#japanese restaurant in greenhills

[beingjellybeans]

Get your #RamenForARainyDay at Ramen Nagi, Greenhills

When the skies open up and rain begins to pour, few things are as comforting as a hot, flavorful bowl of ramen. Fortunately, at Ramen Nagi’s Greenhills branch, this comfort food reaches new heights, offering a variety of dishes perfect for those cozy, rainy days and providing Greenhills shoppers with a welcome break from their retail adventures. I recently met up with foodie friends at this…

[thehungrykat1]

Buffet Town in Greenhills Offers Unique Buffet Dining Experience

There are so many all-you-can-eat restaurants around the city, but I just discovered this new buffet restaurant in Greenhills that offers a unique buffet concept combining beautiful aesthetics, sustainable dining, and an unlimited selection of Japanese and Asian favorites all in one charming venue.

Buffet Town is the newest buffet restaurant that foodies are now talking about. It recently held its soft opening last January 28, 2024 and can be found along Annapolis Street in San Juan, right where UNO Seafood used to be. The Hungry Kat was invited to visit Buffet Town last week and the first thing we were amazed with was the free Valet Parking that was available for guests. This is a very welcome bonus especially inside the very busy Greenhills shopping area.

The restaurant comes with a Japanese-insipred setting and offers a cozy and relaxing dining ambiance for families and friends. It has a very spacious dining area that also has several semi-private rooms for bigger groups. I love the colorful Japanese murals and designs you can find all around the venue.

We were hosted by Michelle Chan, one of the owners of Buffet Town who also happens to be a classmate of my husband, Dexter. Michelle is also the owner of 8 Spoons, a catering business that is a favorite among the local community, and they decided to expand further with their first new restaurant venture.

So what makes Buffet Town different from the rest? Unlike other restaurants which bombard you with long lines and a pile full of dishes on your plate, Buffet Town lets diners experience more by offering small individual potions served on cute plates. Each station comes with its own specialty dishes and you can simply get the ones that you want to try.

Let’s start at the Appetizers station where a variety of Korean and Asian appetizers await like the Kimchi, fish cake, spicy Korean chicken, tangsuyuk, and assorted banchan.

There’s also a Salad Station where you can find specially-prepared salads and greens displayed on the table. Other items include ohitashi okura, kabocha goma, and the popular Nasu Miso which is a baked eggplant with cheese on top.

For those who love sushi, Buffet Town has a Sushi Oasis where you can pick your choice of sushi, rolls, and maki topped and filled with all kinds of ingredients. Items are always replenished quickly at Buffet Town so you don’t have to line up and wait for your servings.

There’s plenty of salmon and tuna sashimi as well, including some spicy tuna and spicy salmon mixed with tempura flakes. If some of the portions seem too small for you, don’t worry because you can always ask the chefs to prepare your own personalized serving with the quantity and size that you prefer.

My favorite here was The BT Aburi station where you can ask for a serving of their aburi dish for the day and see it prepared and blow torched at their live cooking station.

I ordered the Salmon Aburi which was so good especially with its torched cheese melting into the fresh salmon slices. They also had the Beef and Mushroom Aburi which is an item you don’t often expect to see in buffets but rather in high-end Japanese restaurants.

The Tempura is always a must-have so you can still get a many pieces as you want. There are also a lot of other fried Japanese items like tonkatsu, fried ika, tori karaage, kakiage, and tofu furai. Offering these dishes is smaller portions also helps in lessening food wastage as diners don’t get overwhelmed when they suddenly get more than they can handle. This promotes food sustainability and helps the industry and the environment as well.

The Teppanyaki Station is also a popular destination with several dishes to choose from. These can be ordered from the server and they will prepare your dish and deliver it to your table fresh and hot off the grill.

Here are just some of the items you can find at the teppanyaki station. The Beef and Shrimp Roll Teppan comes in a beautiful plate combining meat and seafood. There’s also the Yasai Itame with its combination of healthy veggies.

The Mix Seafood Teppan is also a great dish combining tuna, shrimp, and squid with vegetables all in one plate.

There’s also a Yakitori Station and you can have chicken, beef, king oyster mushroom, or shrimp skewers cooked and delivered to your table.

Tracing its roots as a caterer, you will also find several cooked dishes on chafing trays here at Buffet Town. Among those on display were the Roasted Hainanese Chicken and Rice, seafood salpicao, steamed suahe, Laing, braised beef, and more.

The highlight of the buffet would be the carving station where two very meaty items are featured. The Bellychon is a pork belly lechon roll that comes with crispy crackling skin and juicy lechon meat. Add some liver sauce to complete the experience.

Just beside this is the Angus Lechon Baka, a glorious chunk of roasted beef that is just so delicious with its very tender beef slices. There are really so many dishes to choose from at Buffet Town but I didn't really feel overwhelmed because everything was served with the right portions.

But if you thought that was all, there's actually even more because each table at Buffet Town also comes with a hotpot bowl where guests can cook their own hotpot items. First, choose two from among the four soup flavors provided including Pork Bone, Sukiyaki, Tomato and Mushrooms, and Spicy Kimchi.

Then head over to the Hotpot Station to get your preferred items like fishballs, cheese balls, mushroom balls, shrimp, dumplings, veggies, and more.

Diners can also get unlimited servings of sliced beef and sliced pork so you can have a full hotpot experience together with your full buffet selection. What more can you ask for?

Beverages are included in the buffet price so guests can have bottomless glasses of fruit juices, chocolate, and yogurt drinks. There's also unlimited UCC Coffee which is something you don't often find in buffet restaurants.

To make your dining experience even more festive, live dance performances are held every hour or so around the venue, with special numbers for birthday celebrants or those celebrating special occasions.

To complete your wonderful dining experience at Buffet Town, head over to the dessert station where you can prepare and choose your own Hanami Dessert Box. Customize your box with nine assorted mini Asian delicacies including matcha cheesecake, panna cotta, creme brûlée, fruits, and ice cream with flavors like cheesecake, chocolate, mocha and lots more.

