Chew on this: YABU: House of Katsu

I have been a food lover even before I got hooked with fashion and blogging. As food lovers, we all have our list of must-try restaurants. Anyone who has a Twitter account knows that Yabu: House of Katsu is a pretty hot restaurant right now. I've seen enough pictures in my Instagram, Twitter and FB to make me drool. So today I got the privilege to dine at Yabu: The House of Katsu! I’ve been hearing some famous bloggers and personalities rave about this Japanese Tonkatsu restaurant, and today I finally got to experience and find out what this commotion is all about! Now I can brag about my excellent dining experience at Yabu just like the other foodies who's raving about the best katsu house in town. I've always enjoyed Katsu, and after hearing so much about Yabu: The House of Katsu, I had to give it a try. And I'm just so glad I did. I finally got to eat at Yabu after 10,000 years!! Hahaha :)) I was really excited about trying this restaurant because of all the rave reviews online. What's more, I don't eat sushi or anything raw so whenever we go to a Japanese restaurant, the only thing I order is Tonkatsu or Katsudon. So imagine eating someplace called The House of Katsu? Heaven!

Yabu: House of Katsu. Is it really worth the hype? :) Does it really deserve all these raves and approvals?

Yabu is supposed to be the first and only authentic Katsu restaurant in the country, or so they claim. I am not sure if that account is true, but that's what it says inside their informative menu. For those who are not familiar what katsu is, to quote from their menu, "The word katsu is an abbreviation of the word "katsuretsu,” which means cutlet. It generally refers to a sliced piece of meat that is breaded and deep fried." So if you are overly health conscious, this place is not for you 'cause almost everything is beautifully deep fried in here. Anyway, if you want to learn more about Yabu and katsu, their menu is very helpful. Yabu prides itself for having renowned Japanese chef Kazuya Takeda as the culinary mastermind behind their katsu menu. Although not based in the Philippines, Chef Kazuya extensively trained the Yabu staff to master the art of perfect katsu cooking.

They have a wide selection of katsu dishes to choose from: pork, chicken, seafood, veggies, name it. Being first timers, we didn't have a hard time choosing what we want. Every detail about a particular dish is described in the menu that they give to guests.

One unique thing about Yabu is you get to make your own Katsu sauce! While waiting for our food we were given this cool wooden mortar and pestle-like stuff and we have to grind the black and white sesame seeds until its fine! Aaaah, I love the smell of this! After the seeds are crushed, it is now time to pour your desired amount of tonkatsu sauce. This is kinda childish, but I really enjoy grinding the sesame seeds. Superb! If you’re lazy, you can request for ground sesame seeds already. I thought this was quite fun though! The sauce goes well with all their katsu dishes including seafoods. It has the right balance of sweet and tangy and can definitely add taste and texture to bland foods such as the cream dory and prawns.

I find it nice that they ask guests if it is their first time dining in their restaurant because they really give extra attention to you if you are. Since it is our first time, our food attendant familiarized us with the sauces and dressings on our table. He informed us what each is used for. The condiments include Japanese spices, sesame dressing and vinaigrette sauce for the cabbage and salads, and Himalayan salt if you need to add flavor to your food.

After about 10-15 minutes our food arrived: For my parents they ordered Seafood Mix Set 1 (Php485) basically consists of different seafood like black tiger prawn, cream dory, oyster, squid and scallops. If you're a seafood lover, then this one's perfect for you! I ordered the Rosu Katsu Curry set (Php375) the crunch of the pork and the hot curry sauce provide some great texture, another winner in Yabu's menu. You can choose your preferred level of heat, from regular, hot to very hot. Though I asked for my Katsu Curry in a "Regular" level of spiciness, the heat was still present, and added a gentle kick to it in the end. But you know their food didn't taste unfamiliar to my Japan-trained palate. You’ll get your money’s worth at Yabu as each meal comes with unlimited Japanese rice, unlimited cabbage, miso soup, Japanese pickles, and a bowl of fruit. Their presentation is pretty nice that it made me not want to touch any of it. But, hunger took over and before I knew it everything was gone! Well, except for the plates :) Don’t let the serving size on the photos fool you. All three of us were so full afterwards that we weren’t able to take advantage of their unlimited Japanese rice. But over-all, the combination of the whole set, with the Do-It-Yourself katsu sauce, makes a one-of-a-kind katsu experience. Every element goes well together, but a variety of condiments is readily available on each table for more preferences. To wash it all down, me and daddy ordered Ripe Mango Shake and for my mom Pineapple shake which was for Php100 and Php90 respectively.

