If you do a backyard survey among your friends on their favorite cuisine, Japanese cuisine will definitely be on the top 2 list. And what’s there not to love about the Japanese? Er, except for territory invasion and similar events, Japanese are well lauded for their love for their country and most especially, the wonderful dishes they introduced to the rest of the world.
Sushi, don buri, tamagoyaki, sukiyaki, tempura, yakiniku, and the best quality of beef, need I say more? In Japanese cuisine, quality of ingredients and presentation are dealt with heavy importance.
Yes that’s me with the children of the foster family that adopted me for 4 days 🙂
The Michelin Guide supposedly awarded Japanese cities by far the most Michelin stars of any country in the world. Tokyo alone has more Michelin stars than the combination of Paris, Hong Kong, New York, LA and London.
I have about 25 Japanese restaurants in my list but the 10 below are what I have compiled for my TOP 10 at this time. Please don’t look for Seryna, Tsukiji, Yuu Jin, Haiku, Sushi Kappo Kobikicho and Nihonbashitei first and will have a different list for those. I can’t find my photos for Senju 🙁
10. Nagomi Japanese Restaurant
Upon entering Nagomi, one would feel the Japanese vibe of the restaurant, with the usual rack stand of Japanese magazines, private rooms with sliding doors and certain pieces like the Japanese lantern and posters add to the whole appearance. The very long sushi bar seals the deal.
Nagomi sometimes has that old smell but it doesn’t stop Japanese business men from the Ortigas area to frequent the place. This Japanese restaurant has a wide range of dishes to offer. It shows in their extensive menu.
If you don’t feel adventurous, their cold soba with tempura set satisfies your cold noodle craving at a reasonable price.
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Nagomi Japanese Restaurant
El Pueblo, Real de Manila,
Doña Julia Vargas Ave. cor ADB Ave.
Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
(632) 635 4546/ (632) 632 1736
9. Konbini
Before Royce Chocolates formally opened in Manila, Konbini Store is our easiest access point to Royce chocolates.
What’s interesting about Konbini Store is the way a customer has to order his/her meal. They have this rack of cards with photos of the dishes and price tag.
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You just get the cards (dishes) you want and pay for them at the counter like paying for grocery at a convenience store. Then they will serve the food on your table.
Miso Chasiu Ramen PHP 220
I was going to opt for the Shoyu Ramen but changed my mind and went for Konbini’s Miso Chasiu Ramen.
I wasn’t expecting much but was delightfully surprised that the Miso Chasiu Ramen was really a warm hearty bowl of yum. In degree of taste and cheaper price, it can actually rival Ukkokei Ramen Ron in my book.
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Konbini Store
57 Connecticut Street,
Northeast Greenhills, San Juan
(632) 722 4263
8. Nanbantei of Tokyo
Nanbantei is a Japanese restaurant located at the 3rd level of Greenbelt 3. It looks smaller from the outside but the inside is very spacious with three divided dining sections. The open grill stands in the middle of the first dining area with a table outlining the front grill section.
The grill section is where yakitori happens. Yakitori is the process of roasting bite size pieces of meat, poultry, or vegetables, which Japan cooking is famous for.
Nanban Yaki PHP 180 (2 sticks) –Bubba’s order
Beef with special Nanban sauce. Square cut 1.5 x 1.5 inch of tender beef that has a peppery and smoked flavor. The beef was tender, buttery and flavorful. The sate sauce can append another layer of taste.
Yaki Niku PHP 170 (2 sticks) –2 orders, Jem and I had the same order
Grilled thin slices of beef, which were also good, but it was a tad bit saltier for my taste. The cut of the beef is similar to the Sukiyaki cut but slimmer and softer.
Nanbantei’s strength lies on their grilled dishes. Order the platters that appear to have more value for money.
READ MORE:
Nanbantei of Tokyo
3rd Level, Greenbelt 3,
Makati City, MM.
(632) 757 4130
7. Hana and Kagura
Hana is a rather small restaurant, probably 30-32 sqm floor area that had a narrow bar on the right side and 3-4 tables inside and a private corner at the far end. Hana is known as the best place to get the biggest and most delicious Takoyaki in town.
