So shiok nia!

- I’ve learned that phrase from my Malaysian friends who taught me a little bit of their language.

What is the meaning of Shiok?

Shiok is commonly used in Singapore and Malaysia. The word “shiok” is used to convey a feeling of sheer pleasure and happiness.  It could also mean “Delicious” or “masarap”.”

“shiok is more like an expression of satisfactory”

-Aaron (friend from Malaysia)

For example:

WOW! This Char Kway Teow is damn shiok nia!

or… Last night was so shiok loh…

or… Your new car so shiok!

A Very Shiok Restaurant!

Last Wednesday, we went to The Fort to discover a new dining place.  I was so excited as the restaurant serves food which is very close not only to my stomach but also to my heart as well.  I have an affection for Southeast Asian food especially from Singapore, Malaysia and HongKong.  Sometimes, I crave the food there and I dream of jet-setting to those countries just to go on a food trip again.

I’m lucky that there are food enthusiasts like me who brought these cuisines to the Philippines.

The Menu

What I like about the menu is that it is not packed with so many dishes.  Sometimes too many choices in a restaurant make me dizzy.  I appreciate the simplicity of the layout (whoever made the layout did a good job).  They offer the most popular dishes in Singapore, Malaysia and HongKong.

The Signature Dishes

Hainan Chicken

This is simply a must try!  If it is your first time in the restaurant, I recommend you to try this as this is also my favorite!  For a meal worth P 145 this is what you get!

The Secret Recipe focuses on a steeping process to ensure smooth, silky chicken served with aromatic rice, chicken broth, sweet soy sauce, chili and ginger sauce.  Each sauce has its unique taste.  To get the whole chicken rice experience, the chicken should be mixed with all three sauces to get the best flavor.

Again, pinoys love to separate their food.  When eating hainan chicken, you must pour all sauce in the chicken… Don’t be afraid… you’ll get the best flavor!

This rice definitely so SHIOK nia!

My favorite part of this meal is the Chicken Rice!!! Ah… I’m craving it right now as I type… I need to drag someone to come with me to this place now!!!  The rice is just amazing… It’s fragrant, creamy and just right with flavor.  I want to have this rice in all my meals all day … nom nom nom!

Hainan Chicken P 145

Spicy Pineapple Fish Fillet

The Spicy Pineapple Fish Fillet recipe is a deep fried fish fillet covered with a spicy pineapple sauce.  This is tastes like sweet and sour fish but definitely better.  It has a distinct taste of spice added by that hint of chili that is not too spicy.  Of course, if you want it spicier, you can ask the waiter.

This is a cose-up look of the Spicy fish fillet.  As you can see, the flour wrapping of the fillet has flavor enough by itself.  For this dish, you’d get the best taste to three combinations – sweet, sour, spicy… just the right amount.

Spicy Pineapple Fish P 130

Sambal Prawns

Sambal prawns are prawns stir fried in freshly prepared sambal sauce.  Sambals are popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the southern Philippines and Sri Lanka, as well as in the Netherlands and in Suriname through Indonesian influence.  The sambal sauce or the chili factor that they put in the prawns were not too harsh or not too spicy.  For me, it’s just perfect.  I have the most sensitive tongue for spicy foods.  But I still love spice.  That’s why when I order it, I make sure to have some milk tea or that equivalent to neutralize the spicy flavor.

But the spiciness of this dish is just right.  If you are more adventurous and want more spice to the prawns, I think you can ask the waiter to adjust it for you.  But, to enjoy the taste and the original recipe, I suggest you stick with the original.

Sambal Prawns Price: P 245

Char Kway Teow

Char kway teow, literally “stir-fried rice cake strips”, is a popular noodle dish in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. It’s known to be spicy and oozing with flavor.  Although this is the spiciest dish served to us and my tongue is very sensitive to spice, I still love it!  I love the adventure the Char Kway Teow gave me.  I could not stop eating it even if it was burning my tongue.  I guess for some people the spice is just bearable.  I wish I don’t have the sensitive tongue ahuk… ahuk… ahuk… Anyway, if you feel a bit too spicy about this, just pair it with their sets of milk tea and coffee tea   You can also ask for the food to be served less spicy.

