Claypot Chicken Noodles in soya sauce with Chinese chorizo and mushrooms

To mark its 10th anniversary in the Philippines, the Singapore-based restaurant chain Wee Nam Kee recently came out with an updated menu designed to whet one’s appetite.

Linfred Yap of The Relish Group, which also brought in Japanese bakeshop favorite Kumori, said that the dishes may seem familiar—like clay pot chicken and a platter of tummy-busting fried rice—but they’ve been tweaked to appeal to customers.

Clay pot chicken is usually served over rice, the rich sauce flavoring the rice as the dish slowly cooks. “Instead of rice, we used noodles that in some way is more festive,” Yap told Lifestyle.

One-dish meal

The starchy noodles soak up the brown sauce, resulting in a delicious mouth feel (soft, moist and chewy). Paired with the herby chicken, it’s a one-dish meal perfect with this cooler weather we’ve been experiencing in the city.

Even their version of pineapple fried rice with Chinese chorizo is worth sampling. Studded with tasty morsels of chorizo, the rice is also like a one-dish meal, although Yap suggests pairing it with their beef dishes.

Beef with vegetables, usually mushrooms or broccoli, is a common dish found in many Chinese restaurants. Sometimes the quality of the beef leaves much to be desired. Often the meat is tough or more ligament than beef.

Grilled USDA Choice Flat Iron Steak with string beans and cherry tomatoes

“What we did was commit to using USDA Choice flat iron steak for our steak dishes served on a hot plate,” Yap said.

One is tossed with chopped pineapple, bell peppers and green peas in the restaurant’s signature oriental sauce, while the second consists of string beans and cherry tomatoes in a sweet soy sauce.

Salt and pepper squid is old hat so Yap and his team have come up with shrimp tossed in salt and pepper and topped with crispy wonton bits and garlic. This is umami that pairs well with hot steamed rice.

Aside from his restaurants, Yap is busy expanding his businesses. This year, he brought in Asian skincare brands such as Thank You Farmer and Papa Recipe from South Korea, and Mizumi sunscreen from Thailand.

Next year, he’s opening a shared office space as well as more food hall concepts similar to The Corner Market Food Hall which he put together at Podium Mall in Mandaluyong.

Wee Nam Kee has branches at Promenade in Greenhills, Trinoma Mall, Alabang Town Center and Ayala Triangle Gardens.