Taiwanese restaurant Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

March 12, 2010 by Janey

Granada Street, better known as Gilmore Ave., is really starting to build a name for itself as another foodie arena with different small restaurants sprouting here and there. One restaurant did catch our eye and it was Yen Yen Taiwanese Street Food.

The place is very small but it doesn’t take away the fact that this is a hole-in-the-wall spot that serves authentic Taiwanese food that uses imported ingredients. Price is almost dirt-cheap but serving size is not compromised.

Camera shy these days

There was only one table occupied when we came in. They were on the way out when we placed our orders. It was 830ish when we arrived, which is way after dinnertime. Hardly 10 minutes passed and people started coming in. 4 tables of different groups are immediately filled up. Interestingly, I observed that scenarios like this happen quite frequently especially if it’s our first time to visit the restaurant.

I remember Richard of Ya Kun Kaya telling me the same observation when we first visited his breakfast place. He said that it was surprisingly more packed than usual that morning when we came in. Beside our table was another couple also tasting their first YKK experience that same day.

Such has been the case for more than a few restaurants we’ve been to. I wondered that evening at Yen Yen if I really bring in the droves. It was a slow evening for them when we came in. Maybe it’s the happy vibe/aura? If ever I open up my own restaurant in the future, I wish that same inviting aura follows and brings in the crowd for me.

On the Table

Hot and Sour Soup PHP 38

For barely 40 bucks, two can even share the hot and sour soup –a blend of spice and tangy taste. There’s nothing better than a hot soup to start the meal right.

Spicy Wanton PHP 58

6 pieces of spicy wanton served in a light soy sauce. Quite a steal for the price

Pork Chop Rice PHP 68

When it comes to pork chop rice, I’m not the expert. CW likes it a whole lot and instead of traveling all the way to Banawe to get his pork chop rice fix at his favorite, Yen Yen is the next best place to hop to.

Crispy Chicken Rice PHP 88

Okay, I wasn’t really able to take a photo of the crispy chicken rice but it looked so much like the pork chop rice that I posted the same here anyway. I immediately dug in when it arrived.

Green Iced Tea PHP 28

Try some Taiwanese street food and check out the other restaurants along Gilmore Avenue. There’s a Thai place there that I’ve been meaning to get a crack of once my schedule opens.