Years ago, my idea of japanese food was limited only to Tokyo Tokyo and the uber-oily Ebi tempura, sashimi was a big no-no (because it's raw), and i don't even know how to use the chopsticks!
But now, aside from mastering the chopsticks, Japanese food, along with Thai food, has became a favorite! Blame it on me for working with the Japanese people (a lot of Japanese!) for the last five years. :) Eating sashimi is no longer an issue to me, in fact i craved for it!
And last week was one of those times that Lyn and I craved for something Japanese, not the generic one that you can find in the mall, we want an authentic one! And authentic it is that we want, Little Tokyo is the place.
I've been to this compound of japanese restaurants a couple of times before but it's the first time that i'll bring lyn here (ang kuripot ko raw kasi hehe) so this makes the visit extra special. :)
With lots of restaurants to chose from (you have to consult the menus of each resto or ask the attendants manning the door just to be sure if the resto has what you're looking for because not all of the restos there have the same thing to offer, example a certain resto do not have sashimi, instead they have a lot of omelets), we settled ourselves in Oinshinbou Restaurant (the first one on the right, inside the compound).
Since we are the only customers (6:00 pm is still early), the friendly filipino staff handed us the menu and take our orders, murmured something japanese (that i didn't understand only the "hai" part) and off she go to the counter. While waiting for our food, we scanned the small restaurant (a Lakers' game is on, and in Japanese!!!) and familiarized our nostrils to its wooden slathered with cooking oil and spices smell. Well, that comes with the authenticity tag. And I also told Lyn that if it's frequented by Japanese expats/nationals, it must be good and authentic (sabi nya: "owws, talaga lang ha?").
In no time, our orders came in one by one.
Tuna sashimi, eight pieces, served in a small bucket full of ice, P198. Fresh and yummy!!!! and we also like the cucumber and grated raddish on the side.
Kani Salad, P238. The serving is already good for two, and has generous servings of crabsticks and ripe mango! This is good! Panalo!!!! So far, the best kani salad we've tasted, it must be the dressing, ansarap, and to top it all, even though the mayo is on the creamy side, hindi sya nakakaumay! This is one good reason to go back here.
Chicken Teriyaki Bento (i forgot how much exactly but it's more than P200). The chicken, i thought, was dry, maybe overcooked but still tasty (maybe because of the msg?), the veggies side dish is also overcooked (i prefer my veggies to be crispy), the rice is definitely good, not so dry and not so sticky, just right to compliment the chicken and the veggies. But, the star of this set is not the chicken but the mashed potato and the raddish/cucumber/sweet we-don't-know-what-veggies that goes with it. hmmm! creamy (what's up with creamy?) and the taste is very different from, let's say Kenny Rogers' or even World of Chicken's, because it's creamy (yay, there goes that word again)! It save the bento box from being forgettable. And oh, the miso soup is also good.
Hah, life! You'll forget your diet or worry about that bulging tummy because of these.
oishi ne!
(sorry for some distorted colors, i used my camera phone for this set and also, turned off its flash).
27 comments:
From your write-up, this place is definitely worth a visit. I love shrimp tempura and tuna sashimi. I also love sushi. Sorry that this comment turned into a list of my fave Japanese foods. Hahaha Nakakatakaw kasi eh. :)
looks great! isa rin ang little tokyo sa listahan ko of places to eat in pero hanggang ngayon wala paring opportunity.
Sorry for what may seem a stupid question but I've not been to Manila lately ... so where is Little Tokyo? It seems interesting and I want to go there next time because my siblings and I have always been big fans of Japanese food.
Would you believe I don't eat a lot of fish - no matter how it is cooked - but I never miss sashimi?
There's a stall in Glorietta's food court that I used to frequent. Sorry I forgot the name but the Japanese owner is a neighbor of a friend who usually asks the Jap and his Filipina wife to cater for her small parties. He used to be the chef of Kimpura. Good food and very reasonable prices too.
I love Japanese! In Newsweek or Time yata (I forgot), Japanese cuisine is now considered the best in the world... just overtook French cuisine. :) I've never heard of that place and will definitely look it up once I get home.
