sushi

Playful takes on Japanese cuisine at Saigosan, Uptown Mall BGC

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.

Experience the ultimate Japanese feast with Ogetsu Hime’s Oget All You Can Promo at SM Megamall

Feel up to filling up on tasty Japanese food? Well, you need to hie yourself over to Ogetsu Hime then!

Whether it’s for a special occasion or a regular family dinner, Ogetsu Hime’s exquisite dishes, excellent service, and welcoming atmosphere make it a perfect dining destination for families looking to bond over delicious food.

Thanks to its Oget All You Can Buffet, Japanese food lovers can fully sate their craving for just Php1,288.

This jampacked all-you-can-eat menu includes US Angus Tenderloin and US Angus Rib Eye expertly cooked by the chef on the teppanyaki grill in small batches to ensure freshness and flavor.

The buffet also includes premium sushi made using the freshest seafood and are prepared by skilled chefs right in front of the customers. The rolls come in a variety of flavors, from classic tuna and salmon to more unique combinations.

It also includes different variants of the ever-popular crunchy and flavorful tempura (buffet lovers simply could not get enough of this!), together with 130 Japanese food specialties and free-flowing drinks.

With so many food choices, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you’re not making the most of the dishes laid out. Well, here are ways to fully enjoy Ogetsu Hime’s Oget-All-You- Can Buffet:

Come hungry. The buffet offers unlimited servings of sushi, sashimi, rolls, and other Japanese specialties. It’s best to come hungry and ready to eat to get the most out of the promo.
Come with a group. The buffetis ideal for groups, as it offers a wide variety of dishes that everyone can enjoy. The more people in your group, the more dishes you can try, and the more enjoyable the experience will be.
Try everything. The buffet includes a wide variety of dishes, including sushi, sashimi, tempura, teppanyaki, and sukiyaki. Try different combinations and flavors to fully enjoy the experience.

Order in small portions. To ensure that the food is fresh and of high quality, customers are encouraged to order only what they can consume at a time. In fact, some of the buffet items are not laid out on the buffet table and are available for ordering in small batches, especially if they are best enjoyed freshly cooked. You can always order more as you finish their dishes, ensuring that the food is always fresh.
Don’t waste food. While the buffet offers unlimited servings, it’s essential to avoid food waste. Order only what you can consume and avoid ordering more than you can eat. Be mindful of the environment and the restaurant’s efforts to reduce food waste.

Come early. The buffet offer is quite popular and the restaurant tends to get crowded, especially during weekends and holidays. It’s best to come early to avoid the crowds and enjoy the food and ambiance in a more relaxed setting.
Take advantage of promos for more savings. You can save on a few bucks by taking advantage of offers such as Kids Eat FREE (for kids 4’6″ in height or below accompanied by two full-paying adults) and FREE Birthday Buffet (for birthday celebrants accompanied by two paying adults dining in on the exact day of their birthday, three days before and three days after).

With these tips, you have no reason to hesitate to take the fam on a Japanese food trip at Ogetsu Hime!

This Ogetsu Hime branch is located at Level 3, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 86377510 or +63 917 5762377.

Another branch is located at Level 5, Sky Park, SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 85199840, +63 2 85199740 or +63 917 8096585.

Stay updated on its promos and offers by following Ogetsu Hime on Facebook and Instagram.

Hanako’s newest branch at Promenade Mall Greenhills now on soft opening

Got a hankering for Japanese food in between bouts of retail therapy?

Don’t worry because you can now feast on #HandsDownGoodFood at Hanako’s newest branch at the Promenade Mall in Greenhills Shopping Center!

Long known for its easy-on-the-pocket Japanese dishes, Hanako is now serving its signature authentic cuisine to both shoppers and foodies who frequent one of the metro’s busiest shopping districts.

So be sure to take a break from your shopping binge and indulge yourself with your favorite Japanese food and explore new ones to enjoy!

Sashimi and Sushi

Tuna Sashimi (Php259).

Salmon Sashimi (Php299).

Torched Cheese and Salmon (Php329). Fresh salmon topped with cream cheese and Japanese mayo on sushi rice and drizzled with teriyaki sauce.

California Gunkan (Php239). Sushi rice, kani and cucumber wrapped in nori and topped with tamago, ebiko, mango and fried salmon skin.

Ultimate Dynamite Roll (Php309). Sushi roll made with tuna, salmon, kami, togarashi and topped with crunchy tempura flakes.

Hanako’s Best (Php1,419). A platter full of sushi favorites from Hanako: eight pcs California Maki, eight pcs Spicy Tuna Crunch, eight pcs Philadelphia Roll, eight pcs Tuna Sashimi and eight pcs Salmon Sashimi.

Starters

Miso Soup (Php74). Hot broth falvored with miso paste, leeks, tofu and wakame.

