Binondo Food Crawl 2026: Latest Restaurants to Explore

It's been almost a year since I wrote a rehashed version of my Binondo Food Crawl - Original Route (read more), which surprisingly garnered a following and became the most visited post in this blog. Now, after writing that article, out of coincidence, I ended up visiting Binondo for three times in just a span of 5 months.

These visits allowed me to retrace back the old trail, and explore new ones in the area. Hence, I've decided to create an alternative crawl, one wherein there are more modern finds (rather than the usual traditional options).

Article Navigation (jump into the specific information you need)

To make this article friendlier in terms of navigation, here are the sections, along with the restaurants mentioned in this crawl:

• Crawl Tips and Preparation
• Crawl Trail Map (and trail duration)
• Restaurant List
• 1| Shanghai Fried Siopao
• 2| Kokee Bakery
• 3| Wai Ying Fast Food
• 4| Diao Eng Chay
• 5| Vege Select
• 6| Beanstro Coffee
• Budget Needed

Crawl Tips and Preparation

1. Set out Binondo Church as your meeting point - it's the easiest landmark to choose. It's hard to miss, and it's very accessible via public transportation (e.g. jeep). Plus you get to admire the architecture. While at it, take the time to slow down, reflect and allow a moment of gratitude.
   
   
2. Bring your own water - for precautionary measures, you don't want to drink service water provided by the restaurants, and also half of what I have in the list in this food crawl do not provide service water. 
   
   
3. Don't carry anything heavy with you - you will be walking for almost 1.5 to 2 hours as you do the food crawl, so carry whatever is essential. Keep it light. You don't want to be inconvenienced by the weight of your bag.
   
   
4. Bring reasonable amount of money (be aware of pickpockets) - while I haven't actually heard any of my friends getting pickpocketed while doing a food crawl in Binondo, it's still best to be cautious of your things. Also, most of these restaurants accept only cash, so it's best to bring paper money.
    
5. Bring an extra shirt - it's hot walking around the streets of Chinatown, so expect to perspire a lot. Bring any portable fans if you may. It will be hot (even if it's the Ber-months)!

Santo Cristo de Longos Shrine (left) and Estero Fastfood (right) are some of the stops you may also explore as you do this crawl, although not in the official list

Crawl Trail Map

To help you visualize the trail, I've mapped it out for you. There are six (6) restaurants or stops in this crawl, and the duration may take 1.5 hours to 2 hours depending on your pace.

Map created with Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android

You may notice that the first stop is deep into Ongpin street, and considerably far from Binondo Church, which will be the preferred meeting point. This is intentional because as you go into the first stop, you get to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and the chaotic beauty of Chinatown. Plus, by the time you reach the first stop, you'll have the appetite for it. 

You will then work your way back as you continue on with the food crawl. Let's begin!

1. Shanghai Fried Siopao

When I first discovered Shanghai Fried Siopao more than a decade ago, it was not yet as famous. I mean, it did have its early following, but you'd normally get your siopao without the need to queue up. However, these days, you will be lucky to see it without a long line. That's how more famous it became overtime. 

Well, how can't it not be? The food is straightforward good - rich umami and vegie spices. 

📍Location: 828 Ongpin St (Manila Chinatown, Binondo), Santa Cruz, Manila

What to order: The famous Shanghai Fried Siopao, often freshly cooked and still steaming hot. Perfect to jumpstart the appetite for the food crawl.

2. Kokee Bakery

We are continuing with more bite-sized snacks, and this next one is fairly a newcomer to the scene. I got to stumble upon it when I noticed this nice facade. Then, the intrigue turns into an actual purchase. Kokee Bakery's primary product is the Jade Bun.

I know that when we speak of buns, we think of fist-size bread or something, but Kokee's Jade Buns are different. They are like the size of a Xiao Long Bao, although they taste sweeter than your usual dimsum.