We would like to thank Michelle Chan for inviting us and hosting our delightful visit to Buffet Town. We really had a unique dining experience that is quite different from how we usually eat at buffet restaurants. It's a great place to meet up with friends and family since you can take it easy and bond over good food and good company. I'm surely going back here soon!

Buffet Town

43 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan

(0908) 396-3009

Facebook Page

Instagram: @buffettownph

[jvuhn]

Olivia

Christmas party.

“Can’t even look at you”

Moksha. 

Hongkong side restaurant.

“May charger ka ba.. paubos na battery ko paheram. Ilan pa percentage? 40. Tagal pa yan. Kailangan ko para makauwi ako.. but I wanted to take you home”

Australia.

“Uy, Note 9. Gaya gaya ng phone forever”

Treehouse 1. 

Japan.

Ice eye drop.

Cigs from japan.

Asking to what to wear for formal event coat and tie.

Went to you after the formal event and you saw me in my formal attire.

Drive by to one stick. Our usual YB spot.

Yii dashcam.

"I need to pick up my litol brader is it okay if we use the h1 for picking him and his friends? Yeah. (Wow shes not picky with my anti date car) listen to this *plays alive acoustic by kruwella* she likes the SQ set up of h1"

Alive.

Uptown katip.

Drive the car while in the nail spa because no parking.

Happy glass game while waiting at NKTI.

Been you.

Getting you drunk.

Buffalo wings.

Mint chocolate shake.

My secret romance.

Terius.

Jedspeed.

That night before leaving the country april 25 "close your eyes".

Treehouse 2 when i followed early in the morning and convoyed you back home.

Greenhills to get your laptop fixed.

“You are one unique Pokemon that I will never let go”

Accompanying you to NKTI East Ave and De Los Santos Hospital. 

Talk about your work and achievements (always so proud of you) and personal stuff.

Beerpong always trying to get you drunk.

Blade timog.

Sudden carwash cause you bought rain repellant and mits.

Korea.

May 30 always that date. 

Santolan Town Center. 

Aladdin. 

Scouts honor.

“Hinahanap ako ni Mommy”

Classified kitchen.

“Alam ko kung sino kasama mo manuod ng aladdin”

Greenhills to buy Nord.

Lg2.

Prologue.

Magnolia.

Ramen nagi.

Black Scoop.

Botejyu.

Plant errands at taguig.

Japanese restaurant near fantastic baka. 

Tipsy pig timog you so so drunk and drunk driving at its finest. 

Netflix series and movies with food and drinks of course. 

Mr. Kebab.

Greenhills.

BLK 513.

Potato corner.

Evade K and D. 😂

Army navy.

Lam tin tea. 

Caliburn.

Premium Strawberry Juice.

Going to makati to pick you up with bea.

Makati shortcuts.

Goto tendon.

"Bea saying that ive changed and you got kilig"

Fat russells.

Karaoke singing our lungs and hearts out. 

Car matting at areneta ave. 

Car matting at west avenue for altis. 

Banawe. 

Bosch europa.

Powertorq. 

Change oil.

"Lets drive thru mcdonalds im hungry. Stuck in traffic eating mcdonalds and singing in the car"

Antipolo. 

Led lights ph. 

Romeos. 

Car errands you sleeping in of course or out of nowhere wants to clean the car or we were so tired from all the errands so i fell asleep on you. 

Vv9736. 

"She got 3rd wheel with her little bro and his girlfriend. The little bro and girlfriend are making "harot" while stuck in traffic. She told me she wants that too so our next date we got harot" haha

Francos baptism. 

Your cooked meal Bangus and rice. 

"May dala siyang mango. Gusto ko siya ang gwapo pa".

"Gym". 

Citadine. 

Moa. 

LANY. 

Moscato yellow tail. 

"Pano ka maglinis ng face? Parang carpenter". 

Here with me.

Makati shortcuts.

Sm north.

Archery bullseye.

BTS. 

BTS Keychain.

Vertis. 

Wangfu.

Daiso.

Bbq popcorn.

John wick 3.

Korea. 

Batman Keychain from Korea.

Buen comer. 

Trinoma. 

King chef banawe. 

Shangrila. 

Movie bench. 

Kissing booth. 

Nomiya izakaya with winona. 

Canada. 

Sleeping early in the morning to getting sleepy at 930-1030 to falling asleep. 3 days live in. 

Ooma.

Fat Cousin.

Maginhawa.

3 days Live In.

“Ang bilis kung galing sa bahay mo papuntang Makati”

“thank you for waking up early”

“Ang ganda ng rain shower”

Songdowon. 

Vinci X.

Our send a selfie everyday cause we just couldnt get enough of each other. 

Nicos birthday. 

Aki. 

Gabs birthday.

House renovation.

"When the house is done ill invite you over".

Hair color "take a picture of me..my hair". 

Your spa date with tris then off to capitol commons.

Tipsy pig capitol commons. 

I need you right now. 

Our not so christmas. 

Christmas at Josh.

Last tambay at Josh.

New year. 

Omni. 

Diffuser na napaka bango. 

Towel. 

From everyday to weekly. 

Helping me study. 

Going to clark. 

Veterans army restaurant delivery.

Simulator at my laptop and saying im here na. 

Surprise visits. 

Starbucks mindanao.

"Did you miss us going roadtrip and have no where to go"

Dampa seafood grill tomas.

Aegis Boost.

Tristel house tambay.

Roses delivery. 

Valentines at your place.

To all the boys.

"Can we make this last?" - 2/14/20

"Im starting to like someone else"

Billie not biting me.

Polo.

Maxie. 

The family. 

Pancake house.

Cube gilmore for computer chair.

Singing in the car.

Doing netflix and chill.

Mang juan. 

Lockdown. 

Mangobravo. 

Birthday. 

Massaging machine. 

Korean zombie movie. 

Video call while watching.