Gyoza Sampler (Php199). Includes two pieces each of the classic pork, beef and chicken versions of the Japanese potsticker gyoza.

Kani Salad (Php269). Cucumber sticks, kani, mango slices, ebiko and nori strips dressed with creamy Japanese mayo.

Chicken Karaage (Php284). Japanese-style fried chicken served with mayo on the side.

Beef Sukiyaki (Php274). Beef strips, sotanghon noodles, carrots, onions, cabbage and egg in a sweet-savory donburi sauce.

Donburi

Beef Gyudon (Php329). Filling rice bowl topped with slices of high-grade beef, white onions, leeks, shibazuke and egg flavored with a mildly sweet sauce.

Chicken Teriyakidon (Php309). Japanese rice bowl topped with strips of grilled chicken breast marinated in house-made teriyaki sauce along with leeks, bean sprouts, shibazuke and sesame seeds.

Pork Belly Don (Php229). Strips of pork belly on a rice bowl flavored with gyudon sauce and topped with pickled radish.

Salmon Teriyaki Don (Php334). Grilled salmon on a rice bowl topped with leeks, pickled cucumber and sesame seeds flavored with teriyaki sauce.

Entrees

Beef Omurice (Php229). Beef strips and rice wrapped in a delicate omelette.

Ebi Fry (Php204). Breaded shrimp with toasted sesame and katsu sauce on the side, served on a bed of rice.

Shrimp Tempura (Php219/3pcs | Php319/5pcs). Deep-fried battered shrimp served with tempura sauce.

Mixed Tempura (Php179). Deep-fried battered shrimp, kani and vegetables served with tempura sauce.

Drinks

Thirsty? Hanako’s got house-made drinks to refresh you.

Now you know that whenever you’re in the Greenhills area and you #CraveHanako, there’s a branch here ready to serve you!

Plus, here’s some good news: Hanako is bringing back its Tempura-All-You-Can promo to welcome diners to this store. Enjoy unlimited Ebi Tempura all weekdays of December when you dine at Hanako Greenhills.

This newest Hanako branch is located at the Food Court, Ground Floor, Promenade Mall, Annapolis Street corner Missouri Street, Greenshills Shopping Center, San Juan, open daily from 10am to 8pm.

Other branches are located at:

4th Floor, East Wing, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Pasig City
30 Doña Soledad Ave., Better Living Subd., Brgy. Don Bosco, Parañaque City
83 B Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City (beside Car Doctor)
131-C Armstrong Ave., Brgy. Moonwalk, Parañaque City
GF, SM Center Pasig, Ortigas East, Pasig City
2nd Floor, The Rock, Holy Spirit Drive, Brgy. Don Antonio, Quezon City
Robinsons Townville Regalado Ext Ciudad Verde, Quezon City

You may also order online at cravehanako.ph.

To stay updated on Hanako’s offers and promos, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

Check out my previous posts on Hanako:

Hanako, Katipunan — Sate your Japanese food cravings at Hanako, Regis Katipunan

Fab foodie possibilities at Timberland Highland Resort’s Ridge Cafe

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 - Timberland Highlands Resort — Ridge Cafe at Daytime

Timberland Highlands Resort — Elegant and comfy interiors

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.

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.

Don’t miss the chance to munch on some freshly made sushi rolls.

Mains

Choose from a wide variety of viands – which include Pinoy ulams and international dishes – for your lunch or dinner.

Desserts

Cap your meal with these sweet delights!

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)

To reserve a table, email timberlandfbm@timberlandresort.com or message 0999-889-2659 | 0995-840-3206 | 8891-8288 local 1030 and 1032.

Ridge Cafe is located at Timberland Highlands Resort, inside Timberland Heights, Barangay Guitnang Bayan II, San Mateo, Rizal 1850 Philippines.

Book your room via Klook today to enjoy great savings!

To know more about Timberland Highlands Resorts latest updates and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Timberland Highlands Resort:

Japanese dining experience at Sandaime, Eastwood Mall

Being part of a family of Japanese food lovers, it is no wonder that we tend to seek it out every chance we could.

That’s what happened when Hubby and I started feeling hunger pangs while we were in the vicinity of Eastwood Mall, Libis. Knowing that one of our previously discovered Japanese food restaurants is in the area and has reopened for dine-in service after closing during the quarantine, we were looking forward to trying it out again.

That restaurant is Sandaime.

Sandaime is a casual dining restaurant which offers a wide selection of Japanese dishes that combine traditional Japanese sushi flavors. These include Edomae-style sushi, which are prepared using traditional sushi-making techniques and fish flown in directly from Japan. It is also known for its teishoku (Japanese meal sets).

It has re-opened with a streamlined menu from which Hubby and I ordered:

Spicy Salmon Salad (Php408). Cubes of salmon sashimi tossed in a spicy creamy sauce on a bed of lettuce and topped with crunchy tempura flakes.

