KIWAMI REOPENS AND IS BETTER THAN EVER!

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TOKYO TOKYO'S SRIRACHA RAMEN: RAMEN GETS LIT!

         The Sriracha craze continues at Tokyo Tokyo! 

        Hot off the success of their successful Sriracha Donburi, Tokyo Tokyo turns the heat up once again, this time in the form of their all new Sriracha Beef Ramen!   

TOKYO TOKYO DELIGHTS RAMEN LOVERS WITH THE NEW BEEF PEPPER RAMEN!

   The country’s number one Japanese Fast Food has amped up their menu in time for the rainy days, by adding a new Ramen dish that is bursting with that Beefy flavor we love.. The New Beef Pepper Ramen!   

Tokyo Tokyo’s Sakura Sumo Meal in Full Bloom!

　　Probably one of the most magical looking places on Earth during the months of late March to mid-April is Tokyo, when the whole place is blooming in pink because of the Cherry Blossoms during Sakura Season. Sakura means Cherry Blossom. I’ve only seen it in photos on the internet and I’m sure those photos don’t do them justice when you see them in real life. It just looks so spectacular! Sakura festival is their way of welcoming the spring. And every season they make the most out of the beautiful surroundings by having a scrumptious picnic under the Cherry Blossoms with their family and friends, with meals usually consisting of grilled or fried meat, fish and veggies, and colorful desserts.

　　We may not be there in Japan physically to experience this beautiful season right now, but that doesn’t mean we cannot celebrate. So, Tokyo Tokyo decided to bring the Sakura Festival to us! 

Presenting Tokyo Tokyo’s Sakura Sumo Meal! 

Tokyo Tokyo’s Donburi Festival: Tofu Steak Donburi and Cheesy Pork Katsu

        Fresh off my Prawn Tempura Hangover from International Tempura day, I set my sights on some of the newer items of Tokyo Tokyo’s menu, particularly their Donburi Meals! I couldn’t help but notice that there are two new dishes on Tokyo Tokyo’s that are not only affordable, but will also satisfy the cravings of the most ravenous carnivore and,  for those that are looking for lighter fare, without sacrificing on taste! 

   Presenting Tokyo Tokyo’s Donburi Festival!

KESSAKU'S AWESOME BUY 1 TAKE 1 PROMO

        We went back to Kessaku Alabang the second time around and guess what? They have an awesome deals on their sushi every Tuesdays. It's the BUY 1 TAKE ONE on ANY sushi!!!! How great is that?!?! It's certainly another good reason to visit Kessaku in Alabang on Tuesdays (besides being hungry and craving for good Japanese food)

GET CURRIED AWAY AT ERI CURRY!

            I really enjoy Japanese Curry. Truthfully, I enjoy Curry in general, whether it be Thai or Indian, but I find the heat of Japanese Curry the most manageable for my taste buds, not to mention, without it upsetting my stomach at the same time hehe. 

     I was elated to discover that a Japanese Curry House recently opened at the SM Mega Atrium. But more than anything, it was the concept of that Curry house that appealed to me most. A Curry place that lets you customize practically everything about your dish order, to the point that the only thing that seems to be lacking is the option to choose the color of your own plate. 

    Friends, prepared to get Curried Away at Eri Curry!

THE YUMMY THAT IS YUMI -RinaZ

       If you're a follower of this blog, then you know all about Richie's travels around California a few months ago. Like you, I too watched in envy as he would post delicious dishes from the U.S.A.. So when we got an invitation to visit Yumi Japanese Restaurant in Greenhills Promenade, I decided to go alone and give him a taste of his own medicine, and show him what he was missing back home.

      Much to my delight, I discovered that Yumi serves beautifully plated Japanese dishes. But more than just being visually stunning, the dishes were of course delicious! 

OSAKA OHSHO: THE GYOZA ELITE

        In one of my earlier posts, I wrote that I wasn't too fond of Japanese food. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but owners of Japanese restaurants seemed to take that as a challenge, and I've gotten quite a few invitations to dine at Japanese restaurants since then. 

     I'm honestly not into the hardcore Japanese food. My other food blogger friends roll their eyes at me when I tell them I don't eat Sushi, Sashimi, and practically anything with Nori. Quite unbecoming of a Food Blogger, I know, but what can I do? I don't call myself "The Pickiest Eater In The World" For nothing. 

