Hot Bowl of Memories

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Have you ever experienced eating a certain dish and then suddenly, memories of the past rushed in your head? That's what I always experience every time I dine at 'Ma Mon Luk' restaurant in the middle of hustle and bustle of the Quiapo district, Manila. The humble restaurant serves a typical Chinese noodle house menu: their signature and famous chicken noodle soup, popularly known as 'Mami', hot pork bun or 'Siopao', siomai and soda. The restaurant was established in the late '40s and is still operational up to this day.

The restaurant doesn't look any special or fancy, it is a typical restaurant with marble tables and a wall full of newspaper cutouts wherein the restaurant has been featured by the local newspapers, magazines or cutouts of famous personalities who have dined there.

When I was around 7 or 8 years old, I and my grandparents used to eat at Ma Mon Luk after hearing the Mass at the nearby Quiapo church. I remember myself indulging in the hot bowl of their Mami, slurping its soup loudly and sipping its noodles as much as I can. I also remember enjoying their special siopao, Asado to be specific. It comes with a special sweet sauce the compliments the savory and slightly salty pork bun filling.

Last week, I had the opportunity to dine again at the restaurant in Quiapo since I got there to attend the Mass for my birthday. The nostalgic feeling welcomed me as I entered the noodle house. I ordered their all-time favorite Mami, and siopao. The taste hasn't been changed at all; well, at least for me, but the restaurant service at that time was quite unpleasing. It took me about 10 to 15 minutes just to get a waiter to serve me my food. The restaurant wasn't tidy at that time, servers will clean your table using a rug and they'll just put away the leftover food particles of the last customer who used the table on the floor and that's actually not too pleasing for their customers.

Anyhow, despite their restaurant sanitary shortcomings, still, Ma Mon Luk is Ma Mon Luk. I have enjoyed their special Mami like I used to do when I was young. It really does bring back the memories of my childhood and I am looking forward to having not just a hot bowl of their hearty Mami - but a hot bowl of memories.
Location: Manila, Philippines

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