Banzai, The Great Teppanyaki Theater!

Alas, the delinquent blogger returns! As much as I would love to say that life got in the way, I'd rather be honest and admit that I've lost my mojo. It's times like these when I reassess my life, and try to look for a reason to pickup where I left off... long before the event invites, food and product reviews I was just an average person (I still am!) chronicling my food adventures. So, I figured that the only way to get out of my blogging funk was to go back to basics. TL;DR Lazy blogger took too long to publish post that said buffet restaurant is now closed. For real.

Tweet

Happy Hour at Katsu Japanese Grill, Bonifacio Global City

I rarely drink. Why? Well, gin based drinks make me itchy, tequila destroys me, and almost any other liquor tastes waaaaaay too strong. I know, I'm not much fun to be with at parties! However, when handed an innocent and perky looking glass of classic  mojito coupled with a promise that I'll like it, I was intrigued.

Tweet

Impromptu Dinner at Ippudo Ramen

I know, I know! Ippudo has been in the Philippine scene since September, but the lines are always insanely long and my tummy just couldn't handle the ridiculous waiting time when I know I could have had dinner elsewhere, sans all that unnecessary hassle. Thank God for holiday operating hours, my office mates and I were able to walk in without the killer lines after doing overtime and several rounds of bowling.

Tweet

Yomenya Goemon: Japanese Style Spaghetti House at Glorietta 3

Don't let your eyes deceive you. This bowl of goodness may look like ramen, but it really isn't. We were killing time before our movie starts within 2 hours, and surprisingly at loss for where to have dinner. My eyes caught sight of their sign that read "Japanese Style Spaghetti" so off we went inside.

Tweet

It's A Ramen Kind Of Night At Mitsuyado Sei-Men

We found ourselves hankering for a good bowl of ramen this week, partially due to the bed weather but more so because we just grab any excuse we can find to pig out. My friends and I initially decided to try Raimen Daisho in Shaw Boulevard, but we found ourselves inside Mitsuyado Sei-Men in Jupiter, Makati which was much closer to home.

Tweet

Kichitora of Tokyo at SM Megamall

Time flew so fast that once again, rainy season is upon us. Though regardless of the weather, I always have a constant hankering for a sumptuous, nourishing and comforting bowl of ramen. As if it isn't obvious through this blog already!

Tweet

Damn Good Sushi at Ogetsu Hime

Sushi and I, we're like old buddies. We go way back my college days, when I was satisfied with the ready to eat variety from convenience stores and supermarkets. As I grew older, I'm glad my taste evolved. I now appreciate and practice "quality over quantity" and how else would I find out where my money's well spent than to get my sushi fix on?

Tweet

Kimukatsu: Home of the Famous 25-Layered Mille-Feuille Style Tonkatsu!

They say "a good pair of shoes will take you to good places", but I just can't leave everything behind with abandon and fly to Japan to bask under the beauty of Sakura trees, not yet anyway. So I resort to other options available at my disposal, from devouring a tower of travel books to devouring good Japanese food. It feels like I get one step closer to where I want to go, like I'm already halfway there. 

Why, don't you know that good food can transport you places?

Tweet

Send-Off Lunch At Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

For my second and official send-off celebration, I was thinking of going Japanese. To my officemates and friends, that's probably a given. I had my mind's eye set to Yabu's sinfully enticing Salmon Katsu but Yabu doesn't accept reservations and it always is jam-packed during peak hours. I didn't want my officemates to starve on account of me, so my backup plan was to try out Hokkaido Ramen Santouka based on the decent reviews online.

Tweet

I Love You Yabu: The House of Katsu

I have been a long time patron of Yabu, it's just that when I started dining here regularly, I was still on blogging hiatus back then, that's why I'm only getting to blog my addiction to Yabu now. I guess it's better late than never, right? 

Tweet

Akira: The Art of Sushi and Teppanyaki (An Instant Favorite!)

I live for Japanese food, I crave for ramen, sushi, kani salad and other mouth-watering Japanese staples all the time! Luckily for me, I'm not alone. Ekai shares the same love for Japanese food that I can't help but realize that most of our pig out sessions are in Japanese restaurants. I think the the idiom "birds of the same feather, flock together" really is true.