     One of the reasons why I was looking forward to trying Osaka Ohsho was because I had seen the menu on a stroll around the then newly opened Megamall Fashion Hall, and it was one of the first restaurants that was already operational. What I liked about the menu was how it seemed to stay away from the more exotic dishes, and it stuck to the more commercial friendly Japanese food, such as Teppanyaki, Stir fry, Pork Cutlet, and Sukiyaki, to name a few. 

    But of course, the one thing that stood out was the bold claim that Osaka Ohsho makes to its customers..

      That they are the home of the "World's Number One Gyoza". 

7 FLAVORS, 25 LAYERS OF PORK CUTLET FROM KIMUKATSU!

        There have been are some very good tonkatsu places that have sprouted in Manila, each having their own fans. And they have been battling neckand neck, but just when you thought the tonkatsu wars could not be settled, in comes another very good one!  

        Kimukatsu is a famous tonkatsu place in Japan that has now reached the Philippine shores. Famous for its 25 layers of thinly sliced pork cutlet stacked and pampered up with their special bread crumbs, and 7 amazing flavors of tonkatsu, Kimukatsu has been making a buzz in the tonkatsu world 

RAMEN NAGI OPENS AT SM AURA!

           I'm not gonna lie to you, I got into the Ramen game rather late. I'm really more of a meat and potatoes kind of guy, so as my foodie friends were talking about the richness of a ramen's broth, the firmness of their noodles and the like, I was wondering why people were going nuts over something that you can buy at the grocery by the pack. 

        Naturally, as my food blogging career went on, so did my education in the art of Ramen, courtesy of my other foodie friends.  A few months ago, I was invited to visit a taste test of the newest Ramen place that would be arriving in our shores. I had the pleasure of tasting some Ramen dishes that were completely out of the ordinary, and anxiously awaited the day that their doors would finally open. 

       As December came, I got the call I had be waiting for. 

       Rejoice, Ramen Lovers! Ramen Nagi has opened its doors in SM Aura. 

VISITING YABU AT SM AURA

          Be honest.. Before Yabu existed, was there anyone that ever stopped for a second and said, "Hey, I'm craving for some Katsu!". Back in the day, it was always just usually, "Dude, let's go for some sushi", or "I want some tempura!", or even the generic, "Let's get some Japanese food!". 

         Let's face it.. Yabu: The House Of Katsu elevated Japanese Katsu to a new level of dining, to the point where different franchises from all around the globe scrambled to set up shop in the Philippines, just to get a piece of the action. I haven't tasted all the other Katsu places that have opened just yet, but in my opinion, Yabu's place in the market that it created in this country is safely perched at the very top. 

         Whenever they have a new addition to their menu, I always feel compelled to stop whatever it is I'm doing just to give it a try (I've gotten in trouble at work cuz of that mentality... My boss was waiting on the other line.. Long story..). Which is why I was surprised even myself that I waited longer than usual to give their newest dishes a try. 

       Now I'm kicking myself for not having gone to Yabu's Aura Branch sooner.

THE RAMEN CRAZE CONTINUES AT IKKORYU FUKUOKA RAMEN! - RINAZ

              I’m sorry but I can never memorize the name of this place hehehe. But as hard it is for me to remember the name (sorry all my memory brain cells was sucked out of me during labor hehe), the interior is quite unforgettable with it’s tall wood fences with black Japanese characters written all over them. I believe they were poems. Or was it a story? Anyway it was quite a unique ambiance. 

YAKU JAPANESE GRILL AT THE PODIUM! - Rinaz

          Though the location of Yaku is quite hidden (some were saying the huge post blocking their entrance was bad feng shui). This was the first thing I noticed upon arriving. Yaku, which means grill, were one of the oldest restaurants in The Podium Mall since the year 2000 and until now they are still very much standing. So much for feng shui! That just proves as well that they have a lot of regulars that love them, and they are attracting new customers as well!

       Yaku is an amazing Japanese restaurant that started off as serving only Yakitori items. It’s their specialty so if you go here, you must try these charcoal-grilled goodness on a stick! I say this to you with sincerity because as i was not feeling very well that night, I was not able to try this plate right here. That is why I am now kicking myself in the butt. But Richie was able to try some so we’ll get to that in a bit. So eventually they also started serving a lot of other Japanese dishes like sushi, tempura, teppanyakis, and noodles such as udon and soba.

TERIYAKI BOY DELIVERY!

Reviving my series on Delivery Services in Metro Manila.. Hope you enjoy! 

            Being a food blogger for nearly three years, people are often surprised to hear that neither Rina nor I know how to cook. Basically, all we really know how to do is eat. It's actually how I fell in love with her. I finally met a woman who can match my appetite. 

