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Ma Mon Luk, the Granddaddy of Mami

21 October, 2007 (13:19) | Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | By: Arpee

Years ago, my Mom would always tell us how she and my Dad would go on dates while they were in college. My Dad was from De La Salle College (back then La Salle was an all-boys college) while my Mom went to the University of the East, both in the Manila area, with the Quiapo-Escolta area being the hippest place to be seen in those days. On a student’s budget back in the 1950s, the best date they could have was going to a jump session (not sure if I had it spelled right, but that’s how she would always say it. To this day I never knew what it was they do in a “jump session”. They jumped? To where?) and later hang out in dining places like Ma Mon Luk, where the food is hot, filling and cheap. Ferino’s Bibingka (steamed rice cakes) was also in their fave list, as Ferino’s used to give free bottomless hot tea to customers.

As children, my parents would bring us there to taste the mami that was the stuff of legends. In my 20s, when I used to be my Mom’s driver, I would ask her to dine there whenever we were in the neighborhood. Now that both my parents have passed away, I relive their memories by going to Ma Mon Luk with Noreen. And for me, that’s what Ma Mon Luk is all about, reliving memories. The good food is just a bonus. Thankfully, the descendants of Ma Mon Luk did everything to preserve the restaurant as it was since they opened their Quezon Boulevard branch in 1950. They may have called it “gupit” (to cut with scissors) because Ma Mon Luk used to cut the noodles with scissors back in his street-hawking days, but the taste of his noodles have not changed. As with his siopao, the sauce still remains to be a well-guarded secret. I never order the special siopao because I hate the taste of salted egg. That’s just me, of course. The Ma Mon Luk asado siopao is still unrivaled in taste and flavor, not even Chocfull of Nuts can come close, and it’s another favorite I’m trying to find where to get hold of.

The memories of Ma Mon Luk is what keeps me coming back. Where else can you find mami so steeped in history and tradition?

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Outside their Quezon Boulevard restaurant. Parking can be a problem so be patient. Commuters will definitely have lesser problems because it is easily accessible to jeeps, buses and FX.

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It is still the best mami ever. A large bowl of Ma Mon Luk Original Mami is now P90.00 (US$2.00).

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The proper way to eat Ma Mon Lik siopao. You must peel off the outer covering, the skin, if I may call it, before eating. This is because the siopao comes in contact with the bamboo steamer and little bits of bamboo get stuck to the siopao’s exterior, not to mention numerous hands that handle it. Go ahead, peel off the skin before eating it, you will discover that it peels off easily. The regular asado siopao is P35.00 (US$0.75).

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Halfway into my siopao, note how full it is! It’s asado, like asado should be.

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The perfect pair for only P125.00 (US$2.75).

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The interior of Ma Mon Luk. They do not have air conditioning. But then, who cares? The diners behind me don’t seem to mind.

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Unabashedly, this is how I enjoy Ma Mon Luk’s original Mami.

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The Ma Mon Luk smile.

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Comments

Comment from Culture Shiok!
Time: October 22, 2007, 8:20 am

Is it the same resto that was once rumored to have monkeys in their kitchen?

Thanks for dropping by! Will be sending you a postcard. You can email me your postal address if you want a Singapore potcard via snail mail.

Comment from Simon
Time: October 22, 2007, 10:07 am

Arps!!! I wish you’d taken me with you to Ma Mon Luk!!!

Comment from arpee lazaro
Time: October 22, 2007, 5:15 pm

culture shiok: thanks for visiting the site! mamonluk was the target of so many rumors back then, roaches in the soup, cat meat for the siopao, that monkeys in the kitchen is new to me though. but it’s still my favorite

simon: kain tayo dito minsan!

Comment from docchef
Time: October 29, 2007, 7:47 am

my house is near this place.. u didnt invite me.. hehe

Comment from Ruy
Time: October 29, 2007, 7:13 pm

Ooohh.. I love drenching my noodles with siopao sauce before every bite. Beef noodles and asado siopao have always been number 1 for me in Ma Mon Luk. Hay… It’s been quite a while.
As for chocful, my wife and I love the cuapao there (I’ve never tried their asado siopao though).
Hi. Just hopping around.=)

Comment from Anonymous
Time: November 4, 2007, 5:48 am

Hi Arpee,

Pareho tayo mommy at daddy ko rin mahilig kumain sa Ma Mon Luk. Sana dito rin sa CA meron niyan. Nakakatuwang basahin ang mga sinusulat mo, parang naalala ko pa yung nuong ginagamit mo yung old typewriter mo. Buhay pa ba yon?

Sampaguita

Comment from christine
Time: November 9, 2007, 6:05 pm

wow, this post really brought back memories. my last visit was over a decade ago! and i’ve been wondering if the siopao asado is still just as good. jump session — that cracked me up! could it be jam sessions? haha

Comment from christine
Time: November 9, 2007, 6:06 pm

P.S. just like happy slip for half slip ;-)

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