Just when you thought that you’ve seen all there is to see when it comes to Japanese food, here comes Saigosan, all ready to set the local foodie scene on its ear.
This recently opened izakaya-style restaurant in Uptown Mall BGC is geared to take its diners on a fun food trip across Japanese pop culture with the enticement of delicious comfort food and classic dishes.
The latest venture of the restaurant group that manages The Red Crab Alimango House, Blackbeard’s Seafood Island and Pier at Clawdaddy’s, Saigosan offers a uniquely colorful dining experience situated between an exciting commuter train ride and a comforting stay at a ramen shop.
Here, Nobu-trained Chef Chris Oronse and his team whip up playful and creative takes on familiar Japanese food that will surely tickle the fancy of young and young-at-heart foodies with a predilection for Japanese pop culture. These include:
Classic Gyoza (₱225). The all-time favorite pan-fried Japanese potsticker filled with ground pork, cabbage, aromatics and seasonings, served with a soy sauce and vinegar-based dipping sauce.
Mini Volcano (₱280). Saigosan puts a fun twist on the classic California maki roll, thanks to its topping of chopped kani (crab sticks) and bonito flakes.
Chicken Katsudon (₱345). Tender strip of breaded chicken served with egg chahan (Japanese fried rice) and your choice between Domi and Curry sauce.
Chasu Bacon Breakfast Ramen (₱499). Breakfast favorites such as bacon slices and fried egg served on top of firm ramen noodles in a rich pork soup.
Chirashi Don (₱525). A variety of sashimi such as fresh salmon, tuna, tanigue, ikura (salmon roe) and tamago (rolled omelette) artfully served on a platter with a bowl of rice on the side.
So if you want to experience your favorite Japanese food in a fresh, fun and colorful way, then get on board for a delicious ride at Saigosan.
Saigosan is located at 3rd Floor, Uptown Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 915 8126855 or email saigosan.bgc@gmail.com.
To stay updated on its promos and offers, follow Saigosan on Facebook and Instagram.
After being mostly stuck within Metro Manila during the lockdown, the family heartily welcomed an out-of-town trip to San Mateo.
Venturing out from our comfy accommodations at Timberland Highlands Resort to SM City San Mateo for a spot of lunch and a bit of shopping, we decided to dine at the BOTEJYU outlet located there.
BOTEJYU is a Japanese restaurant that originated from an okonomiyaki eatery established Osaka, Japan in 1946.
Its menu expanded to include other popular Japanese dishes such as the ones we enjoyed during our visit:
Tuna Sashimi (Php395). Fresh tuna slices served with wasabi and Japanese soy sauce.
California Roll (Php255). Sushi roll made with crab meat, avocado, cucumber, prawn egg and BOTEJYU’s original mayonnaise.
Edamame (Php110). Lightly salted boiled green soy beans that serve as an appetizer to many Japanese meals.
Prawn Tempura (Php670/10pcs). Crispy battered prawns served with tempura sauce.
Tender Pork Tonkatsu (Php275). Tender pork cutlet breaded and deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served on a bed of shredded cabbage with tokatsu sauce.
Tender Pork Tonkatsu Curry (Php425). Tender pork cutlet breaded and deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served on a bed of rice with Osaka-style curry sauce poured over it.
Sukiyaki Teishoku (Php540). A set meal which consists of beef cooked in sukiyaki sauce with noodles and soft-boiled egg, served with miso soup, salad, rice and kimchi.
While the menu offerings are a bit pricey, we found the quality to be reliably good, and the service to be prompt.
It’s great to see that BOTEJYU has established its presence in Rizal, thanks to this branch.
This BOTEJYU branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City San Mateo, Gen. Luna Avenue, Ampid 1, San Mateo City, Rizal, open daily from 11.15am to 7.45pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8524673.
BOTEJYU branches in Metro Manila are located in:
Alabang: Festival Mall Expansion Wing
Caloocan: SM City Grand Central
Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala Greenbelt 3, Ayala North Exchange
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall The Atrium
Manila: SM City Manila
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay, SM City Bicutan, SM City Sucat, SM Southmall
Pasay: SM Mall of Asia Galileo Wing
Pasig: Ayala Malls Feliz, Estancia Mall Capitol Commons, SM City East Ortigas
Quezon City: Ayala Vertis North Mall, Fisher Mall, Robinsons Place Magnolia, SM City Fairview, SM City North EDSA, Trinoma Mall Garden Area
San Juan: O Square 2 Greenhills Shopping Center
Taguig: One Bonifacio High Street Mall
BOTEJYU also accepts orders for delivery through its website and via GrabFood and FoodPanda.
