1000% recommend this place for those who love donburi and katsu. My sister and I were in Manila and were walking around the mall looking for somewhere to eat. We figured that because of family, we would be eating a lot of Filipino food so opted to look for other types of food. We stumbled upon Yabu. It was only 10:30am and the mall just opened so not too many people. We got seated right away. My sister ordered the chicken katsu set and I ordered the tempura don. It was so neat to see the sesame seed mortar and pistil where you grind up the seeds and put katsu sauce. Cabbage was unlimited, which is something new to me. My sister said that the restaurant is very similar to what she encountered in Japan. If you are at Megamall, try them out! Almost forgot to mention the drinks. The watermelon slush - chef's kiss! read more

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Amazing food. Wait can be a while since there's always a long line of people. Katsus are cooked to perfection. Could use a little more curry sauce on the curry katsu and wish they had the pickled daikons. But overall you won't be disappointed. read more

If you like pork Katsu Yabu is my absolute favorite pork Katsu that I ever ate. The breading, seasonings are cooked to absolute perfection. The Katsu was tender & juicy. This is hands down the best Katsu I ever had, but why only 4 stars? They get a 1 star reduction for bringing me the wrong order. I ordered the large cut of Katsu because I hadn't eaten anything all day. I brought this to the servers attention. She said she couldn't do anything about it. I asked to talk to the manger he wouldn't do anything either. WTF? Just bring me what I ordered is that so difficult. Crappy service spoiled an excellent Katsu read more

its busy when we arrived here the front lady asked us how many and then wrote down our info and I asked if she can text us if we're our turn. so we went to Uniqlo in front of this restaurant just to kill time so when it's our turn we will be there on time. she said 30 minutes waiting time. we came back in 30 minutes and she said they called us and we loose our spot because we're not around and shes too lazy to text us. we waited again and finally called us. after we ordered we waited approximately 15 to 20 minutes our order. then when we were done I asked for the check and i paid then we waited again for a very long time so we divided it's okay they can keep the change and I won't come back here anymore even the food is great read more

Refillable side dishes such as cabbage with choice of sauce, rice with choice of white or brown, and miso soup. I love their meals as it also comes with a slice of fruit. Generous serving. read more

Food: good Katsu, light flaky crust that crumbles gently when you bite into it, yielding a soft tenderness that is in the middle. I had the premium rosu korobuta, premium hire korobuta, deluxe seafood mix which has a mix of salmon, oyster, prawn and cream dory. And I ordered a separate chicken katsu. Everything was pretty good! Ambience: casual eatery good for groups. We didn't have to queue and could easily get a table at 7pm on a Monday evening (considering it is a public holiday today) Service: attentive staff who constantly check on our table, refilling the water, rice, miso soup, cabbage without us having to ask Price: it was very reasonably priced for the quality of food, at least to me as a foreigner. I did noticed there were much cheaper restaurants around the area, so it may be relatively more expensive if you do make a comparison to those. I think it worth it to give this place a try, I enjoyed my meal here and left super full coz I over-ordered! Lol read more

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Hard to find good Katsu style Japanese cuisine in Manila. If you are craving, then Yabu is the place. During my 1 year stay in the Philippines on business, I often frequented for lunch with colleagues. The foot is of high quality, not greasy at all. Done very well. The service is above average, which is normal for the higher establishments in the Philippines. The decor is modern, bright, and clean. This place typically has lines but they do a great job of keeping the wait very short, the longest for me is maybe 10 minutes. This is popular with locals, business people, and some local celebs. read more

Yabu is one of a very small handful of restaurants in Manila where can you find Kurobuta Pork. This rare type of pork is delicious, juicy, and very flavorful. The Chef at Yabu cooks its perfectly, and serves it with a sauce that's totally out of this world! Add to that Yabu's completely legit salad and unli rice, and it will be impossible not to enjoy your meal here :-) Tip: If you don't get here early, you should expect to wait in line for quite a spell. read more

I've had my fair share of katsu and this is still the best local place, by far! The pork is perfectly cooked every single time! The unlimited rice and cabbage is a great bonus too! If you like japanese curry, you should definitely try theirs too! It's the closest I've had compared to the original in japan. Another bonus is that they come out with interesting, seasonal dishes every couple of months. As of the time of this writing, the katsu and ebi burgers are new on their menu and definitely worth a try! Finally, to cap things off the staff is very prompt, professional and courteous! A family and personal favorite! read more

