Luckily for Manila Bakery, they got some overflow business from me! I was painstakingly waiting for a Chicken Biryani next door and thought that I'd investigate this place where I saw hot buns on a rack.
I believe this place does most of their business shipping out their buns to various Asian grocery stores 'cause their name looks familiar.
I just stepped in and it's a small store front. Against the window were buns on trays, in bags. And on the longer wall, were various packaged items of Filipino products.
Then, out of nowhere, the man behind the counter asks me if I wanted "hot buns". He pointed out some buns that were already bagged and emphasized, HOT ones. I asked him the price ($2.50), agree, and he hands over a paper bag with a dozen, small, round buns, piping hot from the oven. I think they were called pandesal.
Very yummy and not too sweet! I think they'll be good for breakfast/snack. What a treat!
I wouldn't drive out of my way to this bakery 'cause there's not much goin' on, but how can anyone say no to fresh buns?