Hongkong Kitchen now in Iloilo
One need not go to Hongkong to taste authentic Chinese cuisine as Hongkong Kitchen has opened its doors to Iloilo City. Its presence is an addition to several Chinese restaurants here that enable Ilonggos to choose and taste the best oriental food.
Hongkong Kitchen is a joint business venture of Eugene Chua, a Manila-based businessman, and Benjamin Salvador, an Ilonggo businessman, along with other several other investors.
Chua, 29, is also one of the owners of Gloria Maris Dimsum & Noodles, a high end resto in Manila which has several branches.
Chua said there is no authentic Chinese restaurant here which could satisfy the taste and palate of Ilonggos that is why they had ventured to put up one.
The restaurant name, Hongkong Kitchen, already connotes the rich and tasty Chinese dishes in the former British colony.
Hongkong Kitchen serves dimsum, congee, noodles, rice toppings and other specialties which are tasty and affordable to one's pocket.
Hongkong Kitchen boasts of dishes which are "not oily, does not have monosodium glutamate (MSG), and carries a tradition of great meal."
Chua added, one thing that makes Hongkong Kitchen distinct from other restaurants in the city is that it exercises and maintains "quality control" over all its dishes. Their chef along with the entire kitchen staff had been trained in Metro Manila.
The restaurant is located at the Ground Floor, Ledesma Wing of the Robinsons Place Iloilo. Its entire wall is painted with red while all the dining tables are painted black. The place exemplifies a true Chinese atmosphere. Even the uniforms of the waitresses and waiters are patterned from the Chinese costume.
During Hongkong Kitchen's opening last May 10, 2006, guests were treated with sumptuous lunch. Among the special guests were media magnate Dr. Rogelio Florete, Philippine Daily Inquirere columnist Maurice Arcache, Councilors Eduardo Peñaredondo and Armand Parcon, and other noted businessmen in the city.