         Anyway, during the weekends, if we don't go out to eat we're usually stuck at home with canned goods or something processed. But when we're really lazy (which is pretty much every weekend), we order food delivery. 

        I went online and found out that Teriyaki Boy now delivers! I hadn't been to Teriyaki Boy in YEARS, so I figured this was a good time to revisit their Japanese food.

A MITSUYADO SEI-MEN GIVEAWAY :)

It's not everyday that someone gets photobombed by one of their "blogger idols"

        For someone who keeps saying, "I'm not too big on Japanese Food", it's funny that I'm writing about the fifth Japanese restaurant that I've visited in the first four months of 2013. I can't explain it, but there just seems to be something about that cuisine that serendipitously finds me sitting in front of a plate or a bowl, and enjoying a dish that I could have sworn I wouldn't care for just days earlier.   

     But this time it was different. This time, I was a man on a mission. I had a couple of opportunities in the past to visit Mitsuyado Sei-men along Jupiter Street in Makati, but scheduling conflicts would constantly keep us apart. 

     Finally, I had my date with destiny just before Holy Week, when Rina and I got together with some friends to finally try some of their new dishes. But I had my eyes set on the one dish that many have been talking about.. The Double Cheese Tsukemen. 

THE LEGEND OF SUZU KIN LIVES ON

             I had heard the legend of a small, hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant, so unassuming, that there's a good chance you would drive past without a second glance if you were driving down Kamagong Street in Makati.

        The legend tells of Prawns, covered in Japanese Breadcrumbs, and deep fried to a perfect crisp. Value Meals  filled with delicious Japanese food yet so unbelievable cheap, you're left in awe at how you're not arrested for grand theft. And how a classic Filipino dish, was given the Japanese treatment, giving it a new oriental spin. 

        That legend has grown to different locations, spreading out to different locations in the metro. I was fortunate enough to be able to finally visit one of the locations, conveniently located in Edsa.

       This is the legend of Suzu Kin. 

WHAT A WATAMI ADVENTURE! : PART I

It smells so good, I swear

         I noticed that, for a guy who says he doesn't like Japanese food so much, I sure do have a lot of Japanese food entries in my blog. Well, I hope you don't mind if I added two more. I found an amazing Japanese restaurant that caters to my heavily Western influenced palate. 

        One of my greatest regrets, was last November, I was unable to attend the opening of Watami Japanese Casual restaurant, then the newest baby of The Bistro Group. The following week, My blogger friends that were able to attend the event posted the most amazing photos of Japanese dishes that made my mouth water. 

       Although I was aware that there would be a Glorietta branch opening early 2013 that was more accessible to me, I refused to wait any longer, and made a trek to Mall of Asia with one mission in mind.. Dine at Watami.  

YABU: THE HOUSE OF KATSU PART IV - THE NEW DISHES

This was taken at 2pm on a Saturday. The line was still ridiculous!

        Yabu: The House Of Katsu is easily among the most popular restaurant in the metro today. Even if you try to visit them during off hours, expect that in all likelihood, you'll still be in for a wait. Given their success, one would think that the people behind Yabu would take a few moments to relax and rest on their laurels.. WRONG. 

        Yabu knows that it isn't enough to just be on top.. Its staying on top that truly matters. They further innovated their menu, as well as continued to expand, with a total of Four branches and counting! 

       After missing out on the launch of their Mall of Asia Branch late last year, I was absolutely heartbroken, because it also coincided with the release of their new dishes.. Which I got a glimpse of (but not yet a taste) from Chef Lee during the opening of Yabu's Robinsons' Magnolia Branch. 

      This time I was determined to finally get a taste of the three newest Items on the menu of Yabu that have eluded me long enough.

WHERE IS UMAMI HAMBAAGU HOUSE?

            For the past couple of weeks, food lovers around the web has on the lookout for the mythical Umami Hambaagu House.. A restaurant that specializes in Japanese Burger Steaks, but takes it to the next level, and then you multiply that next level to infinity. Something that added to the mystique of the restaurant, is that the location of Umami Hambaagu House has been kept from the public. 

        In a world where restaurant owners are screaming at the top of their lungs "VISIT US AT OUR LOCATION, LOCATED AT BLAH BLAH BLAH STREET, ETC", Umami decided to play it a different way. They said to hell with tradition and issued a challenge to its customers. They basically said, "We are awesome. If you want some kick ass burger steaks, come and find us."

     The result? A whole bunch of food lovers typing into Google..

                       "Where is Umami Hambaagu House?"