Marvin Agustin’s new resto shines spotlight on Sichuan, Hunan dishes

On opening day, Marvin Agustin (fourth from left) and business partner Raymund Magdaluyo (center with eyeglasses). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Actor Marvin Agustin is never too busy for his passion as restaurateur. All the while that he has been taping TV shows and shooting films these past months, he and business partner Raymund Magdaluyo have also been cooking up a spanking new restaurant that offers food items from two exotic regions in China.

The result is Komrad, a resto located at Eastwood Mall and in Il Terrazo building on Tomas Morato, Q.C. that have the best dishes from Sichuan and Hunan in China. Even before Agustin and Magdaluyo thought of bringing to life such a concept in Manila, the two had fallen in love with these dishes—collectively referred to these days as the “new Thai” owing to their growing popularity—from their various travels abroad.

People who dine at Komrad especially rave over the Spicy Seafood Bowls. These are a selection of seafood (fish fillet, fish head, mixed seafood with pig’s blood) swimming in a pool of spicy oil with chillis, beansprouts, and vegetables.

It is said that these spicy bowls open up the sweat glands of diners, thus, giving them respite from the heat.

Other popular and must-taste-now items on the menu are the braised pork belly in preserved vegetables, the Sichuan fish head, the Hunan cumin ribs, mapo tofu, and their version of General Tso’s Chicken as well as Kung Pao Chicken. Some also say that Komrad’s lobster and crab menus are the best in town.

Since dining out is not just about the food but the whole “experience,” Komrad offers ambience that will “bring” the diners to China. The walls inside the restaurants have artworks from revolutionary China, reminiscent of the time Chairman Mao was still around. The affordable prices on the menu, but of course, will also bring a smile on the faces of diners.

Think you’ve tasted it all? Come to Komrad and be convinced that there’s more to Chinese than Cantonese.

Façade of Komrad restaurant. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

For inquiries and reservations, call Komrad at 861-9746 (Il Terrazo) and 921-3440 (Eastwood).