Always The Right Time and Reason at Wong Place

There's a new Chinese Restaurant at Bonifacio South Street, and it isn't what you'd expect. Far from the usual, it's playfully quirky and even irreverent but everything just feels so right. At Wong Place...

Everything aligns and simply fits in the right place at Wong Place, the newest dining concept from the same dynamic group behind Mango Tree, Mango Tree Cafe, Genki Sushi, Sen-Ryo, Tung Lok Signatures, Tung Lok Seafood, Marizzang, Kureji and Rossini. From appetizers, cocktails and dim sum to savory mains, noodles and rice dishes, Wong Place has it covered with traditional and comforting cuisine and then some. And you'll soon discover, it's always the right time and reason at Wong Place. Read on and find out why Wong Place gets it right...

Located at the Ground Level of Verve Tower 2 along Bonifacio South Street in BGC, Wong Place is just where you need to be for a sumptuous meal of comforting flavors or a soothing cocktail. There's never a wrong time at Wong Place...

...for hearty bites and soothing libations, simply step inside to make your day right. Chinese cuisine remains part of the metro's culinary mainstream with countless dining options in practically every corner. But there's just nothing close to Wong Place, seamlessly transitioning from traditional Chinese fare for lunch and dinner to a cool late night haunt with its modern and eccentric vibe matched with its repertoire of handcrafted cocktails and tasty bites. And that makes Wong Place the right place in my book.

The creative force behind Wong Place and its unique brand of dining experience is Grant Teng, son of successful restaurateurs Eric and  Emelda Teng. What he brings to the local dining scene is a refreshed and youthfully eccentric spin to the Chinese dining experience with bold hearty flavors with inventive touches setting it apart from the usual options.  

From its impressive high-ceiling interiors, modern polished concrete walls, the cozy warmth of earth tones from leather-upholstered chairs and calming teal-colored hues, Wong Place sets the stage for its brand of dining bringing comfortingly familiar Chinese flavors with a contemporary spin adding to the vibrant restaurant scene of BGC. 

The concept for the newest restaurant draws inspiration that's much closer to home with the flavors Grant Teng grew up with, but what would set Wong Place apart from the usual Chinese restaurant? And that's where Grant Teng steps in adding his own modern spin without drastically altering the flavorful base of tradition. Instead, Grant Teng weaves subtle and even wittingly nuanced touches to comforting flavors for a refreshed dining experience. There's always room for another Chinese restaurant in BGC, and Wong Place takes it out of the box with its untraditional take. As the ribbon is ceremoniously cut...

...and glasses raised in a festive toast, BGC welcomes its newest dining destination as well as the formal debut of Grant Teng in the portfolio of restaurant concepts from Eric and Emelda Teng's growing network of brands. On cue, Grant Teng opens the kitchen and serves up his own distinctive brand of classic Chinese flavors in his own unique culinary style at Wong Place.

Now that you've comfortably settled in your seat, it's time to savor the savor the flavors of Wong Place starting with the Fried Mantou with Pork Floss (P 150), pillow-soft buns topped with savory pork floss. The subtle sweetness of the bun contrasts with the mildly salty hints of the pork coming together in a perfectly balanced blend of comforting and even nostalgic notes.  

The tender Steamed Spareribs (P 280) with black beans, sweet peppers and herbs from their dim sum selection is a classic rendition of a popular staple, draping the palate with a lingering savory richness with each bite.

Delicately steamed, the Beef Balls (P 260) delivers bold beefy notes in an elegantly refined even nuanced finish. The pure, clean and uncluttered beefy notes come through with each flavorful nibble, teasing the palate for one more bite. The deceptively simple yet solid flavors just hits the spot.

Add some crunch to the table with the Pork Mushroom Spring Rolls (P 280) with its tasty combo of pork and mushrooms for a double dose of savory notes. The richness of the pork and the deep nutty notes of mushrooms combine for a flavorful punch capped by the fresh sweetness of vegetables. 

The nutty notes of the Steamed Beancurd Roll (P 250) followed by its delectable sweetness is another personal pick from the dim sum selection from Wong Place. Each bite of the soft yet springy texture of the layered beancurd roll releases bursts of flavor for another tasty option from the menu at Wong Place.

And that's just a taste of some of the tempting offerings at Wong Place, with so much more from the kitchen to satisfy your cravings.  

Wong Place brings both the familiar and unexpected, yet both seemingly contradicting layers are seamlessly woven in a modern and contemporary style that adds to the dining concept's overall experience. By recreating traditional flavors, Wong Place keeps it real for those looking to enjoy the classic elements in an updated vibe and setting.

More dim sum? Yes, please. Can't say no to the Pork & Shrimp Siomai with Tobiko (P 260)... 

...or the Hakaw (P 290) with fresh and succulent shrimps draping the palate with its delicate briny sweetness.  

The Garlic Shrimp Spring Rolls (P 320) brings its delectable play on fresh, clean and contrasting flavors and textures to the palate bursting with its briny notes with the garlic adding a flavorful depth... 

...while the Pan-Fried Spicy Wongtons (P 320) brings just the right level of soothing heat to temper the savory richness of the wontons for that satisfying and balanced finish.

The Steamed Fish Fillet with Garlic (P 260) offers mild and subtle sweet notes rounded out by the deep nutty hints of garlic...

