January 23rd, 2012 § § permalink
First and foremost, Happy New Year dear readers! I can’t believe that its almost 3 years now and my blog is still going strong.
I am always on the look out for not only new places to try but good places to eat at. Although this might not be entirely be a new place it certainly is new to me. Yabu definitely excites me. With promises of deep fried pork or chicken with the Katsu sauce and authentic Japanese rice, I was eager to troop down to Megamall on a Saturday afternoon for this.
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December 29th, 2011 § § permalink
Yakitori (焼き鳥/やきとり/ヤキト), or grilled chicken is now open at the fort Burgos Circle. From the same people who brought you Ramen Bar, comes to you one of the most authentic japanese yakiniku restaurants.
When I saw the restaurant from outside, everything was quite simple and yet almost the entire restaurant was full. We were glad to be seated quickly and the service was polite and efficient.
Upon seating, the servers will hand you a piece of paper and you basically tick off which one you want to try and customize your whole dining experience.
I was quite excited and yet overwhelmed with all the choices. I quickly asked for the best-sellers and was quickly prepared.
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October 28th, 2010 § § permalink
I’ve always been asked about those special niche places where dining is at its best and not everyone frequents it. I have an aversion towards restos in Malls because they tend to go for the generic taste which drives traffic rather than the authenticity and of the meal. Don’t get me wrong, I know quite a few restos in malls which do offer quite good cuisine, but I am more inclined towards those hidden gems scattered all over the metro.
Tsumura is definitely one of them. Hidden in the heart of the Makati CBD, lies one of the most authentic Japanese restos. Being heralded and a nominee for one of Manila’s Best Kept Secrets for Japanese cuisine, Tsumura actually is a place you must check out at least once in your life.
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August 30th, 2010 § § permalink
Situated along Pasay road, among rows and rows of Japanese Restaurants lies a little ramen shop. Tucked away beside a bait and tackle shop, it sits unobtrusive and naturally blending in with the city skyline and natural contours of the surrounding buildings. Ukkokei Ramen Shop offers the most authentic Ramen in Manila bar none.
Upon entering the restaurant, the modern yet still very Japanese themed decor did remind me of restaurants in Japan. It was pragmatically themed maiming each space so as hold as much customers it could without sacrificing comfort.
Ukkokei serves Ramen with 3 different soup bases. Shoyu (soy-sauce based), Shio (salt based) and Miso (Miso soup based) all of which promised an authentic taste.
Upon Richard’s recommendation, I ordered the Butter Corn Miso Ramen. He said the butter would make the soup creamy and I could always order extra meat. So I did as he said, and placed my order.
After placing my order, we were served tea with ice. No, not iced tea, but literally TEA with ICE. I enjoyed the drink although it tasted a bit bland. It was kind of refreshing actually.
The Butter Corn Miso Ramen was awesome. The soup was creamy, the ramen was springy and perfectly done, and the taste of miso was very subtle yet distinguishable.
Miso (みそ or 味噌) is made from fermented soybeans, miso is a thick paste-like substance. Miso is brownish in color and tastes extremely salty and tangy on its own. The predecessor of miso originated in China during the 3rd century BC or earlier, and it is probable that this, together with related fermented soy-based foods, was introduced to Japan at the same time as Buddhism in the 6th century AD. This fermented food was called “Shi”.
The food and ambiance was as authentic as it could be. The kitchen actually was surrounded by glass enclosure so you could watch the cooks at work on your ramen. There was also a bar type so you could dine and go at your leisure.
Note though that Ukkokei does not offer take out service and for bloggers out there, taking photos is not allowed. (Good thing I was done shooting before the owner called my attention to it.)
Overall if you are looking for an authentic experience as well as REALLY GOOD ramen, Ukkokei is the place to visit!
Ukkokei Ramen is located along Pasay Road
Makati City, Philippines
November 6th, 2009 § § permalink
Fast Food and Japanese are not really synonymous to each other. Rare does one find a place to get quick and authentic Japanese food and yet still have the quality and finesse that comes with preparing Japanese food. Sushi King is one of those rare places. For lunch the other day, we decided to try out this restaurant we pass by so often. We wanted quick service for good food, and yet the price should remain reasonably low. (By reasonably low, I mean fast food prices!)
This was what we ordered:
- Pork Tonkatsu: For Sharing
- Ika Fry Bento Box
- Gyudon w/ Egg
- Osaka Maki
For the price you pay it is a bit reasonable. Its good for those days where you just crave Japanese food and you want it quick w/ no fuss at a cheap price then Sushi King is definitely for you. But quality wise, I’d still go to Teriyaki Boy.
Sushi King is located at 2nd Floor of Market!Market! The Fort Global City, Taguig