Yabu - Manga wall! - Japanese Near Me - Mandaluyong, NCR

This is the branch that started it all, and I maintain that the consistency of the katsu here is still the best. I used to scoff at the katsu trend, because in my mind, there wasn't really anything special about deep-fried breaded pork chops. This was before I tried eating tonkatsu dipped in Himalayan pink salt, or dipped in ponzu sauce, rather than the crushed sesame and Bulldog sauce combination that usually comes with the katsu served to you. I know it's a strange combination, but it's definitely worth a try. It certainly opened my mind and my taste buds, as well! If you don't like the pork chops, Yabu's deep-fried oysters are worth a try - if not a bit decadent. Their fish, both the dory and the salmon, are delicious, too. Also, who isn't a fan of their unlimited cabbage salad. They have a certain way of cutting the cabbage so that it's light and feathery and delicious. In fact, the way they cut it is a trade secret! Yabu is one of those places that has cemented themselves in my conscious when it comes to comfort food. It's the default location whenever my family decides to eat out, and we love it. I'll admit, I was skeptical before, but I have now seen the light and worship at the church of Yabu. read more

Yabu - Japanese Near Me - Mandaluyong, NCR

Consistency in quality is five stars. Great food! I always enjoy eating here and I get the sane quality of food everytime.

This is close to authentic Japanese food, ingredients and presentation-wise. I'm not a fan of pork tonkatsu, but i love their kurobuta. I like that they serve goma(black sesame), along with the set, to grind, which adds to the experience. read more

Menu: they serve all forms of katsu you can think of as by itself, deluxe set (with sushi rice, sauce, side of fruit, unlimited miso soup and shredded cabbage) and your choice of katsu, ramen, burgers and bento box. Food taste fantastic there. You can get what proteins you want like hire - less fat on pork, chicken, beef, shrimp or salmon. They have a simple menu but it really depends on what combo set or type of dish you want. They give you a Japanese mortar and pestle to grind your sesame seeds coarsely or finely, then you add their katsu sauce. That's going to be the sauce for your katsu. The katsu was freshly cooked with golden brown panko coating and protein was perfectly cooked. It was an amazing lunch visiting relatives. A great restaurant with a casual and positive vibe. The FOH staff were inviting, friendly and very attentive with customers' orders, and they are happy serving them. Ambiance is 5. Food and menu is 5. Cleanliness and organization is 5. Customer service is 5. read more

The service was really nice and helpful. They had a nice atmosphere. You get free refill on your Rice, Fruits, Salad, and Miso soup. read more

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If you haven't had Katsu, drop everything and go get some now. It's located in MegaMall which makes it easily accessible, you don't have any excuses. What is Katsu? It's meat and/or veggies dipped in Panko (Japanese bread crumbs) and deep fried. It's served with miso soup, rice, fruit, shredded cabbage and a variety of sauces. STOP READING AND GO GET SOME NOW! Pros: + All the food + Friendly service + Great value for money + Unlimited miso soup and cabbage. Cons: - The service while friendly, is slow (probably because this place is always choc-full of people) read more

Our favorite restaurant when we are in Manila. Unlimited salad and rice. Can't get good katsu in the US so we always make a trip to Yabu! Gets busy and have had to wait on line for awhile. read more

Yabu - Standard portion of the Pork Katsu set. - Japanese Near Me - Mandaluyong, NCR

Among all the Katsu restaurants in Manila, I always find myself in Yabu when I need my katsu curry fix. I love that they are always consistent! No fail. You will always get a freshly-cooked tonkatsu with unlimited cabbage, miso soup and rice. I always choose to go to the branch in SM Megamall. I only ate in one other branch ever and I never returned to that branch. What makes this branch special? It is their service. The staff here are very attentive and courteous to their customers. They make you feel very at home and they always have a smile on their face. I remember the first time I ate here and I noticed how efficient and polite they were to everyone. After almost 4 years, I still see some of the same staff here. That makes me happy because some of them recognize me and already know my order the moment they see me. :) So, I always order the Rosu Katsu Curry, Spicy level: Hot with a Fried Egg. On other days, I opt for their Menchi Katsu Curry. Their Menchi is like a burger filled with cheese then deep fried. Love the gooey cheese with the curry rice. Carlo will always order the Rosu Katsu set. Every set meal comes with rice, miso soup, pickles and cabbage (technically salad; just pour on the Sesame dressing!) - again all of that is refillable and unlimited! I love Yabu and that's why I keep coming back! I highly recommend this restaurant and, yes, if it is your first time to eat at Yabu, head over to the Megamall branch! read more

