Yakitori

The menu highlights some basic izakaya fare such as yakitori. Other items in the menu are ramen,several selections of donburri ( rice toppings), salads, and even the basic sushi.

Buta Kakuni Bento

Also on the menu are 8 bento sets. These are buta kukuni (braised pork), prawn tempura, teriyaki tori, teriyaki gyu-niku and misono gyu-niku, tonkatsu, haanbagu and my favorite: teriyaki shake, which is salmon teriyaki. Prices range between Php 229.00 to Php 259.00 per bento set. All bento sets come with soup, salad, drink, 2 pieces of sushi, and dessert.

Teriyaki Shake

And if you feel like downing that bento with some alcohol, you may choose from several beer choices and sake . Of course, they still have non-alcoholic beverages like iced tea, juice, and sodas.

Tskune Donburi

The first branch they opened is in Makati, in the new wing of Glorietta. But those living in the northern part of the metro need not worry, because they have recently opened a branch at the newly renovated SM City Annex in North Edsa.

If you haven’t yet, go on and give it a try. I hope you all enjoy dining at Tokyo Tokyo metro as much as I did.

Tokyo Tokyo Metro
Ground floor, Glorietrta 5
Valero Street, Makati City

The food is great! From classic Filipino dishes to Japanese food, there’s something that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds.

Dampa is famous for it’s seafood dishes. You can buy fresh seafood, even meat, from the market next door and then, for a very small fee, have it cooked from one of the concessionaires in Dampa. Have it cooked any way you like- steamed, grilled, buttered- it’s all up to you.

Or you can choose from the wide range of dishes the concession stands have to offer. There’s laing, rellenong inihaw na pusit, pork barbecue, etc.

I’ve been to several dampas, and the Dampa at Farmer’s Market is actually one of the nicest dampas I’ve been to. While it is right next to the market itself, it’s actually very clean, and well ventilated. the market’s smell doesn’t seem to reach the place as well.

They’ve got airconditioned function rooms that you can rent. The room can accomodate a small party of 20 upto probably 50. There’s also a videoke machine you can use if you feel like singing. they also serve alcohol. but if you wish to bring your own, Dampa charges a small corkage fee. The same applies to food you bring in like cakes, dessert, and the like.

Dampa
Farmer’s Market, Araneta Center
Cubao, Quezon City

The thing about having watching a movie that involves people cooking or baking, you’re often left craving for whatever they’re cooking, baking or eating. I remember watching Chocolat and ended up with a mad craving for chocolates. This time though, it’s cream puffs.

 
The story is about this girl who works as a temp in a company selling desserts. She dreams of becoming a patissier, and she bakes this delicious cream puffs, which her immediate supervisor loves because it reminds him of his Grandfather’s cream puff. There’s also a hunky humanoid robot in the story, but let’s focus on the cream puff.

After stuffing ourselves with sisig the other night, my friends and I wanted something sweet to cleanse the palate. Luckily, there was a Beard Papa at SM North EDSA. Ryan and I had a vanilla cream puff each, while Rey opted for the eclair.

 
Beard Papa’s cream puff has a crispy, crunchy shell, filled with a soft and creamy vanilla infused custard, topped with powdered sugar. We love how the vanilla custard wasn’t overly rich and had the right amount of sweetness. Our only gripe was the overly generous dusting of powdered sugar. It wasn’t that the sugar made the cream puff too sweet. When you bite into the pastry and inhaled through your nose, you might end up snorting the powder up your nose (and might leave you looking as if you just finished a line of coke). On the otherhand, if you exhaled through your nose while biting, the air would make the powder blow off and might make you sneeze. (Wow, this has to be the stupidest food critique ever! I’ll stop now.)

Beard Papa cream puffs cost Php50 each, while eclairs cost Php55.

Beard Papa Branches in Metro Manila:
SM North EDSA (Quezon City)
Phone: 441-5039

Promenade (Greenhills, San Juan)
Phone: 727-4080

Glorietta 4 (Makati)
Phone: 752-7036

Megamall (Pasig)
Mobile: 0922-898-1120

Mall of Asia (Pasay)
556-0227

Over the years though, I developed a liking for takoyaki. Made with octopus (tako), batter, pickled ginger and shrimp, and topped with fried bonito flakes, aonori (green dried seaweed), mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce, this octopus ball is certainly different from the fish balls, squid balls and chicken balls we’re used to.

Is it just me or does that sign says “Jafanese cake?”

Unfortunately, in Manila you’re pretty much left with no choice if you’re craving for Takoyaki. It’s either buying takoyaki from Samurai Foods or not eat takoyaki at all. There must have been a growing takoyaki following in the Philippines because a couple of takoyaki kioks have sprouted in Manila. One of these was Japsy’s Takoyaki.

Mmmm, samurai balls

A huge takoyaki craving and curiosity to try this new stall prompted me, Ryan and Yue to each order a 3-piece tray of takoyaki. We weren’t really expecting much, but we were pleasantly surprised. Well, me and Yue anyway. Ryan found their sauce too sour, while Yue (who’s Japanese and has been living in the Philippines for several years) exclaims that it was indeed good. She further elaborates that though the sauce wasn’t perfect, the takoyaki itself tasted great. As for me, I’m happy to get my takoyaki fix; Japsy’s Takoyaki was definitely much better than the other takoyaki stall.

Japsy’s Takoyaki Express can be found outside the Plaza Fair entrance of the Makati Cinema Square. It’s right across Yamazaki, the Japanese supermarket in Little Tokyo. The 3-piece takoyaki costs Php 22, while the 5-pieces costs Php 35 and the 12-pieces costs Php 70.