Kingdom the zombie series. 

On a break pause. 

World war z. 

The sims. 

April 11. 

Still lockdown.

Aegis Boost (replacement)

Chill at your house. 

The King. 

Falling asleep while watching. 

Never have i ever.

To all the boys i loved before.

Julie And The Phantoms.

SM Sucat.

“Sino yang gagong nakaharang sa kotse natin” 

Half saints. 

Yoshimeatsu at BF Paranaque.

Grab food since no dine ins outside. 

Chicken chingu our favorite. 

Gout food. 

Araneta ave for visit. 

Banawe. 

Winona. 

Santolan town plaza.

Moved to other spot since you guys dont like barcino.

Mclarens.

Musicroom after with Winona. 

BTS online concert. 

Drag S.

Trying Tsiklet and Mango Grapes.

Bulacan.

Con.

Rustic mornings. 

Golf Driving Range.

Ortigas to BGC real quick.

Popeyes.

Arcovia.

Make hatid bea. 

Christmas. 

Gc3 auto lounge.

Jico’s despidida.

Yoos Korean BBQ at Pearl Drive

“Wag mokong ingittin sa S21 mo. Magaaway tayo”

Computer building. 

Valentines at Clark Noreng Chicken at Friendship because you don’t like to eat at JunJuns then went to Subic to meet up with Gian? your friend.

Harbor Point.

Starbucks.

Cafe Espresso.

“Picturan mo kami habang naglalakad ung candid ah”

Greenstreet.

Pho Hoa.

Pet shop supplies. 

Woofpack.mnl.

Harley.

Cartimar. 

PET ALLEY.

Shima Japanese at BF Paranaque.

Plant shopping.

"Iba nanaman kotse niya". 

Batman cake. 

Letters.

“My Future Pilot”

Portable vacuum. 

Space sweepers. 

Air Double bed. 

Baby pictures. 

Deodorant Mall Hopping.

Tagaytay. 

Josh.

Lunch under the sky.

Carwash.

Convoy to Tagaytay Highlands non-stop screaming and this is not your car.

Tagaytay Highlands. 

Jurassic Park Cake cause you said you wanted a Jurassic Park Cake.

I remembered us when I watched Kissing Booth 3 a while ago. I know I may not the be perfect boyfriend to you I have flaws that makes you jump off or made you let go of us for how many times already but you always give me the last decision for us. I’m regretting my decision and I’m missing you.. missing us.

Remember you always tell me that we are destined to be with each other that we have this invisible string thats linked to the two of us that whatever happens we will always find our way back to each other.

I hate myself for losing you.

[happyfoodtrippers]

Restaurant Review: Menya Noodle & Bento Bar

Good and reasonably-priced ramen in Greenhills: Menya Noodle & Bento Bar

View this post on Instagram

Yummy Black garlic #tonkotsu #ramen #japanesefood #happyfoodtrippers #foodtrip #instafood #foodgasm #yummy #getinmybelly #sarap #foodpic

A post shared by Rey Lyn (@happyfoodtrippers) on Mar 31, 2019 at 1:44am PDT

Address: Food Court, Ground Floor, Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Centre, Greenhills, San Juan City

Date visited: January 2019

T…

[slvrdlphn]

Yakikai, what a funny name to say. 🙂  ‘Tis the season to forget about that diet and indulge, as they say, and Yakikai is definitely a place to indulge our appetite. 🙂  A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to eat at Yakikai Grill and Fusion Buffet located at Scout Dr. Lazcano Street near Tomas Morato in Quezon City.  For those who can’t quite imagine where this is, your nearest landmark would be Starbucks Reserve across from BPI on Tomas Morato Avenue.  Yakikai is on the block where Starbucks is. 🙂

This restaurant was easy for me to find for these reasons:

I live nearby

this used to be Bagoong Club which I once frequented

it is a stone’s throw away from my favorite Starbucks branch, the Starbucks Reserve Legacy Store on Tomas Morato. 🙂

For people with cars, if you arrive early enough you can park right in front of Yakikai, otherwise, your next available parking will be on Tomas Morato.  Not to worry, though, as Tomas Morato is a very short distance from the restaurant … very walkable.

The first time I heard about Yakikai I couldn’t help but wonder if this was going to be any different from other samgyupsal restaurants I have visited in the past.  While there are definitely similarities, the owner, Ms. Sam, introduced us to some features that make this restaurant stand out.  FYI, Ms. Sam used to be the owner of Sodam, a samgyupsal restaurant in Greenhills, which she has since sold before she opened this place.

Dining Area

Since I have been to this building before when it was a different restaurant I was interested to note if they changed anything about its appearance or layout.  So far, they have made the dining area brighter and, of course, there is the addition of the ventilation pipes for the hoods over each table.

There are three dining areas on the ground floor: the main area near the buffet which can seat approximately 24 or more people, another one just to the right of the main dining area which can comfortably seat 30 people, and an outdoor seating area at the lanai which can comfortably seat another 24 people.

On the second floor, there are two rooms.  The room on the right could possibly seat around 20 people while the room on the left could possibly seat 50 people.  This set up makes Yakikai ideal for big groups.  While their Zomato page says they do not take table bookings, I think they do take reservations for special events.

Restrooms

It is important to note that there are two gender-neutral restrooms, one on each floor.  This is a carryover from Bagoong Club.  However, I wish they could maintain it better.  One tip I would possibly give them is to have one of their staff check the restrooms every 30 minutes or every hour to make sure it is still clean (and not stinky) and clean it when necessary.

The Menu

As with other restaurants they have an ala carte menu and an “eat all you can” menu.  In this review, I will focus on the latter because this is the menu that they really want to push.  That is my gorgeous sister holding up the menu for me. 😀

They only have 2 sets to choose from.  The premium set and the emperor set.

Premium Set

The first is the PREMIUM SET.  This was originally priced at P499 but, at the moment is available for P339.  Unlike other restaurants, this package is composed of chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp, cheese, plus the buffet!  Talk about value for money.