Twice in 2 days. Of course I had to discover this place during my last 2 days but that's okay...i know where i want to go when I come back. This place serves the yummiest katsu I've ever had. Crunchy in the outside, tender inside. Good portions as well. I love their prawns set. Menchu katsu set is also good. And of course Creamy dory set. This place is a must for Japanese food lovers...and not. read more

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I've been coming to Yabu ever since the days you had to wait in line outside for a table. (Although we never really had to wait that long, since the turnover rate was always pretty quick.) Come here hungry and you will leave stuffed and satisfied, as most of their meals come with bottomless rice, cabbage and miso soup. I never thought cabbage could be addicting, but dousing it in one of their tabletop dressings is enough to make you consume dangerous amounts. Being a katsudon restaurant, most people will go for the breaded pork cutlet, which really is tender and flavorful. (Tip: Order the kurobuta if you want just plain katsu, but just the regular pork if you're eating it with curry or other trimmings) But Yabu has other gems on the menu aside from its Katsudon. Try the appetizers some time. We are absolutely in love with their potato salad, which has a hint of wasabi in the dressing. I personally really like the spinach in sesame sauce. Also, if you feel like one whole cutlet of pork is just too much for you to handle, you can order their mixed sets. I mostly go for the one that is a mix of pork + seafood. The scallop they serve in the seafood set is surprisingly good enough to order alone a la carte. It's a good mix of sweet and savory and pretty huge. If Yabu manages to keep things up, they'll be around for a long time even after the katsu craze is long dead and gone. read more

It's easy to claim that Yabu will always have the best Katsu for me. Never did I dine there feeling dissatisfied with the food and of course, their service. Their staff (no matter what branch) are always well-trained, teaching the newbies how to properly eat their Katsu, how to mix the sauces, etc. They are also very attentive whenever a customer needs something. I really love their Katsu sauce, especially with the sesame seed, it really gives the main dish a wonderful flavor. Their salad is also good, the dressing is very light and I think it is because the main dish is quite heavy to have already. I have tried other Katsu places but Yabu will always win because they keep it simple, focusing on how they cook their dishes instead of adding new things to embellish it with. I hope they keep up the good work so that I can have good Katsu for a long time. read more

Yabu - Japanese Near Me - Mandaluyong, NCR

Yabu: The House of Katsu! Totoo talagang once na gusto mo ng Katsu, go to Yabu! Winner Points: 1. Service - well-trained ang staff. At Yabu, you can create your own sauce pero don't worry kung shunga-shungahan ka (katulad ko! Di ka nag-iisa girl kakampi mo ako diyan! Hahaha) kung paano gawin kasi tatanungin ka ng server agad if familiar ka na sa process or not. Mafifeel mong kahit hindi mo alam kung paano gawin eh open naman silang turuan ka. Walang "dyahe" moment! PAKATOTOO KA SISTER KUNG DI MO ALAM! (Tinry kong magpanggap nung una na alam ko yung process para kunware sanay ako sa Yabu! Hindi ko rin kinaya girl, nagpaturo pa rin ako kasi walang future yung kinalabasan ng sauce ko) 2. Unlimited!!!! - rice, soup or even yung fruits pwedeng paulit-ulit mo siyang kainin hanggang maempacho ka na sa katakawan mo teh! Ilaban mo yang sikmura mo! 3. Freedom! (pasigaw mo basahin yan girl para with feelings) - maraming choices for your Katsu. May fats ba or wala, gaano kanipis or karami, kung paano mo gustong luto ng Katsu mabibigay nila kaya win sa winner at Yabu! read more

