My first meal in the Philippines was here courtesy of my cousin and his wife…read more I spent 2 weeks in the PI and had one night to myself before moseying over to Bicol. This is where I was treated to dinner. A great choice it was indeed. I immediately liked the area this was at. Parking was a bit of a hassle so we got dropped off while my cousin looked for a spot. We ordered entirely way too much food. So much that we had to take half of it to go. The food was great. I ended up only eating half of my sushi plate after I went to town on all the fried goods. Where they got me is with their mango shake. I spent the next 15 days having a mango shake at literally every establishment I ate at and let me tell you something, of the nearly 10 I had, the one here was by far the best.

Miyazaki is our family's go-to Japanese restaurant in the South and in Metro Manila in general…read more Menu is huge, portions are worth it, price point is justifiable and service is usually consistently good and fast. Their menu is like a book binder with different types of Japanese food to choose from. From donburis, ramens, tempura to rolls and sashimis -- their menu covers a lot more than other typical Japanese restos in Metro Manila and they do everything so well. My faves would be their spicy salmon or tuna sashimi, uni sashimi and their lunch specials. The lunch specials are so worth it (check out the back pages of the menu). Our family has tried a lot of items in their menu and most if not all have been delicious and satisfying. They've recently expanded to a bigger space to accommodate a new teppanyaki area and more tables. Miyazaki is always full but worth the wait. Parking in Molito is difficult though so keep that in mind. Highly recommend Miyazaki when you're craving for Japanese in the South and in Metro Manila.

Some of the most delicious ramen I've ever tried. The broth was very rich and creamy and they're…read moregenerous with the amount of protein they given. This location does have a vegan option for those who are looking. While the taste was exceptional, the limited space in the restaurant did lead to a bit of a wait before getting seated. However, they convieniently have a sister location just across the street which allows you to compare wait times between the two spots and choose the one that could accommodate you first.

The wait is long but worth it. They do not allow taking the food or any leftovers home and when I…read moreasked why it was because they want to sell you the "experience" and taste the ramen as fresh as it can be. So no taking home leftovers but you can do frozen ramen take out where they also have instructions on how to make it. We had the tantanmen ramen with extra charsiu and egg and it was phenomenal. No wonder they don't have you take it home. We also ordered gyoza which was a little too oily for me and also their Japanese fried rice and chicken karaage now the chicken was great but the rice was passable at best. The rice tasted like they old rice which would be perfect for your usual fried rice as that's what I use but this was too brittle. I paired the chicken with an Asahi beer which hit the spot perfectly. All in all I would say reserve seats first so you don't have to wait long. They make you order and pay ahead of time before eating which is worth noting. Oh and there don't have a lot of seating capability.

I rarely roam around South area but Omakase is just one of the greatest places I've been to…read more I do think that Japanese food is the most difficult to prepare because everything needs to be fresh and the ingredients are too delicate. They don't really bank in on flavour too much but they emphasize more on the texture. Omakase is one of the few Japanese restaurants that got that authentic Japanese cooking style. They serve rolls that perfectly roll in your mouth and their tuna and sashimi tastes so fresh and not rubbery at all. I also love their fish-rice ratio because who wouldn't like a huge chunk of fish on top or inside their roll? Like what I said earlier, flavour isn't that much of a thing in Japanese cuisine but they do make up for it with their special sauces. Omakase also serve their own specially made sauces that definitely go well with the food they serve.

I feel so proud of Omakase. I've had the privilege of watching them grow from a tiny store in the…read moreGreen Meadows area to five strong branches spread throughout the booming city of Manila. And rightly so, because they offer one of the most solid Japanese dining experiences on the market today. I've celebrated my birthday here, met up with my girlfriends here, cried tears, laughed till we were crying tears again, and shared the most intimate of stories over green tea ice cream and cold house tea. I recommend the miso soup, sukiyaki, everything on the signature dishes, sushi, and tempura menu, and as mentioned earlier, the green tea ice cream. If you're coming in by yourself, the rice meals or bento boxes work out perfectly.