📍Location: 759 Ongpin St (Manila Chinatown, Binondo), Santa Cruz, Manila

What to order: Jade Buns, bite-sized savory treats that has this mix of sweetness and meatiness to it. If you like the taste of pork floss, you'd definitely find this interesting. This is best eaten on the spot, and I don't suggest any takeaways for this.

3. Wai Ying

Wai Ying is one of my family's go-to restaurants for comfort Chinese food, and hence I'm including it in this food crawl. They have a wide selection of dimsum, and other main dishes, order whichever is in your liking, but remember there are more food stops to visit, so do not overfill yourself. 

The line may sometimes become a little hectic, so you may need to wait depending on the time and/or day you selected for your food crawl. Good thing is that there are nearby non-food stores that seem interesting around Wai Ying, so you may want to visit them.

📍Location: 810 Benavidez St, Binondo, Manila

What to order: Any dimsum dishes, but what I can rave about it their Chong Fan. These are soft steamed flat rice noodle with a chosen filling (either asado or shrimp) wrapped like a lumpia. Must-try!

4. Diao Eng Chay

Since you'll be halfway full by this point, you may want to just stroll around going to Diao Eng Chay. This will be an optional stop, just in case you want to bring home a piece of Binondo back to your home. They have pre-cooked frozen dimsum and other Chinese dishes here, which you may just heat up with a pan, microwave or oven toaster.

This is a more unique alternative than the usual go-to place, Eng Bee Tin, where the products are mostly sweets. Here at Diao Eng Chay (DEC) you can bring home almost the full experience of Manila's Chinatown. Of course, you will need extra budget for this, but it's worth it! 

📍Location: 845 Salazar St, Binondo, Manila

What to order: Fresh Lumpia, Kikiam, Siomai, Kiampeng with Taro (these are all my personal favorites here in DEC)

5.Vege Select

If you feel like you can still go for more dishes, Vege Select will be a good alternative. This is a landmark establishment, and they have been in Binondo for quite a long time. It's an institution, so just checking out by itself will be nice. 

However, they do serve amazing vegetarian dishes, so good that you won't even get to tell that they are vegetarian.

📍Location: 739 Ongpin St, Binondo, Manila

What to order: You'll have to forgive me for this, but I forgot the names of what I ordered, but I recommend the tofu-looking ones. Actually, my friends say that most of the dishes here are great!

6. Beanstro

Riding on the coffee wave, Beanstro came to give Binondo a modern visual touch. With its stark orange exterior, the cafe strikes a good impression and easily catches attention whenever you get to pass by it. It's located in a less prominent street in Binondo, so the chances of you just randomly stumbling upon it might be low, but given its growing popularity, this is already in people's radar. Also, this is why I'm listing it here, so you get to discover this vaguely hidden cafe.

Now, I hope I will not jinx it by mentioning it here, but I just love how well air-conditioned the place is. It serves as an oasis following the intense heat walking around Binondo. This makes it a perfect spot for winding down the food crawl. Best of all, the coffee selections here are great! 

You may also have some desserts here. Apparently, they are also famous for the Sticky Mango Rice, but I haven't tried it yet.

📍Location: Tytana Street, Binondo, Manila

What to order: Burnt Milk Sea Salt Coffee, Iced Americano (so you get to really taste their beans)

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By this time, you are just a few walk away from the Binondo Church, back to the starting point. This makes it easy for you guys to disperse, and go back home. So, that ends the food crawl. 

Budget Needed

If you will be following the trail, along with the suggested dishes, you may end up spending a total of ₱2,500 for the group. In order to keep it within a reasonable budget, I highly suggest that you do the crawl with at least four of your friends (4 to 5 in the group). With this, you can keep the per head expense between ₱500 to ₱600.

While you are it, enjoy the streets of Binondo along with its cultural beauty. Take it slow, and make sure to embrace each moment. Most of all, have fun in your food crawl!

Thanks for reading this article, let me know what you think of this trail by commenting below, or sending me a message via Instagram.