Open top menu
Showing posts with label Japanese Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese Food. Show all posts
Friday, October 18, 2019
NANKA JAPANESE RESTAURANT: QUEZON CITY'S SECRET STEAK PLACE

I found myself driving to a familiar location in the metro. Granted that I live up north, I figured that this Japanese restaurant would be able to give me my fix of wants and needs food wise. Nestled in a quiet spot just off the Tomas Morato/ Timog Area in Quezon City is NANKA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE. Generally speaking, the place serves Japanese food. In particular, they brand themselves as a Japanese Steakhouse.
What makes it different from a normal steakhouse? They prepare and serve the meat in a way that accentuate the flavors. The sauces are also leaning towards the Japanese side of things. If steaks are their bread and butter, then their appetizers and main courses follow suit as well. One could start with some Fried Oyster Mushroom. This would go well with an ice cold beer. Speaking of, this combination would work well during the night as they have live bands perform.
It seems that seafood is also one of their specialty. They make sure to get to freshest ingredients that the market could offer. The Grilled Ahi Tuna is made from fish that is flown in twice a week. It doesn't get any better than that.The Togarashi Shrimp are plump and juicy.
Oysters are also a champion choice when visiting NANKA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE.  Each bite is just perfect. It does what it needs to do.
For pasta people, the Prawn Garlic noodles does its job. The pasta is cooked perfectly and the shrimp easy. If one could just slurp everything they could.
Another must order for seafood lovers would be their GARLIC CRAB. Although it might be a little pricey since it is based on market price, you are assured of its glorious meat and sauce. In all honesty, you could scoop everything and dump it on a cup of rice.
It isn't a steakhouse if it doesn't serve steak. The kitchen can prepare a number of steak choices. Of course they ask for your preference in terms of doneness. At most, one should choose medium well. Never well done. Granted that some find it too much to see the red in meat but that is just a mixture of water and protein. This BLACK ONYX TOMAHAWK goes perfectly well with the different sauces and side dishes that it comes with. One could go for simple rice or deep fried potatoes or other choices as well.
Food In The Bag is now in Facebook. Click Here to follow and like.
If you are into INSTAGRAM Follow me @foodinthebag.
Dessert is made by their in house chef. Another thing that NANKA is known for would be their in house bakery. They offer different cakes and has tons of dessert to go with your meal.


NANKA JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE is located at 1810 Mother Ignacia Ave Cor Roces Avenue, Quezon City. Near the rotunda. Parking is available.




Disclaimer:wrote this based on my opinion. was invited to try out the dishes.
Read more
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
CAMP CURRY IN AYALA TRIANGLE: Bold Flavors From Japan

It's not just a restaurant, it's a show in its own right. That's how I felt with how the new foodie place, CAMP CURRY is. Once you enter, you see the grill greeting you. The chefs are right infront of you and you're getting a glimpse of how they will cook your food. Different outdoor items are placed all around to give you that camping feel as well.
Located in Ayala Triangle in Makati, CAMP CURRY is a franchise from Japan. A popular place to enjoy grilled meat and curry, one could definitely make a bee line to this new restaurant. Started in 2007, founder Takashi Sato started with the first CAMP Curry in an alley of Yoyogi.
Since this is a Curry restaurant, Lassi would be an ideal partner to the food that's about to greet you. It gives off a refreshing taste each time you have a bite. The menu in itself is pretty simple. Choose a type of curry, and also a main dish to partner with it.
There are three types of curries to choose from. They have the original Brown Keema Curry. The best seller, this thick base is mixed with minced chicken. There are also different spices to greet you. The Green Vegeful Curry is a healthier choice. Somewhat different, this 100% vegetables could cater to the healthy crowd. Take note there's a hint of wasabi. Since this is the first restaurant in Manila, they created the Red Bisque Curry. With shrimp as a base, there's a bit of tomatoes blended with the curry base. I would have wished for the bisque to be a little bit thicker. Also, you could ask the server to have the curry a bit spicier.
So far there are 6 different plates to choose from. You could start your journey with the BBQ PORK BELLY. A meat lovers heaven, this is partnered with a generous serving of Chunky Vegetables and rice.
Seafood lovers would enjoy the grilled shrimp as well. Plump and moist, you won't go wrong with it.
Personally though, I had a great time with the BBQ BEEF. The meat was tender and flavorful. I couldn't stop myself from getting more and more.
Now, there's also a vegetarian option and even chicken. If that's not enough, they could also let you have a go at their sausages. It's basically up to you which type of dish you'll go for. If you're with companions, I would suggest ordering different types of curry.
Dessert is there for those that has more space in their stomach. Their french toast was pretty good. A definite must when in Camp Curry. Having crunchy sides makes the cinnamon mix and vanilla ice cream work well with the bread. For the camping experience, the S'MORES is a must. Marshmallows are burnt with graham biscuits and chocolate syrup. There's also matcha ice cream on top as a bonus.
Food In The Bag is now in Facebook. Click Here to follow and like.
If you are into INSTAGRAM Follow me @foodinthebag.
Camp Curry is located along the restaurant row in Ayala Triangle. They are open from 11am to 10pm. Lunch and dinner crowd might be a problem if you can't wait. I suggest having a go at it during non-peak hours. Better yet, you could have the food to go.


