Lido Cocina Tsina at 84 is as old as my pa-in-law! ‘New borns’ in the food industry should get some tips from this iconic brand on the subject of staying power. In the current vista where restaurants sprout everywhere like the proverbial mushroom and close a few months later, more than 8 decades in the business is quite a feat to aspire for.
It all began in 1936 when a Cantonese Chef Mr. Lido opened a humble eatery called panciteria. Apparently the word panciteria does not literally mean pansit or noodles but “to cook quickly”
Last week together with some foodie friends, we tried their best sellers…. 
Pugon Roasted Asado 1/4 kilo P340
From the Tagalog word pugon, this 84 year old dish is comprised of cured pork loin roasted in a traditional oven . Best eaten with freshly baked pandesal or steamed rice, its aroma and taste is reminiscent of Christmas
Stir Fried Seasonal Vegetable P255
What is amazing about Chinese cooking is how they can keep their vegetables crispy and fresh after being subjected to high heat. Those broccoli florets retained its verdant green hue , were crunchy and flavorful when served.Outstanding!
Shrimp Foo Yong P395
Think omelette with shrimp swimming in thick sauce made from seafood or chicken broth with slurry (corn starch and water) as thickener. It was really delicious and one of those comfort food one can truly enjoy. The dish would make a great starter and a main dish too and would be perfect with yangchow rice.
Spare Ribs in Salt & Pepper P285
Another memorable dish to write about. Once you take a piece, it gets hold of you. Watch out because seemingly like an automaton or someone possessed, you will find your hand gravitating towards this dish until the plate is wiped out haha
Squid in Chili and Taosi Sauce P345
Now this is a dish I would like to replicate at home. The only thing I have to do is to discover how they make their squid so soft and tender.
Lumpiang Shanghai P255
Comfort food. This dish is at once familiar and much loved . Often seen paired with pansit on special occasions, Lumpiang Shanghai never gets old.
Manchurian Wings P315
The name of the dish should have warned me. The color reminiscent of barbecue lulled me into thinking this was another bbq wings recipe. This is one hot dish. Prepare to order bowls of rice to manage the heat.
For dessert we had an order of Buchi
Overall, comfort food, affordable price point, clean and brightly lit space, cheerful service, great location. What’s not to love?
Do try their shrimp foo yong, spare ribs salt and pepper, wings, buchi, etc. Try them family style or order their rice toppings that starts at P155. Choose from 16 branches all over the metro . Better yet, have your favorite dish delivered to your doorstep. Definitely returning with the handsome hubby and piggery in tow.
Lido Cocina Tsina is located at Shaw Plaza One Building, 561 Shaw Boulevard Highway Hills Mandaluyong