The Chinese restaurant Jasmine at the New World Makati has some history with my three sons and me. For more years than I’d like to count, it’s been a reliable go-to when we’re thinking dim sum or Cantonese cuisine for a regular Sunday lunch or a special occasion. If you asked us to list our favorite Chinese eateries in Manila, Jasmine would easily come to mind and rank in my Top 5—and I have no doubt they would agree with me.

So it’s always a treat to return to Jasmine, see what new dishes and offerings are up, or even just be the creatures of habit most Filipinos are, and order the menu items that feel like they came from a memory stick—you know, the ones you could order by rote, even if half asleep. Last Sunday was such a case, and believe me, Jasmine hasn’t missed a step; there are even a couple of new dishes worth talking about.

We started with our regular order of jellyfish and century egg, paired with the Crispy Pork Belly. These two did not disappoint, and they were like old acquaintances welcoming us back to Jasmine. It’s always a nice touch when you return to a restaurant and they call you by name—even if it’s been months since your last visit. Kudos to the staff for this.

The Truffled Duck Dumpling was one of the new items we tried from the dim sum section, and I liked how the truffle did not overwhelm the duck. It made for a different type of dim sum, still of the steamed variety, but with a new flavor component.

The Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao) and Siu Mai, plus the Xiao Long Bao, all followed in quick succession. I won’t offer much commentary on these three as they’re standard fare in most any establishment offering dim sum, but I’ll note that they’re of high quality here, and the Xiao Long Bao may surprise you with how well it’s made.

The second surprise was when we ordered the fried dim sum of Spinach Dumpling with Dried Scallops. For some, it may not look that visually appealing, but trust me on this—it's a real winner. The next time you visit Jasmine, seek this one out, and thank me later!

Jasmine recently introduced a new eclectic Sunday breakfast/brunch menu, and the Manila Bulletin Food section will be covering that soon. For me and the boys, it was a case of delicious déjà vu, and we’re happy to report that a visit to Jasmine is still one to savor and enjoy!