traditional Chinese food and an ambience of fine dining. Opened barely a year ago, Red Moon Chinese Cuisine and Delicacies has already carved a niche in good and healthy Chinese food. In fact, anytime this month it will open its second outlet in Paseo San Ramon, Banawa.

If you haven't been to this place, why not take your family or friends with you to try its famous specialties-pancit canton (noodles specially made by Red Moon), bihon guisado, special pancit, pork/shrimp noodle with sate guisado, and beef noodle with sate guisado-for only P75 each order.

The restaurant co-owner and manager Stephen Co told The Freeman that the place maybe mistaken as an expensive restaurant but wait till you get inside and see for yourselves: the prices are very reasonable. They even have students from the nearby school frequenting the place.

The restaurant also serves snacks like kim koy ke (squash cake) and chay tao ke (raddish cake) for P15. The special bachang, P50; and other choices that are also available for take out. A whole honey spring chicken can be had for only P120. Red Moon also has steak sandwich (P25) that became famous in Lumpia House, a Co family-owned restaurant.

Beverages-fresh shakes and soft drinks-are at P35 and P25, respectively.

With the prevalent belief that low prices do not always go with good quality, Co is inviting not only those with Chinese blood but also pure Cebuanos to come to Red Moon in GQS Plaza, Banilad area, to find out that quality food need not be expensive. They can satisfy their cravings for traditional Chinese food with a hint of Filipino taste. And from there, it is their choice whether to go back or not.

But Co is confident they will surely go back, like what happened to those who have tried their food. Thus, they are opening their second outlet in Paseo San Ramon, Banawa to accommodate their ever-growing regulars. They have also received two francise proposals for Davao areas.

Co said that although what they have here are Chinese food (products from his research in the remote areas of China where traditional recipes are still served in order to bring them here in the country), they have specially combined Filipino-style cooking in their recipes to also cater to the Filipino taste.

The kiam pong, for example, is similar to the famous Filipino dish "humba" with rice. Owachian or the oyster omelet, sweet and sour pork, chopsuey are among Filipino-style Chinese dishes to choose from.

Not only does Red Moon satisfy its customers' palate, it also boosts their health by using nutritious ingredients in their cooking. The good-tasting Ngokong flavored with herb has become an instant famous soup. The black chicken with herb soup, lumua soup (eel with herb soup) and chay pao (steamed glutinous rice with vegetable) are also offered in Red Moon. Chay pao, by the way, is the restaurant's saleable authentic Chinese recipe.

"Here is a Cantonese restaurant that is offering old Chinese traditional food, what we call home foods," said Co, while adding that their food are "barato na, lami pa."

So, on your next food trip, try Red Moon Chine Cuisine and Delicacies. They serve food in 10 minutes. Call 232-4367 for reservations.