The green papaya shake is the most unique and delicious shake I've ever had! So tart and…read morerefreshing! This was amazing!! The chicken salad was wonderful! It had a wonderful wasabi flavor without the heat! So fresh crunch and delicious! The crispy salmon katsu was delicious! I added the layu sauce and it was wonderful and spicy. My husband got the prawn katsu set and it was good. But not a lot of flavor in my opinion.

The katsu place that started the cutlet craze in Manila. This place is hyped but with good reason…read more One is their great service- their crew is highly efficient and trained, worthy of mentioning. Been to four branches- Magnolia, Alabang Town Center, SM Megamall and SM Aura all are well-staffed restaurants (quite rare in Manila!) I remember a time we ate there and they didn't charge us for a Seafood Katsu set. Manager explained to us it got to our table at 24 minutes upon ordering and that if they bus out a meal more than 20 minutes it's free. Gracious indeed and sets the standard. More establishments should apply this. Yabu's been consistent with their food. Although I think they use canola oil which lends a slight discernible taste to it. Everything is on point with their unlimited fixings- I can't help myself getting thirds of thirds of cabbage and drizzle goma dressing!

Nice. Very nice. The ambiance is great. Good food quality for its price. Will be back again.read more

OK, it's been a while since I've had some decent sushi and I was craving for some "good ass" sushi,…read moreFound It! Now, comparably speaking, I would have to say one of the better sushi places I've been to. I stumbled upon this place on yelp as I happened to go to another Japanese restaurant that was closed partially because I didn't look for their hours before going and partially because their hours we not listed on yelp yet, boo. What I did stumble upon was a photo... of Foie Gras sushi, which 1) I heart Foie Gras and 2) was reminiscent of my time in Hawaii when I was able to enjoy foie gras sushi my first time ever. Soooooo Off We GO to the new Sensei Sushi! Quite possibly one of the better decisions we will make this weekend in regards to cuisine. Service was good, but I did notice a drop off as the place got more and more busy with customers. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The server kept recommending things, which was good and bad, as in my opinion if I wanted some recommendations, I would simply ask and I've been to more than my share of sushi joints and usually know what to order. Nonetheless, overall very helpful. As for the food. One word, Yummy comes to mind, delicious, tasty, fresh-er than most places. OK, that's 7. I usually don't order cooked food at a sushi place, so my review is a mix of their raw and cooked menu. Seared Chutoro Sushi: Well prepared, well cut, not the absolute best part of the tuna belly compared to Otoro, but certainly a delicious treat! Chutoro Sushi: same as above, delicious, very satisfying for those who love that fatty goodness tuna belly has to offer. Foie gras Sushi: great cut, larger than most places I've had this similar dish. Seared perfectly, in my opinion. NOT burnt like most places here in the PH that over sear their foie gras, including Antonio's. MUST TRY! Amaebi: Looked and tasted very fresh. Color was gorgeous and sweet as it should be. Not too much wasabi to spoil it, perfectly balanced in my opinion. Oh! and they deep fry the heads so they can be eaten! Proper! Japanese Uni Sashimi: Color was much better than almost every place I've been in the PH. Looked and tasted fresh-er than most, there was 1 small brownish piece at the bottom, but overlooked it because at most other places, all the pieces are brown. Snaps for the nice yellow Uni to Sensei Sushi! Color wasn't eye popping yellow as it would be when super fresh, yet I'll take it over so many others in Metro Manila. Fish Tacos: Actually quite scrumptious. I wasn't prepared to have good fish tacos, but I saw them on the menu and couldn't resist. They were delicious. Ikura Sushi: A bit disappointed, color was a bit dark and wasn't super fresh, however, that's simply an opinion. I DO KNOW, there are many different grades of ikura, I'm just used to the bright orange color with more of a traditional salted caviar taste, this one just tasted like there was something else I wasn't familiar with. Seared Salmon Belly Suhsi: Another treat I was not expecting. I wasn't expecting a salmon belly so fatty similarly to their chutoro. Overall, very good. Tuna Dynamite Roll: For a roll, quite good. A nice filler, taste was on point with what you would expect in a more than decent roll. I forget the name of the last dish: it was thin strips of beef with chopped foie gras and uni. Quite honestly my first attempt at this dish was head on, meat, foie gras, uni. So sorry not quite what I had expected. THEN however, I deconstructed it, Uni by itself, which the uni on this dish we're I think local, was a bit fishy. BUT then, the foie gras and steak alone, darn it if that wasn't reminiscent to a filet topped with seared foie gras from Central Park Bistro in San Francisco! All that was missing was a perfectly balanced '12 Opus One red to cap it off. Overall: with the exceptions above... I will be back for more! A la cuisine! Stay Hungry My Friends