Rosu Katsu Curry set

Seafood Mix Set 1

Aside from the food, I really love Yabu as a restaurant. The place is spacious, clean, and has that nice relaxed ambiance. Most of all, the staffs are very friendly and attentive even if the place was decently packed. We were very well-taken care of. Shout out to store manager and servers for the excellent service! Yabu has that perfect combination of good food, relaxed atmosphere, and well-mannered staff that makes an excellent casual dining experience.

Dining with Mom and Dad :)

I like how their interiors pulled of a minimalistic look that was comfortable and cozy at the same time. Their anime-comic-manga decorated walls made me smile and think that I was going to be enjoying my meal there. Be prepared to shell out a bit more though because they are not that cheap but for food that good, the price is really worth it. We were given menus and our waiter patiently answered all our questions and they all seemed very knowledgeable about their product which is another good point for Yabu. Their menu is another good point for them. It is filled with information on how best to enjoy your katsu. So far so good!

Pretty interior of anime-inspired frames on the wall

We'll probably be coming back here again as I was totally blown away by it. Service was really fast, and everyone was very courteous from ushering us to our seats, to offering us extra orders. The ambiance and overall look of the place was nice, with the quote riddled walls of the restroom standing out the most. With all that being said, expect us back in Yabu again soon.

Sorry for the lack of photos. It’s hard to take photos while you’re in the middle of eating delicious food.

Store Branches:

*SM Megamall - 2/F Mega Atrium

*Robinsons Magnolia - Lower ground floor

*SM Mall of Asia - 2/F South Arcade, Main Mall Atrium

Like their Facebook Page

Check out their website for more info.

Milk Tea-rific #3: Chatime

Hello bloggers! Sorry for being lazy posting again. Been busy doing some stuffs and fixing things. But I already have a list of things to post for me to share it to you. But for the mean time let me just share to you my milk tea review no.3.

MILK TEA!! One of my favorite drinks nowadays! I always crave for one. 

My official introduction to the world of--hold on, I mean the wonderful world of milk tea was from Chatime. Tea and milk are two things poles apart in taste. But, when blended together, tastes amazing! It's just so damn good. I tried so many milk tea store out there but Chatime is really one of the best!

Good Tea, Good Time!

Chatime is founded in Taiwan on 2003 and as of March 2012 it has over 500 outlets in 15 countries and counting. Chatime (again, I need to be wittier! Haha!), the largest international milk tea brand would open its doors in Manila! True enough, with over 12 stores in the top malls all over the country, Chatime's pretty much gathered a loyal following in the milk-tea-loving crowd, ME INCLUDED!! :) I suddenly got giddy and a lot more fun than the images of relaxation and tea pots that we're used to. I'm just happy its family is expanding and more people are gaining awareness about its great flavors. Fine! it was a bit of an exaggeration but it definitely made me smile from one ear to the other. I must have had dozens of cups of Chatime milk tea already before I was finally able to write an entry about it.

Recently, in the Philippines there is a lot of milk tea outlets established wherever you go and a lot of people began to be curious about the taste then became crazy about the said beverage. Milk teas had been quite a fad food wise, sprouting like mushrooms all over the metro taking over the Starbucks culture and Chatime is one of the many milk tea company responsible for it. They have the variety of flavors that you can enjoy from plain milk tea to a flavored tea. Not only milk tea but they also offer fruit juices. It's your choice! Chatime uses freshly brewed tea infused with different natural flavors to make the best bubble tea drink in town! Here is a small peek of their menu:

Menu  from their Facebook page

Their menu is written in both English and Chinese. Their prices are almost the same of the other tea house. However, their prices are not inclusive of toppings. An additional topping costs PHP15-PHP25.

