Why Kris, Liz & Bianca like Ninak

They had epicures Kris Aquino, Liz Uy and Bianca Gonzalez at turon halo-halo, a two-in-one Pinoy dessert, which has all the flavors of halo-halo (minus the shaved ice) wrapped in a lumpia wrapper, deep-fried and drizzled with toasted sesame seeds and caramel sauce.

For Kris, Liz and Bianca, it was the best way to cap their culinary adventure in Kapitolyo, Pasig, but for avid Kris TV viewers (who watched that particular episode) and their Instagram followers, it was the perfect introduction to the delectable world of Ninak, a restaurant that serves delectable rice dishes as well as staples from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and, of course, the Philippines.

Watching Kris and the gang enjoy a bowlful of laksa, nasi goreng and chicken satay with gusto on national TV tickled the viewers’ palates for sure. But how the chef turned the simplest, most classic fare (turon) into something special was enough reason for me to go and check out the resto.

Rice to the occasion

It’s hard to miss Ninak even if you’re not familiar with the Kapitolyo area as the resto’s tall signage stands out as you traverse East Capitol Drive. The two-story restaurant has a minimalist interior done in black and white.

Ninak, which is kanin (rice) spelled backwards, is owned and managed by the Jose brothers — chef Quito, DJ and Martin — who brought us Brothers Burger.

“Rice is something we Asians can’t live without,” said chef Quito, who informed us that Ninak started out as a food delivery service, which catered to call center agents in Ortigas and Pasong Tamo, Makati. “Our taste and food preference may continuously evolve, but rice will always be a mainstay. So it does factor in the lineup that we have at Ninak. Must-try is our tinapa rice. You can take my word for it.”

For their newest venture, the Jose brothers decided to highlight flavors that not only remind one of home, but also those that are closer to “home”  — dishes that the Filipino palate is familiar with. So while you indulge in Angus beef nilaga sa mais or turon, you can order Vietnamese grilled pork or Singaporean fare like chicken satay on the side.

“My culinary background is actually French/Italian. But my inclination is more on Asian cuisine simply because it’s something that we really like and can eat on a daily basis,” shared chef Quito.

At Ninak, chef Quito and his team try as much as possible to give diners the real deal when it comes to the flavors of the dishes.

“Malay and Thai cuisines are spicy,” Quito explained. “Some prefer the dishes über-hot, others don’t. So our wait staff normally asks the diners for their taste preference before placing their orders. We also offer extra chili on the side so they themselves can adjust the flavors of the dishes.” explained chef Quito.

For me, Ninak’s laksa tops the menu. Served in a heated white bowl, the hot and creamy coconut soup loaded with squid balls, chicken fillet, shrimps, boiled egg, diced tofu, rice noodles garnished with bean sprouts and cilantro is packed with flavor. The spice is just right!

Another soup-er dish is the Angus beef nilaga sa mais, which was a recipe of chef Quito’s lolo who hailed from Batangas, the land of bulalo.

“Our nilaga has lots of garlic and topped with fried shallots, which give its flavor a new dimension,” noted chef Quito.

If you want something hot and spicy, go for the lamb massaman curry, tender lamb simmered in massaman curry with marble potato, pearl onions, toasted peanuts and topped with fried shallots; or the red pork curry, which is simmered in Thai red curry and coconut milk with young corn, carrot and eggplant.

“Here at Ninak, we want to maintain the authenticity of the dishes we serve, so everything is freshly cooked and prepared,” the amiable chef added.

Diners should also watch out for Ninak’s weekly, monthly and even daily specials.

“We get surprise deliveries in the kitchen. One time, a family friend sent over a box of oxtail. So I whipped up something special right away and offered it to our guests. It was a big hit because it wasn’t part of the regular menu.”

When Ninak opened in Kapitolyo, Pasig, last May, the owners didn’t make a big fuss. They just invited family members, friends, and regular clients through text messages to try out their food offerings.

“We also posted photos of Ninak’s food on our personal Facebook and Instagram accounts. We even asked our friends to take photos of the food first, and post it on social media before digging in. It also helped that we got featured on Kris TV,” enthused chef Quito.  

When people keep returning to a restaurant for more and recommending it to their friends, it’s a good indication that the establishment offers an experience worth coming back to. And such is the case with Ninak.

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Ninak Asian Cuisine is at Unit 101 Seven East Capitol Bldg., East Capitol Dr. corner Sta. Rosa St., Kapitolyo, Pasig City.