Takoyaki PHP 120
Hana is quite famous in the block because of their Takoyaki. They have a takoyaki stand set up outside of the restaurant and you’re ensured that you get the freshest of their Takoyaki balls right of the hot iron grill. Takoyaki to some is considered as the best street food in Japan.
6 pieces of giant dumpling, shaped like a ball, is from a Japanese batter with diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion.
READ MORE:
Hana Restaurant
Little Tokyo Compound,
Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.
(632) 339 3855
Open from 10 am – 11pm
Kagura
Kagura is in the same compound as Hana Japanese restaurant and they are actually right beside each other. Kagura was actually our first choice but it was fully booked for that day. Kagura is known to dish out the best Okonomiyakis or Japanese pizza.
6. Izakaya Kikufuji
As usual, Bubba and I found ourselves trotting to Little Tokyo –one of our favorite places to get an authentic Japanese meal. Instead of visiting Urameshiya again, Izakaya Kikufuji is a favorite alternative.
The dining space at Kikufuji is quite spacious with the sushi bar slash open kitchen right smack at the center of the restaurant. The place was brimming with people, a lot were Japanese but I noticed that crowd also composed of Filipinos and we spotted eye candy Georgina Wilson.
Spicy Tuna Salad PHP 252
I love the tuna cutlets that tasted fresh and were coated beautifully with Japanese mayo that has a tinge of heat.
It’s better to visit Kikufuji during lunch than dinner. Prices are cheaper, for one. Kikufuji’s lunch sets come with free appetizers and side dishes like cabbage salad, miso soup, black seaweed salad and spicy tuna starter
Enoki Bacon Tare PHP 52
The grilled items on the menu are quite extensive and it’s hard to go wrong because it’s the Japanese chef who manages the grill. The bacon had grilled marks that looked appetizing and the cured meat wasn’t salty at all. There’s a bit of sweetness in the skewered meat that probably came from the enoki mushrooms as well.
Unaju Don PHP 345
I’m not a big fan of eel but I do order it from time to time being a small fan. Kikufuji’s unadon is quite good, cooked well without the fishy taste. The teriyaki sauce that they topped the boneless eel with is succulent.
Buta Jo Roose Shoga Yaki PHP 185
Buta Jo Roose Shoga Yaki was like shaved meat, similar to bacon, but sautéed with sweetened onions and leeks. It’s served with shredded raw cabbage on the side.
READ MORE:
Izakaya Kikufuji
2277 Pasong Tamo, Makati City
(632) 893 7319/ (632) 893 6131
Open for lunch and dinner
5. Ukkokei Ramen Ron
Ukkokei Ramen Ron is located along Pasay Road in Makati but it stands out from the rest of the scene since it garnered reputation as the best ramen in town, taking out Shinjuku who held the fame for the longest time off the top spot.
Ukkokei serves Ramen with three (3) different soup bases. This is the best place to start –choose from Shoyu (soy-based), Shio (salt-based) or Miso (miso-based). Then pick out the option you want under each soup-based category depending on the ingredients you want on your soup.
Miso Butter Corn Ramen PHP 360
Get served with a bowl of piping hot ramen that will bring you much comfort –both in taste and texture. Ramen is freshly made with just enough bite but still retains its softness and excellent elasticity. The miso-based broth tastes delicious but others might get turned off by the oiliness of the soup.
I love Ukkokei’s Miso Butter Ramen. There is generous amount of corn kernels and bean sprouts that adds a different crunchy bite while the butter adds creaminess to the whole deal. If you find the pork slices or chayu too few like I did, order an extra plate for PHP 120.
READ MORE:
Ukkokei Ramen Ron
Unit 1-2, Upper G/F, Tesoro Building,
822 A. Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road),
Makati City, Philippines
(632) 856 4588
4. Chibori
Chibori is a spacious sleek Japanese restaurant at the heart of the business district of Cebu. In 2008, this was where my tongue lost its virginity to Uni. Thanks to Norman who specifically booked that Japanese dinner for me to taste my first ever sea urchin experience.
