Street Chef: Where Tradition Meets Fusion
There are so many hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Mandaluyong. These are restaurants in residential areas that look like plain old homes. Most of the time, though, these restaurants offer one-of-a-kind meals or meals that just taste like home.
Street Chef is no exception to the list of good restos in Mandaluyong. Located near the City Hall, Street Chef is tucked in San Rafael Street not too far away from the hustle and bustle of the Mandaluyong Business District.
Street Chef, just like any other Mandaluyong home restaurant, doesn’t have air-conditioning, but offers a huge seating capacity and space perfect for parties.
For starters, we had the Sizzling Balut.
It’s a bit too much for a starter, but it’s Street Chef’s specialty, so it sort of sets the tone of how things work there. It made us more excited about the kind of food that they had prepared for us that night.
The balut tastes fresh and the rich and creamy sauce complements the balut perfectly.
Having been raised in a Chinoy family, I’m used to eating pork asado and this one tastes very good. The meat is tender and the sauce is sweet and has a bit of a kick to it.
These beef skewers are my personal favorite from all of the food we tried at Street Chef. The beef is so tender that it falls off the stick and because of the lemon, red peppers and pineapple; the beef gets rich flavours that are perfect to pair with rice or as pulutan.
From the name itself, Dinuguan sa Kawali is Crispy Lechon Kawali in Dinuguan Sauce. It’s a bit tricky to make Diniguan and I have tried terrifying ones that smelled like fish, so it’s a relief to have one that is cooked well and tastes good at the same time.
Beef with Mushrooms is a new entry to Street Chef’s Menu. It is originally part of their catering menu, but will also be part of their dine-in menu this year. Street Chef has really good sauces and this one did not disappoint. The beef is tender and the sauce is very creamy and garlic-y.
Street Balls are Street Chef’s version of our beloved Kwek-Kwek and meat balls. These are quail eggs covered with ground pork and topped with garlic mayonnaise and chili flakes. Served in fours, these are really good for sharing because they are very heavy. They can be paired with rice, too.
Also a part of their catering menu, Street Chef’s Chicken Cordon Bleu is very impressive. Based on the Cordon Bleu’s I have tasted at caterings, this one is well made. The chicken is tender and the breading is hot and crispy.
Of course, what’s a meal without dessert? This Mango Leche Flan is to die for. The leche flan itself is sweet and creamy while the mangoes are ripe enough that it complements the rest of the dish.
Like other Mandaluyong restaurants, Street Chef is very affordable and most of the food in the menu is good for sharing. Though some are typical food we find in other restaurants, Street Chef offers these items with a twist or with more of a street flair to it. They also serve beer and signature cocktails in case you’d like to drink there with your friends.
Street Chef
San Rafael Street, Mandaluyong City
+(63) 905 3452433 or +(63) 918-8882433
Facebook.com/streetchefphilippines
Twitter/Instagram: @streetchefphilippines
