[46] On Cheap Hong Kong Eats: Eat Fresh, Maria Clara Street

Banawe Street in Quezon City has been known for two Cs: Chinoys (Chinese Filipinos) and car parts. Although longtime residents know its food spots like the back of their hands, many new restaurants have set up shop here. I used to work near the area from 2014 to 2016 as a marketing writer for a local educational publisher, so I often had the chance to visit these places.

Enter Eat Fresh, along Maria Clara Street. This restaurant serving Hong Kong street food has been a long-time fixture in the vicinity. It never runs out of vacant tables with every visit, a proof of its popularity. Eat Fresh promises authentic cuisine and huge servings, at cheap prices – something it consistently delivers all the time. And who wouldn’t be tempted to dine here when you can watch your food being cooked?

Don't expect red walls and fancy décor when you visit. The place is laid out simply, just like a dai pai dong food stall in Hong Kong. Steel and Formica tables and plastic chairs are arranged neatly, with pictures of their offerings on the bright yellow wall.

Food is cooked in an enclosed area facing the street, while drinks are prepared in another area. Since clear glass panels separate these from the dining tables, you can have a closer look at your orders being prepared. Be wary though; there’s a possibility that you'll smell of food if you're seated near the cooking spot. Oh, and did I mention drinks? Eat Fresh also carries a wide array of unique drinks such as Dr. Pepper, Schweppes, Vitasoy, and a lot more.

Eat Fresh has its roots in a quaint corner of Masangkay Street in the city of Manila (now closed), where it first opened in 2005. This branch in the Sta. Mesa Heights area is among its most popular locations, as seen in the dozens of cars parked outside. Here's what I've tried during my trips there.

---

The Black and White Gulaman is made of sugar syrup, red food coloring, and cubes of grass and almond jelly. This beverage is a nod to the traditional Filipino drink often sold by street hawkers. I found this rather sweet for my taste buds, so I added water to tone it down.

Meanwhile, the Pearl Nai Cha is Eat Fresh's version of milk tea. This contains boba pearls by default, though a version without the pearls is also available. While the tea itself is sweet, it needs to be stirred as the condensed milk used accumulates at the bottom of the cup.

The Breaded Scallop is one of Eat Fresh's snack specialties, something I found best paired with hoisin and peanut sauce. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Pancake Balls served as this joint's counterpart to the egg waffles sold in the special administrative region. It's worth noting that this one doesn't have any accompaniments – no syrups, jams, or sweet toppings.

I also ordered the Fried Stuffed Tofu for something different. While I found the tofu rather bland, the filling made of ground pork and vegetables saved it. This would have been good with rice, if it was served piping hot.

The Special Fried Rice, Eat Fresh's take on the classic yang chow fried rice, did not disappoint. A serving of this would be good enough for two people – or one, if you're a rather heavy eater. This fried rice pairs well with the various appetizers and short orders Eat Fresh has on its menu.

The Taosi Spareribs Claypot Rice – a staple in Chinese restaurants – combines rice, spare ribs sauteed in black beans, and vegetables in a piping-hot container. The sauce is best poured on top of the rice, creating a sizzling effect, and then stirred immediately before digging in. I loved the balance of vegetables and meat on this one, though I had several instances of touching the hot clay container by accident.

Eat Fresh also has something for those swearing off meat: The 3 Kinds of Mushroom with Vegetable dish. As the name states, it features three kinds of mushroom – straw, shiitake, and button – sauteed in oyster sauce with vegetables. This is a personal favorite of mine, and I don't mind eating this everyday because this is healthy protein!

---

Interestingly, Eat Fresh also shares a kitchen with Shiok Shiok Singaporean Restaurant – both have the same owners. Whereas Eat Fresh faces Maria Clara Street, Shiok Shiok's façade is located along Nicanor Roxas Street. As the name states, Shiok Shiok specializes in dishes from the Little Red Dot.

---

A significant amount of time passed since I first wrote this review. I left my job at the educational publisher in 2016, transferring to an ESL tutorial company afterwards. Eat Fresh later opened a branch near my then-office called Eat Fresh Bao Dim – which eventually became a favorite spot.

Unfortunately, Eat Fresh Bao Dim closed down months before the COVID-19 pandemic. Local freight/logistics company LBC now occupies its former space. But the story didn't end there.

---

I found myself working outside on a Saturday in August 2023, managing to obtain a reservation at the CO&CO Works co-working space along Katipunan Avenue. It so happened that the building where the space was located was a stone's throw away from Eat Fresh and Shiok Shiok's new space. By this time, the joint had gained popularity that it opened two branches along the main thoroughfare – right across each other.

I started off with a large serving of its Pearl Nai Cha and two pieces of its Baked Asado Bun, which I first discovered at the now-closed Eat Fresh Bao Dim. I also ordered a serving of the Salt and Pepper Prawn alongside the Cereal Chicken Rice.

This satisfying lunch turned out to be a memorable one, as it came eight years after I initially wrote this entry. Even more surprising was the total amount on my bill. Seems that Eat Fresh really stuck to the "cheap Hong Kong eats" I noted roughly 10 years ago.

---

Visit Eat Fresh Hong Kong Street Food on Facebook and on Instagram to stay updated with its latest promotions.

Until the next review, bon appetit!