CAMP CURRY
Ayala Triangle
Ayala Avenue, Makati City,
Metro Manila





Disclaimer: Wrote this based on my experience. Was invited to try out the restaurant.
Read more
Monday, November 27, 2017
YURAKUEN: Japanese Teppanyaki in Diamond Hotel Manila

BURN BABY BURN! I was extremely excited to check out DIAMOND HOTEL'S YURAKUEN that particular night. Rather than just going for the exception Japanese dishes ala carte, I was there for the TEPPANYAKI BUFFET!
When one visits the TEPPANYAKI place of DIAMOND HOTEL MANILA, everything is set in motion once you take your seat. Appetizers are brought in front of you one after another.
Aside from the fresh sushi and sashimi, you are also given california rolls and other delicious choices for you to start feasting on.
The KANI SALAD was pretty good but what made my mouth salivate was the GINDARA. Perfectly covered with a sweet glaze, this fish was flavorful and delicious. Even the skin is a must eat as its texture gives you a bit of a crunch. You should definitely try this one.
For that night, the real meal started with some excellent execution of playful cooking. The chef knew how to entertain and create visually stunning moves. It was art in motion. The first part went with some vegetables.
Afterwards, it was the seafood's turn. When having TEPPANYAKI at YURAKUEN, I would suggest requesting for the big boys.
Go for the scallops. They are so plump and juicy. Definitely worth ordering more!
Finishing of the seafood and the veggies comes the main event. STEAK!
Different cuts of your favorite meat options are available. There are short ribs, tenderloin, and sirloin. Ask the chef to cook them based on your preference. 
Personally, I would go for medium as the meat's flavor is still there and the juices are all intact.

Being able to go to a TEPPANYAKI place like the one at DIAMOND HOTEL MANILA makes one appreciate how the staff and the chef takes care of you and your food. Aside from the amazing entertainment you get from seeing your food cooked live and in front of you, you get to have a chance to just relax and have some fun. I could definitely say that the TEPPANYAKI BUFFET at YURAKUEN is one sweet deal. I can't wait to go back.
Food In The Bag is now in Facebook. Click Here to follow and like.
THE TEPPANYAKI BUFFET at YURAKUEN is available for lunch and dinner. Usually, there are a couple of seating times for both. Reservation is recommended especially when visiting on a weekend or a holiday. Head on over to Diamond Hotel's Website to check out their promotions with regards to this. I believe they offer it cheaper if you get a coupon from them. Enjoy!

RELATED POST:
Yurakuen: Diamond Hotel Manila's Japanese Delight

YURAKUEN
DIAMOND HOTEL
Roxas Blvd cor. J Quintos St.
Manila City, Metro Manila

(632) 528-3000 or (632) 305-3000
Facebook



Read more
Monday, August 28, 2017
KAZUNORI JAPANESE RESTAURANT IN MAKATI : Indulge and be rewarded.

If there is one thing to consider when going to Japanese Restaurants it would always be the location, price point, and of course the quality and taste of the dishes that they serve. Lately, there has been a buzz about a Japanese establishment located along Chino Roces Avenue. It's situated within a car dealership that seems quite odd and unique but not the first time for a restaurant.
Owned by the same group behind Yushoken and Mendokoro Ramenba, Kazunori is no different from other high end Japanese restaurants in the city. While it's quite out of the way for northerners like myself, it's sometimes okay to trek out and try something new. As you enter, the place is divided into three. There's the cafe area, the sushi bar, and the main dining. I would suggest making a reservation just in case the place is full.
Looking through the menu, we found out that the prices of the cooked dishes that they serve were actually somewhat similar to other restaurants. What was quite surprising would be the tags on the different cuts of sushi and sashimi. It seemed expensive for a few slices of seafood. Apparently, these are imported from Japan, hence the cost.
  Starting off with some GYOZA (Php 180), these dumplings were actually not bad. It wasn't spectacular but it was good enough. The skin was a little bit thick on some instances but were too thin on some parts. Still, it gave that chewy texture you would look for.
The noodles is where KAZUNORI stands out. You could go for the UNI PASTA (450Php) if you're not sure what to get. It's buttery and creamy though some might find it lacking in UNI flavor. It does give off that rich feeling each time you take a slurp. You might need something else to cut the flavor though as it becomes monotonous after a few bites. On the other hand, I had nothing but praises to say about the KARAI ZARU SOBA (460Php). Cold buckwheat noodles is served with a dipping sauce. In this instance, the dipping sauce is somewhat spicy on its own. Even if we requested it to be at the lowest level, there's still a hint present. To counteract this, broth is given just to dilute it. The amount of noodles were pretty generous as well. Best to eat this as soon as it is served as the noodle quality might degrade if it is left untouched for some time.
Believe it or not, we actually ordered more than we could chew. Hence, the PORK CURRY (390Php) was generally left to the side. Although we did try it, I wouldn't say that I'll be back for it. It seems quite normal and I guess it lacked the special factor it needs for some to order it again. The curry is pretty thick and the pork did absorb the flavors pretty well.
Here's a little anecdote about the next dish that kept me laughing for days. My friend saw it on Instagram and was pretty much sold that she needed to try it out before her trip. She asked me to go with her and I did because I read up on the restaurant and it had great feedback. That night, we came in late because of the horrendous rain. She was so eager to order this that the first thing she did after sitting down was to ask if it was still available. It was and so she did without asking about the price. A few minutes later, our server came in to take the rest of the orders. When my friend clarified if her first order was taken, she asked about the price. It was a staggering 5,000Php or about 100USD. We were both shocked but let's just say we charged it to experience and still went ahead.
A post shared by Food In The Bag (@foodinthebag) on


