Karlo Pacana
Tin Gow authentic Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine in Cebu
The King of Sinulog along with Cebu bloggers are off to Tin Gow located at the Gourmet Walk of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Roughly translated as Heaven and Nine, Tin Gow was awarded by Sunstar as the Best Chinese Restaurant in Cebu. Tag along with us as we take a heavenly lunch at this well-loved culinary destination.
Ambiance
At first glance, you’ll feel like you’re eating in a traditional Chinese palace and transported back in time much like what we see in historical Asian movies. Multiple shades of red and hints of yellow dominate the place decorated with oriental lanterns and figurines. With a seating capacity of 200 persons, Tin Gow is perfect for all occasions and could cater to private parties up to 100 persons.
Food
Tin Gow serves Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine with Canton being the capital of Guangdong province, a major deep-water port while Szechuan being a populous province in south central China. We were fortunate enough to taste the best of Tin Gow for lunch.
For our appetizer, we had the Prawn Salad with Fruits at PHP940. The six prawn pieces just literally melted in my mouth especially when paired with the sweet fruit salad which was quite bizarre to be part of the appetizers list, not that we’re complaining.
For our soup, we had the Dried Scallop with Green Vegetable at PHP205 which tasted like the Bird’s Nest Soup but with spinach as main ingredient making the dish healthy.
For our main pork dish, we had the Deep Fried Pork with Sweet and Sour Sauce at PHP265 which for me was the best of its kind. The pork was crispy and juicy and the sauce was not overly sweet and sour.
For our main beef dish, we had the Stir Fried Beef with Three Kinds of Mushrooms at PHP460 which tasted good as I expected of it paired with lightly-cooked broccoli and carrots as well.
For our main chicken dish, we had the Deep Fried Chicken with Honey and Ginger at PHP350. This dish put a smile on my face with its honey and garlic combo. The chicken was tender and cooked just right and the ginger was not overpowering the overall taste.
For our main seafood dish, we had the Tin Gow Seafood Bean Curd at PHP650. I am not a fan of tofu but this flavorful homemade dish made me a convert, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
For our rice, we had the Yang Chow Fried Rice at PHP340. With its various meat and seafood toppings, this rice dish is a meal in itself.
We finished the meal with a Mixed Fruit Platter at PHP290 and gulped everything down with hot tea.
Price
A typical meal for two would cost around PHP1,500. Take note that there is an additional 12% VAT charge and 10% service charge to be added to the final bill.
Service
The manager and the servers were very knowledgeable, helpful and quick to respond to our requests. The food preparation was ready in an instant despite the rushing crowd. All the guests are clearly having a good time while enjoying the culinary masterpieces.
Overall, if you want a taste of the best Chinese restaurant in Cebu, then Tin Gow is open for you.
Restaurant Information
Tin Gow is located at the Lobby Level Gourmet Walk of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino along Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines. They are open daily for lunch from 11:00AM to 2:30PM and dinner from 6:00PM to 10:30PM. For reservations, call (032) 232 6888 local 8607. For more information, you may check Waterfront’s official Facebook page or their website.
