Manu Regalado and his partner Mimi live by the motto “Simple is the tastiest” at their Vietnamese and Thai restaurant, Truly Asia, located at 128 Calle Ismael Domínguez in Tacoronte. This charming eatery thrives on simplicity, warm service, top-notch ingredients sourced from the local market, reasonably priced fine wines, and, above all, delicious home-cooked dishes. Truly Asia proudly identifies as a Vietnamese and Thai restaurant, and reservations are recommended due to limited seating and a dedicated clientele.
Truly Asia is the brainchild of Manu Regalado, a Tenerife native, and Mimi, hailing from the Philippines. Their journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic when they turned to home-cooked food as a means of livelihood in light of restaurant and hotel closures. Both Manu and Mimi boast extensive culinary experience, having worked with renowned chefs like Martín Berasategui and Ferran Adrià, and at various establishments in Madrid, among other culinary adventures. Mimi also brings her expertise from restaurants in the Philippines and Singapore.
Fueled by their wealth of experience, they embarked on their culinary venture in Tenerife. Witnessing the success of home-delivered food during the pandemic, they decided to secure a cozy spot for their endeavor, with Mimi taking charge of the kitchen with precision, while Manu manages the dining area. Their partnership perfectly embodies their motto, “simple is the tastiest.”
This summer, I had the pleasure of dining at this homey establishment twice, where dishes flow effortlessly, and the quality of locally sourced ingredients shines. While it’s always worth exploring the daily specials, here are some must-try dishes. The Spring Roll, a delightful combination of vegetables and meat served with sweet and sour sauce, will make you forget traditional Chinese restaurant spring rolls on the island. The green papaya salad and the Vietnam fresh, a summer roll filled with vegetables, noodles, prawns, and coriander, come highly recommended.
The Charsiu Bao, an Asian steamed bun brimming with succulent stewed meat, carrot, onion, and a touch of coriander, is equally delectable. Don’t miss the Sizzling Prawn, featuring prawns sautéed with galangal, lemongrass, garlic, and onion.
Mimi’s precise oven timing ensures each dish is a culinary delight. In my opinion, one of the standout dishes is the Aquanaria sea bass fillet, marinated in Vietnamese style and served with fragrant jasmine rice. I returned to the restaurant just to savor this dish once more.
For dessert, indulge in the natural cassava cake paired with salted caramel ice cream, a truly scrumptious treat. The wine, cava, and champagne selection is far from ordinary, with a focus on lesser-known labels that Regalado offers at affordable prices, allowing guests to savor unique, adventurous choices.
