Three years went by so fast, time really does fly. And just like that, Pandan Asian Cafe turns three...
Pandan Asian Cafe by Chef Myke Tatung Sarthou celebrates its milestone third year anniversary showcasing a mouthwatering selection of their popular Southeast Asian-inspired bestsellers as well as tasty new dishes. Opened just before the pandemic, a rocky start didn't slow down Chef Myke Tatung Sarthou pivoting to food delivery before slowly opening up once more in the new normal. Time to revisit the comfortingly familiar Southeast Asian flavors of Pandan Asian Cafe...
Inspired by the regional cuisine from the "Pandan Belt" of Southeast Asia, Chef Myke Tatung Sarthou brings his lavish take on sumptuous Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, Singaporean, Vietnamese and Filipino cuisine to your table at Pandan Asian Cafe (for more on Pandan Asian Cafe, see my posts, Southeast Asian Flavors Shine at Pandan Asian Cafe by Chef Tatung from the launch back in early 2020 and Bringing Regional Southeast Asian Flavors Home from Pandan Asian Cafe from 2021 reflecting the pivot to food delivery during the pandemic).
When the world stopped during the global pandemic, Pandan Asian Cafe adapted like so many other local food businesses with its pivot to food delivery offering take-out trays. Three years later, Pandan Asian Cafe remains the spot for authentic Southeast Asian cuisine in Quezon City.
Fresh from the success of his innovative private dining concept at Tatung's Private Dining, Chef Tatung continues to blaze new trails in the local restaurant scene (see my post, Nurturing Roots: Chef Tatung Sarthou Introduces a New Menu for an Elegant Private Dining Experience at Tatung's Private Dining in Antipolo from last year). A successful chef, restaurateur, author, media personality and online rock star, Chef Tatung is a virtual one man dynamo constantly churning out fresh new culinary ideas.
I first met Chef Tatung almost eleven years ago and I knew then his unique restaurant concepts were just the tip of the proverbial iceberg (more on my first encounter with Chef Tatung at Chef Tatung's Refreshing New Take on Traditional Flavors from 2012). With a culinary vision built around comforting and nostalgic local flavors from childhood and cherished family recipes, Chef Tatung has long championed local and regional Asian cuisine while keeping it simple and and real (see more on his culinary philosophy with his successful cookbooks on my posts, Keeping It Simple: Chef Myke "Tatung" Sarthou Launches Simpol The Cookbook at Pandan Asian Cafe and The Secret's Out: Simpol Kitchen Secrets by Chef Tatung Sarthou).
In a challenging new normal, three years of operation is no small feat. And Chef Tatung celebrates this milestone with Pandan Asian Cafe's bestselling dishes...
...starting with the Vietnamese Platter (P 760) with Fresh Spring Rolls, Fried Shrimp Rolls and Chicken Pork Satay with peanut sauce...
...and the Shrimp Pomelo Salad (P 520) with garden-fresh and crisp greens topped with succulent shrimps and sweet and sour pomelo to open up the palate.
Chef Tatung also served a delectable quartet of new savory dishes with the Red Curry Duck (P 680) with tender duck simmered in a thick and boldly flavored red curry sauce with cherry tomatoes, red peppers and eggplant...
...and the Fish Fillet with Braised Mushrooms (P 680) with the fresh and clean notes of the fillet complemented by the deep, nutty and earthy notes of mushrooms in a flavorful sauce. Both new dishes reflect Pandan Asian Cafe's extensive repertoire of diverse Southeast Asian flavors.
And there's more. Pandan Asian Cafe's new Roasted Chicken (P 950) is another savory hit and a juicy addition to the restaurant's long list of bestsellers...
...along with the new Oyster Cake (P 580), a thick and fluffy omelet filled with succulent oysters draped in a thick and sweet sauce.
Then, there's the bestsellers bannered by the Tom Yum (P 780) at Pandan Asian Cafe. The vibrant Thai soup dish never fails to warm the palate...
...with its sumptuous mix of seafood and vegetables in a light yet boldly tart and sour broth with a lingering soothing heat from the fresh chilies.
More noodles? The Pad Thai (P 510) with its textural play and spicy notes always hits the spot. The wide variety of Southeast Asian cuisine at Pandan Asian Cafe takes your palate on an epic culinary journey throughout the famed "Pandan Belt" with each hearty dish.
For dessert, Pandan Asian Cafe presents the perfect sweet ending with the Buko Pandan Salad (P 230) with tender coconut strips and pandan jelly.
Pair it with Pandan Asian Cafe's equally wide and tempting selection of beverages like the Hot Vietnamese Coffee (P 180) sweetened with condensed milk to temper the bold notes of the coffee.
The always popular Mango Sticky Rice (P 260) is another tempting dessert option at Pandan Asian Cafe not to be missed.
With new dishes on the menu, it's hard to believe that three years have passed since Chef Tatung opened Pandan Asian Cafe abruptly interrupted by the quarantine experience. But Chef Tatung is bouncing back strong, with even more fresh and new ideas in the pipeline. As Pandan Asian Cafe celebrates its milestone 3rd anniversary, Chef Tatung is busy at work on his next project. That's Chef Tatung for you, and you'll soon hear more from him. That's for sure.
Pandan Asian Cafe is located at 76 Scout Limbaga, Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City or call 0917-774-8999 for inquiries. Check out their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/pandanasiancafe/ for more information and updates.
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