The meat selection is basically the same as what you would find in every other samgyupsal place but the addition of the shrimp and cheese (which is a mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheese) at no extra cost brings them up a notch.  I even noticed that there was one table that ordered just the fresh shrimp!  That was so smart!  I should do that next time.

Emperor Set

The second set is called the EMPEROR SET and is, of course, the one they highly recommend.  Originally priced at P699, it is currently available for P599.  The emperor set is composed of chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, fish, Jjampong nabe soup, and cheese!  Specifically, what makes the emperor set are the following:

salmon sashimi

chuck eye steak

shrimp tempura

and Jjampong Nabe

salmon sashimi

chuck eye steak

shrimp tempura

When cooking any kind of meat (and steak especially) it is important to know when to stop cooking it so that the meat is still edible.  When it comes to the steak which compared to the other meats served is thick, cooking it too long will make the steak hard and dry.  Your goal should always be medium.  Some like it medium-rare, others medium-well.

We asked Ms. Sam if they served tuna sashimi aside from salmon sashimi and she said that they don’t serve tuna as it spoils faster so if it is not consumed quickly they end up throwing it away.  Salmon, on the other hand, handles better and lasts longer.  I love salmon anyway so this was no hardship for me. 😀

The Jjampong Nabe might be removed from the menu as they have received feedback that many patrons find it too spicy.  They are still thinking about what to replace it with if they decide to remove it.  Any suggestions?

Buffet

Both the premium and emperor set comes with the buffet which is self-service and you can go back as often as you want and get as much as you want.

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At first, it would appear as though the buffet offerings are limited, but as each dish is emptied, it is replaced with a different dish (if similar) dish, which makes for an almost limitless buffet.

In this photo here you can see that the options have already changed.  The dishes that I kept going back for are the shredded sweet Japanese corn and the japchae.  For those who do not know, japchae is a Korean noodle dish made with vermicelli noodles with vegetables and beef tossed in.

Sushi options at the buffet

On the far left of the buffet is a selection of different kinds of sushi from the all-time favorite California Maki to salmon, shrimp, and tamago (egg) variations. At the window above the buffet are the chefs who were busy preparing refills of all the dishes in the buffet.

I am very keen on anything spicy I sampled the spicy tuna.  The sushi tasted as expected, which is a good thing. 🙂  I had a few pieces of spicy tuna and tamago sushi. 😀

Is “buffet only” an option?

We asked Ms. Sam if it were possible for guests to order just the buffet and no grilling and she said no.  When I think about it, though, that really isn’t too bad since the price of their premium set is not really that expensive.

Dessert and drinks

For dessert, you can ask for any of the Korean ice cream available from the freezer at an additional cost (they are not part of the package).  Same with the drinks, the packages only come with water but you can order soda or juices from the menu at an additional cost.

Eat-All-You-Can

I ate all I could and there were still so many dishes that I was not able to taste.  A tip to beginners, make sure you are hungry when you go here because I promise you, there is almost no waiting time between sitting at your table and eating.  While they set up your table you could already start on the buffet.

Yakikai Grill and Fusion Buffet, A Review Yakikai, what a funny name to say. 🙂  'Tis the season to forget about that diet and indulge, as they say, and Yakikai is definitely a place to indulge our appetite.

[clarisaysblog]

Omakase, a Japanese Restaurant at Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato

Omakase, a Japanese Restaurant at Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato

When I was still working near Greenhills, Omakase was my go-to place for sushi. Mainly because the choices they offer are delicious. My colleagues also got into it when I one day suggested to have our  monthly dinner at Omakase instead. Sadly, I wasn’t able to visit my favorite restaurant after leaving that workplace.

Fast forward to last Friday when the Christmas rush took my friends and I by…

[jasonpacheco]

And sometimes you take a trek to one of the fancy Manila malls for some pizza as they make it in the nabe back home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Pizza’s on point though nyc water can’t ever be replicated outside of the city. The decor’s perfect down to the aluminum ceiling, brick oven and Billyburg bridge giant photo. People eating their slice with a fork and knife a little bit weird and too proper and the super friendly service a bit disarming for just a plain old slice from BKLYN. Pretty good slice and much needed for a taste of back home in Billyburg. It’s no Joe’s pizza on Bedford and 5th but close. After the slice, some shopping for winter gear and nespresso pods and a photo with a local basketball player from decades past and a trip to Greenhills to drop off a box of munchkins to the fave cellphone store as I would to my favorite Billyburg Japanese restaurant. Picked up the best ube cake there is at @caramia.ph. Tried looking for the owner and friend but he wasn’t around. The mom was happy though seemingly done with getting yet another cake. In the morning the nicest trip to a corner street food stall. Got some turon and lumpia and told them to keep the 4 peso change and they were grateful as though they received a million bucks. Great day of travel and perspective and things that make home home. Greetings from Williamsburg, Metro Manila | Williamsburg, Manila #motorino #pizza #chef #streetphotography #manila #williamsburg #brooklyn #podium #mall #shoppingmall #restaurant #🍕 #munchkins #nyc #365days2018jp [333/365] (at Motorino, the Podium) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq1b6usF_OI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xg7n3vlsjivz

[elgy]

Where's my food? (at WAFU Japanese Restaurant, Greenhills)

[beingjellybeans]

Unli premium meats and Jap-Kor dishes at Yoshimeatsu

Unli premium meats and Jap-Kor dishes at Yoshimeatsu

If you love unli grilled meats like I do, I’m sure you’ve been missing your yakiniku or samgyup adventures too. https://flic.kr/p/2m92JCx https://flic.kr/p/2m97Y6Z https://flic.kr/p/2m92Kex https://flic.kr/p/2m93BJC There’s something about cooking meats on a tabletop grill as you take the time to catch up with your family and…

[beingjellybeans]

ICHO Japanese Restaurant, Greenhills

Located along the busy Annapolis Street, no more than a minute’s ride after turning right from the traffic-infested EDSA is a haven for Japanese food lovers.

https://flic.kr/p/2hc7yWs

ICHO Japanese Restaurant is named after the gingko trees in Japan. Known to be highly resilient as they can withstand pollution and salt in their native environment, they also beautify their surroundings and as well…

[thehungrykat1]

Ramen and Tonkatsu at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Everyone knows that I love Japanese food, most especially katsu and ramen. While I usually go to my favorite restaurants depending on my cravings, there are times when I just can’t decide whether to have a crunchy tonkatsu or a warm bowl of ramen. Thankfully, there is one Japanese restaurant that serves both on their menu, so I don’t have to choose between the two because I can have them both at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka.

