Dine Asia. Dine At Banana Leaf.

It’s the 163rd day of quarantine period in our region and I’m ecstatic to tell you that finally, I was able to visit Manila even in a short time since we needed to go back home within 24 hours. But in this short period, I grabbed the opportunity to try a number of restaurants in the city that I truly missed. One of them is Banana Leaf. My last dining experience in this restaurant is when I was still in college.

I was still a newbie at Manila before when my friends introduced me to malls and restaurants in the Metro. I remember them bringing me to Century City Mall at Makati and letting me try Banana Leaf for the first time. I instantly knew that it is the perfect place to get my Southeast Asian food fix. They serve a wide array of dishes from Thai, Malay, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Indian and Indonesian cuisine.

Aside from the cozy ambiance and eleganr interior, the Asian feels are completed with banana leaves used as plates.

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Dishes like Prawn and Pork Toast makes us realize how amazing Asian food is. If one has no idea what this is, it will make him wonder if it’s meat or bread. This Thai appetizer is actually a mixture of both and I’m happy that Banana Leaf nailed it, except for the oiliness. Whenever I’m in this restaurant, it becomes my habit to begin my meal with this toast while my friends prefer and enjoy their Roti Canai. It’s always present on our table.

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You wouldn’t see it in the photo but this bowl consists a great deal of ingredients from noodles to shellfishes, not to mention the generous amount of delicious coconut broth that makes a satisfying slurp. In fact, it just needs a little more chilies and I will already be contented with the soup alone. This is undeniably my favorite in Banana Leaf. But that isn’t a surprise since my heart is really close to seafood and coconut milk.

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The pork got me hooked. They are so soft that I could hardly feel the strands of the meat. Plus, the pork slices are as thin as pancakes! Banana Leaf uses red curry for this dish but I’m glad that the spiciness remains tolerable and the sweetness can still be recognized. The addition of pineapple provides a bit of tanginess, making the flavors more exciting. Hopefully, there are also vegetables for a layer of crunchiness when it comes to texture.

Beef Rendang

The first thing I noticed about this dish is the tenderness of the beef. There are no other solid ingredients aside from the beef yet it was able to display its Southeast Asian flavors through its sauce. Therefore, the dish is composed mostly of meat with minimal fats, which are also flavorful. However, I had Beef Rendang for delivery during my last order and the amount and presentation are quite disappointing. I can see lots of oil from the sauce.

Stir Fried Oat Prawns in Singaporean Style

I love the idea of putting rolled oats to these big prawns. It adds a crispy texture to the dish. I just find shrimp dry. I wish I can have juicier or more buttery shrimps on the next time I order this. Nonetheless, this Singaporean dish is amazing. Why is this not a thing in the Philippines again? I just discovered that prawn covered and flavored with oats is possible and luscious. Thanks to Banana Leaf! 

Charcoal Grilled Whole Squid Thai Style

We got another Thai dish on the list! I only noticed that we got four from Thai cuisine just now. But despite being Thai-styled, this Charcoal Grilled Whole Squid isn’t new to us since we also offer grilled squid in Filipino restaurants. This became distinct though as authentic Thai flavors came through the flesh. This is also served with spicy sauce, unlike Inihaw na Pusit, which we usually dip in vinegar or soy sauce.

Pandan Iced Tea

I usually don’t include drinks to my restaurant reviews, especially when it only looks like water. But behind that simple appearance is the flavors of pandan, bursting with fragrance. It’s my first time trying Pandan Iced Tea, which is made naturally, so I think I have to flex this moment. I’ve had detox water infused with pandan leaves before. I thought this was like that but I’m wrong. It perfectly got the flavors of a powdered pandan iced tea despite being organic.

Pandanus Pancake Roll with Fresh Coconut

While I had the first seven dishes in their restaurant before the pandemic, I tried ordering my latest Banana Leaf meal online as I stay at home. I admit I’m not aware of Pandanus Pancake Rolls but I got easily attracted to this Indonesian dessert. The wrapper is alluring. I thought it was leaf but it was pandan pancake! It is filled with sweet grated coconut, which is similar to our local candy called Bukayo. Dipping it into the accompanying pancake syrup makes it yummier.