omakase

Virtual resto-hopping at GrabKitchen in Pasig

Do you sometimes miss those times when you can just hang out at a mall and go restaurant-hopping?

Being able to try various cuisines is heaven for a foodie like me.

However, with lockdowns and restrictions brought about by the pandemic, restaurant hopping is nigh impossible.

Even if you try to order food from different establishments for delivery, the delivery fees would also multiply.

Unless, of course, you get your food orders from GrabKitchen.

GrabKitchens are designed to greatly expand the food choices available in a particular locale by serving a varied curation of food selections from restaurants with no physical presence in the area all served from one central kitchen. It also offers customers the ability to mix-and-match – ordering from different restaurants hosted by the GrabKitchen for a single checkout and delivery fee.

That’s a load of convenience and savings, right?

GrabKitchens have already set up branches in Glorietta, Malate and Paranaque, and now, finally, right in my neck of the woods: Pasig City!

Through this GrabKitchen, I was able to able to treat the fam to a wide array of dishes and cuisines from different restaurants for our weekend lunch. These include:

Dimsum and noodles from King Chef such as Hakaw (Php190/4pcs), Pork & Shrimp Siomai (Php130/4pcs) and Beef Brisket Noodles (Php280).

Korean-style boneless fried chicken from 24 Chicken such as a Half Half order of Original and Yangnyeon (Php545/7pcs each) and a Half order of Snow Cheese (Php299).

Solo (100ml) cups of artisanal ice cream from Merry Moo such as Honey Comb (Php135), Milo (Php135) and Strawberry Shortcake (Php135).

Refreshing drinks from CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice such as CoCo Milk Tea (Php85/regular), Pearl Milk Tea (Php90/regular), Strawberry Au Lait (Php150/regular with pudding) and Chocolate with Pudding & Pearl (Php100/regular).

Thanks to GrabKitchen, the fam and I had a virtual resto-hopping experience right at home!

But that’s not all!

A few months ago, driven by our K-drama triggered cravings, we also ordered our Korean meal from Happilee Korean Kitchen which included Pork Mandu (Php99/4pcs), Mini Kimbap (Php150/5pcs), Kimchi (Php30) and Soy Glazed Chicken Tray (Php600/10pcs).

Other restaurants hosted by GrabKitchen Pasig include Omakase, Conti’s, Las Titas MNL and Merienda by Pan de Manila.

With the mix-and-matching options available, ordering from GrabKitchen Pasig is well-suited for families whose members have varied food preferences.

So, fellow Pasiguenos, when you feel like having some variety in your meals or want to explore new food options, download the Grab app and order from GrabKitchen Pasig!

GrabKitchen Pasig is located at 172 C. Raymundo Avenue, Maybunga, Pasig City, open daily for delivery orders from 9am to 10pm.

Disclosure: A gift voucher was provided to facilitate the order experience.

Mix-and-match your food faves via new GrabKitchens in Malate and Paranaque

Don’t you sometimes get those really intense cravings for your favorite dishes from your go-to restaurants but you’re stuck at home in an area where the restos have no branch?

Doesn’t that make you long for the pre-pandemic days when you can freely wander around the metro and dine where you wish?

Well, take heart, dear foodie! Your prayers have been answered, especially if you live in the boroughs of Malate or Paranaque because a GrabKitchen has opened in your area!

GrabKitchen Paranaque; Kyoto Sushi Bake and Omakase

You can expect the GrabKitchen in your area to greatly expand the number of excellent food options in your community, available for takeout or delivery. For true-blue foodies stuck at home, this means a wider selection of gastronomic adventures are just a few phone taps away!

Plus, we can now mix and match our favorite dishes by cross-ordering from GrabKitchen’s partner restaurants, all with just one delivery fee!

Take my fam’s totally Japanese meal today, for instance. By ordering from GrabKitchen Paranaque, I was able to grab my favorite Japanese dishes from two different restaurants: Kyoto Sushi Bake and Omakase!

Kyoto Sushi Bake

Kyoto Sushi Bake built on the sushi bake craze at the start of the pandemic and made its mark on this quarantine food trend by offering gourmet variants such as Unagi, Cream Cheese Tuna and Baked Kani with Sweet Corn.

Today, I treated the fam (especially my sushi bake-loving daughter) to a Crazy Maki Sushi Bake (Php500). This tribute to the California Maki is made with sushi rice topped with a delectable combination of sliced mango and kani finished with masago (roe), Japanese mayo, nori and crunchy tempura flakes.

It is best enjoyed with a glass of refreshing Kraver’s house-blend Iced Tea (Php59).

Since 2002, Omakase has been satisfying the tastebuds of Japanese food lovers with authentic and fusion dishes.

Its name is actually a phrase used when ordering sushi in restaurants – Omakase which means “I’ll leave it up to you” – when customers leaves the selection of food up to the chef.

Here in the metro, Omakase is the home of imaginatively crafted sushi, made by combining textures and flavors of various ingredients into a cohesively tasty dish as exemplified by my orders of Omakase Roll (Php315), made with torched salmon, crabstick and cucumber, and Dynamite Roll (Php345), made with unagi tempura and tuna.

To complete our Japanese meal, I also ordered the fam’s faves such as:

Kyuri Kani Salad (Php230)

Japanese Fried Rice (Php95 cup | Php335 bowl)

Pork Gyoza (Php230)

Tonkatsu (Php235)

Beef Teppanyaki (Php445)

The fam and I absolutely love the flexibility and the sheer number of food options that GrabKitchen makes available.

