A Binondo Food Crawl: Where to Eat in Manila's Chinatown, and in What Order
Fried siopao, dumplings, fresh lumpia, fried chicken, mami and hopia in the world's oldest Chinatown: the stops in order, addresses, a sample timing and the cheapest way to get there.
The best way to eat through Binondo is to start early and go in this order: fried siopao on Ongpin Street, dumplings at Dong Bei, fresh lumpia at New Po Heng, fried chicken at Sincerity for lunch, a bowl of mami at Masuki, then coffee at Café Mezzanine and a box of hopia from Eng Bee Tin to take home. Everything is within walking distance, most places are long running family eateries, and the whole crawl fits in one late morning and afternoon.
Updated October 2026.
Binondo is Manila's Chinatown, across the Pasig River from Intramuros. The Department of Tourism calls it the world's oldest Chinatown, and the Philippine Information Agency dates it to 1594, when the Spanish set it up as a settlement for Chinese immigrants. Several of the eateries below have been open for decades: Eng Bee Tin since 1912 and Masuki since 1930. The picks below are in the order we would eat them, grouped so you can stop when you are full.
Before you start
- Start by 9am. Hours at the smaller family places are not always posted online, and an early start gives you the most of the day.
- Share everything. Order one dish per stop between two or three people, so you still have room at stop six.
- Carry small notes. Paying exact at small counters is quicker for everyone.
- Wear shoes you can walk in. The streets are narrow and busy with deliveries, and you will be on foot all day.
First stops: breakfast on Ongpin
Shanghai Fried Siopao sells fried siopao, the pan fried cousin of the steamed pork bun, from its corner on Ongpin Street. It is the right first bite: hot, quick and easy to eat as you walk. 828 Ongpin Street corner Bahama Street, Binondo.
Eng Bee Tin is the Ongpin deli that has sold hopia and tikoy since 1912, when Chua Chiu Hong opened it as a simple stall. It introduced ube hopia and the Hopia Combi, which puts two flavours in one pastry. Look now, buy at the end of the day so the boxes do not ride around with you. 628 Ongpin Street, Binondo. Open daily, 6am to 10pm.
Late morning: dumplings and lumpia
Dong Bei Dumpling makes home made dumplings in the style of northeast China. Order a plate of boiled dumplings to share. 642 Yuchengco Street corner V. Tytana Street, Binondo.
New Po Heng Lumpia House serves fresh lumpia, the soft spring roll filled mostly with vegetables, with crushed peanuts and a sweet sauce. It is light enough to sit in the middle of a crawl. 621 Carvajal Street, Binondo.
Lunch: fried chicken and noodles
Sincerity Café and Restaurant is the name most people give when you ask about Binondo fried chicken, and the chicken is what the restaurant itself is proudest of. This is the place to sit down properly for lunch. 519 Quintin Paredes Street, Binondo. Good to know: it also has branches in San Juan, Banawe, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Robinsons Magnolia and Megamall, but the Binondo shop is the original stop on a crawl.
Masuki has been making mami, a Chinese Filipino noodle soup, in Binondo since 1930. Share a bowl if you are pacing yourself. 931 Benavidez Street, Binondo.
Afternoon: coffee and something to take home
Café Mezzanine calls itself the Fireman's Coffeeshop. A portion of its profits goes to Manila's volunteer fire brigades, and the room is full of firefighting memorabilia. Its menu mixes Filipino and Chinese dishes, and it is a good place to sit down with a drink before you head home. 650 Ongpin Street, Binondo. Phone (02) 8241 9999.
Back to Eng Bee Tin for hopia and tikoy to take home. Being open until 10pm means you can shop on the way out without rushing.
A sample route and timing
- 9am: Shanghai Fried Siopao, then walk Ongpin and look into Eng Bee Tin.
- 10am: Dong Bei Dumpling.
- 10:45am: New Po Heng Lumpia House.
- 12pm: Sincerity for a sit-down lunch.
- 1:30pm: Masuki for mami, or skip it if you are full.
- 2:30pm: Café Mezzanine for coffee.
- On the way out: hopia from Eng Bee Tin.
If you want history with your food, combine the crawl with a morning in Intramuros across the river: Bahay Tsinoy, the museum of Chinese Filipino history in Intramuros, tells the story of the community you are eating in. See our page on Bahay Tsinoy, and walk across to Escolta Street and the First United Building for the old commercial street on the Binondo side.
What it costs
None of the eateries above publish full menu prices online, so we have not listed them. These are neighbourhood places priced for everyday meals rather than special occasions. Sharing one order at each stop keeps the whole crawl affordable for a group.
The cheapest way there is the train. On a beep card, LRT-1 (Light Rail Transit Line 1) costs ₱24 from Gil Puyat to Carriedo, ₱20 from Pedro Gil and ₱19 from UN Avenue, per the operator's current fare matrix.
How to get there
- By train: take LRT-1 to Carriedo station and walk to Ongpin Street, the spine of the crawl.
- By car or Grab: set your drop-off as Binondo Church or Eng Bee Tin on Ongpin. Parking is tight, so being dropped off is easier.
- From Intramuros: Binondo is just across the Pasig River, a short Grab ride away.
For late eating elsewhere in the city, see our guide to late-night food in Manila.
Questions people ask
Is Binondo the oldest Chinatown in the world?
Yes, it is widely described that way. The Department of Tourism calls it the world's oldest Chinatown, and the Philippine Information Agency dates its founding to 1594.
What time should I start a Binondo food crawl?
Around 9am, so you have time for every stop at an easy pace.
What should I eat in Binondo?
Fried siopao, dumplings, fresh lumpia, fried chicken, mami noodle soup and hopia are the classics. The order above lets you try all of them in one day.
How do I get to Binondo by train?
Take LRT-1 to Carriedo station. On a beep card the fare is ₱24 from Gil Puyat and ₱19 from UN Avenue.
What time does Eng Bee Tin open?
The Binondo flagship at 628 Ongpin Street is open every day from 6am to 10pm.
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