Mann Hann: Back to the Familiar

One of my default restaurants has been Mann Hann along J. Abad Santos.  But I haven’t been there for quite some time now.  And sometimes, it’s just wanting to eat something familiar as opposed to trying out something new.  So let me share what my typical orders are in Mann Hann.

First is a Sate Chami.  Chami is Chinese for “Stir Fried Noodles” and this variety is usually the fat kind of noodle.  Sate is a Chinese seasoning (or spice or whatever) that gives a slightly hot flavor. Why I love this is precisely because of the spicy kick to it. I wish it would’ve been spicier though.  It’s filled with pork, assorted vegetables, squid balls, etc. that should  be able to feed 2-4 people.

Just to finish off the carbs, I almost always order their Garlic Rice when a rice dish is called for.  If there’s one thing they do well in Mann Hann, it’s the rice.  I’m generally avoid the overrated Yang Chow Fried Rice in most places, but even I have to admit they do this well here.  IMHO, they serve one of the best garlic rice in the Metro.  The garlic flavor is just right and complemented with a bit of saltiness.

I’m usually a red meat kind of guy but when I’m here, I’d prefer the seafood.  Of course, it’s not the best and it’s not even the freshest kind.  But it’s actually pretty good, even if it is a bit overpriced.  I always get the Spicy Squid.  They serve it with a sauce made out of shrimp paste or bagoong, but I always ask for spicy vinegar, which I think works better.  The squid is not really spicy, but you’ll get burned once in a while because they fry pieces of chili with the squid.  The meat can be quite chewy most of the time, but flavor-wise, I can’t complain.  Nothing special, but familiarly comforting.

Now if I’m feeling generous with myself or in the rare occassion that I feel rich¹, or more like if someone else is paying, I would order the Taosi Clams.  So OK, maybe I don’t order this dish often because if you think about it, clams aren’t really that expensive in the market and this is a bit pricey for a dish like this.  But really, the sauce is fantastic! Spicy, flavorful.  Maybe I should start feeling rich more often. Yeah, right jeje!

But if you really want meat, you cannot go to Mann Hann without getting the Spicy Spareribs.  Just a plate full of the right amount of fat, garlic, and chili fried to perfection. Just awesome!

They have plenty of dishes to choose from, but every time I still tend to go back to the old favorites.  Partly because everything looks fairly similar, there’s nothing really that pops out from the menu.  Some of their other specialties though is the Oyster Cake, which I think is quite good and a dish called Cha Yuchi, which is fried kidneys.   I like nasty bits, so I liked that dish, but I’ll admit that it’s not for everyone.

They do serve Filipino food here like sisig, lechon kawali, but honestly, I’ve never tried them.  I’d say Mann Hann is more a place that has a few dishes really to write about, but they’re done fairly well.  But to me, it’s really just good old comforting food.

Mann Hann: Back to the Familiar 2011-08-08

ne of my default restaurants has been Mann Hann along J. Abad Santos.  But I haven’t been there for quite some time now.  And sometimes, it’s just wanting to eat something familiar as opposed to trying out something new.  So let me share what my typical orders are in Mann Hann. First is a Sate …