Fortune Island: Of Ruins, Cliffs & Models

People flock the columns

A few months ago, making our way around Kapitolyo in Pasig looking for the inconspicuous Kanto Freestyle Breakfast, we asked a random trike driver if he was familiar with the restaurant. Without batting an eyelash, he pointed us the block at the corner of the intersection. We thought he was taking "Kanto" as kanto. You know, the Filipino term for street corner. Since all cities in the metro have a kanto, asking for it without being clear about it is as tedious as it can get. We ended up eating at a different restaurant.

Traffic free in Kapitolyo

Hanging plants on the gate

Tables are always occupied during the busy hours

But yesterday, as we took a right turn along 1st Street in Kapitolyo, I realized that the trike driver was actually pointing us to the right direction. Kanto is indeed located a few meters away from the intersection of West Capitol Drive and St. Rafael St. I was glad I was with people who know the place by heart. Getting there was a cinch.

Straightforward menu

Getting a table at Kanto however was not. Word has spread around quickly that a new branch can be found in Kapitolyo which is a famous food district in the metro. It didn't come as a surprise to see people flocking at the restaurant even that early. Utterly famished, we had to wait for our turn.

I've been to Kanto's branch in Mandaluyong a few times before when our office was still in Makati. Seeing the new branch in Kapitolyo set inside a residential garage converted into a dine-in restaurant, I couldn't help making some comparisons. The original Kanto Freestyle branch has tables and chairs set up practically along the sidewalk whereas the Kapitolyo branch has them cramped inside a garage space, though it still maintains this neighborhood feel and homey vibe which is palpable in its home in Mandaluyong. There's also a lot of shade in Kapitolyo, thanks to the big tree just outside the gate.

Customers waiting for their turn

The Kanto branch in Kapitolyo doesn't work on pay-as-you-order basis either. The waiters wait for you to be seated then take your order. The bill comes right after you finished your food. Such set-up only becomes an issue if they don't allow placing orders in advance and there's a long queue because your order doesn't get prepared until you have secured a table. They also have a 5% charge on top of the prices.

Photos that chronicle Kanto's humble beginnings

What the Kapitolyo branch has that the old branch doesn't are those framed bywords and motto hanging on the walls. If you ask me however, the place is better off without them.

The quality and taste of food as well as the service remain the same. Here are some of the food we ordered.

French toast with bacon and eggs (90)

Established in 1594 and once home to converted sangleys (people of pure Chinese ancestry), Binondo is the oldest China town in the world. Even before the onset of Spanish colonization in the 16th century, it was already a center of Chinese commerce.

Today, the district still remains a hub of trade for all kinds of businesses, most notably restaurants and food establishments run by Filipino-Chinese merchants. It has also become a favorite go-to place for food trips and even photowalks.

Ready for a full meal

Food stall

Just walk around Binondo and you can see array of shops and restaurants that offer cheap and authentic Chinese food. There are pastries, dumplings and sweat meats like hopia (mooncakes) all sold in affordable prices.

Lotus with egg

Vegetables come aplenty

Fruits and vegetables come aplenty as well. You can also find here exotic items and ingredients such as ginseng, shark fin cartilage, deer horn, dried snake and bird’s nest as long as you know where to look. If not, you can always ask a random store owner, they can point you to the right place. You can probably spot chocolate diamonds for gifts if you look really hard.

Dragon fruit