Hap Chan Seafoods Restaurant comes to Annapolis

MANILA, Philippines - What’s the closest you can get to authentic Chinese cuisine made by some of the best real Cantonese chefs in the city? That’s a bold statement for a metropolis strewn with different Chinese restaurants offering their own signature dishes. For one well-known restaurant franchise, however, authenticity is par for the course.

Hap Chan Seafoods Restaurant brings the Hong Kong experience to the Greenhills, San Juan area. Located along Annapolis Street, this is Hap Chan’s second outing in the fine-dining category after their first one located at Harbor Square at the CCP Complex, Manila. And, with special consideration for the area market, Hap Chan Annapolis extends its hours well after the competition closes its doors.

From 9 p.m. to closing, they’ll be introducing their “Midnight Specials.” These are special Cantonese dishes that can be combined with Hap Chan’s standard lugaw, bihon, or rice orders. This is hardly new, considering that the restaurant chain has a number of casual-dining and teahouse branches that are open to the early hours of the morning. But this will be the first fine-dining restaurant to be open so late.

One of their late-night specials is stir-fried Hong Kong noodles with superior soy sauce. When it comes to Hap Chan, you’ll never go wrong with the noodles. As John Sy, president of Hap Chan, said before, their noodles are very different from other restaurants because they use all-imported ingredients. The noodle flour they use is a special kind imported from Canada. It’s the kind you only get to taste in places like Hong Kong. There’s almost a crisp quality to it. Best of all, the restaurant doesn’t use MSG flavor enhancers in any of its dishes.

Hap Chan Seafoods Restaurant has everything that their teahouse and casual-dining establishments offer. Of course, their fine-dining segment has quite a few exclusives to draw customers in. Their Cantonese chefs can prepare anything from the signature Yang Chow fried rice to jumbo golden prawns and braised South African abalone.

With the opening of their Annapolis branch, the menu has expanded — from the aforementioned stir-fried noodles, to guaranteed bestsellers such as the steamed minced pork with salted egg and crispy mapo beancurd. Seafood lovers should order the braised shrimp with preserved vegetables and cucumber. Vegetarians can also find something here with a simple order of the country-style mixed vegetables.

There are also many signature rice dishes like the satisfying sausage-fried rice and Hap Chan special steamed rice which is almost a meal on its own. Sy reiterates that they want to have a varied menu to choose from. “Those who dine with us stay with us. You ask for it, we have it.” With that, many customers can look forward to Hap Chan’s new line of coffee that is exclusive to the restaurant. It is a complement to their recent additions like ice cream and Filipino-staple halo-halo. The ice cream is a special concoction mixed specially for Hap Chan.

Big family gatherings and groups can take advantage of Hap Chan Annapolis’ VIP rooms. With four rooms able to fit 15 people each, all can be combined into one big party space for a variety of functions.

Ever since they first entered the scene almost 13 years ago with just a tiny carinderia of an establishment in Manila, the restaurant grew in popularity. Now, proud to have opened 17 casual dining restaurants and teahouses over the years, the plan this time is to add 10 more before the year’s end.

“We have already opened five,” notes Sy. Since the last time they announced their plans, Hap Chan has appeared in BF Homes, St. Francis Square, Eton, SM Manila and of course, Annapolis. Soon to open this month is a branch in Calamba, Laguna. Sy says, “Hopefully, we meet our 10-store target by the end of the year.”

Hap Chan Seafoods Restaurant-Annapolis is located at #27 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan. You may contact them at 571-1996. For franchise inquiries contact Jane Jalandoni at 411-6186, 410-4009 and 410-4012, 0918-907-9317 or e-mail janecelnicolas@yahoo.com.