Mandarin Tea Garden: Unpretentious Chinese Fastfood

I've been lucky to stay  at a place so accessible to food places. A street across the place I'm staying are two of the big"fast food" Chinese restaurants in Davao: Dimsum Diner and Mandarin Tea Garden. I prefer the latter for its home-made, no-nonsense approach to Chinese food. It felt like eating at one of Binondo's eateries. 

I've tried a few of their rice toppings and they don't taste like Chowking to me (don't get me wrong, I do love Chowking's halo-halo). I'd skip the Pork Asado and head off their Taosi Sparibs (seen below). Tender, tasty and flavorful- try it with the plain rice though. 

Fried Ravioli, while far from one of Friuli's special (and I do hate the banana ketsup/sweet&sour sauce); this one's filling and passable.

 Skip the pork asado, I find the meat a bit overcooked and the sauce unimpressive. You are better off with the other rice toppings on the menu :)

This one's a must-try. True to "fall of the bone" phrases, not at all gummy and hard to chew; just well-seasoned and steamed just enough to truly get the goof stuff there. Mind you, I've never been a fan of chicken feet (I find it hard to eat and the texture of the meat quite disgusting in most Chinese restos).

This one's a killer. I normally don't eat fruit salad, let alone adore watermelons. Oddly enough, it works (or heavy cream just goes perfectly with every dessert).

Get ready for Davao's sudden downpour though (and always bring a handy umbrella and never wear your favorite flats at night). Davao do have this sudden heavy rains that cause this part of the city to flood heavily. Don't ruin a good night's meal with getting your favorite outfit soaked.