Norma and Chris
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One of my favorite Cebu photos, this one with Travel Factor
Assorted Sushi Platter –Premium PHP 800+
6 kinds of sushi were plated on a wooden rack with some side garnish salad. It was my first time to try uni (sea urchin) and although it tasted like too much “sea,” I really enjoyed the salty fishy flavor and velvety texture. The boys let me finish most of it.
Sushi Moriawase
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Tempura
Sukiyaki PHP 600++
Sukiyaki is a Japanese beef hotpot with thinly sliced beef (ooh lala), carrots, leeks, tofu, other veggies and vermicelli noodles. The broth has a sweet note to it. Sukiyaki used to be a staple order for me every time I dine Japanese but haven’t ordered this much lately.
Chibori’s sukiyaki is a winner because it has a good balance between the sweetness of the broth and flavor of the beef. The veggies were soft but still had a bite to it. One of the best Sukiyaki’s in the Philippines!
READ MORE:
Chibori
G/F CJRS Bldg., Asiatown IT Park,
Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines
3. Tsumura
Tsumura has been a favorite haunt of enthusiasts of high quality and equally priced sushi. Some have dubbed Tsumura, “Tsu-mahal,” because prices of certain dishes here can go up the wazoo! A Japanese sushi chef runs the restaurant so definitely high expectations are set.
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Sashimi Moriawase PHP 890
The assorted Sashimi Moriawase set comes with a selection of fresh and imported fresh sashimi and a sampling of uni. The mixed set has a variety of raw fish that I’m not that familiar with, as well as beautifully cut squid, salmon, tuna, and mackerel. Their sashimi platter indeed has the finest cuts of delicious raw fish (at least those fish that are in my food-cabulary).
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Amiyaki Beef PHP 470
Uni PHP 80
Wagyu Beef Usuyaki PHP 600
Supple mushrooms wrapped in thinly sliced Wagyu beef –very tender, flavorful that it’s mighty impressive. The mushrooms were very light, in mellow contrast of the excellent beef. It is simply an indulgence in fine food. The taste is divine.
READ MORE:
The Way a Sashimi Should Be at Tsumura
Tsumura
2nd Level 88 Corporate Plaza, Sedeno corner Valero Streets,
Salcedo Village, Makati City
(632) 887 4848/ (632) 4850
2. Inagiku
Inagiku was awarded as Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secret (MBKRS) Winner of Best Japanese Restaurant in 2010. It’s no surprise since Inagiku is known to serve world-class Japanese cuisine with its delicate ALWAYS FRESH sushi and sashimi.
Sushi Platter
Tempura Sushi Roll
Grilled Gindara
Make sure that you always have room for Wasabi ice cream! It’s a favorite ice cream flavor of mine, next to Pistachio and Blueberry.
READ MORE:
Inagiku
Level 2, Shangri-La Hotel Makati, Makati Shangri-La Hotel
Ayala Ave. cor. Makati Ave. Makati, Metro Manila
(632) 813 8888 loc. 7588, 7599
1. Urameshiya Yakiniku Restaurant
Japanese is what Bubba loves best and the first time I brought him to Urameshiya for a dinner date, he fell in love with the restaurant. The setting strongly reminded me of my Japan trip. Hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Japan have a lot of character and produce mouthwatering dishes as those in the upscale ones.
Urameshiya Entrance
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Urameshiya Yakiniku serves the best Yakiniku in Manila. I’m biased because I love my meat in its smoky grilled/semi-charred condition. Bubba and I usually order the Tarafuku Set but their Wagyu set is also one of the best.
On the Table
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Enjoying my Japanese BBQ!
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This was a wonderful date spent with Bubba
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And another one 🙂
Tarafuku Set PHP 1,850
With the economic crunch, it’s definitely not easy for everyone to shell out almost 2K for a beef set that’s good for a hungry couple. However, I really recommend burning (literally) 2K for Urameshi-ya. I feel that every peso of that set is worth the quality and quantity of meat you’re getting.
Urameshiya definitely tops our list at this time! 🙂
READ MORE:
Urameshiya Yakiniku Restaurant
Urameshiya (Urameshi-ya) Yakiniku Restaurant
2277 Amorsolo (beside Makati Cinema Square)
Makati City, Metro Manila
(632) 819 5008
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Recent Table Guest