June 14th 2024
Sometimes when I feel like I deserve a delightful treat, I wouldn't mind the cost. I just want to indulge in homey and satisfying foods.
As I mentioned in my post last week, my exam and graduation were approaching. That happened last Sunday, June 9th. I eventually let go of some of my worries and filled my head with new things to consider.
After our graduation ceremony, my new friend and I excitedly took the train to Jordan. We were meant to eat at a Korean restaurant that offered endless food. However, after some consideration, we both decided to go to a popular Filipino restaurant nearby. This restaurant was mentioned in one of my previous posts, but I have not yet visited it. If my memory serves me right, I last visited this restaurant in 2018 or 2019.
We visited Bedañas, a Filipino restaurant. It's one of the best Filipino restaurants in Hong Kong. I would recommend it to those who wish to experience homey Filipino cuisine in Hong Kong. It is located in Jordan at Temple Street.
Even if you don't know what kind of restaurant this is, you can tell as soon as you enter. The interior and displays show Filipino culture. The bamboo walls make it look like a small native hut.
This shows Bayanihan which refers to the spirit of communal unity and cooperation among Filipino people. This usually happens in times of unexpected devastation, difficulties, and even during good celebrations. It is common to us, Filipinos, to lend a helping hand in times of difficulties.
This is one of the iconic attractions in my country, Mount Mayon along with this historical structure. It is an active volcano and famous for its perfect cone. It's also one on my bucket list that I wish to visit someday.
Meanwhile, these show a karosa or carabao cart used by farmers in plowing lands and transporting harvested commodities from one part to another, and the kalesa or horse carriage, a traditional mode of transportation during the Spanish colonial era which still existed up to date. It is a popular mode of transportation by tourists in areas where kalesa exist.
And of course, our Philippine Flag, along with the Philippine Eagle, our national bird. There are also wood carvings showing Ethnic people. I am uncertain of that, though, they can also be two of the Filipino heroes in the past.
I hope you learned some Filipino facts from the above photos 😊. Now let's go to the food which is the main highlight of this post. There are several popular Filipino dishes served here. Some are the iconic dishes that are a-must-to-try when visiting the Philippines. The prices are reasonable. Every serving is good for up to three people which I guess can be upgraded for a bigger group of people.
We are only two people at our table and I was surprised by the large bowl of soup that was served on our table. We order beef soup or sinigang na baka and a plate of Pinoy-style barbecue. I so missed these homey foods, especially the sinigang. Any kind of sinigang (a traditional Filipino soup) is so fine for me.
Although cooking sinigang is easier nowadays with the help of some packed seasonings, I still love the traditional way of cooking using fresh ingredients and seasonings.
And of course, one of my favorites, the Pinoy barbecue, and its sauce. The meat is marinated in Pinoy-style barbecue sauce, and its dipping sauce is made of sweet and sour vinegar with chili. I love the taste of sweet barbecue dipped into sour and spicy sauce. I'm Filipino, but it's embarrassing to admit that I still can't make a perfect Pinoy barbecue marinade and sauce, lol.
Of course, part of every trip is taking souvenir shots. You can't just leave the place without taking one. With my newly found friend, I enjoyed our delightful and homey dinner. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, comfort, and satisfaction. I truly missed the Filipino taste.
I also learned that this restaurant served boodle fight type of dining requested by customers. For those who don't know, boodle fight is a military style of eating that has been adopted by Filipinos. The food is served on a long table covered with banana leaves, and we eat food using our hands. It makes the meal more satisfying. This step-up is usually done outdoors, at the beach, farm, camping area, and other open spaces.
The photo below is an example of a boodle fight set up at Bedañas. A group of foreign people had a boodle fight party last December. The experience is truly the best part of it.
Image source from Bedañas Facebook Page
I enjoyed a satisfying dinner at Bedañas, where I tried authentic Filipino cuisine in a homey setting. It was well worth the money. We only spent more than HKD$200 on all of these foods, shared between the two of us. The dinner serves three to four people, and I was too full in the end.
My Sunday definitely was a great day. From topping the examination to graduation, and Filipino food tripping. I can't wait to share about our graduation 😁.
If you visit Hong Kong someday, don't forget to visit Bedañas Filipino restaurant at Temple Street, Jordan.
Thanks for your time.
Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.
Her new experiences, adventures, challenges, lessons, small successes, and joys are colorful paints that fill up her canvas of life. She hopes to see it beautifully painted while she can. Join her on her quest for self-discovery and wanderlust. If you like her content, don't hesitate to upvote, drop a comment, reblog, and follow for more wonderful adventures.
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