Tuna Sashimi (Php388) and Salmon Sashimi (Php398). Fresh sashimi served with wasabi and Japanese soy sauce.

Ebi Tempura (Php468/5 pcs). Battered prawns deep-fried to a crunchy golden brown and served with special tempura sauce.

Tonkatsu Set (Php428). Deep-fried breaded pork cutlets accompanied by a tangy katsu sauce. This meal set includes rice and lettuce.

Looking back at our pre-pandemic visit, we were glad to see that most of what we liked then are still in the menu such as Edamame, Chicken Karaage and California Roll. Unfortunately, Oyster Overload is no longer in the menu.

Sandaime Japanese Restaurant is located at the Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City, open for dine-in, pick-up and delivery. For reservations and orders, call +63 915 3373278 or +63 928 50 2487.

Feeling at home at BOTEJYU, SM City East Ortigas

My fam and I do enjoy being so near what we consider to be our neighborhood mall, SM City East Ortigas.

As it is the site of quite a number of great restaurants, a delicious meal for the family is just a short drive away.

Imagine our excitement when we got word that BOTEJYU is opening a branch here.

This chain traces its roots back to Osaka, Japan where it was established in 1946 as an okonomiyaki restaurant.

Okomiyaki is a dish that emerged in postwar Japan during a food shortage. As American provisions were unloaded at Osaka and Kobe ports, the locals discovered American flour mixed with water results in a pancake that can serve as an alternative staple food.

BOTEJYU’s founder Eikichi Nishino discovered another culinary delight which also makes use of an American provision – mayonnaise – this time, as a topping for okonomiyaki.

The dish is central to the restaurant’s concept that its name was coined after the sounds heard when cooking its signature dish: “BOTE” from the sound made when flipping the okonomiyaki and “JYU” from the sizzling sound it makes as it cooks on the teppan grill.

Being a family of Japanese food lovers, we lost no time in dropping by this newest BOTEJYU branch in SM City East Ortigas to try out delicious selections from its extensive menu, such as:

Edamame (Php121). Lightly salted boiled green beans.

Fresh Salmon Sashimi (Php395).

Seattle Roll (Php315). Sushi roll made with salmon, cream cheese, avocado and mayonnaise.

Spicy Maguro Tuna Roll (Php315). Sushi roll made with spicy tuna, cucumber and lettuce.

Diced Beef Garlic Steak (Php490). Tender beef cubes sauteed with Botejyu’s signature Chaliapin sauce.

Premium Mix Moonlight-Egg Oko (Php495). Okomiyaki made with Botejyu’s original batter, cabbage, beef, pork belly, shrimp, squid and fried egg cooked on the teppan grill and topped with Botejyu’s original tomato sauce, special sauce and white mayonnaise.

We also took advantage of one of BOTEJYU’s Kazukp Tumori (Family Bundles), deliciously curated meal sets meant for sharing that also offer great discounts. Our order of Family Bundle F (Php1,995) already included four sets of rice, miso soup, kimchi and iced tea, as well as:

3pcs Original Mayo Takoyaki. Made from flour-based batter with bits of octopus and spices topped with takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayo and katsuoboshi.

Pork Tonkotsu Ramen. Ramen noodles in tonkotsu broth with char siu pork.

California Roll. Sushi roll made with crab meat, avocado, cucumber, ebiko and mayonnaise.

3pcs Tempura. Crispy prawns fried in special batter and served with tempura dipping sauce.

Grilled Pork Rib Hokkaido Style. Tender pork steak grilled then glazed in umami-flavored sauce.

Teppan Grilled Pork Gyoza. Japanese potstickers served with aromatic soy sauce.

Original Chicken Karaage. Japanese-style crispy fried chicken infused with garlic flavor.

With such a sumptuous array of Japanese dishes so readily available to us, it sure looks like we’ll be spending more time in our neighborhood mall!

This BOTEJYU branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City East Ortigas, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig City, open daily from 10.15am to 7.45pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8524657.

Other 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
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.

#HandsDownGoodFood at Hanako, Estancia

Are you a fan of Japanese food too?

Thanks to its focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients, simple yet methodical preparation as well as its artful presentation, Japanese food continues to be among the most popular cuisines in the metro.

One of the premier destinations for Japanese cuisine is Hanako. With its “bang for the buck authentic Japanese food” proposition, it makes delicious Japanese dishes more accessible to foodies in the metro.

It recently opened a branch in Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, adding a cozy space for Japanese food lovers to discover and enjoy their favorites.

Sushi

California Maki (Php219). Maki made with kani, mango, cucumber and ebiko.

Salmon Cream Cheese (Php269). Maki made with salmon, cream cheese, cucumber, sesame and tempura flakes.

Ultimate Dynamite Roll (Php269). Maki made with salmon, tuna, kani, togarashi and tempura flakes.

