I’m a noodle and siopao person. Ask my husband who has to put up with my delivery orders whenever I fail at my kitchen duties. A good thing Rolly Fernandez is a beef and mami person, too. Otherwise, he’d starve, or fast, for a day.

Pianist Najib Ismail, a certified foodie (just take a look at his contented tummy), announced in his Facebook account his discovery of halal food at Chinese Beef Noodles House in Capitol Commons, Pasig City. The other foodies of the music world were all stoked to check out the place.

In one of my trips to my siblings’ home in Kapitolyo, Pasig, I spotted from the window of my cab the signboard of the said noodle house. It stands outside the Estancia shopping complex, on the ground floor of Royalton, a condominium building, beside a row of other Asian restaurants.

I made a mental note to visit it alone, to try it out before inviting anybody else. 

When I found a reason to treat myself to its Braised Beef Noodle, I asked the waiter if it was hot and spicy. He answered with a noncommittal “Konti po (Just a little).” I asked again, pointing to myself, “Kaya ko ba (Can I take it)?” He replied, still noncommittal: “Siguro naman (I think so).” 

Service was quick — less than 15 minutes of waiting, which I used up to watch the chef knead and pull the fresh dough that went into the noodles. My bowl was steaming hot when it was served. It made a beautiful still life, and I was reluctant to break up the composition of noodles, spring onions and golden meat. I swear I heard Doreen G. Fernandez in the guise of an angel singing in my ear.

I paired the fatty broth with shrimp tempura, which seemed so-so but tasted better once dipped in chili garlic sauce. My bill, after the senior-citizen discount, came up to less than ₱500.

The next occasion I was there I brought my sister Suzy, another food lover and a very critical one at that. She also had the Braised Beef Noodle upon my recommendation, and fried chicken nuggets. I had the Beef Noodle Surface, which had fatter (as in wider) noodles, like an Italian pasta. Mine had pechay in it, which retained its just-right freshness and crispness. 

Suzy looked pleased as we sipped our ice-cold Cokes. She said she’d bring her fellow legionnaires from the Legion of Mary to sample the food.

What I noticed immediately about the place was that it was teeming with a lunch crowd of Chinese-speaking customers. It’s like seeing taxi and jeepney drivers flocking to a specific carinderia: The food is the draw.  

I even overheard a customer reserving tables and seats good for 25 people for a special occasion. Hmm, I said to myself, that’s how good the food must be.

There was more to discover when I suggested to the Cultural Arts Events Organizers’ Allan Andres and Joseph Uy and architect Joven Ignacio to assemble at Chinese Beef Noodles House for a planning meeting. We had Korean-style Chicken Nuggets and Pumpkin Pie, the latter with a delicious aftertaste of pumpkin spice. It looks like a flattened sesame ball, but way better. Can’t wait to return for this orange dessert.

On the evening of the same day, I met up with Dr. Margie Holmes and her husband Jeremy Baer, a retired banker and another gourmand, at the restaurant. They examined the menu thoroughly, also noting how many Chinese-speaking diners there were. They settled on Salt and Pepper Ribbon Fish (locally known as espada, I think) and Stir-fried Beef with Beans. Jeremy asked for Hot and Sour Soup, but he was apparently misheard and the order didn’t arrive.

Nonetheless, we carefully picked at the thorny fish and found it flavorful. The beef cubes were a tad tough, but overall, we were happy with our orders. Margie ate the food with a small bowl of white rice with her right hand.

Last on our order list was Buchi or, as the restaurant calls it, Ma Qiu. Margie couldn’t wait for the balls to cool down first (everything was served hot hot hot), quickly biting into one and almost burning her tongue.

Shall I return? The question sounds academic.

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