Lugang Cafe: Trendy Taiwanese Cuisine

It has been Taiwan’s Bellagio Cafe’s expertise to combine Taiwanese flavor with the world’s fashionable catering style. As they mentioned, they integrate global delicacies to create a new style of fashionable restaurant. I’m just happy that we, Filipinos get to experience this innovative cooking because it seems that Taiwan has brought Bellagio Cafe in the Philippines by the name of Lugang Cafe. 

I don’t know what “lugang” means in Taiwan but here in the Philippines, it means earwax. My friends and I always joking about it but I always tell them that kidding aside, this restaurant is definitely a must-try. It’s chic and stylish with great service and food to die for.

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Lugang Cafe’s Xiao Long Bao is, by far, the most decent Xiao Long Bao I’ve tasted in comparison with the other Chinese restaurants I’ve visited, including Din Tai Fung. It’s the only one that nailed every piece of Xiao Long Bao from the thin yet strong dough to the mouthwatering broth inside to the flavorful minced pork filling. This is filled with pork, right? And yet, this still beats the shrimp-filled Xiao Long Bao that I’ve tried before. I love that the dough is so thin that we do not have to dwell too much on it. The inside has so much flavor yet it isn’t oversatiating.

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Indeed, this is an artwork on a plate. Now, I know what Bellagio Cafe was talking about when they said innovative cooking. Lugang Cafe just gave something new and unique. These fried dough cubes, with amazing shrimp flavors hidden inside, are crunchy and fragrant. It’s like a homemade fishcake. On the other hand, the pineapple, sliced in the same form, gives an interesting contrast with other ingredients. The Pineapple and Shrimp Crullers are suitable for eating alone or eating as a dish. 

Crispy Chicken

Lugang Cafe was suggested by friends to us and it’s actually this chicken from the cafe’s Roasting menu that makes them come back to the restaurant. I quite understand why they liked it. The flavor is very Asian. It tastes unfamiliar but in a good way. There was savoriness that was addicting. These flavors are infused from meat up to the bone. The skin was indeed crispy. I’m surprised at how thin it was. The meat was not too tender, which, I think, is how it’s supposed to be. We just ordered the half chicken and we’re contented with the size and serving.

Taiwanese Salt and Pepper Squid

My favorite dish in Lugang Cafe is the Taiwanese Salt and Pepper Squid. Actually, in every Chinese restaurant, this is my go-to dish. I’m glad that Lugang Cafe’s version still impressed me. It got its own style. The crust is a mixture of saltiness, sourness and heat from peppers. It has this sea flavor that I crave. It has thin yet tasty batter and thick yet tender slices of squid so each bite is a real deal. The dish makes me feel like eating the Filipino snack, Cracklings, but in a more natural way. The seafood lover in me is so happy.

Stir-fried Fatty Beef Slices with Chili Peppers

Let me rephrase what I said earlier. I was honestly having a hard time choosing my favorite dish on the table. I’m torn between Taiwanese Salt and Pepper Squid and Stir-fried Fatty Beef Slices with Chili Peppers. But it doesn’t matter which comes first to my list, right? This beef dish is like Lugang Cafe’s upgraded rendition on Nanking Beef. I say upgraded because instead of brisket, it uses thin slices of beef, which gives the melt-in-the-mouth feels. But it was the sauce that made it exceptional. It has sweet and umami sauce that is easy to love.

Taiwanese Crispy Chicken Nuggets

Oh wow! This chicken is just beyond delish! This isn’t your regular chicken nuggets that you buy in McDonald’s. These are chicken chops that resembles karaage. But these are Taiwanese so spices are definitely hitting. Herbs are working. The crust may not be crispy but it has an intense yet nice blend of flavors that immediately bursts once it comes to mouth.  I was almost finished when I noticed that the nuggets were accompanied with sauce. It was a good sweet and sour sauce but the chicken was so flavorful. It doesn’t need sauce.

Machang

I truly appreciate the savory sticky rice. I could say that the rice could already stand alone. The meat inside was dry though. The rice was even more flavorful than the pork. I wish there were more fillings than just meat and mushroom. The meat and mushroom has the same flavor profile so the difference isn’t recognizable. There was also small shrimps that doesn’t taste like shrimp. They can add a slice of salted egg, I guess, for a fusion of flavor. For a lower price, Hap Chan was able to do that.

Crabmeat and Corn Soup

There was nothing special with Lugang Cafe’s Crabmeat and Corn Soup. It was just like any other Crabmeat and Corn Soup I’ve tried from other Chinese restaurants. But I’m not expecting it to be grand since this soup is actually defined by its simplicity. Perhaps, I just wish that there were more crab meat. I also prefer it to be thicker in texture. The watery ones reminds me of the Knorr Crab and Corn made from soup mix. I’m just happy that it was rich in flavors from both corn and crab despite everything and despite using imitation crab.