A usual that I get is the Chocolate Mousse with 100% sugar and normal ice (PHP85-Medium, PHP95-Large), Taro Pudding Milk Tea with the same specifics. I always add topping of pearls whenever I ordered a drink. It taste good and addicting; now I know why it's one of their best selling flavor. Also, Matcha Tea Latte is a green tea with latte underneath it. The taste is less sweet which I do prefer compared to Starbucks' green tea frappe. I think even without the latte the green tea would taste a bit bitter which for some people will pass the said drink. 

Taro Pudding Milk Tea

Global branches

Chocolate Mousse

RECOMMENDED!! I think Chatime offers one of the better tasting milk teas in town. They have a wide selection of drinks and you have the option to choose the amount of sugar and ice you want. 

They also had this electronic round mini frisbee-like disc (I don't know what it is called exactly) given to you while waiting for your drinks. It lights up and buzzes once your drinks are ready for pick-up at the counter. So no need to loiter around the counter. 

But what I loved about this store is their new IPAD menu! It shows all their drinks with fun facts about each drink. You can also see which add-ons are best for the drink. Just touch it and you'll see all the refreshing teas Chatime has to offer.

Once you get there, it is very relaxing despite the number of people going in and out of the store. Comfy and chic, it is fun and relaxed at the same time. Enjoy the bright purple and pink accents against the bright white interiors. Which almost girls like!! :) Sink into the lean back soft seats with your milk tea in hand. Definitely a cool place to hangout with your friends up until the weeee hours. I thinks it's also a good place to do a lot of planning and thinking here. And like what I always look for from all the other milk tea I've tried, and like what I've stated from my previous milk teas entry, I want the tea flavor intact! And here, you still get that yummy yummy tea taste!!

They're also selling cakes, breads, mini hamburgers and other staples such as the curry dog, french fries, and pepper salt chicken pops! You won't miss it for sure!

Pastries and Desserts

While I've compelled to keep trying the different milk teas out there, it doesn't hurt to have a favorite. I'll always be loyal to Chatime. 

Have you gone for your own Chatime yet?? I think this will be a place for me to hang out and enjoy the drinks from time to time...For those milk tea lover if you want to try this, check out their Website, like their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter. 

Milk Tea-rific #2: Gong Cha

Hello guys! I'm back from deep slumber! And I'm back with my milk tea review no. 2! 

Honestly, I'm a milk tea fanatic. I can finish one order of any milk tea. I know. I know. I've been to Gong Cha far too many times already but I'm blogging about it just now. Hehe! :P Let me tell you a slight backgrounder about the craze on Gong Cha milk tea. 

Gong Cha is a Southeast Asia milk tea brand. It was first launched in Taiwan, and now boasts more than a hundred outlets worldwide. Before it even hit the Philippines, Gong Cha has been up and about in SE asian countries such as Malaysia, Hongkong and Singapore. Gong Cha which means tea that is served to the Emperor or Royal Court. 

The only Gong Cha outlets I know here in the Philippines are the ones in MOA, Glorietta and the other one in SM Megamall which I frequent went to when I'm craving for a milk tea fix. Their branch in SM Megamall is enough for a tea place. Situated in 2F Mega Atrium, its interior exudes a simple yet cozy vibe with maroon walls interrupted by smoky swirls of white. Marble top tables and black hard plastic chairs were spaced comfortably and lights dimmed accordingly.

Tea.Coffee.Juice

It is similar to Happy Lemon's concept of cheese and rock salt. Gong Cha milk was slightly salty and sweet at the same time. It was also creamy. If you are the type of person who likes everything a little salty and who would not mind tasting it from a cup, then go for this mil tea place Gong Cha milk variety which comes in an assortment of tea combinations such as green, black, alisan or earl grey. 

My all-time favorite which I usually order is the Gong Cha Winter Melon tea and Milk Tea with Pearl Jelly. A rush of smooth, creamy, and foamy milk cream greeted my mouth and what transpired within the next few seconds was a heaven for my mouth with a cream yet a clean texture. I love the way the foam tastes and when it mixes with the tea. Kabooom!!! A match made in heaven. I could see a sprinkle of a green matcha powder on top. As I dug my straw deeper, my mouth was awash with honeyed overlapping tastes of young winter melon and sugar. The tea flavor is very apparent and that's one of the things I really look for. And for me, what might be an optional ingredient for others can actually be a deal-breaker for me: the pearls. :) The Gong Cha pearls were nice, soft and chewy and therefore merit the my praise as a milk tea fanatic. If you're a newbie in the milk tea craze, go for their sweetened milk teas like the wintermelon and chocolate. 

