This was our third lunch stop on the foodie tour through Manila's ancient Chinatown. The bowl of noodle was so good that we could still finish it. One of the oldest noodle shop in Chinatown. The owners surname means Horse in Chinese - don't worry there's no horse meat in the noodle! You have to read the instructions by a previous poster to understand the proper way to consume the noodles. Taste the soup in pork bone broth first, and then add the sauce to flavour.

One of the oldest, if not the oldest, noodle house in Binondo. Mr. Ma, a resident of Guangzhou and a teacher who immigrated to the Philippines during pre-war period. He came to the country with nothing so he decided to make noodles and put up a stall to sell to hungry locals. It was a hit. He decided to put up a small shop to where Masuki (known as Makong before) stands today, and call his creation "Mami" which derived from Ma, his surname, and Mi, Chinese word for noodles. Interesting story. Masuki or Makong is an old restaurant that we eat growing up. They only serve three things: Siomai, Siopao, and Mami. It is cheap, affordable, and very delicious, plus it fills you up. The siomai is made of finely ground pork and a very thin wrapper that allows the meat to shine. Squeeze some calamansi on it and dip into the universal (siopao) sauce. Siopao is another best-seller because of the rich filling and they do not crimp on it. Masuki is famous for its noodles. Chicken is my favorite, and this is how I teach my non-Chinese friends to eat it to be able to enjoy the most delicious bowl of mami noodles: 1. Have a sip or two of the hot soup when it arrives, savouring the real taste of the stock. 2. Pour the provided special sauce to your bowl, mixing it with the soup for a new, sweet-salty taste. More flavorful. Then ask for another bowl of special sauce. 3. Scoop up some noodles, and get a spoonful of the special sauce, that way most of the noodles will be covered in the sauce. Eat till your heart's content. Repeat this process until you finish the noodles. 4. Dunk the toppings to the remaining sauce. It is important to have tea afterwards to cleanse the palate and to make sure everything goes down to the stomach. Happy tummy and a nice experience! Try it, and if you don't like it, then have it your way. Just sharing how I eat them. Most of the women I know (my wife, mother, sisters-in-law) do not like Masuki and I still don't know why. Maybe it is made for men. Hehe!

I don't have clear memories of Binondo but I do have lucid ones of Masuki's mami. My uncle brought me here as a kid and it is unmistakable that it is he who has passed on to me this fondness - nay, obsession - for the Asian noodle soup, may it be Chinese, Japanese or Vietnamese. Claiming to be one of the oldest mami houses in the country (est. 1930), it used to be called MaKong during prewar Manila, the heyday of this place. Honestly, it is quite obvious that the store has seen better days and there is this retro Chinatown feel to it. Our brethren from the posh side of town might find the place a bit dingy but of course, one doesn't really come here for the ambience. And once you taste the food, where you are becomes a matter of no consequence. Their menu is really limited to noodle soups and some dim sum, but really, this is all one ever really needs anyway. (Rice eaters may turn around now, you know where to exit, and do have a nice day.) Their broth has a subtle taste, and their noodles are firm. But they serve the dish with bowls of chopped chives and this sweet, brown secret-recipe sauce which you may apply to taste, which I really do abuse. Also, the noodle soup is available in 2 sizes and it was too late when I realized that the smaller option would have been enough for me since they give extra broth anyway (more than the actual noodles and meat, it is the soup that I consume so much of).

The oldest and most reliable establishment for mami (noodle soup) and siopao (this squishy sort of savory white bread with meaty filling), Mäsüki offers good prices for the meals they serve, and takes pride in the fact that it has been featured on TV shows and news programs like "Unang Hirit", which they prominently display pictures of on their walls. With a wide selection of what is reportedly the best mami in Binondo Chinatown of Manila, one cannot deny their speed, reliability in serving, and their generous allowance of condiments and sauces and cut spring onions for the soup and the siopao. By enjoying their meals, you get a feel for the way people have been eating these classic foods in the area for the past decades, making this respectable establishment a landmark in its own right. With its electric fans and tables and the constant calls of the salespeople in the shop to one another, it's always a hustle and bustle to watch them amusingly go for their service with a smile.