Named after the chef, the SAITO SPECIAL (5,000Php) is a mixture of everything good about Japanese food. It's an off menu item that could be requested. It is a mixture of UNI, OTORO, IKURA, and CHUTORO. It's like a mountain of different fresh ingredients just to make you foodgasm. Underneath, there are cut up rolls just so that you could use them to as a vessel to carry all the toppings you may want. Granted that it's a bit pricey, it is worth a try. It's not everyday that you get to indulge. Would I order it again? I might if I was part of a bigger group. If there were 4 or 5 of us, I think it would be good enough to share.
Food In The Bag is now in Facebook. Click Here to follow and like.
If you are into INSTAGRAM Follow me @foodinthebag.
KAZUNORI is one of those restaurants that has it all. It's no wonder that people flock in to get a taste of what it has to offer.


KAZUNORI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
2301 Chino Roces Avenue (Pasong Tamo Extension)
Makati City, Metro Manila
(02) 989 3152
Monday-Sunday
11:30am-2:30pm and 6:30pm to 11:00pm
PROTIP: Don't follow Waze, it will bring you to a village at the back.
It's along the main road. Coming from EDSA, it's on your left.
Parking is pretty much available in front and at the back since it is in a car dealership.
Read more
Friday, August 18, 2017
ADDICTION AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT: Taipei's Answer To Seafood Cravings

"Take your pick". Those were the words that came out of my mouth when my brother and I arrived inside the huge supermarket like establishment, THE ADDICTION AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT. What used to be a wet market, it was transformed into a super store slash restaurant cove slash a foodie destination in Taipei.  
There's a sense of panic once you enter the place. Different items on display with lots to choose from. There's basically a path that they want you to follow just so as to maximize the visibility of everything that they offer. As you enter, there are fish cages and pools of water that houses the different crabs, fishes, and other sea creatures. Known as the Aquamarine area, you could have these babies cooked as well.
Then the COOKED GOURMET AREA is where you will find sushis, sashimis, and a whole lot more. There's even a sushi bar that could cater to you if you wish to order certain dishes right there and then. Take note though, it might take a while for you to get it as this is a favorite spot in the area. Aside from these, they have an oyster bar, grilled dishes and other cooked items that you may want to partake off.
Personally, we just went crazy and grabbed whatever we want. The first being would be this Chirashi. Topped with sweet and fresh shrimps, each piece is fresh and delicious.
Of course, we also had some slices of salmon. You won't go wrong with this.
My brother went for the mackarel just because he wanted to try it out.
Because rice is life, I had this bento-ish like mix of salmon, maki, and even tamago. The eggs though were just phenomenal.
We were actually contemplating on going for more but we both knew we already over ordered. So for our last pick, we went for creamy baked oysters. Darn good and worth it.
A post shared by Food In The Bag (@foodinthebag) on

Food In The Bag is now in Facebook. Click Here to follow and like.
If you are into INSTAGRAM Follow me @foodinthebag.
Going to ADDICTION AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT might be a bit of a problem if you don't have your own car. I would suggest stopping over the nearest train station and just take a taxi going there. The walk might be a bit far as my brother and I took more than 20 minutes just to get there.


RELATED LINKS:
THINGS TO DO IN TAIWAN: Back for a Second Time
TAIPEI M HOTEL and DIARY OF TAIPEI: Where to Stay in Taiwan
TOURING TAIWAN: Where Else To Go?

ADDICTION AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT
No. 18, Alley 2, Lane 410, Minzu East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10491

PRO TIP#1: Have someone get a table for you when you guys are already lining up to pay for the food. The tables and chairs and benches are all outside. 

PRO TIP#2: Take the Train to Xingtian Temple Station then take a cab going there. 

Read more
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)