I highly recommend Hanakazu's saikoro steak (diced steak) and hiyashi shabu salad udon! They both…read moreexceeded my expectations! Based on the 3 star ratings I really didn't expect anything too exceptional but I was pleasantly surprised by these two dishes! The diced steak was juicy and tender, and had the perfect amount of fat which melted in my mouth with every bite. I really liked how they cooked it, I would totally order it again if I ever come back to Manila. Hiyashi shabu salad udon too was a big hit among us, we loved the sesame mayo sauce they used. Yakitori set wasn't bad either, but they were just average. Overall I think this is an OK choice for someone who want decent Japanese food at not so stuffy environment. The ambiance is casual and the price is reasonable.

For Lent this year, I decided to abstain from rice. Nope, not being able to eat rice wasn't too…read morehard when I had to eat adobo, kare-kare or sinigang. It was hardest not being able to eat sushi and maki. Naturally, I wanted to have Japanese food as soon as I could. We decided to try Hanakazu and ordered several items. They seated us in the inner, enclosed part of the restaurant and for our convenience, provided our table a bell we can ring when we need to call on a server. First, we had a cup each of miso soup, which I liked because I am particularly fond of seaweed and theirs had more than the usual amount. Then, the five of us shared an order of kani salad, futo maki, tuna maki, California maki, and an order of their 5-piece shrimp tempura. Considering I only had one serving each, I was actually a bit full by the time we finished eating. I particularly liked the tuna maki, mainly because there was a big slice of tuna and there was actually the same amount of tuna (if not more) versus the rice in the roll. Overall, I enjoyed myself and would probably go back when I can splurge on the toro tuna sashimi, which is what they are most known for.

ABURI has the best-tasting rolls in Manila. Seriously, this place is my absolute favorite…read more The ebi tempura roll is SO BOMB. What really makes the dish super good is the crunchy tempura flakes. The salmon aburi is my mom's favorite, and my sister said the chicken karage served here is way better than the other Japanese restaurants we've tried. (She ALWAYS orders chicken karage everywhere we go, so I trust her.) You get a small plate of dilis per person as a complimentary appetizer, and I love eating it. It's like tiny small cooked crispy fish. Service is good, plus there's free WiFi. Food didn't take long to come out. Madison Galeries is a pain in the *butt* to get to because of the never ending stream of traffic, but my family makes the trek here just so we can enjoy a satisfying dinner at Aburri. I LOVE THIS PLACE! P.S. You can go to the Bing Su next door for dessert!

Had the Boston, Philadelphia, Zig Zag, and California rolls…read more The Boston roll was a bit of a surprise as it really had a lot of bacon. The sesame seed coating was just fantastic. Comes with a sweet mayo dip should you opt out of the traditional soy sauce and wasabi dip one would normally use. The Philadelphia roll wasn't bad, just wasn't anything extraordinary, at least when compared to the others. Had mango, no doubt Filipino mango, and that was a nice treat. Also had that really delicious mayo dip. The California roll servings were ample, and tasted fresh. Also had mango which is one of the things I love about Filipino made sushi. The Zig Zag roll was special. It also costs about 5x more than the other rolls. The crunchy tempura was generous. Btw I hate soft shell crab. Why eat it? Because I wanted to be daring. It was certainly worth the dare, and was a sushi I will probably not forget. I am from the U.S. so maybe my baseline is a little off for sushi in the Philippines. My palate actually thought the Boston roll wins, maybe because being from the U.S. I have a fascination with bacon. The downside...it's the condition of the rest room. It was tiny, supposed to fit one per gender, but when I used it there was another guy using the toilet and was pretty insistent on letting me occupy it with him as there was an open standing urinal right next to the toilet. Also the sink was outside, and there was no way to dry your hands. :-( The wait staff was friendly and the ambience was just as friendly. Nothing but the typical affluent Alabang type folks. So difficult to give it only a four star rating. Really, the food was great and the prices are very reasonable using Filipino type pricing. If the wash room situation doesn't bother you, maybe consider this more of a five star review. Happy eating!