With 14 branches all over the city, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka continues to be a popular dining destination for foodies like me who can’t get enough of ramen and tonkatsu. I usually visit their Trinoma branch which is located on the fourth floor at the open park area. They have other branches at Ayala Cloverleaf, Eastwood City, UP Town Center, Greenhills, Glorietta, Alabang Town Center, Nuvali, Tagaytay, SM Pampanga, SM Clark, SM Moa, City of Dreams, and Ayala Mall Feliz.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka was founded in 1988 by Hitoshi Hatanaka in Asahikawa, located on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. Hatanaka wanted to develop a classic ramen made with a simple soup that could be savoured to the last spoonful and topped with a fabulous Char-siu pork. This masterfully assembled ramen with robust flavors has stood out ever since and has reached many other countries around the world.

The restaurant has a charming ambiance with wooden tables and wood-paneled walls and accents. Tones of black and brown give it a serious but classy vibe where you can enjoy authentic Japanese dishes.

I sometimes come here with my friends before we head off for movie night at the mall or spend a round at Red Box Karaoke just beside the restaurant.

The Shio Ramen (P385) is Santouka’s signature ramen recipe loved in Japan for decades. The mild, pearl-colored Tonkotsu soup is simmered with pork bones before adding vegetables, dried fish, kelp, and other special ingredients. The Shio ramen is seasoned with salt, making it a mild and creamy broth.

One unique variety they have is the Awase-Aji Ramen (P380). This is a specialty ramen that is basically a combination of al three classic ramen variants, the Shio (salt), Shoyu (soy sauce), and Miso (soybeans) ramen. I don’t see this at other ramen restaurants so this is what I usually order here at Ramen Santouka.

For the spicy food lovers, go for the Santouka Spicy Miso Soup (P390) which is a powerful and spicier version of their miso-based ramen. 

But my favorite order at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is the Santouka Set Menu which comes your choice of a small size ramen, a rice bowl, salad, dessert, and tea. The Santouka Set Menu B (P555) is what I usually get because it also comes with fried prawns and white rice. Imagine having delicious prawn katsu and authentic ramen all in one set.

For this combination, I chose the mini Shoyu Ramen which has a soy sauce seasoned pork broth. It says that it is a mini ramen bowl but the serving is actually big enough for an average person. 

That means it is just right for me together with the Ebi Furai and white rice. These are three big pieces of prawns deep fried in crunchy panko crumbs. Both items can be considered as complete meals by themselves so to have them together in one set is really a heavenly treat.

One of the newer locations for Hokkaido Ramen Santouka can be found at The Garage VR Zone and Food Park inside City of Dreams Manila. (Read about it here). I attended the launch last year and got the Kara-Miso Ramen (P395) which is a hot and spicy ramen that has pork broth seasoned with hot spices and soybean paste.

Wherever I am in the city, I will always find a Santouka outlet nearby to satisfy my Japanese cravings. I don’t think I will ever get tired of eating Japanese food, so that makes me one lucky lady!

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

4/F Garden Level, Trinoma Mall, EDSA, Quezon City

625-2842 / (0917) 293-9417

www.santouka.co.jp

www.facebook.com/RamenSantoukaPH

[beingjellybeans]

Japanese seafood dinner at Omakase, Greenhills

In our bid to eat a bit healthier after a bout of errands in Greenhills, Hubby and I opted to have an early sushi dinner at Omakase.

This Japanese resto started out as a takeout counter in Quezon City. The term omakase actually translates to “I leave it up to you.” In Japan, diners can sometimes leave it up to the chef to serve his recommended selection of seasonal specialties instead of ordering…

[thehungrykat1]

Kimpura Japanese Restaurant Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

Kimpura Japanese Restaurant celebrated its Golden Anniversary last month with its loyal customers back in full force as the well-loved restaurant re-opened its doors for dine-in services last August. The restaurant industry has been one of the most badly-affected sectors during this global pandemic, with numerous stores and outlets closing left and right. It truly takes a strong restaurant to thrive in this cutthroat industry for more than fifty years, and Kimpura has really come back strong, offering its teppanyaki specialties that old and newer generations of diners know and love.

I visited the Greenhills branch of Kimpura a few weeks ago during their anniversary month. This was the first time for me to dine at this relatively new branch at the ground floor of O Square 2 in Greenhills. They had to move from their previous location near the old Unimart building in 2018 just a few blocks away, but reopened a year later at this newer and brighter area.

Safety and health protocols are strictly enforced at the entrance, with temperatures being checked and contract tracing measures properly taken. Disinfectants and alcohol are also easily available. Kimpura makes sure that all their guests have a safe dining experience whenever they visit any of their branches.

Kimpura is a name coined from combining the Japanese words for gold – “KIM” and tempura. Taken together, it translates to “golden tempura” which also means that I will be having a delicious time here. The story of Kimpura goes as far back as October 10, 1970 when it first opened at the Makati Commercial Center which is now known as the Ayala Center.

From its intricately designed entrance to its lavishly styled interiors, Kimpura welcomes Japanese food lovers to an exquisite dining experience. Each teppanyaki table comes with its own cooking station where Kimpura’s expert chefs will prepare your teppanyaki orders for you. For fifty years, Kimpura has been a part of many family celebrations, even before the popularity of five-star hotel restaurants and buffets. That is why it also brings a bit of Nostalgia to its loyal fans who keep coming back to relive their fond and memorable experiences here.

