"It's Fortune, or nothing at all!"...this was what our mother used to tell us when she was still alive. And by Fortune, she means Fortune Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant. According to the best cook in my life, this resto serves the best Chinese cuisine in Pampanga, and maybe even better than those found in NCR or Metro Manila. As I've mentioned, my Mother does the cooking in the house. And her expertise? You've guessed it right...Chinese Food. Therefore, according to her, no one beats her cooking except...(drumroll)...the Fortune Restaurant.
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| The Best Sweet & Sour Pork |
Fortune Restaurant is located in downtown Balibago area in Angeles City. Balibago is considered as the nightlife center of our city. The famous strip of resto, bars and cafes along McArthur Hi-way is at the heart of Balibago. And also, the world famous Fields Ave. of Angeles city is also found in the area. In October, in lieu of the city's Fiesta celebration, the dance party "Tigtigan, Terakan queng Dalan" is also held at the same area. During this party, for a minimal entrance fee, people get to drink beers Unli-style! Lots of stalls in the event sell food or pulutan that you can pair up with your beer. If you're a beer addict, then you have to visit our city every October. Haha!
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| Shrimp with Broccoli |
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| Kris & Bam wannabees. |
Going from Angeles city's Poblacion or city proper, you will find Fortune along the left side of the McArthur Hi-way road going to Mabalacat. It is a couple of blocks away before Fields Ave. and the road leading to Clark Freeport Zone. Before mama passed away, we had to eat in this restaurant for at least once a month...it is because according to her, it is not just the best Chinese resto, but it also is the only resto that satisfies her "taste impairment", being a senior citizen that has stepped-in on the old aged segment of our society. When we visit Fortune with her, we must and always have to order the Steamed Eel specialty.
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| Eight Treasures soup |
According to Chinese medicine, Eels boosts stamina and provides additional energy that is very beneficial to old/senior people like my mother. Almost the same way that drinking ginseng tea or ginseng infused food servings benefit us. I'll talk about the Steamed Eel Entree when we get to order it in the future. Another mother's favorite is the resto's Seafood Tofu in Hotpot. This one is served sizzling hot in a "hotpot" or an oriental ceramic "pot". A handful of seafood tidbits are sautéed and slow cooked with Tofu slices and choice vegetables in the pot before being served. Since it was me who my parents used to go to Fortune when mama was alive, I also get to order my favorite......the Chinese Style Beef Tenderloin. This meal offers tender Beef slices cooked to perfection with a sweet, tangy sauce and is also served in a sizzling plate. In the past, they didn't used sizzling plates in presenting this entree...but for the past four years, when they had a new Lead Chef, the started to serve the Beef sizzling style. It is far better than before...so I liked it more than ever!
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| Patatim or Stewed Pork Leg |
We ate at Fortune last Saturday. Together with the kinakapatids, my father and a cousin. We had the opportunity to eat with the kinakapatid who came from Austria to visit our father. Just like traditional Chinese restaurants, our table is round with a lazy Susan glasstop that rotates for our convenience. We ordered Shrimp with Broccoli, the bestselling Sweet & Sour Pork, Eight Treasures Soup, YangChow Fried Rice and our Father's favorite.....the Patatim or Chinese Pork Leg Stew.
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| Yang Chow Fried Rice |
The best thing about YangChow Fried rice, is that you can eat it as it is even without toppings. But since we are in the Philippines, we can't eat with rice alone...we need to have other ulam. Eight Treasures Soup features 8 very special ingredients cooked in a broth based soup. Father's favorite, Patatim, on the other hand, is a slow cooked Pork Leg with assorted authentic ingredients such as White Fungus, Mushrooms and sliced Bamboo shoots. But if it's your first time to try Fortune, never fail to pick their Sweet & Sour Pork......it is the best in all of Pampanga and Metro Manila imho. Yes, the best!
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| Quan Kong Chinese Business deity |
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| Live Lobsters |
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| Live Lapu-Lapu or Grouper fish |
After the sumptuous meal, I chanced upon the resto's "aquariums" featuring the highly honored or priced Lobster and Lapu-lapu(grouper). Sometimes, you also get to see their live Horseshoe Crab, unfortunately that day, they were sold out! I also took a shot with the resident deity in almost all Chinese businesses...Quan Gong or Kwan Kong. A famous Chinese general who was so popular that he leveled-up and became a mini-god or deity that governs businesses or more specifically, strategic competition or in line with the applied Sun Tzu's concept of business wars. Given the opportunity, I also was able to take a selfie with the Resto's celebrity icon/Manager/endorser/mascot, Ms. Janette.
Fortune Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant is the best place to eat when your craving for an authentic Chinese cuisine taste! They offer a lot of choices in their menu that is more affordable for family get-togethers and group party celebrations. For birthday celebrations, you may also request their waiters/attendants to perform a very special Happy Birthday song for the celebrant! Don't forget to visit this resto if you're here in the city of angels like me. You'll surely come back for the best of the best in Chinese Food.
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| Fortune Restaurant Frontage |
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