Char Kway Teow P 120

Curry Beef Brisket

This is another one of my favorites and it actually tastes good with the Chicken Rice   I love it because, it has that asian flavour but the curry and the spice is mild enough for my Filipino tongue.  If you’re really hungry, this would be a good meal.  It surely will fill your stomach and I’m not sure if this comes with rice but it tasted good with Chicken Rice.

Curry Beef Brisket P 200

Roti Prata

Roti is an unleavened flat bread made from atta flour.  It is usually common in Asian countries (not the Philippines) but it has gaining its popularity and there are Roti shops growing around.

Roti Prata P55

Roasted BBQ Pork

Otherwise known as Pork Asado.  This simple dish is one thing that I missed from HongKong.  I remembered me taking this at least once I day when I was in HongKong because it was affordable and it’s delicious!  It’s the sauce mixed with the rice that makes this dish a favorite of mine.

Roasted BBQ Pork P110

Featured Drinks

Milk Tea P 50

It would not be a complete South-East Asian restaurant without MILK TEA!!!  The first drink I looked for when I entered the restaurant is Milk Tea.  Milk Tea is everywhere in HongKong and even if they sell it just on the streets, it tastes just as wonderful.  I could not find a good milk tea served in any restaurant here in the Philippines yet.  I was in search for this before when I started to miss milk tea from Hong Kong.  Some restaurants serve it too sweet and some serve it with 90% milk and it would taste like milk and cream… the tea forgotten.  When I asked for it and tasted their milk tea myself… My, I’d say I found that restaurant to go to in case I crave for my milk tea again.

The reason why I also love milk tea especially if I’m travelling the neighboring countries is that usually they serve really spicy food.  One way I could counter the spicyness is to drink something with milk in it.  So, that’s a tip for you guys… Milk tea with something spicy.  It’s not advisable though if you have a weak stomach or are lactose intolerant. Yikes!

Iced Yuan Yang P55

This is one of their signature drinks. Yuan Yang is a popular beverage in Hong Kong, made of a mixture of coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea.  This can be taken if you don’t want hardcore coffee and you want to drink this with again, your spicy food.  This drink is a must-try if you visit this restaurant.  You don’t have to travel to Hong Kong just to satisfy your craving for milk teas and Yuan Yang.

Iced Horlicks P50

Horlicks is actually a brand that is known as a healthy malted milk hot drink which promotes sleep when consumed at bedtime.  In Hong Kong, Horlicks is known better as a cafe drink rather than as a sleeping aid.  I remembered that this was served in Cafe de Coral in Hong Kong.

The taste of the drink is quite unique and the texture tells the story.  It’s like a cereal drink which should also be good with spicy food.

We tried almost all of the iced teas.  Starting on the left: Iced Horlicks, Iced Tea, Milk Tea, Yuan Yang

[flickr album=72157623452760225 num=37 size=Square]

A very Shiok Video

Credits to WhenInManila.com for the video.  Definitely shiok nia… and don’t listen to me when I was trying to speak shiok! lol

Click here to read more about Shiok by WhenInManila.com

Shiok is located at 0105 Fort Forum Bldg., Bonifacio Stop Over, 31st and 2nd St, Fort Bonifacio Global Cit Taguig City, Metro Manila.

Phone Number: (63 2) 466-6291 (FREE DELIVERY)

Email: shiokitchen@gmail.com

Facebook: Shiok Facebook Page

Hours: Mon – Fri: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm / Sat: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm / Sun: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Price Range: Affordable / Medium

Cuisine:  Singaporean Cuisine / Asian Fusion

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