Torched Cheese & Salmon (Php304). Sushi rice topped with marinated salmon and torched cheese.

Salmon Sashimi (Php249/5pcs | Php319/8pcs).

Tuna Sashimi (Php209/5pcs | Php294/8pcs).

Snacks

Creamy Mushroom Udon (Php249). Thick udon noodles doused in a savory and creamy mushroom sauce.

Gyoza Sampler (Php179/6pcs | Php619/18pcs). Combination of classic pork, beef and chicken Japanese potstickers.

Starters

Beef Sukiyaki (Php249). A hearty nabemono (“hot pot dish”) made with sliced beef slowly simmered along with vegetables in a broth of soy sauce, sugar and mirin.

Tuna Tartare (Php249). Sushi-grade tuna chopped into tiny pieces and tossed in Japanese mayo with togarashi, tempura flakes and chopped scallion.

Mains

Ebi Tempura (Php209/3pcs | Php309/5pcs). Battered and deep-fried shrimp served with special sauce.

If you’re an avid fan of Ebi Tempura, I suggest you take advantage of its dine-in promo wherein you can enjoy unlimited tempura with a serving of gohan (steamed rice) for only Php499/person. This offer is available Mondays to Thursdays (2 hours maximum), thankfully extended until June 9, 2022.

Yasai Itame (Php154). Fresh and crisp vegetables stir-fried in a flavorful sauce.

Karaage (Php259). Marinated and lightly-floured chicken pieces and deep-fried then served with special sauce.

Chicken Teriyaki (Php294). Rice bowl topped with grilled chicken glazed with teriyaki sauce.

Gyudon (Php299). Rice bowl topped with finely sliced beef simmered in a sweet sauce with onions.

Tonkatsu (Php284). Breaded pork cutlet that’s been deep-fried then served rice and katsu sauce.

Craving for great-tasting Japanese food? Well, now you know where to go to sate your craving without having to burn a hole through your wallet.

It may be time to hie yourself over to any of these Hanako branches in the metro:

4th Floor, East Wing, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Pasig City
30 Doña Soledad Ave., Better Living Subd., Brgy. Don Bosco, Parañaque City
83 B Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City, Bagong Pag-asa,, Quezon City (beside Car Doctor)
131-C Armstrong Ave., Brgy. Moonwalk, Parañaque City
GF, SM Center Pasig, Ortigas East, Pasig City
2nd Floor, The Rock, Holy Spirit Drive, Brgy. Don Antonio, Quezon City
Robinsons Townville Regalado Ext Ciudad Verde, Quezon City

You may also order online at cravehanako.ph.

To stay updated on Hanako’s offers and promos, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

Check out my previous posts on Hanako:

At home at Ome Japanese Cafe

Don’t you sometimes just want to be in a place where you feel right at home? Somewhere that you can be with family and friends while enjoying good food and good company?

Well, located in a family-friendly neighborhood in Quezon City ii a quaint and cozy Japanese eatery that brings comfort and happiness through its delicious and affordable Japanese comfort food.

Ome Japanese Cafe prides itself on its fresh ingredients and meticulously crafted dishes. These culinary creations were honed from the extensive experience of its chef/owners Christine Ramos and Gerivic Orocio in restaurants both here and abroad.

During a recent foodie meetup with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to experience Ome’s signature dishes as well as new menu selections.

Hand-crafted sushi

Ome’s chefs demonstrated their considerable skills with these beautifully assembled sushi rolls.

Ome Signature Roll (Php285). House-cured Norwegian salmon, cucumber and cream cheese topped with crab, masago and Srirach aioli.

Embassy Roll (Php260). Shrimp tempura, crab, cream cheese, tempura flakes, tobiko and sweet creamy sauce.

Tokyo Roll (Php385). Shrimp tempura roll topped with unagi, mango and eel sauce.

Crispy Spicy Salmon Roll (Php230). Spicy Norwegian salmon with cucumber, mango and tempura flakes.

Cucumber-wrapped Shrimp Tempura Maki (Php350). Shrimp tempura, romaine lettuce, crab and mango wrapped in a wafer-thin, katsuramuki-style slice of cucumber.

Hearty and heart-warming Ramen

Filling and tasty ramen will surely satisfy hunger while appealing to the need for tasty comfort food.

Chicken Paitan (Php385). Roasted soy chicken, mushrooms, soft-boiled egg and black garlic oil top ramen noodles in a rich and creamy broth made from pressure-cooked chicken bone broth with bonito salt and kombu.

Tan-Tan Men (Php350). Sauteed ground pork, corn, bok-choy and sesame egg in sesame broth seasoned with chili oil.

Partnership with Real California Milk

Collaborating with Real California Milk, Ome Japanese Cafe developed a tasty selection of viands that was incorporate high-quality cheeses.