Kimpura also has several private dining rooms and this is where my friends and I gathered for a socially-distant lunch get-together. Each teppanyaki table seats only three to four guests. It has been a long time since I met some of my friends so this is a way to keep in touch while still adhering to health and safety standards.

We started with the Kani Mango Salad with its fresh garden greens, mango cubes, tomato, and crabsticks combined with piquant dressing. Miso soup was also served on our tables.

The Aburi Salmon Maki (P395) was a refreshing sight. Its mat-rolled sushi rice is elegantly combined with tobiko, crabstick, tempura crunch, and Japanese mayonnaise, topped with lightly broiled slices of fresh salmon and dressed with orange mayonnaise sauce.

I do love unagi so the Unagi California Maki (P495) was my preferred appetizer. This special sushi comes with crabstick roe and mango topped with luscious unagi eel. All sushi and sashimi were actually 50% off during that week as part of Kimpura’s month-long 50th Anniversary promotion.

It has been so long since I had a truly fresh and authentic Salmon Sashimi (P550) so I was really happy to have it here at Kimpura. Other restaurant deliveries don’t really offer the best quality so I am happy to be dining in a real Japanese restaurant. Our plate came with some California Maki (P225) as well. This was already portioned with my other friends so this is not the whole serving.

Now comes their “golden tempura” which I am so excited to eat. The Ebi Tempura (P620) has perfectly fried fresh shrimps served with a special tempura sauce. It has eight big pieces so it’s good for the entire table.

Next is another seafood specialty, the Gindara Teriyaki (P975). This premium imported codfish is seasoned with sweet wine sauce. The gindara may be a bit pricey, but its delicately soft meat is what really makes is special.

Now let’s start the teppanyaki grill! Our master chef came in with all his ingredients and is ready to fire up the table.

First on the agenda is the Yakimeshi or Mixed Fried Rice (P115). This is a Japanese style fried rice with chopped vegetables, egg, and seasoning. It is prepared and served right off the grill so you get it fresh and hot.

Now for the main event, the gorgeous US Angus Ribeye Steak (P1100). This premium Black Angus beef is grilled with a special teppanyaki sauce. All steaks are served with Japanese pickles, tossed green salad, steamed rice, soup, and dessert.

The chef carefully slices the premium Angus beef and grills it to perfection together with sauces and seasonings. It only takes a few minutes and you can really smell the wonderful aromas while he is preparing the steak. He also cooked the fatty portions separately and turned them into juicy well-done nuggets of deliciousness which I also devoured.

We also had Prawns Teppanyaki (P595) to accompany our surf and turf specialty. These sea-fresh shelled prawns are flavored with Japanese wine and also freshly-cooked on their misono tables.

To cap off our teppanyaki lunch, we finished with some Gelatin ala Mode Special (P110) and Matcha Ice Cream (P85) for dessert. Kimpura will always be a cherished destination for the thousands of loyal guests who continue to make it their special place. It has already proven that not even a global pandemic can stop it from welcoming diners who will continue making new loving memories in the next 50 years.

[thehungrykat1]

Nanka Japanese Steakhouse Features Wagyu-Angus Crossbred Steaks

I have always been a certified steak lover. Invite me to a steak dinner and I will wholeheartedly say yes. There are many elegant steakhouses in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Ortigas, but I don’t seem to know any new ones in the Quezon City area where I live. Thankfully, I just discovered a relatively new restaurant in the city that prides itself in offering Wagyu-Angus crossbred steaks that gives diners the best of both worlds. Welcome to Nanka Japanese Steakhouse!

Nanka Japanese Steakhouse is located in a quiet residential neighborhood at the corner of Mother Ignacia Street and Roces Avenue in Quezon City. This is where Moomba Bar used to be and I fondly remember that my first time to eat an ostrich dish was at that restaurant. This time, I’m coming here for none other than their premium imported steaks served in a very homey and inviting setting.

Nanka is open daily from 11:00am to 11:00pm and its spacious gallery can serve as many as 120 guests. My friends and I were invited to Nanka Japanese Steakhouse to be one of the first to try their newly revamped menu. The restaurant previously served Japanese Latin cuisine but now they have changed their focus to be one of the best new steakhouses in this area. I believe they are on the right track.

The relaxed and homey vibe is what makes the place very appealing, especially to those working or living in the Quezon City area. At night, Nanka also adds a little more spice and entertains guests with wonderful music and live acoustic performances featuring the city’s top bands. 

At the helm of Nanka Japanese Steakhouse is Executive Chef Mike Santos, who used to work under multi-awarded Chef Cyrille Soenen at Brasserie Cicou in Greenhills. Chef Mike makes it a point to emphasize the clean authentic flavors of the steak and his other Japanese dishes, not putting too much other ingredients into the mix. 

But before we went to our main event, Chef Mike had us sample some of the other interesting items on their menu. These Shimeji Fries (P215) serve as great nibblers on the table. Shimeji mushrooms are coated with batter and deep fried to create these crispy strips. They are so good that I found myself just getting bite after bite.

Another recommended starter is the Oyster Hollandaise (P365) with its succulent oysters baked with a creamy hollandaise sauce. You can also choose the Fried Oysters (P375) if you prefer to have your oysters crunchier.

The Grilled Ahi Tuna (P355) is a healthier starter with its grilled outer layer and raw sashimi-like center. Better yet, order the Tuna and Salmon Chirashi (P299) if you want your salmon and tuna sashimi slices served on a bed of Japanese rice. Nanka has their seafood flown straight from Japan twice a week so you are sure to get the freshest items every day.

I also recommend getting the Togarashi Shrimp (P495) with its plump shrimp cooked in Japanese togarashi spices.

