5 must-try spots in Quezon City’s Chinatown
A bustling Chinatown in its own right, Quezon City’s Banawe Street is more than just auto shops and residential streets—it’s also home to a growing mix of dining spots. While Chinese restaurants anchor the area—particularly hole-in-the-wall spots and tried-and-tested heritage classics where the owners speak Chinese, the menus are well-worn, and regulars know exactly what to order—the neighborhood’s food scene stretches far beyond that, encompassing coffee shops, breakfast haunts, dessert shops, and more.
For those looking to explore beyond the usual routes, these five must-try spots offer a snapshot of Banawe’s range—from comfort food finds to contemporary concepts that invite you to sip, savor, and linger.
- Juwei by King Chef
987-989 Banawe St., Brgy. Manresa, Quezon City
If well-loved predecessor King Chef rules with bold flavors, its counterpart Juwei reigns with nurturing warmth—a queen that soothes with comforting, healthy dishes that make every bite feel like care on a plate (or bowl, depending on what you have).
Forgoing the additives that flavor many restaurant dishes, aromatics and carefully-sourced organic ingredients take center stage as Juwei serves healthy, nutritionist-approved dishes that echo the nostalgia many Chinese Filipinos grew up with. Highlights include the Sibot Duck Soup, an herbal soup that boosts immunity and energy; Hong Ma with Muy Chay (braised pork belly with mustard greens); pan-fried boneless pampano in salt and pepper (which remained crispy the entire time despite not being fried); and stir-fried yams with sweet peas and mushrooms.
Even the well-loved sweet and sour pork is reimagined into a blueberry-glazed pork—made with organic blueberries. And not one to forget desserts, the lemongrass jelly with watermelon and mangoes, sweetened with honey, makes for a healthy but sweet cap after a meal.
- Kenangan Coffee
Bldg 528, Goldland 1114, Banawe St., corner Calamba St., Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Quezon City
With the rise of coffee culture, many coffee drinkers have become more discerning with their options—and Indonesian coffee concept Kenangan Coffee answers that call. Setting up shop in the Banawe neighborhood, it brings the warmth and signature blends of Indonesian coffee to students, young professionals, or just about anyone looking for their caffeine fix.
Standouts include the signature Kenangan Latte, which boasts a different flavor when taken hot and iced. Sweetened with gula aren, a palm sugar native to Indonesia, it gives the already-strong coffee base with nutty and caramel notes. Another must-have is the Avocado Espresso, a drink that gets its creaminess from its namesake fruit, along with non-coffee options like the Mocha Chip Frappe and Avocado Milk.
In celebration of the Chinese New Year, customers born in the Year of the Horse can avail a special discount this Feb. 17—all iced 12oz drinks will be available to them for only P88.
- Moon Hey Hotpot and Grill
848A Banawe St., Brgy. Siena, Quezon City
Hotpot is a communal affair, made for sharing among small to medium groups. But those who want to dine solo (or are looking for a novel experience) can partake in the comforting space that is Moon Hey.
With futuristic blue and white interiors and slow-moving conveyor belts that bear different hotpot toppings—from noodles to seafood balls, actual seafood (crab and shrimp, for example), meat, vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, and even unexpected ingredients like blood cubes, pig liver, or smoked duck breast.
Accompanying broths include your choice of mala, plain tonkotsu, suan la (hot sour), or tomato soup, while a sauce-making station—loaded with aromatics, different sauces, and condiments—invites you to mix, match, and create unlimited options. And speaking of unlimited, its unlimited setup invites you to grill, savor, and slurp every bite there at your own pace.
- The Coze Cafe
815 Banawe Street, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City
A neighborhood spot in Banawe, The Coze Cafe is ever-present as it is ever-evolving, serving dishes and drinks from breakfast and brunch, to lunch, merienda, dinner, and yes—even nighttime drinks. With cozy interiors befitting of its name and wide tables that invite crowds to sip and settle, this restaurant-cafe is as flexible as your appetite (and cravings).
With dishes inspired by home cooking and family recipes, its repertoire captures many cuisines. But this Chinese New Year, Chinese dishes take the spotlight, with modern fare like the cheesy wontons (stuffed with scallions and three cheeses: cream, mozzarella, and cheddar) paired with a sweet chili dipping sauce; classic orange chicken; and The Chairman—tender braised pork belly, served with bok choy and hard-boiled egg. A Filipino-meets-Chinese dish of pancit sisig even offers a fun and more flavorful take on a classic.
The Coze Cafe also has limited drinks made to symbolize fortune, prosperity, and luck, which include a spiced, cinnamon coffee called the Fire Horse Mocha; an indulgent Ube Moon of Fortune, complete with a fortune cookie on top; and a strawberry matcha number called the Crimson Fortune Matcha. And if you’re wearing red this Feb. 17, you’re eligible for a P20 discount on your order during lucky hours of 8 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. only.
- Gusta Gelato
1131 Banawe St., Quezon City
Sweet, creamy, and indulgent, gelato has made its way to the Banawe crowd, and Gusta Gelato is serving up scoops that are just as delightful as they are Instagram-worthy. Mainstays include dark chocolate, salted caramel, and strawberry cheesecake—along with localized, sorbet-like options like the calamansi, and modern iterations like the Rocher (which uses Ferrero Rocher), the cookie crumb-laden Vanilla Biscoff, or even the ever-popular Mango Graham.
Scoops can be enjoyed in a thin but crisp waffle cone, atop a warm bed of waffles, or even in a boat-like dish designed for sharing multiple flavors.