Sprinkled with green matcha powder

They said there are three ways to enjoy Gong Cha House special. First, is to sip the special cream on top! Itried it and it was heaven! It's so yummy that you would want to order another serving of the cream. Haha! I wonder how they do it. It's creamy and a little bit salty. It's like cheese and milk in one. Super delicious!! :)) Doing the second step to enjoy the cup: Tasting the tea! I took a sip and says: this is really authentic winter melon! It doesn't taste like other milk tea establishments winter melon tea. Last step: Mix the cream and tea! Baboom! It looks like milk tea! But it doesn't taste like milk tea while getting the satisfaction of drinking the tea passing through a thick foamy layer. 

Overall, I was satisfied with my Gong Cha experience and will definitely go back to try out their other specialty drinks. I think the price is reasonable considering that I really enjoyed my drink. Like I mentioned on my past review, other milk tea places were missing something, sometimes it would be the "umay" factor and for the most of the time, the consistency of the pearl. With Gong Cha, the taste of their drink really stands out. Go and try and you might fall in love with it, who knows?? Very distinct and definitely a must-try!! :)) 

Gong Cha Philippines currently has 5 branches all over the metro:

*SM Mall of Asia - G/F Entertainment Complex

*SM North Edsa - 2/F Sky Garden

*Glorietta 4 - 3/F Food Choices

*SM Megamall - 2/F Mega Atrium

*Robinsons Place - 3/F Midtown Level

Check out their milk tea specialty from Gong Cha website and whats new they have to offer on their Facebook page. 

Chew on this: Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken

"Home of the World Famous Portuguese Style Grilled Chicken"

Piri-piri, Peri-peri or Peli-peli is the name used in Portuguese and a number of African languages to describe the African bird's eye chili, a member of the Capsicum plant genus. This is a small and extremely spicy variety. The variations in spelling derive from the various pronunciations of the word in parts of Africa, although "Piri-piri" is the correct spelling in Portuguese. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piri_piri)

So, just looking at the definition you can already assume that Peri-peri chicken would have an exotic taste. Hmmmm....Interesting right?!

Together with my dad and sister we went at SM Megamall because my sister is planning to buy a new phone and my dad need to buy new clothes for their company outing. Since, it's tiring to go around the mall and walk through each stores, Mr. Stomach was growling and that was our signal that we should eat to pacify our hunger. It's hard to decide where to eat in a place as big as SM Megamall because there are really lots of good restaurants to choose from but this particular restaurant caught my eye simply and lured to this place out of pure hunger, the SM Megamall branch located on the Bridgeway 3rd level of building B in between Racks and Tokyo Cafe was conveniently situated. Chicken lovers can rejoice with the menu filled with chicken dishes from salads, entrees, wraps, sandwiches, pasta and of course, the Filipino staple, platters and combo meals. If you're craving chicken minus the grease then their charcoal-grilled chicken is a very good alternative.

"OLA, SENOR, SENORA!!!" that will be the greeting you will hear upon entering the restaurant. The place is nice. They got these yellow lanterns above each tables that made it a happy, bright looking place. It has a very light ambiance too. I got excited. I don't know why but the very easy and light feeling made me feel excited to the chicken that we will be ordering.

I ordered the Everyday Platter B (1/4 pc. Peri-peri chicken, 2pcs. Parmesan shrimp, Corn and Carrots, Java rice and gravy for P235) because I was so hungry, excited and my appetite has been crazy lately I forgot to take the picture of it! Hehe :P And I chose the Lemon and Garlic flavor for my chicken . It's worth it. The price is reasonable as the serving is big. Big enough for a little girl with a monster stomach like me. My chicken? Simot-sarap! As in sarap to the bones. ^-^ The chicken tasted different than the usual grilled chicken that I'm familiar with. You can taste some herbs and other flavors on it and the good things is, you don't need to dip it in gravy to enjoy the chicken because it is good as it is.