To know more about its latest offers and promos, follow BOTEJYU on Facebook and Instagram.
Whether you’re a guest at Timberland Highlands Resort, or you’re simply in the area (being so near great bike and nature trails which work up quite an appetite), you won’t have to stress yourself over where to eat.
At the Ridge Cafe, you can dine in comfort and style inside the restaurant, or take a spot in its al fresco dining area to take in the view as you eat.
Ridge Cafe at Daytime
Ridge Cafe at Night
Elegant and comfy interiors
Al fresco dining with a view
I’ve shared in my previous blog posts about its buffet offers here and here, but a new question arises: what to eat when you’re not keen on an all-you-can-eat setup?
Don’t worry: Ridge Cafe’s got you well-covered with its ala carte offerings, such as:
Sandwiches and Burgers
Snack on these sammies, all served with your choice between homemade potato fries or mixed greens.
Chicken Quesadilla (Php350). Chicken fajitas, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream encased in a toasted tortilla.
Club Sandwich (Php400). Grilled chicken, sliced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, bacon and egg in between layers of white bread.
Beef Burger (Php400). Angus beef burger topped with bacon, Emmenthal cheese, lettuce. caramelized onions and pickles in a sesame seed brioche bun
Pumped Up (Php500). Angus beef burger topped with jalapeno cream cheese, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, crispy onion rings, cheddar cheese and bacon, then drizzled with BBQ sauce and encased in a sesame seed brioche bun.
Pasta, Noodles and Salads
Sate your hunger with filling noodle dishes, from pastas served with garlic bread to Pinoy merienda classics, or go for a helping of healthy greens.
Spaghetti & Meatballs (Php350). The popular spaghetti variant among kids.
Pesto (Php300). Fettuccini noodles tossed in freshly made pesto sauce made with bail, garlic, pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
Beef Mami (Php300). A rainy day staple made with beef brisket, boiled egg, Chinese cabbage and carrot sticks on a bed of egg noodles and beef broth.
Caesar Salad(Php350). Romaine lettuce tossed with grilled chicken, bacon, tomatoes and croutons then doused with Caesar salad dressing.
Sushi
Don’t miss the chance to munch on some freshly made sushi rolls.
California Maki (Php250). Crabstick, mango and cucumber slivers wrapped in rice- and tobiko-covered nori.
Torched Salmon (Php300). Nigiri made crabstick, spring onions, tempura flakes topped with torched salmon doused in goma dare sauce.
Mains
Choose from a wide variety of viands – which include Pinoy ulams and international dishes – for your lunch or dinner
Deep-fried Chicken Cutlets (Php350). Breaded fillet of chicken served with white rice, Asian slaw and tonkatsu sauce.
Kare-Kare (Php500). Ox-tail and tripe stewed with veggies in peanut sauce and served with shrimp paste.
Salmon Steak (Php550). Grilled salmon steak with seasonal veggies on a bed of lemon butter sauce.
Chicken Tenders (Php300). Breaded chicken breast served with French fries and honey mustard sauce.
Desserts
Cap your meal with these sweet delights!
Moist Chocolate Cake (Php200).
Strawberry Cheesecake (Php230).
Halo-Halo (Php130).
As you can see, there’s no need to worry about how to soothe your hunger pangs as you embark on your mountain adventure in San Mateo, Rizal. Simply hie yourself off to Ridge Cafe!
Ridge Cafe also offers buffet meals including:
Top of the Morning Buffet: intercontinental breakfast menu and classic Pinoy almusal at Php650 net per person (weekends from 7am to 10am)
Arabic Dinner Buffet: an exciting curation of Arabic, Mediterranean and South Asian cuisines with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (Saturdays, from 6pm to 9pm)
Filipino Buffet: favorite Filipino dishes with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (Sundays, lunch from 11.30am to .30pm | dinner from 6pm to 9pm)
It’s been four months since we’ve been hit with this crazy pandemic and many of us foodies may be chomping at the bit. Four months of isolation, munching on the same lutong-bahay, or stressing on how to stretch our limited food budget may be taking their toll.
But take heart, fellow foodies!
Here are three reasons why Go Bento can be your new go-to place to give your taste buds a break from your usual ulam, without you having to break the bank.