Tweet

Ninja Paparazzi Mode At Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen

Last Saturday, I met up with Ekai at Shangri-La Plaza Mall to watch Fast & Furious 6 and also to pig out at this ramen place that recently opened in the additional east wing.  We only went for the food but as it turns out, we got more than what we came for! It was an unusually awesome day, find out why after the jump!

Tweet

The Salad Project: Kani Mango Salad + Black Bean Salad

 

Me and Japanese cuisine, it's a love story that has been going on and going strong for years, but ever since I have been opting for healthier food choices, it's a given that I can't go on my usual sushi roll *sobs*. I could easily go on a sushi detox, but to stay away from kani mango salad? That's a different story.

Tweet

Friday Night Pig Out at Watami

 

I was supposed to be blogging about Yabu House of Katsu today, but we were just so tired and grumpy last Friday night that after being in the waiting queue for around half an hour (or more), we gave up our reservation and made a bee line to Watami because we wanted our Japanese food fix and it wouldn't hurt to try some place new (at least to us!).

Tweet

The Little Tokyo Chronicles: First Stop, Hana

Out of the cab and a few steps inside, I had to make a double take as I thought I was already in a small village somewhere in Japan with all the wooden designs and hanging lanterns aglow. I say, not bad for a first impression! though to make the transportation complete, it's not only my eyes that need be satiated but my growing hunger as well.

Tweet

Office Packed Lunch [Series]: Home Made Sushi

Yes, I'm still alive. It's not that I'm running out of my creative juices, it's just that my food blog had to have to take the backseat for the meantime while I prioritize more responsibilities at the moment. So let me leave you with my favorite and fail-safe packed lunch option. Home made sushi baby!

Tweet

Bottomless Dinner At Dads Kamayan Saisaki!

Though I eat out often, I must admit that based on experience, a hefty bill doesn't always equate to a full, contented stomach. That's why most people resort to all-you-can-eat buffets, but finding the best of them all takes time and a lot of pig out sessions too! I've only tried dining at Tong Yang and Dads,  and until now I always root for Dads!

Tweet

My Not So Funny Experience at Funny Funny

Beef Bowl

PHP 120.00 or $ 120.00

Pardon the redundant title, but this one's for real. My officemates and I found ourselves with the usual dilemma everyday, where to eat? So while we were wandering aimlessly, we saw this restaurant that at far, looked like Kenny Rogers Roasters, but it wasn't. They had a "Pre-Opened" sign up front but we went inside anyway. :)

Tweet

Terrible Service At Teriyaki Boy

If by any chance, I would be able to choose my nationality other than being a Filipino, I would choose to be Japanese. It would be such an easy decision for me, all because I love Japanese food. I think it's pretty obvious since from that start I've shared with you guys numerous Japanese themed pig out sessions, and don't forget BF and I also make occasional DIY sushi just to get our sushi fix.

Tweet

Pig Out Disaster: Ton Ton Tei Takoyaki

Ton Ton Tei Takoyaki

Php 25.00 or $ 0.58 (per 3 pcs.)

In terms of "authentic" Takoyaki, I have no experience at all. So forgive me if I try to give myself a temporary high through the mushrooming takoyaki stalls in malls and supermarkets here. BUT! If there is one thing I've learned in trying out these obviously cheap "takoyaki", it's that it will never satisfy the foodie in me. Case in point: Ton Ton Tei Takoyaki.

I believe there were no octopus bits, and the vegetables weren't that generous either. In my experience, Kuya Chito's Takoyaki is more overloaded with vegetables than this. The sauce is forgettable. I'm not quite sure but it's somehow like the sauce for fresh lumpia minus the sweetness. Samurai's Takoyaki sauce's sweet and spicy blend is definitely waaaaay better than this. It's somehow funny that their line is "When you think of takoyaki....think of Ton Ton Tei." 

If there ever will be another time I will eat takoyaki again, It better be the real thing.

Ton Ton Tei Takoyaki

Location & Phone: 

Filmore St. Brgy. Palanan

Makati City, Metro Manila

Philippines

# 419 - 2816

Mobile: +63919 - 726 - 1338

Estimated Budget: P25.00meal

Payment Methods: Cash

Business Hours: 9:00AM to 9:00PM Daily 

Your pig out buddy,

Tweet