My dad ordered just a 1/4 pc. Peri-peri chicken also in a Lemon and Garlic flavor and my sister chose to have Classic Carbonara with 2 pcs. finger bread on the side. Every time you order chicken the servers will ask you what marinade you prefer. They have Lemon and Garlic, Mild spicy and Hot and Spicy. Service at this branch was fast which was perfect because we were all starving.

Classic Carbonara

1/4 pc. Peri-peri Chicken (Lemon & Garlic)

The Platters (A,B,C) seems to be making it big, eliminating the need to decide on a three-course meal, being budget friendly. The best thing about Peri-peri is the P49 unlimited soup and beverages promo. Take note, the soup is not just something cupped out from a dish; we are talking about the real soup here. 

Their menu and price list

Depending on the day (they have two choices per day) and based on my experience, they have Mushroom Soup, Corn Soup, Carrot and Pumpkin Soup and Broccoli Cream soup. May be because it's weekend that there are many soup choices. 

My top pick is unexpectedly the Carrot and Pumpkin Soup. Creamy, tasty and healthy. Second on my list is the Corn Soup because I am just a corn person. The Broccoli Cream Soup is a must try too, although the Mushroom soup is so-so.

Carrot and Pumpkin Soup

Mushroom Soup

For the beverages, they've got tons. I ordered a mango shake coz' I don't feel like the drinks available for the promo. Hihihi Mango juice, Lemon Iced tea, Strawberry juice, Sodas (Pepsi products), Coffee, Hot tea and the list goes on.....The soup and drinks were self-service so you can really get as much as you want. How would they know you availed of the unlimited deal? :P They use different glasses and soup bowls than those for regular servings, of course! 

Whether you are a big eater or on a diet, there's always a room for you. Average price per meal range around P150 - P250, depending on the included number of sides. They also serve Salads, Burger and Quesadillas. One thing I'm sad with Peri-peri is they didn't offer any kind of desserts or sweets! :( I hope they will add it up in their menu in future time. 

My handsome father

Me, Daddy and big sister happy tummy!!

With all our orders in Peri-peri Charcoal Chicken, overall, I must say that this restaurant is actually highly recommended since they are not the usual chicken mean you will have plus considering the price, they are not really costly. It was still a satisfying meal. We'll go back there for sure and still have to try other good food that they offer next time. I couldn't move out of really bloated tummy by then! If you come across this restaurant, try it, don't chicken out!! Indulge!! :D

Chew on this: Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

When I hear Cinnabon, I think of the creamiest and sweetest cinnamon rolls. Something as sweet and as creamy as this may not be so good for our health. Good thing, one roll will do the trick! WOW, talk about  'Heaven in your mouth!' The cream cheese on top makes it distinctly Cinnabon. The soft bread and the cream that makes you think you're eating one of the best tasting cinnamon flavored bread. I usually prefer to eat this warm and some prefer with a hot coffee but for me since I don't drink hot coffee I usually like to order one of their best creamy chillatas. 

Today was totally different, when we face the temptation of Cinnabon. Haha :)) Me together with my mom were supposedly go to Podium to check out the Esparille store coz' I'm planning to get a new pair with a new color. But, when we walked past the inviting corner of Cinnabon, just by the second floor escalators. Well, all of a sudden, our feet started walking in the direction of Cinnabon, and before we knew it we found ourselves  placing our orders at the counter. Cinnabon has a very aromatic baked cinnamon rolls that often carry their aroma within the area. The smell of cinnamon always attracts me. Both the cinnamon and coffee are freshly baked there and are a welcome change to the more often visited Starbucks and Coffee bean. 

Cinnabon at Podium Mall

Having the Cinnabon classic roll that day is like being in a place like no one else except me enjoying life. It's feel like my sweet tooth cravings is very satisfied! :D It was a delicious treat indeed. The sweet, warm cinnamon classic makes my day complete. I simply love the sweet aroma and taste of my all time favorite desserts. 

Cinnabon was familiar almost to all people out there, all right! It's one of those places that never fails to put a smile in your face! Every penny you spend is worthily spend! 

Visit the Cinnabon store nearest you!