One: It is the home of affordable, everyday Japanese food.
The resto takes its concept from the Japanese bento, a takeout or home-packed meal good for one person which already includes rice, a fish or meat viand and cooked veggies, all placed in a box that can be taken anywhere.
However, other food options such as donburi (rice bowls) and ala carte dishes are also made available to suit the tastes and budget of you Japanese food lovers out there.
Go Bento’s tasty offerings, all costing no higher than Php200, include:
Beef Misono Bento (Php190). Thin slices of beef stir-fried in a garlicky yakiniku style sauce, served with rice, stir-fried veggies and miso soup.
Mixed Tempura Bento (Php190). Japanese-style battered and fried shrimp and mixed vegetables served with tempura sauce, rice, veggie salad and miso soup.
Gyudon (Php155). Thin slices of beef simmered with onions in a mildly sweet, dashi-flavored sauce and served on top of rice.
Hambagu Curry (Php110). Japan’s version of the Salisbury or hamburger steak served with a fried egg in a sweet Japanese curry sauce over rice.
Miso Nori Hambagu (Php75). Japanese-style beef burger patty topped with nori, shredded cabbage and signature sauce served in a bun.
If you’re feeling just lightly peckish, you can also snack on:
California Maki (Php95/4pcs).
Chicken Thigh Yakitori (Php50/stick).
Chicken Skin Yakitori (Php35/stick).
Potato Takoyaki.
Two: You can Go Bento at home.
Go Bento delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda so you can feast on your Japanese comfort food faves or take a break from your WFH tasks with a tasty snack.
Three: You can safely dine in at Go Bento.
Protocols are already in place to minimize physical contact and ensure your safety so you can dine in comfort.
So, foodies, there’s no need to stress yourself out on your dining options. The next time your Japanese food craving hits, you know where to go: Go Bento!
Go Bento is located at 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open daily from 11am to 8pm for dine-in, takeout, pickup or delivery via GrabFood and FoodPanda. Safe cashless payments via GCash also available. For inquiries, reservations or orders, call +63 2 88651565 or +63 998 9529796.
It recently opened a new branch along Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, open daily from 10am to 5pm. For inquiries, reservations or orders, call +63 998 5875592.
Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.
Disclosure: Together with a fellow foodie, I attended a food tasting held at this resto where food items were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate our honest reviews, and were not paid for by the attendees.
Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:
With its mantra “Enticingly Japanese. For less.” you can expect mouthwatering yet affordable Japanese dishes at Kimono Ken.
My faves here include:
Maguro (Php260). Fresh tuna sashimi sliced into bite-size pieces.
California Maki (Php160). Rolled sushi made with crabstick, mango, lettuce, Japanese mayo and ebiko.
Dynamite Maki (Php380). Rolled sushi made with spicy salmon, ebiko, unagi and cucumber.
Sushi Moriawase (Php450). Mixed fresh sushi served with miso soup.
Chahan (Php90). Special Japanese fried rice made with cooked rice, garlic, green and spring onions, bits of meat, egg and soy sauce.
Sukiyaki (Php350 good for two). Thinly-sliced beef, tofu, vegetables and glass noodles cooked in sukiyaki broth.
Ebi Tempura (Php410 for 5 pieces). Battered and deep-fried prawns served with tempura sauce.
Bacon Asparagus Maki (Php300). Fresh green asparagus rolled in bacon.
Gyu Hireniku (Php480). Beef tenderloin grilled teppanyaki-style and served with sauteed bean sprouts.
So the next time I have a hankering for Japanese food, guess where I’m headed!
During the Enhanced Community Quarantine, Kimono Ken has two of its stores open for takeout our delivery:
256 Tomas Morato corner Scout Fuentebella, Quezon City (open from 10,30am to 6pm): Call +63 2 89281228 or +63 2 89292535
Met Live EDSA Extension corner Macapagal Boulevard, Metro Park Bay Area CBD, Pasay City (open from 11am to 7pm): Call +63 2 87798685 or +63 2 85564484
To have your favorite Japanese food delivered to you, call the branch or Viber +63 956 804 2237 with your order. Once confirmed, pay via bank transfer or GCash (cash-on-delivery option also available), then Viber proof of payment to +63 956 804 2237. Once receipt of payment is confirmed, have your order picked up via Grab Express or LalaMove Pabili Service.
