soru izakaya – Jellybeans in the City

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.

Fresh flavors of Japanese food at Soru Izakaya, Maginhawa

My fam and I have a very strong affinity towards Japanese food. As it is one of our favorite cuisines, more often than not, we end up choosing Japanese restos when dining out.

Such was the case when we decided to eat out in the Maginhawa, QC area the weekend right before the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was announced.

At Soru Izakaya’s Maginhawa branch, we were able to get a table relatively quickly despite the bustling dinner crowd.

There, we we were able to enjoy our favorite Japanese dishes, which included:

Lava Maki (Php430). Salmon skin, crabsticks and tamago topped with salmon and tuna cubes in spicy mayo. This dish, which served as our appetizer, also featured the whimsical mayo design that Soru Izakaya became known for.

Tantanmen (Php330). Hubby likes his ramen spicy and this one fits the bill. It is made with firm ramen noodles in spicy miso and peanut broth with chasyu pork and mixed vegetables served with slices of seasoned egg. Of course, he had to share some of it with me!

Katsudon (Php295). My princess’ near-constant craving which is made with deep-fried and breaded pork loin served with egg cooked in sweet and savory sauce over steamed rice, topped with melted cheese and onion leeks.

Tomahawk Katsu (Php355). My little boy’s go-to order which consisted of deep-fried breaded pork tomahawk cutlet served with sweet and savory katsu sauce and shredded cabbage doused in roaster sesame dressing. We ordered a cup of rice to go with this dish which the little boy demolished in record time.

Chirashidon (Php360). My new favorite Japanese dish made with torched tuna, salmon sashimi cubes, kani, tamago and endamame over sushi rice. I just love the variations in flavor and texture in every bite.

Looking back, I’m glad that we were able to spend some time together out of the house, enjoying one of our favorite cuisines, before we had to sequester ourselves at home due to the quarantine. (I’m also thankful we managed to stay and healthy thus far.)

We’re all looking forward to the time when we can venture out and go back to our favorite places to dine and enjoy.

How about you? Which of your favorite restos were you able to visit before the quarantine started?

Want a taste of Soru Izakaya’s dishes but stuck at home because of the quarantine? Here’s some good news: During the ECQ, this branch is open from 10am to 5pm daily with a limited menu available for takeout or delivery via Grab Express or Lalamove. To order, text your name, address, contact number and orders to +63 917 7040515, +63 917 6363526 or +63 935 7830298.

When the ECQ is lifted and you can visit the resto with your friends and family, you can also get free dishes when you unlock your Zomato Gold privilege.

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks for dining in at partner restaurants. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use the code JELLYB to get 45% off the membership fee.

This Soru Izakaya branch is located at Ground Floor, 140 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City.

Other branches are located at:

Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Scout Torillo corner Scout Fernandez Street, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Playful takes on Japanese cuisine at Soru Izakaya, Tomas Morato

The enjoyment of food need not be a sombre affair.

This is quite apparent when dining at Soru Izakaya, the Japanese restaurant hidden in Quezon City’s Tomas Morato suburbs.

An izakaya is the Japanese version of the gastropub, a place where office workers can hang out after hours to have some drinks and a light meal.

At Soru Izakaya, fun permeates everything. The colorful interiors, for instance, are inspired by the aesthetic of bishoujo manga, traditional Japanese art as well as the bustling Tokyo nightlife.

The food, on the other hand, is no less playful. Together with fellow Zomato bloggers and foodies, I checked out Soru Izakaya’s unique takes on Japanese food which include:

Whimsical Sushi.

Lava Maki (Php430). Salmon skin, crabsticks and mango topped with cubes of salmon and tuna doused with a mixture of spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce.

Gyu Maki (Php290). Thinly sliced beef strips, seasoned shiitake mushrooms, cream cheese and tamago topped onsen egg.

Tori Kasai Maki (Php290). Spiced chicken thigh, cream cheese and kimchi topped with torched cheese.

Fresh Salads.

Poke Bowl (Php330). Fresh salad greens, ripe mango, cucumber mixed with cubes of salmon and tuna doused in a mildly spicy dressing and topped with wakame and nori.

Spicy Maguro Salad (Php355). Cold salad greens with miso and salad dressing serve as a bed for fresh tuna cubes topped with crispy tempura flakes.

Filling Entrees.

Tomahawk Katsu (Php355). Tender pork tomahawk cutlet, breaded and deep-fried doused in a sweet and savory katsu sauce and served with shredded cabbage in a roasted sesame dressing.

Tsukumen (Php360). Thick udon noodles topped with chashu slices and tamago served with a hot flavorful broth for dipping.

Tempting Desserts.

Tiramisu (Php250). Layers of frozen coffee-flavored lady fingers layered with cream cheese frosting, creamy ganache and blueberries.

Dark Choco Moist Cake (Php220). A moist chocolate cake base covered in dark chocolate infused buttercream frosting.

Something new.

Soru Nabe Special Hotpot (Php399 per person | +Php100 with seafood). This includes unlimited refills of:

Broth: choice of two among Tonkotsu, Spicy Tonkotsu, Sukiyaki, Curry, Chicken, Miso and Spicy Miso
Meat: beef, chicken and pork
Seafood: shrimp, clams, mussels, squid and fish fillet
Balls: assorted balls and kani
Noodles: vermicelli, glass noodles and egg
Entrees: gyoza, yakisoba, tempura, beef bowl, pork bowl, smoked pork bowl, chicken wings, vegetable tempura, takoyaki
Vegetables: napa cabbage, carrots, squash, white onions, enoki, bokchoy, corn, taro, kangkong and black fungus

Sides: kimchi, potato marble, kakiage, cucumber, steamed rice and chahan

This offering inspired by the Japanese nabemono (from words nabe or “cooking pot” and mono or “thing”) is best enjoyed with a rambunctious group like ours.

So here’s my recommendation: when the enhanced community quarantine is lifted, how about we head off to Soru Izakaya along with our buddies for some fun times with food? You game?

Until then, why not have its dishes delivered to you? During the ECQ, Soru Izakaya’s Maginhawa branch is open from 10am to 5pm daily with a limited menu available for takeout or delivery via Grab Express or Lalamove. To order, text your name, address, contact number and orders to +63 917 7040515, +63 917 6363526 or +63 935 7830298.

This Soru Izakaya branch is located at Scout Torillo corner Scout Fernandez Street, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City.

Other branches are located at:

Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Ground Floor, 140 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a Zomato Foodie Meetup held in this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants: