Noods After Rounds of Refreshing Libations. At Noodle Alley in Admiral Hotel Manila.

The irresistible charms of Ruby Wong Godown Bar at Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery leads to another round of cocktails at the bar. The alluring spell of the speakeasy down at the basement is strong, and that final one for the road can be potent (for more on Ruby Wong Godown Bar, see my earlier post Say Hello to Ruby Wong. At Ruby Wong Godown Bar in Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery) All that libation can make you seriously hungry. A good and hearty meal after a night of cocktails is in order. Down at Noodle Alley in Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery...

Chinese paper lanterns and polished concrete walls adds that nostalgic Shanghai on the waterfront and back alley look from the thirties building on the Ruby Wong Godown Bar theme. A glass panel offers a peek at the kitchen preparing all the savory delights one craves for after one too many rounds of drinks at the bar. Crisp and juicy fried chicken, dim sum, seafood and noodles. That's what's on the menu at Noodle Alley...

That evening, we sampled Noodle Alley's new off-the-menu dishes starting with the Honey Curry Lollipop with richly seasoned crisp and juicy fried chicken with sweet and savory nutty hints from the honey and curry blend. Topped with fresh scallions and sweet peppers, a dip in the special sauce completes the flavors. The crunch and juicy texture of the chicken with its seasoned crust delivers deep and rounded flavors, leading to more bites. The first dish is a flavorful preview of even more tasty treats from the kitchen of Noodle Alley. Hopefully, this should be on the menu pairing well with the signature handcrafted cocktails of Ruby Wong Godown Bar. And soon. 

The Dimsum Basket with its selection of savory steamed dumplings offer even more succulent bites from the Truffle Hargau, Shrimp and Pork Dumpling, Scallop Dumpling, Pumpkin Dumpling with mushrooms, Spinach Dumpling and Prawn Hargau. The Pumpkin Dumpling brings unexpected flavors with its subtle sweetness rounded out by the earthy notes of the mushrooms. Each dimsum variant offers rich and diverse flavors, just what you need after a night of libations. 

The Xiao Long Bao Basket with five soup dumplings tastes exactly the way as you remember it releasing a burst of savory notes. From the soft texture of the dumpling to the savory pork broth, the Xiao Long Bao at Noodle Alley hits all the right notes for tasty bites with or after cocktails.

The play on contrasting textures with crunchy noodles slathered in sauce and topped with seafood and vegetables is the much awaited dish for your late night craving of noods. The classic Chow Mein sets the tone for the rest of Noodle Alley's culinary offerings. Masterfully executed with the freshest ingredients, the flavors punch through draping the palate with comforting notes. 

Then, the kitchen starts getting creative serving up tasty treats like the KFC or Korean Fried Chicken with Honey Mustard Dip draped in a mildly sweet and spicy glaze sprinkled with sesame seeds. Delicately crisp on the outside and moist, juicy and tender inside, this one's another winner at Noodle Alley. 

Great on its own, you can also make it a real post tipple meal with a comforting serving of rice...

...with the Kimchi Fried Rice for another perfect pairing at Noodle Alley. Topped with a sunny side-up, the sharpness of the kimchi spices are tempered and smoothened by the egg. It's this play on flavors that combine for that perfect nightcap after drinks. 

Noodle Alley then served its creative spin on a classic with its Canton Pork Connection, a sweet & sour pork dish with pineapple, tomatoes, peppers and dragon fruit. The thick sweet and sour sauce slathered on crisp and juicy pork brings comfortingly familiar flavors to the palate...

...demanding an extra serving of rice. The Yang Chow Fried Rice comes just in time to complete the meal at Noodle Alley. Soft and fluffy with a flavorful medley of ingredients, it just doesn't get any better than this. Classic hearty flavors like this make for the perfect closer to a night out. 

But if you think that's all there is from Noodle Alley's kitchen, look again. Succulent and plump Garlic Chili Prawns are always hard to resist any time of day, and Noodle Alley's version with its fresh and clean flavors announced by a fresh snap with each bite followed by the bold hints of chili and garlic is one more item I'd like to see on the menu soon. The briny sweetness of the prawns and the chili garlic sauce teases the palate while another bite releases even more intense flavors. 

In true Noodle Alley fashion, the final dish served is the Chow Fun with soft and chewy flat noods, fork-tender beef, bean sprouts and scallions. The savory richness of the dish lingers long on the palate, with real and comforting flavors. And that's how you cap a night out at Noodle Alley. 

From speakeasy to the back alley of comforting flavors, the basement at Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery is fast emerging as one of the metro's hidden gems. Discover a world of flavors down at the basement at Ruby Wong Godown Bar and Noodle Alley, simply head down the steps through the secret entrance. And stay a while...