Caution Hot! Spicy Noodle House
Spicy yet flavorful is the name of the game at Caution Hot! Spicy Noodle House in Quezon City.
RED IS A WARNING. (L) Caution Hot! from the outside. (R) The chalkboard-painted wall, decorated by the owner himself, Byron Ong.
Caution Hot! is, according to owner Byron Ong, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that serves “the other side of Chinese noodles”. If you’re used to the Chinese restaurants in Binondo, Manila, be warned: you will be in for an entirely different experience.
CHINESE OR NOT? Don’t be fooled. You are inside a Chinese noodle house.
The restaurant’s layout perfectly captures the Maginhawa experience. It exudes a modern, underground vibe that will have you thinking “Is this really a Chinese noodle house”, but in a good way. It’s a place that speaks to millennials, with its modern industrial design.
HEED THE WARNING SIGNS. (L) The restaurant’s Wednesday Special. Again, heed the warning. (R) The restaurant’s straight-forward menu. Notice the varying degrees of “burn”.
The restaurant’s menu is simple and easy to use. Just choose your topping (All-Veggie, Pork, Beef, or Seafood), choose your broth (Szechuan, Asam Laksa, or Classic), choose your noodles (wheat or egg), and choose your degree of heat, aptly described as “burn” (first, second, third, and Ultimate). Be warned: each degree is twice as hot as the one before.
BEST SELLER. Taiwanese beef with Egg noodles in Szechuan broth, 2nd degree burn @ P185. Try not to salivate, or sweat too much. Perfect with Oolong milk tea as a fire extinguisher and a serving of Kuchay-Pork Dumplings on the side.
One of their best selling combinations, and the co-owner Laurene Ong-Go’s personal favorite, is Beef-Szechuan-Egg noodles. It’s best eaten with a glass of Oolong milk tea, brewed in-house.
It’s a combination fit for a king, as the perfectly-cooked egg noodles are nice and firm. The earthiness of the mushrooms compliments the savory taste of the thinly-sliced Taiwanese beef, while the broth binds everything together. The bok-choy gives it that extra kick and crunch to an already sumptuous dish. The hearty serving size, good for two people, also helps. The Oolong milk tea acts as your “fire extinguisher”, balancing out the spicy, savory, earthy dish.
Almost all of their ingredients are imported from China and is prepared in their commissary, making it as authentic of a Chinese noodle experience as possible for every customer.
Apart from hearty servings of Chinese noodles, they also serve dumplings, rice (since Filipinos love rice), and a delectable dessert called Bao Bing, the Chinese take on shaved ice. They also offer coolers, or more appropriately “fire extinguishers”: Soya milk, house-blend ice tea, Oolong milktea, and everyone’s favorite: Tsingtao Beer.
SIDES. (L) Kuchay-Pork Dumplings served with black vinegar and chili paste @ P60 for 5 pcs. (R) Classic Pork Dumplings served with soy sauce and Philippine lemon @ P75 for 5 pcs.
TO DIE FOR. Bao Bing, a classic Chinese shaved ice dessert with fig and grass jelly, lychee, mango, and condensed milk, topped with vanilla ice cream.
The crew of Caution Hot! with Ms. Laurene Ong-Go.
Caution Hot! captures the essence of Maginhawa, serving traditional cuisine in a modern way. They’re open every day of the week, so there’s no way you’ll miss them!
Drop by Caution Hot! Spicy Noodle House today and experience Chinese noodles like you’ve never had!