Because I'm a sucker for sushi, Omakase is a staple whenever I head to the south. Although they now…read morehave branches all over the city, I love visiting the Alabang branch. Despite moving from their hidden spot in ATC, there new place in Molito serves the same consistent rolls which I love. Their spicy tuna salad, fresh raw tuna cubes with a spicy salad dressing topped with crunchy tempura bits,is a must order. Along with a wide variety of rolls, their food is always a great. I love the different flavor combinations of their rolls. The Jurassic and dynamite rolls are a few personal favorites. Their sushi rolls platters are a good deal! If you have not tried eating here, go ahead and try it out for simple, great tasting sushi.

What a great hibachi experience!! Our cook was very entertaining and funny. All of the food were…read moredelicious and flavorful. The servers were also very accommodating and attentive.

Great fun! Delicious food. Great value. Good show. Good service! We really enjoyed our time here.read more

Two words: UNLIMITED TEMPURA!…read more I'm not that big a fan of Japanese and Korean food but I love buffets so I'm kind of 50/50 with this place. But I've always been intrigued because of the throng of people lining up for their turn and making reservations there. It must be because of all the birthday promos, I thought. My family never thought of eating there because we were all trying to diet and we felt that we couldn't get our money's worth. In short, lugi kami. But I eventually got to try it and I must say, I had a fantastic time. The place was packed as expected, but the buffet was more organized than I imagined. The area was quite spacious so I didn't encounter any disorderly queue that I was scared of. And the food! My husband (the meat lover and expert griller at home) enjoyed the teppanyaki and the katsus, I filled my plate(s) with an assortment of makis and desserts (Korean ice cream! Crepe!) and all of us went crazy for the prawn tempura. We had a lot of competition in that area, but that's okay because they refill the tempura basket every ten minutes, I think. Freshly cooked tempura dipped in piping hot tempura sauce. Awesome! So I finally understood why Sambo Kojin in SM Southmall is always packed. It's not just about the birthday promos. But then again, there's nothing wrong with availing those deals. I wouldn't mind spending my birthday or any other occasion there too.

My brother and his girlfriend are regulars at Sambo Kojin, and I've wondered why. Finally got to…read moretry it when we celebrated three birthdays just a few days apart in the family, so we were able to avail of the birthday promo (a birthday celebrant is free, as long as he/she brings one paying guest. The celebrant also gets a small cake with candle, and a birthday song from the staff - that was fun!.) Sambo Kojin offers unlimited Japanese food - and not just so-so Japanese food, but delicious Japanese food with a quality you would pay for in other restaurants when dining a la carte. From a rainbow of sushi to the deep-fried goodness of prawn and vegetable tempuras, and from street food like takoyaki to classic family dishes like sukiyaki, and of course, grilled meat, fish, seafood, and veggies, there is just so much to try. While the food has a lot of variety, the number of choices are not really overwhelming unlike in other larger buffets, so I got to savor all the dishes I wanted to try. What I was looking for was ramen, though. While they have hot and cold noodles, they didn't really have ramen, but I can forgive that as ramen preparation seems to be really detailed and exacting, and many restaurants specialize on it. I was also hoping for some really good Japanese desserts, like mochi, but there were mostly cakes with a sweetness that is just right (the Japanese don't seem to have a very sweet tooth, or at least, that's what I gathered from the Japanese I've met). I love the green tea ice cream, though - there's the taste of the green tea, and the ice cream is not so sweet. The peach mango crepe I tried has a slight medicine taste to it - perhaps, it's because of the brand of the canned/pre-packed fruits they use.