A world of flavors at SM Mall of Asia

Discover the culinary delights of China in a bowl of congee with mixed seafood. Savor Italia in a brick oven pizza, or enjoy the warmth of Singapore in Hainanese chicken rice with ginger-infused oil.

At SM Mall of Asia, you can eat your way around the world without leaving the country for good as this gourmet destination by the bay boasts hundreds of exciting restaurants and unique dining concepts you can’t find anywhere else.

Embark on a culinary adventure that will take you from one appetizing corner of the world to the next. And at SM Mall of Asia, you can savor every minute of a great meal with the romantic ambience of the Manila bayside as backdrop.

Noodles, beef brisket, and moreat Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe

Delectable food items inspired by different cultures and flavors await diners at Xin Wang Hong Kong Café. The menu boasts more than 200 dishes from around the globe. So whether you’re craving for stir-fried noodles, pizzas and pastas, fish and chips or steaks, Xin Wang Cafe is ready to please the palate.

Best-sellers include the Xin Wang signature stir-fried noodles, a noodle dish loaded with pork, squid, fish and prawns and veggies topped with a sprinkle of dilis for added flavor and texture; the beef brisket bamboo rice, slow-cooked beef flavored with star anise and cinnamon served in a bamboo container; and the signature iced Ying Yong, a popular milk tea drink in Hong Kong.

Touted as one of the most popular cafes in Singapore (with over 16 branches in Singapore and Vietnam), the restaurant is a favorite hangout of yuppies and barkadas because the wait staff is friendly, the atmosphere is warm, casual and inviting and the food superb.

“We pride ourselves as a cafe where people can come and eat as a group or by themselves,” enthuses Lilet Gan, operations manager.

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe is near IMAX Theatre, SM Mall of Asia, Central Business Park Bay, Pasay City.

For reservations, 822-7518

Angus steak, seafood and pasta at Highlands Prime Steakhouse

Diners craving for high-grade quality Angus beef steak need not go to Tagaytay Highlands to indulge themselves in its mouthwatering goodness as Highlands Prime Steakhouse, formerly known as Highlands Steakhouse, finds its new home at SM Mall of Asia.

The log-cabin inspired restaurant is now bigger and better with 650-sq.m. floor area that can accommodate 350 persons. It also has three private function rooms that can seat a total of 80 diners.

“At Highlands Prime Steakhouse, we take pride in our steaks. We use high-grade Angus beef (from naturally grown cattle) so the meat is tender and juicy,” notes Cyril Reyes, Highlands Prime steak GM.

The star of the menu is the prime rib. Marinated for 24 hours, the meat is slowly roasted for five hours then grilled to finish for a smoky flavor. The steak comes in 10-, 14- and up to 30-oz. Also try the Highlands Prime Chops served with corn relish and creamy mushroom sauce.

Health buffs can opt for the Chilean sea bass, which is seared till the skin gets crispy then baked in the oven to maintain its natural juice. It’s best enjoyed garlic mashed potato doused in creamy mushroom sauce.

“We also added pasta and seafood dishes to appeal to the young,” adds Cyril.

Highlands Prime Steakhouse is at the second floor, North Wing, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

For details, call 556-0769.

Curacha crabs, peking duck and royal chicken at Royal VIEW Seafood Restaurant

Royal View Seafood Restaurant is known for its live seafood selection, which can be cooked according to your preference. Here, diners look forward to the chef’s daily recommendations, which isn’t part of the regular menu.

Aside from live seafood items such as lapu-lapu, lobster, curacha crabs, sea-mantis, suahe, crabs, and sea shells, the restaurant is also known for its Peking Duck, crispy pork belly, crunchy suckling pig, and the juicy Signature Royal Chicken.

The resto is packed at especially at night because most diners want to take advantage of the breathtaking view of Manila Bay.

Royal View Seafood Restaurant is at the second level, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia.

For inquiries, call 556-9520

Singapore boiled chicken, cereal prawns and coffee ribs at Boon Tong Kee

After chicken rice, the next dish synonymous to Singapore is probably the cereal prawns — fried prawns covered in either cereal flakes or cereal floss. And yes, it’s one dish you shouldn’t miss at Boon Tong Kee, a restaurant franchise from Singapore. Here, diners can partake of extra-large fried prawns covered in Boon Tong Kee’s special and crunchy cereal coating. The buttery cereal floss alone is to dine for.

Boon Tong Kee opened its first branch (outside of Singapore) at SM Mall of Asia last June. And since then, diners couldn’t seem to get enough of its crispy cereal prawns and the silky white sauce chicken rice popularly called the Signature Chicken Boil.

“The Signature Chicken Boil is Boon Tong Kee’s version of the chicken rice. It’s prepared fresh — or roasted — daily,” boasts Miguel Aranaz, franchise owner.

The rice that goes with the Signature Chicken Boil is as delish and as interesting as the latter.  The grains are cooked in a special chicken stock so the flavor of the soup is absorbed in each grain, which makes it moist and flavorful.

Another house specialty is the fried spareribs cooked in zhen jiang sauce giving it a sweet and tangy flavor.

Boon Tong Kee started out as a hawker stall in Singapore. Its founder Thian Boon Hua’s hawker stall is long gone but his delectable creations linger on the palate not just of food-loving Singaporeans but every Juan as well.

Boon Tong Kee is available at the second floor, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia.

For reservations, call 804-2862 or 898-1816

Xiao long bao, steamed fish head and other Taiwanese treats at Lugang Cafe

Gourmands have been raving about Lugang Cafe’s steamed pork xiao long bao since it opened its first branch on Connecticut St., Greenhills in 2010.

The best way to savor its delicate flavor is to take a little bite into the wrapping to make a hole, and sip the hot soup inside, then dip the dimsum in ginger-and-vinegar sauce. Vegetarian diners can indulge in this soup-in-a-dimsum treat, too. Choose from the taro xiao long bao, or the vegetarian dumplings with truffle oil. The aroma of truffles wafting to your tableven before the dimsum basket gets there heightens one’s excitement.

“Lugang Cafe is the pioneer in contemporary Taiwanese cuisine here in the country. A member of the Bellagio Group of Restaurants, Shanghai & Beijing, Lugang Cafe’s Manila branch is its very first store outside of China,” explains Katrina Chua, operations manager.

In keeping with tradition, the interiors are very contemporary with all three signature elements — metal, fire (lighting) and earth (fresh floral arrangements) — that are visible all throughout the three-level restaurant.

Lugang Cafe’s version of the Hainanese chicken with chopped scallions in a ginger-infused oil is a must try. But my personal favorite is the fish head steamed with pickled red pepper. Prepared fresh daily by Lugang Café’s Chinese chefs, this fish dish oozes with freshness.

Lugang Cafe is available in SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

For inquiries, call 542-0196.