This Kimono Ken branch is located at Ground Floor, Tower 1, Rockwell Business Center, Ugong, Pasig City.
Other branches are located at:
Mandaluyong: The Podium Mall, Shangri-La Plaza
Quezon City: Tomas Morato, SM North EDSA The Block
Pasay: Met Live Mall, Main Mall SM MOA
Paranaque: SM City BF Paranaque
Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:
Why not drop by Hashi Donburi’s newest branch in QC?
Step up to the second floor of the building across ABS-CBN and you will enter what appears to be a laid-back izakaya where you can sit back and have a hearty serving of your favorite Japanese food.
Here’s a sampling of what you can enjoy here:
Salmon Sashimi (Php299). Slices of fresh salmon served that’s great for starters.
Tantanmen (Php299). Slightly spicy ramen with a peanut-based broth topped with pork slices and egg.
Tonkotsu (Php269). Savory miso-based ramen topped with pork slices and egg. This is quite hearty and well-suited for a rainy day.
Gyudon (Php199). Rice bowl topped with beef and onion simmered in a sweet sauce with dashi.
Tendon (Php179). Rice bowl topped with battered and deep-fried prawns in donburi sauce.
Oyakudon (Php159). Rice bowl topped with simmered chicken, egg and sliced scallions.
Chicken Teriyaki Bento (Php199). A meal set that includes chicken teriyaki, rice, sauteed veggies, potato croquettes and miso soup.
Chicken Karaage Bento (Php199). A meal set that includes chicken karaage, rice, sauteed veggies and potato croquettes. I suggest you request for a serving of Japanese mayo (and add a bit of wasabi to that) as your dip.
Among Hashi Donburi’s menu items, I found the bento boxes the best value in terms of price, serving size and taste.
I now count this resto among my lunch choices in the area.
Planning a party? Hold your gathering at Hashi Donburi and take advantage of these value-packed party packages:
Set A (Php4,499 good for 10-15 pax). Two servings each of edamame, ebi furai, yakisoba, tonkatsu, chicken karaage and chicken teppan plus three rice platters, 60-piece maki/sushi platter, four pitchers of drinks and 4 servings of tempura ice cream.
Set B (Php4,999 good for 10-15 pax). Two servings each of korokke, tempura, ebi furai, seaweed salad, yakiudon, beef teppanyaki, chicken karaage and chicken teppan plus two rice platters, 48-piece maki/sushi platter, one big ramen serving and 4 servings of tempura ice cream.
This Hashi Donburi branch is located at Second Floor, 139 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 77206040.
The original branch is located at 1607 Dapitan Street, Sampaloc, Manila.
Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:
With the welcome break of sunshine after several days of bad weather, a friend and I decided to have lunch out. We have not gone far from our office building when we noticed a newly opened Japanese restaurant nearby. Eager to try out something new (and not wanting to walk too far while wearing my wedge heels), we decided to give Kazoku a try.
Kazoku is the Japanese word for “family.” It can also refer to the Japanese empire’s hereditary peerage, the nobility, in feudal Japan.
The restaurant displays several Japanese design sensibilities which include elegant lines and the restrained use of color. Here and there in the spacious dining space are splashes of elements that add personality to the space such as a line of Japanese dolls displayed on a counter or the long chandeliers hanging from the high loft-style ceiling.
What ultimately drew us in to this resto is its bento meals. Reasonably priced at Php188 each, our bento orders of yakiniku (grilled marinated strips of beef cut sukiyaki style) and chicken teriyaki (tender and juicy chicken pieces broiled with a savory-sweet glaze of soy sauce, mirin and sugar) came with miso soup, cabbage salad, sticky Japanese steamed rice, slices of tuna sashimi and California Maki, quite filling meals considering their price point.
Other bento offerings include Tori Karaage and Tonkatsu also priced at Php188 each, and Gindara, Shake and Tempura priced at Php288 each. Bento meals are available weekdays from 11am to 2pm.
If you brought more of an appetite with you, you can go for its Yakiniku BBQ All You Can Eat offer. At only Php488++ per person, you can grill and eat your fill of barbecued beef, pork, chicken, sausage and shrimp. This comes with refillable soup, salad, appetizers and rice, as well your choice of juice or beer. You can even add Php188 to make your beer refillable.
Kazoku Japanese Restaurant is located at 2nd Floor, The Grandia Place, 143 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City. It is open daily from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8219841.
Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:
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Jellybeans in the City 