The Best Japanese Restaurants in Metro Manila
Next to Chinese food as the best in the
world, Japanese food is a very close second---at least as far as I am
concerned. And having tasted real and authentic Japanese food in Japan, I was
delightfully surprised that some of the Japanese restaurants we have in Metro
Manila are at par. This is good news for me as my tummy won’t feel deprived
when it starts to crave for chahan, wagyu
and sashimi!
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| Image Source: Sushi bytes |
Tomas Morato, Quezon City
We, Filipinos, love buffets, especially
those that are under a thousand pesos. And especially those that serve good
quality food because, let’s face it, some buffets suffer in quality because
they are prepared en masse. Perhaps it is because there is no buffet table at
Zensho that makes them able to maintain its quality. Their buffet concept comes
in the form of ordering a la carte. They will cook and serve dishes only when you
order. Of course, you need to consume everything with no leftovers otherwise
there will be an extra charge.
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| Image Source: Zensho |
What
to order: Australian beef (ironic, I know…) and
pandan juice (again, ironic…)
Greenhills, San Juan and Trinoma, Quezon
City
The oldest in the list as it has been
around since Ferdinand Marcos was the country’s ruler is Kimpura. The restaurant's longevity is
its own testament of the consistent quality of its food. When coming here, get
the teppanyaki table but be ready to have the smell of food stick on your
clothes like an unwanted souvenir.
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| Image Source: Asunta Rufino |
What
to order: Japanese mixed fried rice
Midas Hotel, Roxas Boulevard
A Japanese restaurant has to have some
spunk to open next to the Embassy of Japan. This was the only reason that I
gave it a try and may I say that its confidence is not misplaced. I love their
wagyu beef although it can wreak havoc to your monthly budget. But its
tenderness and juiciness are more than enough to make you scrimp on other
expenses until the next month.
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| Image Source: The Filipino Japanese Journal |
What
to order: Wagyu beef
Fisher Mall, Quezon City
This may be the rookie in the list but
it ain’t a novice when it comes to serving consistently good Japanese food
especially its sashimi selection! Its sweet shrimp sashimi tastes exactly like
the one I had at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo that was shipped fresh and straight from Hokkaido! Hmmm, perhaps it has
something to do with Morita’s owner, Roberto Simeon del Rosario, being known as
the country’s fishing magnate?
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| Image Source: Life in Technicolor |
What
to order: Sweet shrimp sashimi
-The Paranoid Traveler
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