Yes, the kani salad does look good!
waaaaaahhhh nagugutom akoooo.. I am craving for Japanese food too. lalo na yung Sushi at Sashimi.
mahal nga lang lol!
Oi! Saan ba yang compound na yan at mapuntahan nga. Matagal-tagal na rin akong di nakakatikim ng hilaw na tuna. Pero medyo mahal din ah, but it's ok, kung ako lang naman ang kakain sulit na rin since I can down tons of Japanese food in one sitting, hehe. :-D
San ba yan Little Tokyo? Mukhang Ok puntahan. What time naman ang bukas niyan? Pero hindi ako kakain ng sashimi. Ilan beses na akong nag-attempt kumain niyan, hindi kaya ng sikmura ko e. =)
panaderos, don't worry, you're not the only who's craving right now. hehehe. :)
carlotta, little tokyo is worth the wait, kaya pag nandun ka na at kumakain, iisipin mo na sana noon ka pa pumunta dun hehe. :)
bugsybee, it's in makati, if you are familiar with the old Makati Cinema Square along Pasong Tamo, facing it, it's on the immediate corner at the left, you'll see a lot of japanese restos there but the restos inside are the more ideal for dining, and the entrance for the little compound inside is just a few steps from pasong tamo passing by shinjuku, one japanese grocery and another two restaurants whose names escaped me at the moment. there are guards naman that you can ask for directions.
toe, little tokyo is one secret that is worth sharing. if you love japanese food, this is the place, andaming choices, medyo mahal lang pero worth it naman. :)
manilenya, yun nga lang, mahal sya pero mahal ko rin sya. lol
rudy, please read my reply to bugsy, and for you, baka mas magustuhan mong kumain sa mga nasa labas na resto dahil usually kapag gabi me mga "tumatambay" dun hehehe, pero they prefer japanese lol
jho, sa may makati cinema square sya, open ang mga resto dun lunch time saka 6 pm onwards. peak period nila ang dinner time.
am drooling for jap food. what was the kani salad made of? may noodle ba?
Whoa, ripe mango on salad. Definitely a welcome departure from the usual Japanese-style salads we get around here. :)
Know what, I've no idea anymore how Japanese food tastes like in the Philippines...you couldn't really blame me for steering clear of Japanese restaurants whenever I go home. :)
But, those photos are definitely enticing, and the food looks "sugoi oishii!"
sheesh until now I still don't know how to properly use the chopsticks hehe
Anyway ang galing naman Win...you are really a food lover that's why you appreciate food a lot. I eat Japs food din naman but not as passionate as you hehe
belle, kani salad is made of grated cucumber, raddish, maybe some kind of lettuce, crabsticks, ripe mango, those little sago-like orange things, japanese mayo and maybe some carrots. sarap!
kathy, maybe the mango is what makes the salad different.
because you are a filipino and will always look for filipino food whenever you're home. hmm, makes me wonder though, why do japanese still eat japanese food here in the philippines? :)
verns, nadadaan sa tyaga ang chopsticks hehehe.
yay at passionate! well, i cannot be passionate all the time kasi ang mahal nya! lol
I've been to Little Tokyo only twice in my entire life, kasi medyo namamahalan ako. hehehe. Pero ang ambience nya, talagang parang nasa Japan ka di ba? Kanpai!
Incidentally, I love sashimi. One time, I consumed over a hundred slices in a buffet restaurant I had to quickly run to the john afterwards to dispose of extra baggage. Hehe.
And hey, I like the effect of your first picture. Nice!
watson, hai! at ikaw pa ang pagtitinginan ng mga hapon na para kang foreigner hehe. :)
abaniko, sobra naman kasi yung 100 slices ng sashimi, ambigat-bigat nun sa tyan! pero masarap syang kainin na parang mani no? hehe
Zherwin, thanks for the recipe. I was wondering if avocado would compliment well with the kani salad and then cut down on the jap mayo.
i definitely fix this comes summer time along with a barbecue chicken.
hmm, avocado seems interesting but i am not sure, i am no expert :)
hmm, avocado seems interesting but i am not sure, i am no expert :)
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