More than just a passing fad, Taiwanese milk tea is now firmly ensconced in the Filipino’s concept of what titillates the palette. Taiwan however offers more than just its famous milk tea, something Ninetea Taiwanese Restaurant hopes to showcase locally with the wide variety of flavors that the island state’s cuisine offers.
The brainchild of founders Miffy Hsu and Ms Ling, Ninetea is located at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Pasay City. Miffy who ran the hole-in-the-wall restaurant Ju Shi Yuan in Poblacion, Makati hopes to introduce Taiwanese cuisine to a wider audience.
Ninetea stays true to its roots thanks to Chef Hao Chang and Eric Liu. Chef Hao, with his 20 years of experience in traditional Taiwanese cuisine, ensures that diners will enjoy nothing less than what authentic dishes promise.
Start the meal right with Taiwanese Chicken Poppers — savory bite-sized chicken seasoned with Tawianese 5 spice for a bit of heat at the end to whet the appetite. Follow this up with the classic, Three Cup Chicken with cubed chicken and braised in a sesame oil, rice wine, and soy sauce mixture with herbs.
For fish lovers, the Sweet and Sour Fish set is a pleasant surprise. Instead of the Filipino version with thick red sauce coating the fish entirely, the Taiwanese version features a black vinegar and soy sauce mixture with cilantro, chili, and peanuts for added flavor and texture.
For those who enjoy sharing meals, the Seafood Milky Hotpot with Cheese is a treat. The dairy-forward soup has a hint of sweetness, and none of the overpowering the taste of the seafood and vegetables swimming in the broth. For those who want to bring on the heat, there is the Szechuan Style Spicy Hot Pot.
Eric Liu is a former senior leader of Chun Shui Tang, the most famous bubble milk tea shop in Taiwan. His expertise allows Ninetea to offer high-quality drinks to guests. More than just milk tea, Ninetea also offers lattes, shaved ice, a variety of hot tea, and fruit and tea mixes.
The pandemic makes it difficult for people to eat out. For those who want to enjoy Ninetea’s delicious offerings right in the comfort of their own homes, delivery is available via FoodPanda, GrabFood and Pick.A.Roo.