Udon Carbonara (Php380). Hearty udon noodles topped with thick-cut smoked bacon, poached egg and mozzarella ina tasty carbonara sauce.

Japanese Omurice (Php340). Creamy omelet spiced with a bit of Pepper Jack Cheese on top of Japanese fried rice and drizzled with Hayashi demi-glace sauce.

Chicken & Cheese Katsu (Php320). Panko-breaded chicken cutlets wrapped around oodles of cheese, accompanied by shredded cabbage and katsu sauce.

New menu items

Pretty soon, Japanese food lovers will be able to enjoy these newest culinary creations.

Tepanyaki Wagyu Beef Cubes (Php485). Tender beef slices smothered with Hayashi demi-glace accompanied by seasonal veggies and creamy mashed potato.

Shrimp and Seasonal Vegetable Tempura (Php295). Deep-fried shrimp and veggies covered in batter enriched with dashi broth, making the resulting tempura crisp, light and airy.

Sweet endings

What better way to end the meal than on a sweet note with these scrumptious desserts?

Matcha Panna Cotta (Php180). Mango puree and muscovado sugar on creamy matcha-flavored panna cotta.

Mango Pudding (Php180). Succulent slices of fresh mango top a rice pudding enriched with coconut milk.

Feast on these dishes with your nears and dears at Ome’s well-appointed cafe or have them delivered to your home.

Ome Japanese Cafe is located at Chimes Square, 77 Congressional Avenue Extension, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 8pm.

For inquiries, reservations and delivery orders, call +63 2 70886066 or +63 917 6293212.

It also accepts delivery orders via BeepIt.

To know more about its latest promos and offers, follow Ome Japanese Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant wherein the food items served were not paid for by the participants, including myself.

Good times and good eating with Hodai’s newest Daebag Set

With all we’ve been through during lockdowns and quarantines, one can’t help but hold out hope for better times ahead.

At the same time, we can’t help but look back on all the things we used to enjoy, like dining out to savor our favorite and spending fun times with family and friends.

Personally, I miss going out for Korean BBQ (or “mag-samgyup” as we Pinoys like to term it). The sheer adventure of grilling our own food as we talk, laugh and banter with our companions always proves enjoyable.

A prime destination for this experience is Hodai Restaurant in Quezon City. Located in a remodeled two-story house along Examiner Street in Barangay West Triangle built in the 1960s, it lives up to its name (“Hodai” translates to “all you can” in Nihongo), it’s where you can get your fill of unlimited meats and side dishes.

To mark its recent re-opening, Hodai Restaurant celebrates the good times ahead with its Daebag Set. For just Php599 per person, this set brings together everybody’s Korean BBQ and yakiniku favorites, plus more, into one table for everyone to enjoy.

Seafood. Includes salmon sashimi, assorted sushi rolls (California Roll, Kani Roll and Mango Roll) and Salmon Sushi (Torched Salmon Sushi with Spicy Sauce, Salmon Maki with Mustard Sauce and Salmon Sushi) as well as fresh shrimp.

LA Galbi. Barbecued beef short ribs cut thinly along the bone usually served during special occasions.

Cheese Spicy Ribs. Tender pork ribs marinated in gochujang sauce with stringy mozzarella cheese.

Five kinds of pork. Includes Herb Pork Steak, Daepae Pork, Plain Pork, Yakiniku Pork and Gochujang Pork.

Five kinds of beef. Includes Enoki Beef Roll, Plain Beef, Herb Beef, Yangnyeom Beef and Gochujang Beef

Side dishes. Includes Beef Tteokbokki, Galbi Fried Chicken, Potato Marbles, Kimchi, Japchae, Fishcake and Sour Radish.

Did you know that “daebag” translates to “Awesome!” in Korean? In Korean dramas. it’s usually uttered as an expression of surprise at a positive situation. No doubt you will echo the same sentiment when this sumptuous spread is laid before you and your companions.

Such a delicious bounty sure seems like a portent of great things to come, doesn’t it? Well, invite more good fortune into your life by gathering your nears-and-dears and celebrating being alive and being together over good food. (While practicing physical distancing, of course!)

If you feel that luck is on your side, here’s your chance to win a free Daebag Set. From September 27 to October 10, paying adults ordering the Daebag Set can play a fun game wherein they can choose one out of four boxes containing a dalgona candy with an imprinted shape. They will be tasked to trim away the candy outside the imprinted shape using just a toothpick. Any customer that successfully accomplished this feat will be awarded a free Daebag Set.

(You might be getting flashbacks to similar scenes in the Netflix Show Squid Game, but this activity is actually a favorite pastime of Korean kids.)

So if you feel that you have been without fun times with family and friends over good food for too long, go meet up at Hodai Restaurant and feast over the Daebag Set.

Hodai Restaurant is located at 14 Examiner Street, Barangay West Triangle, quezon City, open daily for dine-in from 12 noon to 10pm. Note: Al fresco diners is available for all customers regardless of vaccination status while indoor diners are required to present their vaccination cards.