For pasta lovers, the Prawn Garlic Noodles (P375) is great way to satisfy those cravings. This classic pasta is made even better as it is topped with huge pieces of juicy prawns cooked with garlic.

Things are looking really good as Chef Mike brought out their Garlic Crabs (market price - around P1350). These babies go so well with rice so ask for a cup or two so you can enjoy the garlicky flavors.

And now the star of the show has finally arrived! Presenting the superstar lineup of premium steaks at Nanka Japanese Restaurant! The Black Onyx is a highly marbled, 100% pure Angus beef that really packs the flavors. 

But the specialty at Nanka is their crossbred Wagyu-Angus steaks. WX by Rangers Valley is a Wagyu cattle cross bred with the very best genetics to create something rare and exclusive. You get the best of both worlds with these steak combinations.

The WX Striploin 400g (P600 per 100g) has that unique marbling that you get from Wagyu, but at the same time, it packs that meaty punch that you get from Angus beef. It’s a great balance between the two best steak breeds in the world so it is really such a magnificent experience. Chimichurri and Japanese steak sauce are also served together with the steaks.

If you want even more exquisite flavors, go for the WX Ribeye 400g (P650 per 100g) which has layers of juicy fat to go along with the meaty steak. This was my favorite steak that afternoon because it was simply bursting with beefy goodness that you can only taste from premium imported steak.

For big groups or very hungry guests, the best way to satisfy your steak cravings would be the Black Onyx Tomahawk (P495 per 100g). This monster can go up to 1 kilo and will definitely be the centerpiece of any family gathering. 

You can pair your steaks with a couple of sides like the Sautéed Wild Mushrooms (P365), Mashed Potato (P185), Roasted Assorted Vegetables (P315), or the Nanka Fries (P265). Whatever you choose, I’m sure everyone will be going home happy and full after this round.

For desserts, the Japanese Green Tea Mousse (P215) and the Chocolate Ganache Mountee (P245) are two colorful options to end your Japanese steakhouse experience on a high note. Nanka Japanese Restaurant is a delicious new option for steak lovers like me who aspire for something more than just the usual steak experience. There’s no need to go all the way to BGC for an exquisite steak lunch or dinner because Nanka Japanese Restaurant is now here in Quezon City.

Nanka Japanese Steakhouse

1810 Mother Ignacia Ave. corner Roces Ave., Quezon City

(0977) 621-8472 / (02) 8517-9677 / (02) 8921-6772

www.facebook.com/NankaPH

[thehungrykat1]

Teppanya Launches 5th Anniversary Unlimited Madness Promo

I love dining at teppanyaki restaurants where the chefs cook the meats and seafood right in front of you, usually with some entertaining exhibitions performances on the side. My favorite place before used to be WAFU in Greenhills but unfortunately that one is already closed. That’s why I was so happy when Teppanya recently opened its newest branch at SM City North EDSA and even more excited when I found out that they are offering a new UNLIMITED teppanyaki promotion for their anniversary. 

Teppanya is celebrating its 5th anniversary with a fiery explosion as it offers its Unlimited Madness promotion at its newest branch. Imagine having all the sushi, sashimi, tempura, Hokkaido oysters, and Angus steak that you want and more for only P988+ per person. That price is such a steal because other unlimited teppanyaki buffets in the city cost almost double that amount. The anniversary promotion is only available from August 24 to November 2019 at their SM City North EDSA branch so I made sure to try this fantastic offer with my friends one Sunday afternoon.

Teppanya is located at the ground floor of the SM North Towers, the newest extension building in SM City North EDSA right beside The Block. This area has its own parking facilities so it’s easier to park here and go down to the restaurant.

The promotion is available daily for lunch from 10:00am to 2:00pm and dinner from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. The restaurant comes with gorgeous interiors and each seat has its own live teppanyaki station where the chef will cook your orders fresh and hot.

There is a two-hour time limit for ordering when you avail of the promotion. Each of the over 100 items can be requested from their special menu and will be prepared as you order, so the quality of the dishes are not compromised.

They also have private dining rooms which can accommodate from 8 to 20 guests with its dedicated teppanyaki chefs. This is where my friends and their families had our Sunday brunch, which is also at only P988+ per person. I initially thought that two hours might not be enough for us but we were all quite full and satisfied when we finished our lunch.

We started with some of their sushi and sashimi for our appetizers. The Salmon Sashimi is always a good way to judge how good a Japanese restaurant is, and I really liked how fresh and tender these slices were.  

If you want to try a bit of everything, get the Sashimi Moriawase platter which includes yummy slices of salmon, tuna, lapu lapu, uni, shrimp, mackerel, tamago, and kani. Sashimi lovers like me will drool over this plate.

The Chirashi Don also has the same salmon, tuna, mackerel, ebi, kani, uni and tamago slices but over a bed of Japanese rice. 

Teppanya also has several sushi choices, but my two most favorite and exquisite chocies would be the Foie Gras Aburi Sushi and the Unagi Sushi. I do not usually see these on unlimited or buffet restaurants, so I was really surprised and happy to find these high-priced items here at Teppanya.

There are several makimono and special rolls as well like the Fried Volcano Roll with spicy tuna, tempura, shrimp, and cucumber.

Some of the other highly recommended dishes to get are the Grilled Hokkaido Scallops and Grilled Hokkaido Oysters. These are premium seafood items that will cost so much when ordered a la carte but you can have as many as you want with Teppanya’s Unlimited Madness promotion.

You also get the option to have your Hokkaido scallops and oysters baked with cheese instead of being grilled. These cheesy versions are just heavenly!

Of course, the classic Ebi Tempura is also available with its big and crunchy pieces of shrimp.

If you have been to Nobu Restaurant, one of their signature dishes is their Miso Marinated Black Cod. Teppanya lets you have a taste of this very popular dish at a fraction of the price with their Nobu Style Teriyaki Gindara. The sweet flavors of the teriyaki sauce and the fancy presentation makes this another must-order.

Some soup dishes are also available like the Salmon Head Miso Soup which is big enough for sharing.

