I keep looking for that perfect Filipino restaurant in London but alas my search still continues. Every Thursday I got to the markets for lunch at Hammersmith, specifically I go to the Port of Manila stall as they serve some of my favourite Filipino dishes: Lechon (roast pork), Bicol Express (pork stew of chillie, shrimp paste, and coconut milk) and afritada (meat stew in tomato sauce with vegetables normally including carrots, capsicum and plaintain.) Thinking that I could build on this success I thought it would be a good idea to also check out their restaurant located nearby.

Both our starters just ended up being of the deep fried variety – White Bait and Lumpia Shanghai (Mini minced pork roll served with sweet chilli sauce.) Ok without being stunning. My Mum’s Lumpia shanghai are much nicer 😉

For main’s I thought we should try something that’s slightly unusual for those not used to Filipino dishes – Kare Kare (Tender Ox tail & tripe in peanut sauce with annatto oil, pak choi, aubergine, string beans served with sautéed shrimp paste) and of course a BBQ dish (chicken on this occasion.) Done well Kare Kare is a comforting dish (though without the shrimp paste could be a bit mild tasting for some) but I guess I should have known better than to order it in a restaurant where we were the first (and for most of the meal, only diners.) Kare Kare relies on the meat being tender, soft and fall off the bone and realistically unless the restaurant has a pot sitting there stewing away, the dish you will get is going to be tough and unsatisfying. The BBQ was alright though I would have been happier with more meat and less veg. heh heh.

I would have liked to have sampled dessert, since the Philippines is actually one Asian country that does good ones, but sadly we had to depart to make our movie.

Overall, Port of Manila was not a bad experience. The staff/owners are friendly (it was hard to measure true efficiency as we were the only customers for the most part) and accommodating. Food is reasonably priced. I still think I’m looking for that killer Filipino restaurant. Perhaps I just have to eat in the Kitchen of Dad and Mum …