In an age of non-stop "instagrammable" consumption, our daily feed is often bombarded with the next hottest thing. But food trends come and go. Then, there are places that have endured the test of time with comfortingly familiar dishes that trigger fond and nostalgic memories. One of these iconic establishments is the 62 year-old Shantung Restaurant...
Named after the coastal province in Northern China, Shantung Restaurant continues a family's rich legacy with dishes that have become part of the local culinary mainstream. Since it opened back in 1958 in Binondo, generations of families have celebrated milestones and memorable meals at Shangtung Restaurant. And since it moved to Quezon City's West Avenue, it still dishes out good eats after 62 years without skipping a beat. When everyone excitedly awaits the next big food trend, it's reassuring to know that some things in this world don't change remaining exactly the same way as we all remember it. That's the way it's always been at Shantung Restaurant...
The familiar fonts of the enduring restaurant's name still lights up Quezon City's busy West Avenue (L). Now run and managed by the same family's third generation, Shantung Restaurant is ready for the next 62 years in the able hands of Justine Chang (R) serving their classic favorites using the same original recipes since 1958. 
The menu at Shantung Restaurant still carries the familiar dishes we all grew up with, served in the same no-fuss and uncomplicated style that endeared the iconic establishment to many loyal customers. You can say the dishes served at Shantung Restaurant has, over the years, acquired that hint of local notes to adapt to the Filipino palate. And it works. Fried to a crisp with hot oil on a wok, served with generous helpings of sauce or served fresh from the steamers, Shantung Restaurant has become part of the curious melting pot of flavors in our rich culinary heritage. Like they say, it if ain't broke, why fix it right? It's old school Chinese without the frills. And at Shantung Restaurant, it's all about the food. No need to be fancy about it. Start with some tasty bites...
The Assorted Cold Cuts (P 445) with shredded jellyfish, pork tripe, spiced gelatin pork, spiced beef and sliced century egg offers a variety of flavors and textures in one sumptuous platter. Start with the delicate fresh and briny notes of the seaweed followed by the savory pork tripe, spiced beef and spiced gelatin pork capped by the distinct flavors of century egg to tease the palate.
A comforting bowl of Hot & Sour Soup (P 230 Small/P 295 Medium) simmered with egg and pork blood in the mildly sharp thick broth delivers a burst of bold flavors with every sip. The thick broth drapes the palate with a sour richness mellowed by the egg.
The flavors just take you back on a nostalgic trip, reliving all the flavors you enjoyed back then and still do today. You'll want a second serving.
A festive family celebration at Shantung Restaurant just isn't complete without this noodle dish...
The Crispy Noodles with Assorted Delicacies (P 390) is one of those mandatory must-have dishes at Shantung Restaurant. Pour some of the sweet and thick sauce loaded with vegetables, mushrooms, pork and seafood on the crispy noodles and gently mix it all up. Best enjoyed after mixing when the noodles are still crisp. Scoop up a generous serving of noodles and toppings draped in that thick sauce and enjoy.
Shantung Restaurant keeps up with the times with salted egg dishes like the Salted Egg Pork Chop with Salt & Pepper (P 295 Small/P 390 Medium), crisp fried lean pork cutlets draped in a salted egg flavored breading. The salted egg breading adds a rich layer of flavor to the delicate yet savory notes of the pork pairing well with Shantung Restaurant's classic fried rice. Another salted egg option is the Shantung Salted Egg Fried Chicken (P 385 Half) for a different take on fried chicken.
You can also go old school with the Shantung Fried Crispy Chicken (P 275 Half) served with a sweet chili sauce. Tender, juicy inside and crispy on the outside, it's classic fried chicken draped with a thick and crunchy layer of breading.
My own childhood memories at Shantung Restaurant includes their unique potstickers served in the restaurant's unique style, inverted with the crisp bottom on top and laid flat on a plate. Nobody serves potstickers the way Shantung Restaurant does, and it's been that way for 62 years.
Shantung Restaurant's all-time classic, the soft, chewy, crisp and savory Fried Dumplings (P 200-10 pcs) is still as good as the first time I tried it so many years ago. Seared on the bottom for that delicate and light crispness, these potstickers offer contrasting textures followed by a savory burst of richness from the pork filling. A dip in the dark sweet sauce completes the flavors.
Another equally tasty option is their Steamed Dumplings (P 180), the same potstickers but steamed instead of fried. Softer and juicier, the same rich notes pops in your mouth from the savory pork filling tempered by the sweet sauce.
Shantung Restaurant also serves a variety of fresh seafood dishes, like the Szechuan Shrimp (P 375 Small/P 425 Medium) with succulent shrimps draped in a thick and sweet chili sauce. Lightly breaded, the hot fiery wok does its magic on the shrimps finished with the sweet chili sauce and fresh leeks. Each bite delivers a briny sweetness from the shrimps followed by the chili sauce for bold flavors.
A meal at Shantung Restaurant becomes a real feast with this pork dish...
The Pig Leg in Brown Sauce "Pata Tim" (P 655) with melt-in-your-mouth pork topped with cabbage and mushrooms is a festive dish with sweet and savory notes. Braised for hours, the pork just falls off the bone and easily pulled apart with just a fork. The tender pork leg delivers clean and delicate notes, completed by the thick and sweet sauce. This one calls for extra fried rice...
...or some soft mantou bread. Their signature Pata Tim is best paired with the Shantung Steamed Bread (P 45/pc), a soft and chewy bun that's perfect with the savory pork dish absorbing the richness of the sauce.
The Yang Chow Assorted Meat Fried Rice (P 235 Small/P 305 Medium) pairs with just about every dish at Shantung Restaurant...
...including another popular dish, the crispy fried Shrimp Balls (P 320-5 pcs/P 505-8 pcs) served with a sweet chili sauce. Meticulously formed by hand with the freshest shrimps, the Shrimp Balls at Shantung Restaurant is another popular dish on the menu since 1958.
Dessert? Go for Shantung Restaurant's Sesame Seed Balls "Butsi" (P 120-5 pcs/P 220-10 pcs)...
...or the Almond Gelatin with Lychee (P 110 per glass/P 545 per large bowl for sharing) to cap your nostalgic meal at Shantung Restaurant.
After 62 years, Shantung Restaurant still dishes out some good eats. And with the family's third generation taking an active role in the business, Shantung Restaurant is all set for another 62 years of flavorful and nostalgic meals. The table is set, dig in for another memorable feast at Shantung Restaurant...
Shantung is located at 96 West Avenue, Philam Homes, West Triangle, Quezon City or call (02) 8926 1957 and 8928 4409 for inquiries.
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