But the main attraction at Teppanya is the teppanyaki grill. The Flambe Citrus Roll is one of their signature rolls which can only be found here. The chef put on a flaming display after dousing the salmon, cucumber, cream cheese, and orange japanese mayo combination with some liquor. The result is a unique-tasting salmon roll that is unlike any other I have tried.

The chef continues with the show while preparing our Chahan fried rice. Expect to see a few entertaining performances from the teppanyaki chefs that the kids will definitely love. You can even ask for repeat performances from them.

The Chahan is a mixed fried rice cooked with beef, chicken, and shrimps. You can also opt for the Seafood Chahan which has mixed seafood ingredients instead.

The Usuyaki Beef Roll is a very interesting “roll” that is cooked and prepared right on the grill. It comes with cuts of mushroom that is placed inside a savoury beef roll. 

I love the Shrimp Teppan which has four pieces of juicy shrimp cooked on the teppanyaki grill. Four pieces are actually not enough for me so next time I’ll make sure to order some more for myself. 

The Galician Pork Belly is a sweet and fatty serving of pork that is a bit sinful but still very delicious. This really goes well with the fried rice.

But what is a teppanyaki feast without beef? The Angus Meat Platter is a meat lover’s dream come true with its combination of Angus Striploin, Angus Skirt Steak, Angus Flank Steak, and Angus Beef Roll. Each order is listed to be good for three people so the entire table can share these meaty treats.

You can order each of the beef items individually, but the best one is actually the Angus Striploin which you can order by itself with an additional P112 per order. Honestly, I don’t mind getting the entire platter for myself because everything is so good.

The Brazilian Beef Tenderloin is also another highly recommended item if you want your beef thick and tender. These slices of tenderloin can be cut into smaller cubes or you can have them as they for a true steak experience.

I really enjoyed our Sunday teppanyaki brunch at Teppanya with Tita Animo and my friends, especially with the Unlimited Madness promotion. You won’t find any other unlimited teppanyaki promo in the city that is this good with such a fantastic price. One of my friends even went back to Teppanya that evening with her family for dinner! Now that is what I call a great deal.

Teppanya

G/F North Towers, SM City North EDSA, Quezon City.

247-1922

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[thehungrykat1]

Choi Hotpot is Now Open at the Promenade Mall

With the rainy season and the ‘ber months now upon us, a hot bowl of shabu shabu really sounds so comforting. That’s why I was excited to learn that Choi Hot Pot had just opened at the Promenade Mall in Greenhills and I was invited to try their hot pot lunch one afternoon.

Choi Hot Pot is part of the Choi Garden group of restaurants which has its original branch at Annapolis Street in Greenhills, just a few blocks away from the mall. I enjoyed my previous hot pot experience at Choi Garden before so it’s great that they converted this former Choi Garden branch into a dedicated hot pot restaurant.

Choi Garden opened in 2000 with its founder, Mr. Choi Tak Pui, bringing the delightful taste of Hong Kong cuisine to the Philippines. With the rise in demand for hot pot restaurants, or shabu shabu as we call it here, Choi Garden decided to branch out their own hot pot creations into its own restaurant.

Choi Hot Pot has two floors of shabu shabu tables for small or big groups. We took our seats on the second floor which can also serve as private dining areas for parties, birthdays, and other celebrations.

What differentiates Choi Hot Pot from the other shabu shabu restaurants in the city is that all the ingredients, meat, and seafood are all flown in fresh everyday from Hong Kong. 

Another specialty is its rich and unique soup broth which is set up at every table. You can ask for a Double Soup Base and choose two different soups like the Chinese Herbal Soup, Sate Soup, Pork Bone Soup, or Chicken Soup base. 

You can customize your own dipping sauce at the condiments station. I prefer putting lots of garlic and sate on my sauce.

Each order at Choi Hot Pot is only around P120 to P260 so you can definitely have a shabu shabu feast. Our first set of orders were mostly vegetables such as polonchay, watercress, fried beancurd, crabstick, fish fillet, corn, and radish.

I like getting lots of meatballs and dumplings for my hot pot. These include beef balls, lobster balls, handmade squid balls, shrimp wanton, and smoked cheese sausage.

Be careful with these dumplings because they tend to squirt very hot soup when you bite into them. 

Choi Hot Pot also offers Live Suahe and you can still see them moving about as they are served on the sticks. Simply dip them into the hot pot and you have the freshest shrimp available.

The meats at Choi Hot Pot are of premium quality and definitely worth ordering. The Australian Sliced Fat Beef and Imported Fat Beef are highly recommended with their thin slices of tender and fatty beef.

The Japanese Wagyu is a bit on the expensive side but it is really so good. These wagyu cubes just melt in your mouth and it only takes a few seconds to cook them inside the hot pot.

Now it’s finally time to eat! I can’t wait to have these slices fat beef on my bowl. Each table has its own hot pot area in the center so you can just put all the ingredients inside.

Aside from the beef and wagyu cubes, I particularly liked the delicious lobster balls and the live suahe. It’s actually easy to peel off the shrimp skin using your fork since they are already placed on sticks. I must have had almost a dozen!

Another great feature at Choi Hot Pot is their automated hot pot cookers which can lift up and drain the broth with just a touch of a button. This way, you can grab all the dumplings and balls that you want easily after they are cooked.

They also have an ongoing promotion this month where BDO World Elite Mastercard, Platinum, Titanium and Gold Mastercard holders can get a 50% discount at Choi Hotpot and Choi Garden from September 2 to 30, 2019. This is available for lunch and dinner from Mondays to Fridays only for a minimum purchase of P5,000 with a maximum P5,000 discount. So take advantage of this promotion and head over to Choi Hot Pot this September for a truly authentic hot pot experience.

Choi Hotpot

G/F Promenade Mall, Greenhills, San Juan City

(0945) 133-7391 / (0999) 872-2537

www.facebook.com/choigardengreenhillspromenade