To reserve your table, call +63 956 4605848.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items were served to facilitate this feature and were not paid for by the attendees.

Ripplin’ sushi at Sazanami, SM Megamall

Sazanami refers to “small waves” or “ripples.”

It may very well refer to the ripples of gastronomic pleasure you experience when you bite into the sushi rolls made at the new sushi place in SM Megamall named Sazanami.

If you haven’t been to Eatogether Food Hall, I suggest you visit it stat because here you can take part in a new wave of dining experiences like the one at Sazanami.

It offers, not your run-of-the-mill sushi rolls, but ones that use various (and even surprising!) ingredients and make them into tasty combinations that tickle your fancy, not to mention your tastebuds. This is in large part thanks to Sazanami’s in-house sushi chef who’s been servin’ up these sushi rolls since the 90s.

During a recent foodie meetup at Eatogether Food Hall, my fellow foodies and I were able to sample some of its delectable sushi creations. Each sushi roll order is served with pickled ginger, wasabi and Japanese soy sauce, as well as Sazanami’s signature creamy and savory sauce that go so well with its sushi variants.

Ready for a run-down of your delightful sushi options at Sazanami?

Take for example its Sazanami Maki (Php265/8pcs). This is the house specialty baked sushi with salmon, sesame seeds, scallions, spiced garlic mayo, unagi sauce, mango bits and kani.

The Yin Yang Roll (Php265/10pcs), on the other hand, is one of the store’s best sellers. It’s a deep-fried and crunchy shrimp tempura roll with cream cheese and umagi sauce.

The Special Roll (Php295/8pcs) is a treat: it’s ingredients vary every week, making it a real foodie adventure. So if you want to have a sushi surprise, go for this sushi roll!

With such a tasty sampler, I just knew I had to take some home to the fam who are all certified sushi lovers.

All I had to do was give my order at the stall where servers selected my choices from their menu screen, a bill was run up automatically and I just had to pay via GCash! What a safe and contactless way to get your food, huh? (By the way, other contactless payment options are available or you can just get a Vikings Card at the Eatogether Food Hall reception and load it up every time you visit.)

Curious on what I took home? Check these out:

First, I got an order of Ripple Roll (Php260), Sazanami’s own version of the classic California Maki, with crabstick, mango, tobikko and black sesami fried kani stick.

Then, I got a cute Caterpillar Maki (Php195), a sushi roll made with kani, cucumber, avocado, sesame seeds and unagi sauce.

And thanks to Sazanami’s ongoing promo which gives four Sazanami Maki pieces free for every sushi order, I was able bring home an additional eight Sazanami Maki pieces!

Well, the fam devoured the sushi as soon as I got home so I could pretty much say these were met with their approval.

If you’re on the lookout for your next sushi adventure, do give Sazanami a try!

Sazanami is located at Eatogether Food Hall, Second Floor, SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting here together with fellow foodies. All food items mentioned here were served for us to sample the fare and elicit our honest feedback.

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Give in to your tummy’s rumblin’ at Gulu Gulu, La Loma

Foodies, if there is one thing you can count on, it’s the fact that your Tita Jellybeans is always on the prowl for new and exciting gastronomic experiences to share with you.

And, boy, do I have great news!

There’s this restaurant along Mayon Street in La Loma, Quezon City (a place I’m a bit unfamiliar with but I didn’t let that stop me from going on this foodie adventure) that specializes in takoyaki and milk tea called Gulu Gulu.

If you’re thinking that it’s just another snack bar or street food stall, you’ve got another think coming. For one thing, the place is not a stall at all but a beautifully designed and well-appointed cafe. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the interiors in bright, natural light while Japan-inspired murals add color to the interiors. Tables and cushioned chairs are spread in the sprawling space, giving diners comfortable seats in which to enjoy their food. Comics and short story books are also displayed, adding to the relaxing cafe feel. Almost every nook and space can be an Instagrammable spot.

Plus, you can watch Gulu Gulu’s takoyaki masters in action in the open kitchen as they prepare the food fresh upon order.

Gulu Gulu’s real claim to fame, of course, is its food.

With a name derived from the sound of a rumbling stomach, Gulu Gulu strives to satisfy hunger with delicious and filling fare that are definitely worth several return visits.

First of these is its takoyaki, claimed to be the best ones in town and unlike any other takoyaki balls you may have tasted. I really can’t argue with that claim. Made with the freshest ingredients like chopped octopus, cabbages and onions, they come in wondrous and creative variety, giving even the takoyaki connoisseur new ways to enjoy this delicious snack.