Since its opening, Yabu: The House of Katsu has been creating a buzz in Metro Manila's dining scene. Its been getting good reviews from foodies wanting to have a taste of their specialty dishes prepared by their chefs who were trained by Chef Kazuya Takeda, the head of chef of Tonkatsu Takeshin, a popular tonkatsu restaurant in Tokyo. Our team were invited by Yabu to check out their in there branch in SM Megamall. It is located at the 2nd floor of the Atrium building where some restaurants are also located. It is our first time at Yabu. Good thing that their menu has visuals at how the dishes look like which makes ordering not that hard. I also love that it has photos on how to enjoy your katsu and how to prepare the katsu sauce. First you have to crush the black and white sesame seeds until most of the seeds are ground. The aroma brought by the ground sesame seeds are really appetizing and sets the mood for an awesome Katsu dining experience. Then you put tonkatsu sauce onto the ground sesame seeds! It's so awesome! Then you got to choose awesome Katsu Set Meals. Served with unlimited Japanese white rice or brown rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles, unlimited cabbage with sesame dressing or wasabi dressing and a bowl of fruit. This 3/4 inch thick, juicy premium HIRE (pork) cutlet with no fat is one of the best Katsu I've tasted. The pork is very soft and tasty indeed. Plus Tempura Katsu, Salmon Katsu and Oyster Katsu was the bomb if your a seafood fan. Overall, it was an extraordinary Katsu dining experience at Yabu: House of Katsu in Megamall. The food really taste good, the staff are awesome and the food serving is generous. I am truly delighted and happy that we tried Yabu! I'm giving it my 2 thumbs up and 5 stars! read more

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Food and service were great, as usual. Tho I came here tonight really wanting to the the Ebi Katsu Burger with the Chicken Salad. Sadly, both dishes were not available. :( read more

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The thing about Yabu is that they're the same, no matter which branch you go to. It's like carbon copies or clones of the same organism - the same decor, the same tables and chairs, the same arrangement, the same hospitality of the staff, and, most importantly, the same amazing food. Despite this though, it's always nice to go back to the source - to the clones' mother ship - here in SM Megamall. Their menu is a veritable gold mine of choices, and it can be daunting to first-timers. But here's what I love about Yabu - their staff are some of the most helpful people you can ever hope to meet. And they're trained well too. Ask them all the questions you want, and they'll help steer you towards the meal that's just right for you. Oh and, did I mention all their meals come with unlimited rice? You're welcome. read more

Chicken Katsu Curry Set is pure deliciousness! So far, branches are consistent with the crunchy coating and soft, juicy meat inside. There are three levels of spiciness to choose from and you can opt to have the sauce served separately. I can't recall how many refills of cabbage and soup I've had to the point of not refilling the rice anymore. They also serve good brown rice! read more

And of course, Yabu is what started this whole katsu craze in the first place. The trendsetter, if you will. I was with Yabu before it became this behemoth chain of a restaurant with people lining up just to get seats. I knew it was good, I just didn't know that many people thought so too! But good for Yabu, they do deserve it. What's great aside from how good their katsu is the fact that they've been consistent across the board. Whether it be in a different location, it still tastes as good the first time. Plus, they have such a distinct personality as a restaurant, which is more than what others have done. My favorite here will always be the Menchi Katsu just because the mixed meat gives such a tender texture and the cheese in the middle is what does it for me. The addition of brown rice to their rice options is also a thoughtful gesture that says a lot about how Yabu works as a business. read more

Yabu - Japanese Near Me - Mandaluyong, NCR

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I've heard of Yabu from my brother about 3 years ago since him and his wife tried it out. I asked him what they serve and with no hesitation he said that it was the yummiest Katsu he has tasted. This instantaneously got me curious. I being such a Japanese food fan had to try this out. I tagged my friend along and went to SM Megamall where the first branch started. The place was packed and not only packed; there was already a long waiting line outside. As hungry as I was, I opted to wait and just convinced myself this will all be worth it later on. It sure was. We ordered their Rosu, which is breaded pork with a trim of fat. Most of their menus are set meals that include unlimited servings of rice, Miso soup, cabbage and fruits. Their roasted peanut sauce for the cabbage is delicious even their Tonkatsu sauce for the pork that you pound sesame seeds in beforehand. Yabu I can say is a Japanese comfort food place for me especially if you have been hungry all day. read more

Yabu - Japanese Near Me - Mandaluyong, NCR