The centerpiece in Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh’s menu is, of course, the premium pork rib soup, the same dish that made the restaurant a must-visit culinary destination in the Lion City.

If Singapore is often hailed as a melting pot of cultures, its cuisine is likewise a fusion of flavors that burst in every mouthful. For Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh, home of the premium pork rib soup in the Lion City, this is the kind of experience that every diner will find in every dish — something that it’s been doing since it first opened doors in the 1920s.

This year, Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh opened its first store outside Singapore. Its newest home: an Asian cuisine hub in Mckinley West called AsiaTown. The choice could not have been more perfect. After all, Filipinos are the world’s biggest foodies, a study by global market research firm YouGov reveals.

The centerpiece in Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh’s menu is, of course, the premium pork rib soup, the same dish that made the restaurant a must-visit culinary destination in the Lion City. At first glance, this dish looks like a basic mix of meat and broth that is common in Filipino cuisine. Once one starts slurping the soup, there’s a bursting garlicky and peppery flavor, which resulted from more than three hours of cooking.

In preparing this dish, precisely-cut pork ribs are simmered with premium spieces: whole garlic, Sarawak peppercorn, star anise and coriander. To bring out more meatiness, bones are added to the mix and simmered along with the meat.

Like many Filipino soups, this pork rib soup is traditionally eaten with rice. However, there is another way of enjoying this with another item on Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh’s menu: fried dough fritters, which are crispy golden brown dough-sticks.

It is recommended to dip these fritters in the soup before taking a bite of it. While the pungence of the soup and the sweetness of the fritters may clash, these complement each other that creates to an unforgettable flavor combination.

Like the meat of the premium pork rib soup, other dishes try to achieve a level of tenderness where the meat almost melts in the mouth or falls off the bone. This is evident in dishes with braised meat like the Steamed Lotus Buns.

Other recommended items are known for their use of top quality ingredients like the Spinach with Top Shell Abalone. The shellfish that tops this dish is known for being a premium ingredient. Add Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh’s secret specialty sauce and what one gets is a delectable seafood and veggie fix.

Another must-try is the Sliced Smoke Duck with Crispy Spring Roll. Instead of minced meat, this dish uses thinly sliced smoke cured duck breast that tastes like ham.

Another recommended recipe is the Hometown Chicken, Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh’s own version of fried chicken that is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Not only are these chicken wings crispy and juicy, they come with a different kick since they’re cooked with fermented bean curd and go well with plum sauce.

After relishing all these rich, sumptuous dishes, diners can have the complimentary tea or if one wants to elevate the experience, go for teapot of either Jasmine Green Tea or Tie Guanyie served on a candle warmer.

To find out more about Rong Hua Bak Kut Teh and its food, check out @RongHuaPH on Facebook.