Sup? Chow's - a secret restaurant to discover in Makati
Slightly tucked within the inner streets of Salcedo Village, Sup? Chow is a contemporary Asian restaurant serving modernized Chinese cuisine. It's definitely one of the underrated/under-discovered restaurants in Makati. Let's find out why!
Located at a rather unconventional location, Sup? Chow is nested in the second floor of Antel Corporate Center. You'll have to take either the elevator or the Fire Exit (no kidding) to go up. This for me added a layer of appeal -- a "secret" hideout.
Once you go up, you'll be greeted by this Neon Sign saying "Sup? Chow". It will immediately give you that retro feel. As you walk further, you'll be welcomed by the servers, and say "Sup?" Which, if you are not familiar with this colloquial term, is a shortened version of "What's up?".
Aside from their verbal greeting, you'll be greeted by an enormous modern space. You'll be surprised that something this big is hidden inside this seemingly small and cramped up building. Perhaps, it's all because of the careful planning with the interior -- it got this mysterious overcast embedded upon modern concepts. Needless to say, the ambiance is very much in line with the "contemporary Asian fusion cuisine".
Now, that I've mentioned it, let's take a look of the dishes we had for the night.
For appetizer, we had this Mapo Tofu Wontons (P250). It was intriguing because it's not your typical mapo tofu. I'd say it was interesting, though not as revolutionary. Still, I'd like you to try it because it was quite inventive.
The drinks were deceiving, luring us with their looks but drowned us with excessive sweetness. If they could just tone tone the sugar levels, perhaps I'll like them, but what I appreciated was the price point. They were really light on the budget. The Thai Milk Tea (left) was P95 only, while the Mango Sago (right) was P85 only.
We also had this Kim Chi Nori Rice (P220) which was perfect for sharing! When paired well with correct dishes (which for me are dimsum), you'd really love the blend of lightly spicy tang from the kim chi and the subtle umami from the nori.
The Truffle Braised Beef (P280) was incredibly tasty. Tenderness varied across the cubes, but tastewise, it was magical -- savory and thick with the briney truffle clinging into the buds. Those who love truffle will find this lovable.
The Steamed Xiao Long Bao (P176 - 4 pieces) was surprisingly humongous. It was perhaps the largest xiao long bao I've ever seen, and this for me made the price "sulit". The meat in the core was notably flavorful, but the thickness of the wrapper toned that down. Plus, the soup seemed to have been absorbed by the wrapper, and I felt like I was denied of the traditional "sipping the soup" moment.
Last but definitely not the least, we had Steamed Kutchay Dumplings (P209 - 8 pieces) which I found more worthwhile than the Xiao Long Bao due to the richness of the meaty-veggy combination. Although, I loved it when I paired the sauce of the Baos to the dumplings. Similar with the Baos, the wrapper was rather full and thick, so you might want to match it with your preference.
Sup? Chow - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings reflect my personal experiences on the times I dine here.
| Ambiance: | ★★★★★ |
| Taste: | ★★★☆ |
| Service: | ★★★★★ |
| Price/Value: | ★★★★★ |
| Budget: | P200 each for a personal burger or meal better if you'll use Zomato Gold |
Sup? Chow is one of the underrated/underdiscovered restaurants in Makati, and I believe it's one of those contemporary food places that allows the palate to deviate from the ordinary. It's imaginative and experimental, bold even, to make such risky move. But, you gotta take some risks for more excitement! Two-thumbs up for this place, and highly recommended.
Sup? Chow
Location: 2F, Antel Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Service Charge: 10% before VAT