If you feel like having something more substantial, you can always opt for a sushi roll. Here, Gulu Gulu does not scrimp on the variety either. Take your pick among these sushi flavors: California Roll (Php220/8pcs), Crazy Maki (Php280/8pcs), Cheese Mango Roll (Php260/8pcs), Crispy Maki (Php250/8pcs) and Salmon Aburi Roll (Php230/8pcs).

You can also mix ’em up by getting a 12-piece sushi box with 4 pieces each of California Roll, Crazy Maki and Cheese Mango Roll for just Php230!

If you’re feeling really peckish, you can always go for a Rice Bowl, consisting of a Japanese meat dish topping a steaming bowl of fluffy Japanese rice. Choose from these rice bowl options: Torikatsudon (fried breaded chicken cutlet – Php210), Katsudon (fried breaded pork chop – Php210), Ebi Tendon (shrimp tempura – Php210), Gyudon (beef strips – Php230), Grilled Salmon Steak (Php290) or Japanese Curry (Chicken or Pork – Php240).

You can also add a serving of Ebi Tempura (deep-fried batter-coated shrimp – Php150/3pcs | Php240/5pcs), Yakisoba (stir-fred noodles – Php200) or Kakiage (deep-fried batter-coated veggies – Php125) to complete your meal.

Now, what to drink as you eat your fill of those delectable Japanese food? Gulu Gulu’s got you there as well with its extensive line of teas that make use of the finest and first-boiled black, green, red and jasmine tea leaves, lusciously chewy black pearls, nata de coco, grass jelly and other add-ons to bring you the highest quality drinks in amazing variants.

Milk tea flavors include: Original with Pearl (Php100/700ml), Milk Tea with Nata de Coco (Php110/700ml), Milk Tea with Grass Jelly (Php110/700ml), Taro Milk Tea with Pearl (Php115/700ml), Chocolate Milk Tea with Pearl (Php110/700ml), Matcha Milk Tea with Pearl (Php115/700ml0, Original Cheese Tea (Php130/500ml | Php150/700ml), Chocolate Cheese Tea (Php135/500ml | Php155/700ml) and Brown Sugar Milk Tea (Php120/700ml).

Definitely not to be missed is the Salted Egg Milk Tea (Php130/500ml | Php155/700ml) which should appeal to the Pinoy’s penchant for sweet and salty combos.

If fruit teas are more your thing, you can select your favorite blends from among: Signature Fruit Tea (Php130/700ml | Php160/1000ml), Special Lemon Tea (Php80/500ml | Php100/700ml | Php130/1000ml) or Orange Tea (Php80/500ml | Php100/700ml).

You might also want to check out the new fruit tea flavors Mango Gulu, Strawberry Gulu and Dalandan Tea.

So if you happen to be in the area and you feel your tummy rumblin’, you know where to go!

Don’t miss out on these special offers you can enjoy in this Gulu Gulu branch until February 28:

15% off on sushi rolls and rice bowls
2 Taro Milk Teas for Php165

To know its latest promos and offers, follow Gulu Gulu on Facebook or Instagram.

This Gulu Gulu branch is located at 405 Mayon Corner Calamba Street, La Loma, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 83595787, +63 916 2125964 or +63 932 6144675.

Other branches are located at Savemore Nagtahan, SM North EDSA, SM San Lazaro, SM Sta. Mesa, Sto. Domingo Avenue, QC and Dapitan Street corner Maria Cristina Street in Manila.

Don’t want to leave home? Have your takoyaki and milk tea delivered right to your doorstep by coursing your Gulu Gulu order via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting here together with fellow foodies. Food items mentioned here were served to let us sample the fare and elicit our honest feedback.

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Raintree #ValentineFoodCrawl: Valentine Roll at Motto Motto, BGC

Certain types of food have been known to get you in the mood for love (wink! wink!).

Called aphrodisiacs, these food stuffs are believed to arouse passions for more than gustatory delights.

But did you know that sushi also falls under this category?

The omega-3 fatty acids in the fish incorporated in sushi are said to be quite helpful when it comes le amour.

When eaten together with a romantic partner, sushi becomes a sensual experience: the meticulous formation of precise shapes and colors using different ingredients, the interplay of flavors and the feel of the varying textures in one’s mouth.

(Plus, sushi tends to be quite light so there’s less risk of overeating, making it a perfect date food!)

To give lovers in the metro the perfect opportunity to bask in each other’s presence while enjoying good food, Motto Motto brings back its playful take on sushi: the Valentine Roll (Php395).

Made with spicy tuna, avocado and blue fin tuna marinated in sake and soy sauce, it is a perfect example of Motto Motto’s playful Japanese concept.

Consisting of eight rolls fashioned into four cute heart shapes garnished with pink salt, it is a feast for the senses and is perfect for sharing for two lovebirds.

Pair it with Motto Motto’s signature refreshments and you’ve got a date!

Book your Valentine outing now as this yummy sushi dish is available only within February.