Aside from Kyoto Sushi Bake and Omakase, food lovers in the South may also order from the other restaurants housed in GrabKitchen Paranaque which include: 24 Chicken, Alishan at the Alley, Army Navy, Cara Mia, La Titas MNL, El Nacho Libre, Sheikh’s Kebab, Breakfast for 2, Black Kimchi! and Dapo at Tisa.

Order fromGrabKitchen Paranaque.

Foodies near Manila can order from GrabKitchen Malate to grab their faves from Omakase, Frankie’s, Recovery Food, Paper Moon, Yogorino, Pepi Cubano, Dapo at Tisa, King Chef, La Tita, Selecta, So Mot, Blu Kouzina, Coco Fresh Tea and Juice, Merienda by Pan De Manila, and Go! Salads.

Order fromGrabKitchen Malate.

So the next time your food craving hits, my dear foodies, just look up the GrabKitchen in your area and order away!

Disclosure: A gift voucher was provided to facilitate the order experience.

The Jelly List: Extraordinary sushi picks for International Sushi Day

Did you know that there’s such a thing as an International Sushi Day? On the 18th day of June every year, food enthusiasts the world over celebrate one of the jewels of Japanese cuisine: the sushi.

Made with vinegared rice, seafood, vegetables, and even tropical fruits, sushi has embodied several tenets of Japanese food such as the use of fresh ingredients, simple and natural cooking methods, exquisite presentation and portion control.

A well-made sushi is akin to a work of art.

So on this day of all days, we can’t just have any ‘ole sushi. Nope, on International Sushi Day, we deserve sushi with that extra oomph to elevate our sushi experience.

Plus, given the restrictions on movement and dining out in the metro due to the community quarantine, we need sushi that is can be delivered to our homes.

Oh, how to solve this quandary? Well, allow me to share with you my top picks for extraordinary sushi in the metro for you to enjoy on International Sushi Day.

Soru Izakaya’s Lava Maki

Soru Izakaya’s has long been known for playful and whimsical takes on sushi and it’s Lava Maki is no exception. Salmon skin, crabsticks and mango are topped with cubes of salmon and tuna doused with a mixture of spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce, making it a savory and slightly spicy treat for the palate.

To order your Lava Maki from Soru Izakaya, fill up this form, or text +63 917 7040515, +63 917 6363526 or +63 935 7830298.

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 their preferences.

While that is not the system set in place in this restaurant, it does boast of an excellent selection of maki and sushi.

Hubby and I dined on a sampling of this selection with our orders:

Sashimi: Salmon (Php300) and Tuna (Php300). Raw fish sliced into thin pieces and served with soy sauce and a little wasabi.

Spicy Maguro Roll (Php310). Deep-fried spicy tuna topped with ebiko and scallions.

Chirashi Don (Php385). Assorted raw seafood over sushi rice served with miso soup.

Ebi Tempura (Php370). Five pieces of lightly battered and deep fried shrimp served with tempura sauce.

These classic seafood dishes (our go-to fare whenever we’re at a Japanese restaurant) were promptly served by the wait staff. The raw fish in the sashimi and chirashi don were fresh and flavorful.

This Omakase branch is located at Ground Floor, Connecticut Carpark Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 84709807 or +63 930 2523575.

Other branches are located at:

Pasig: Ayala Malls Feliz
Marikina: ESJ Building Gil Fernando Avenue
Quezon City: Il Terrazzo Mall Tomas Morato, Holy Spirit Drive Isidora Hills Subdivision
Muntinlupa: Molito Commercial Complex Alabang
Makati: Grab Kitchen Glorietta 2

No time to visit an Omakase branch? Have your orders delivered to you via Food Panda.

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Review Rundown: Ramen Joints in Tomas Morato

Much removed from the instant noodles that we used to associate with the dish, ramen nowadays, especially for foodies, call to mind creamy full-bodied broth from rich meaty stock, firm noodles as well as tender meat, sumptious seafood, crisp vegetables, and flavorful aromatics.

Ramen shops and Japanese restaurants that offer this tasty Japanese noodle dish have sprouted all over the metro, especially in the Tomas Morato area in Quezon City.

Personally, I gravitate towards ramen with chashu (seasoned pork slices): the more tender and melt-in-your-mouth, the better. While my preference when it comes to broth is more towards the shio (salt-based), I’m usually open to eating shoyu (soy-based) or miso-based ramen.

Here is a rundown of the ramen I’ve sampled among such restaurants located in this foodie-friendly area.

Tonkotso Ramen (Php295) at Omakase

Rating: 3/5

I found the blend and contrasts of textures from the creamy broth, the crisp black fungus and the firm noodles interesting but somewhat lacking in flavor.

Check out my restaurant review here.

Tokyo-style Ramen (Php250) at Ariake

Rating: 3.5/5

Again, it’s the blend of textures among the noodles and crisp veggies that give this ramen a boost.

Read my restaurant review here.

Chasu Ramen (Php245) at Tokyo Bubble Tea

Rating: 3.5/5

The cuteness of its kawaii surroundings is apparent in the pretty presentation of this miso-based ramen.

Read my restaurant review here.

Shoyu Ramen (Php250) at Kimono Ken

Rating: 4/5

Despite my marked preference for salt-based ramen, I found the flavor from the chashu slices full-bodied, amply complemented by the nori garnishing, egg and aromatics.

Read my restaurant review here.

Tonkotsu Ramen (Php300) at Isaribi

I loved the rich milky-white pork-broth (with a bit of a garlicky taste) with firm ramen noodles, thin slices of green onion, half of a tamago (soft-boiled soy-tinged egg), and slivers of chashu pork belly.

Read my restaurant review here.

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