Ma Mon Luk

Together with my blockmate Chesca, we sat down and actually ordered something at Ma Mon Luk, the restaurant that claims to have invented the first mami noodles in the country. R. Ma Mon Luk is located on a seedy part of Recto and Quiapo, but don’t let that detract you from going there. The place is pretty safe as long as you’re street smart. I mean, keep your cell phones in your pockets, guard your backpack zippers and do not look lost.

It was not my first time to enter the restaurant. But everytime I went inside, I suddenly had a feeling that I was back in the early era. The marble tables, wooden chairs, tenured waiters, old picture frames on the wall and the smell of that Special Mami whiff just kept me in that bizarre mood.  The floors are made of scrubbed white-washed tiles similar to my Lolo's house at Zambales, the walls are bare except for newspaper and magazine clippings singing praises about Ma Mon Luk, and the furniture are as legit as my grandma’s, wooden chairs paired with marble-topped tables.

   

I tried the legendary Ma Mon Luk's Original Special Mami in a large bowl, I first took a sip of the mami soup (that I regularly do whenever I encounter mami), and the savory taste of the soup crossed my taste buds. The noodles were medium thick, the soup was really tasty (tasty like you'll never need to add fishsauce or pepper!), the chicken/pork toppings were so well done, the chinese noodles was so satisfying, it filled my stomach like it was my last lunch. 

Until now, I still have that little hangover whenever I remember how good the Ma Mon Luk dishes were. I am planning to come back to this restaurant for another round of satisfying goodness, but now with my cousin who will be celebrating her birthday! Let's see if she will enjoy our future food trip in MML and if she will also get this immortal craving for Ma Mon Luk like me! Look! I am definitely hooked by the taste of Ma Mon Luk! :)

How about you? Have you tried eating at Ma Mon Luk? Maybe you can share your experience too!