Motto Motto is a collaboration between Raintree Hospitality Group and Tokyo Japan’s Piglet. It features all-day Japanese dishes that stimulates the senses and tickle the fancy, prepared and served in a fun and whimsical fashion.

If you’re looking for a fun gustatory adventure with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day, Motto Motto is the place to be.

Motto Motto is located at Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open for takeout on weekdays and for dine-in on weekends. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8362173 or send a message via Facebook or Instagram. Payments via cash, GCash, credit and debit cards are accepted.

Pak! Pak! Chicken also delivers via FoodPanda.

Check out my blog posts on other Raintree restaurants:

Japanese dining for the fam at Teriyaki Boy

For years now, my family has been getting our Japanese food craving satisfied by Teriyaki Boy.

This local chain under the Max’s Group occupies the space between fast-food and high-end Japanese restaurants by offering the fam’s Japanese food faves at reasonable prices.

Our go-to branch is the one nearest our home located at SM City East Ortigas. Here, we feast on classic such as:

Tonkatsu (Php289). My son’s favorite Japanese dish consisting of a tender piece of pork cutlet that’s been breaded and deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served with shredded cabbage and drizzled with sesame dressing along with a tangy-sweet katsu sauce.

Katsu Ju (Php355). My daughter’s go-to order consisting of breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet which is simmered in sweet soy sauce with leeks, onions and a beaten egg and then served on top warm rice.

Dynamite Sushi (Php114/4 pcs | Php210/8pcs). This sushi roll made with fresh tuna, chili oil, togarashi and Japanese mayo is one of the ploys employed by Hubby to stimulate my appreciation for spicy food.

Another bonus of dining at this particular branch is that it shares the space with another Max’s Group brand, Sizzlin’ Steak, enabling Hubby and me to also sate our craving for steak by cross-ordering an Australian Marbled Steak (Php699) for each of us. This tender and juicy piece of imported meat, grilled to our preference (medium to medium-well) and served with rice, French beans, cherry tomatoes and herb butter on a sizzling plate, ready for the satisfying sight, sound and smell of flavorful gravy being poured over it.

During the enhanced community quarantine, Teriyaki Boy paused its operations but has since re-opened for for dine-in, takeout and delivery.

So if the quarantine has you missing those tasty Japanese dishes you so love, check if there’s a Teriyaki Boy outlet near you.

This Teriyaki Boy branch is located at Second Floor, SM City East Ortigas, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Santa Lucia, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 7pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 96381817 or +63 2 88879000.

Teriyaki Boy also delivers via its website, GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Sushi to share from Mumei Sushi

Sushi lovers out there will be happy to know that they can just have their sushi faves delivered right to their doorstep, thanks to Mumei Sushi!

Mumei Sushi began operations in 2018, providing sushi sets on consignment to Robinsons Supermarkets in North Luzon.

The Quezon City-based company then decided to expand its operations to the next frontier: online selling.

In this new space, Mumei Sushi was able to expand its product line in new and creative ways to include items such as:

Rolled Sushi. Aside from the classic faves such as tuna, salmon, kani and California Maki, Mumei Sushi also offers imaginative takes involving new savory or spicy ingredients – such as Seven Spice, Shredded Nori and Bonito Makis – as well as fruitier combinations – such as Kiwi, Avocado and Strawberry Makis. These sushi rolls are priced from Php25 to Php45 per piece but assorted pieces can also be packaged in a Holiday Box (Php1,299 for 50 pieces), Birthday Box (Php2,499 for 100 pieces) or a Grand Sushi Feast (Php4,799 for 200 pieces). Imagine walking into a party with that ginormous box!

Mumei Sushi Tamago (Php45/pc). Sushi made with thin layers of rolled up egg placed on top of sushi rice.

Sashimi in Can (Php399). Slices of fresh tuna and salmon, ready to eat and served in a tin can for presentation and portability.

Onigiri (Php100/pc). Hefty triangular blocks of sushi rice wrapped in nori filled cooked meat dishes such as spicy beef amd Pinoy sisig.

Spam Musubi (Php100/pc). A popular snack or lunch item in Hawaii, made with a slice of grilled spam placed on top of a block of sushi rice wrapped together with nori.

Tempura Soba (Php300/serving). Japanese-style deep-fried battered shrimp served together with thin yet firm buckwheat soba noodles. Both are well-complemented by the special dipping sauce that accompany each serving.

With Mumei Sushi, Japanese food lovers can easily enjoy their faves as well as explore new ways to enjoy sushi.

Here’s a friendly reminder: given that sushi is best served cold, do consume the sushi immediately upon delivery.

It is also best enjoyed with family and friends, so don’t forget to share your sushi stash with your nears-and-dears!

To get your hands on these delectable sushi treats, call +63 2 33528462, text +63 999 4025936, +63 977 4721528 or +63 923 5177609. You may also send a message via Facebook or Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

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.