...and the Pan-Fried Wongtons (P 280) completes the sumptuous dim sum feast at Wong Place.

One bite leads to another, as you enjoy the first layer in the Wong Place experience with its tempting dim sum selection.

One more surprise from from the kitchen reflects the playfully inventive and quirky character of Wong Place with the Salted Egg Taro Chips (P 250), crisp bites with the distinct savory notes of salted egg. And one bite just isn't enough, you want more. One more crunchy bite calls for some libation...

...revealing the second layer in the Wong Place experience. At the bar, Grant Teng blends traditional flavors to an array of creative handcrafted cocktails like oolong, kiamoy, pei pa koa and sesame for some unusual yet refreshing concoctions.

With amusing names like Be Water, GG&T, Retox and Oolong Fifty-Fifty, Grant Teng updates the Chinese restaurant stereotype with a cool youthful flair through its extensive bar creations. Take another bite of the Pan-Fried Spicy Wongtons along with some Salted Egg Taro Chips and order up a round of cocktails... 

The humorously and aptly named Sick Leave (P 360) with whiskey, lemon peppermint and pei pa koa is exactly what the doctor ordered. Mildly sweet with refreshingly tart and minty almost herbal honey ginger hints, the Sick Leave perhaps best illustrates the unique character and brand of Wong Place. And no, you definitely won't find this concoction at your usual Chinese restaurant.

The Sesame Sour (P 420) is another bold fusion of flavors made with sesame bourbon, lemon, cucumber and egg white for a novel twist on a cocktail staple...

...while the Dandan Old Fashioned (P 420), a classic cocktail with that Wong Place touch made with sesame bourbon, five spice bitters and Szechuan peppers brings some soothing heat for another celebrated cocktail makeover. And it works perfectly with the deep lingering smoky caramel sweetness of bourbon tempered with just a whisper of vibrant spice.

The Wong Place experience isn't just limited to lunch or dinner. A refreshing mid afternoon or late night tipple with tasty bites is part of the repertoire of options at Wong Place. 

Backing up the solid menu of dim sum and tasty appetizers at Wong Place are savory mains like the fork-tender Black Pepper Wagyu Cubes (P 720) topped with crisp garlic chips. The clean yet rich and bold savory notes of the premium beef comes through followed by the sharp notes of pepper and garlic... 

...while the Sambal Shrimp Fried Noodles (P 480) completes a hearty meal with the mandatory noodle dish. The unique sambal-inspired notes is another flavorful twist at Wong Place. Craving for more noods? Try the Truffle Beef Hofan (P 500), Beef Wonton Noodle Soup (P 420), Wonton Noodle Soup (P 390) and Smoked Duck and Wonton Noodle Soup (P 420).

At Wong Place, you'll find the all-time classics like the Sweet & Sour Pork (P 380) with tender crisp and juicy pork slathered in a savory and tart sauce...

...as well as innovative renditions on familiar dishes...

...like the Calamansi Chicken (P 400). The juicy chicken glazed with the calamansi sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds is yet another creative take on the lemon chicken dish. The sweet sour hints of calamansi pairs well with the chicken dish for yet another winner at Wong Place.

The Fish Fillet & Tofu in Clay Pot (P 440) is both comforting and satisfying with the delicate notes of fish and tofu in a thick sauce combining for a hearty dish. Each sip an bite warms the palate, highlighting one more tempting offering at Wong Place.

Other savory dishes at Wong Place include popular staples like Salt and Pepper Spareribs (P 400), Coffee Pork Ribs (P 420), Szechuan Beef (P 450), Salted Egg Chicken (P 440), Salted Egg Shrimp (P 580) and Sweet Chili Shrimp (P 540). 

A serving of fried rice is in order and Wong Place has it covered. The Wong Chow Fried Rice (P 320) with pork and mushroom pairs well with the savory mains...

...while the Pork Chop Fried Rice (P 430) is a serious meal in itself. Other rice dishes include the Truffle Pork Belly Fried Rice (P 350), Seafood Fried Rice (P 350), Steak Fat Fried Rice (P 320) as well as congee like Sliced Beef and Century Egg (P 360) and Fish Fillet Congee (P 360).

Dessert in the form of indulgent Salted Egg Caramel Ice Cream (P 160), Thai Tea Ice Cream (P 160), Cashew Ice Cream (P 160) or Vanilla Ice Cream (P 150) caps the Wong Place experience.

From its dim sum selection to appetizers, savory mains, rice and noodle dishes to extensive cocktails, Wong Place is setting all the right plays at BGC. Grant Teng's formal entry into the local restaurant scene is promising with the opening of Wong Place...

...joining the roster of successful restaurant brands managed by Eric and Emelda Teng along with daughter Mia like Mango Tree, Mango Tree Cafe, Genki Sushi, Sen-Ryo, Tung Lok Signatures, Tung Lok Seafood, Marizzang, Kureji and Rossini.

There's always a right time, the right place and the right reasons for everything. Find and experience it at the right place at Wong Place...

Wong Place is located at the Ground Level, Verve Tower 2, Bonifacio South Street, 7th Avenue, BGC, Taguig City. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/wongplaceph and https://www.instagram.com/wong.place/ for updates and more information or call +63917 512 3304 or 02 8254 8074 for inquiries.

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