Emerald Garden's Breakfast and a Scene-stealing Huge Siopao

If you're tired of having the usual rice and 'log for breakfast, maybe its time to visit Emerald Garden.
To those who are familiar with Chinese lauriat, Emerald Garden is a landmark at Roxas Boulevard for quite some time..But the breakfast experience here seems always new to me.

Notorious for being the restaurant where the former mayor and president was dining at the time of the Hongkong bus hostage crisis, it is open for breakfast with a very limited single page menu.  But you can sometimes order special requests from the main one. The place is sometimes packed with their usual clientele of joggers and businessmen, especially during weekends. So I suggest you come early.

Above: Ham Sui Kok, Below: Honey Bread

Breakfast is composed of  Cantonese teahouse favorites like Ham Sui Kok - a sticky pie-like dumpling with minced pork and chives, Taro Puff - a fried dumpling filled with mashed taro and minced pork, Malay Cake - sponge cake made with brown sugar, which are laid out in a tray and are sold out by 9 am. Standard fare include the usual congee, and beef and fish mami.  And when you're here, never ever miss your chance to order their Emerald Special Siopao.

Beef mami

Now this is a Big Siopao

At about 5 inches in diameter, the Siopao is good to shared by 2 or 3. This bun is generously filled, literally stuffed with fillings like meatball, pork asado, egg and chicken)  This stuff is so good I can literally write an ode to it. But the thing is, if you order this, you need to have room for the other things like the Ham Sui Kok, or you'll be very full.

The Honey Bread is a small and sweet roll you can dip in coffee. It only costs 5 pesos each (would you believe the price) And it also sells out fast.

Other special stuff you can order include the Seafood Hotpot or the Beef Hofan (stir fried bee,f flat noodles). You can also try their Chicken Pot Pie (waiting time can be long)

Fried dumpling, there's also a steamed version

Seafood hotpot

The place has seen better days and definitely needs refurbishing, but the service is friendly and food is good. So come in early, jog a little, bring out the dailies, and smell the coffee. Breakfast is served at the Emerald.


Emerald Garden
Roxas Blvd. Ermita, Manila 
(02) 523-8510