For good eats, quirky finds, bargain shopping and more, nothing beats Binondo--the world’s oldest Chinatown established in 1594. As one of the biggest epicenters of commerce, be prepared for the hustle and bustle and the merry cacophony of sights, sounds and flavors. The best, authentic Chinese food can also be savored in this district from fine dining restaurants such as President’s Grand Palace to hawker street stalls. Of course, a visit to Binondo would not be complete without taking home goodies such as Eng Bee Tin hopia, Lord Stow’s Portuguese egg tarts, HK/Taiwan/Japan gifts and confectionery as well as lucky charms and traditional Chinese medicine.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s the mega shopping malls in nearby Divisioria such as 168 and 999 malls for pure retail and wholesale shopping pleasure. Binondo is best this time of year for seasonal offerings such as autumn fruits and pastries. For a definitive guide on Divisoria’s shopping streets, check out this article from Grid Magazine.
As we were pressed for time on a limited itinerary, we were not able to do a proper food crawl. I'm curious of the vegetarian kebabs and surgarcane juice that the Gen Z kids were lining up for. As any foodie would tell you, the food is good if there is a long line!
A few hours is definitely not enough to explore the vibrants streets of Binondo. Can't wait to be back soon!
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