Review: Recreate SnoRene’s ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ date at this Binondo restaurant

MANILA, Philippines — Looking for a date idea that could be memorable but affordable?

Try recreating SnoRene’s iconic first date scene in the hit ABS-CBN and Netflix series “Can’t Buy Me Love”!

SnoRene, or Snoop and Irene, are the characters played by Anthony Jennings and Maris Racal in the series. For their first real date as a couple, Snoop brought Irene to Masuki, dubbed as “the first and original mami house” in the world’s oldest Chinatown, Binondo.

Philstar.com tried the actual food SnoRene ordered for their first date, which according to Masuki, were Original Mami (Asado and Chicken) for P185 (regular) or P195 (special or with condiments) and Asado Siopao for P90.

For sure, Snoop made an impression on Irene since Masuki’s Original Mami is very hearty with its soft homemade noodles, made more savory by a natural broth enriched by sliced boiled chicken and liver. The special version comes with a hefty cup of sliced fresh julienned onion leeks, which one can sprinkle over the hot bowl of soup. The mami is big enough for two.

Likewise, the Asado Siopao is as big as a plate! For sure, Irene would find difficulty finishing both the mami and the siopao in one go. Good thing, one can have the siopao packed as “pasalubong.”

Apart from these, the restaurant’s menu is composed of Asado, Chicken, Wanton, Wanton Asado, Wanton Asado Beef, Wanton Asado Beef Chicken, Wanton Beef, Beef, Beef Asado, Beef Asado Chicken, Wanton Chicken Asado and Wanton Chicken Mami.

For dimsum, other variants include Sang Yuk Siopao, Asado Siopao, Siomai, Asado Plate, Chicken Plate, Beef Plate, Wanton Plate, and Chicken/Asado Plate.

Masuki is among the restaurants included in the newly launched Coca-Cola Foodmarks campaign, which aims to put a spotlight on unique “food landmarks” that define vibrant Filipino culture. As part of the campaign, Masuki has been awarded with the campaign’s signage, which marks it as a heritage dining spot in Manila’s gastronomic center, Binondo.

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