Finally, another buffet restaurant to enjoy! Four Seasons Hot Pot City by Vikings Group, offering fresh and healthy hotpot/ steamboat/ shabu-shabu, is truly an eat-all-you-can to visit. 

Let's see what it has to offer

Upon entering the restaurant, I can feel the effort placed in coming up with something grand as this. The interior was bright, very conducive to enjoy with family or friends. What's more, just before sunset, it's a romantic place to be with Manila Bay and all. 

What a view!

Cool interior

I also love how the sections are labeled from: 

• Premium- phew! not open that time

Aww :(

• Seafood- everything under the sea to the table is here! 

Sliced a biteful

• Meat- fresh meats! some are superbly cut on the spot

 

• Vegetables- if I can only bring these outside and cook it. Freshness!

• Appetizers- from makis to samplers

• Beverages/ The Bar- nope, they opted for their own concoctions than settling for anything less such as powdered juices 

• Desserts- yummy desserts! Crepe, yogurt, cakes, breads and Iscreeeeeeeeeam all you can (and more).

Special ice cream

Crepe goodness

On the seat, servers immediately demo how to use the hotpot. Every table has its own electric stove which is safe to use. Then the yin-yang pot can accommodate two kinds of broth/ soup: pork, chicken, fish, vegetable, sinigang. Then mix to flavor are also opted. 

Pour the soup then the mix

Because I had two tables ;), was able to try almost all the broths. They all are fine except for Sinigang. For me it doesn't fit well with the meat balls, etc type of food. 

For those who can't wait, they also have cooked meals near the bar (which are good) and Japanese deluxe such as maki, sushi and tempura. 

Fresh sushi

What I enjoyed in hot pot are:

• Cooking can be bonding in itself!
• Healthy food choices
• Innards/ offal lover

Innards all you can

• Made on the spot which ensures freshness 

Made on the spot

• With hot drinks such as teas and coffee! Also offer milk teas and shakes (by request in the bar)

Grab a milk tea or fruit shake!

• With draft beer and Chang beer, friends say it's good  

Good!

• And Japanese sake!!!

Arigato!

• Their viands I enjoyed, they weren't included there just because

Especially love the curry!

• Superb ice cream selection: a mark of the Vikings Group!

Some tips:

• Thinly sliced meats should be rolled (as in a circle) first then dropped for just about 3-5 seconds
• Below are the special meats ordered at the counter to be delivered on the table (so take note of the table number) 

Remember to choose from these!

• Again, not to much on drinks. (Not to break the bubble but harder here because of their fresh juices)
• When full, try hot tea then eat again ;)
• Refrain from slurping the soup from the hot pot. Mind the calories. 

Overall, I find the selection in hotpot good and fresh. It's a good break from the mushrooming buffets around. 

 

Rating: 4.5 

Four Seasons Hot Pot City is located at:

Building E, By The Bay, 

Seaside Boulevard, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), 

Pasay City

Rates: 

Adult Weekday Lunch: 588
Adult Weekday Dinner: 788

1000 less blog buffet buffet for 1 buffet in MOA eat all you can in MOA eat-all-you-can food review food trip healthy shabu-shabu hotpot shabu-shabu steamboat tips for hotpot

Monday, June 01, 2015

BANZAI! Either a war cry or a cheer, it didn’t matter anymore. All at once, did both as I was excited to try this with my game-face on.

Banzai: The Great Teppankayi Theater evokes the feeling of being in the Land of the Rising Sun. Japanese lanterns, dancing geishas, samurai warriors roaming, sumo wrestlers in photos, Japanese greetings by the staff, it was a perfect setting.

Lights on for Banzai

What they offer

The cream of the crop, of course, was the authentic buffet. Everything Japanese was in Banzai!

Interestingly, the 1,200 m² area was sub-divided into several dining areas with different themes:

• Dotonbori Area
• Castle Area
• Old Japan Area
• Nautilus Area
• Sumo Arena

Japanese lanterns above

Japanese art

As seen in chairs, too

Not surprisingly, my friends and I were assigned in the Sumo Arena. And just like a sumo, I can just say in jest, “Bring it on!”

The great teppanyaki theater has the ff stations (the major and minor ones):

• Tempura and Tonkatsu Station
• Yakitori and Grill Station
• Gohan, Noodles and Ramen station
• Takoyaki and Kaniyaki station
• Pizza Station
• Roast Station
• Anti- pasti station
• Hot station
• Mongolian BBQ station
• Sushi, Sashimi and Rolls station
• Teppanyaki Station
• Beverage station
• Dessert station
• Salad station

As my general rule every buffet, I start with salad. They have several greens, toppings and dressings to choose from. Their mango dressing was good. If it was cold enough, I could’ve mistaken it for my favorite mango shake.

Salad station

Salad dressings

Then went for hot with ramen. Lately, there’s a thing with me and tonkotsu so I chose this as the base. Well, it didn’t taste like the top ramen raves but the toppings was worthy to mention (it has  Naruto)! The chasu serving was thick, too.

Ramen station

In the pizza station, I tried Chicken Teriyaki. First time here and it’s good. I love the added mango cubes. Crust was soft and chewy, too. Paired it with their kanikayi (crab meat inside) which was yummy I came back for another. I like it better than the bacon okonomikayki.

Pizza Station

Their tempura and tonkatsu were okay. Better with the sauces, actually as the tonkatsu was oily. The teppanyakis that I tried were flavorful especially the beef misono. But what can get wrong with a misono, anyway?

Tonkatsu

Teppanyaki station

Roast station

I also love their gyoza. More veggies, more fun.

Gyoza

Hands up to Wagyu Roast Beef in rare, plus its sauce.

Wagyu Beef

For their desserts, cakes were so-so but I enjoyed their mango crepe. Topped it with Nestle ice cream in strawberry, vanilla and mango flavors for a sweeter effect. They also had snow cones where flavors can be chosen and mixed, fruit salads and DIY halo-halo. Went back here several times. Favorite station. I just hope that soon they’d have Japanese desserts, too. 

Crepe with Nestle ice creams

Wood cake? 

This one is good

Fruit salad

Halo halo DIY

What I wasn’t able to try were the Filipino dishes, some yakitori in skewers and any sushi.

Sushi station

Mongolian BBQ station

Pasta station

Banzai has an entertainment value, too. Apart from the play of the geisha and samurai warriors along the ‘theater’, I had fun watching the chefs skillfully displaying the art of throwing knifes and etc.

Chefs' part in the entertainment

Then after there are went aflame for a few seconds. It’s an added fanfare together with the art gallery where Japanese’s love for the arts was showcased.

Art gallery

Costumes available :)

It’s almost as expensive as Vikings:The Luxury Buffet where the food variety’s great. But what I think the strengths of Banzai were:

• Focused theme. Again, I would’ve loved it better if the desserts were Japanese, too. Mochi ice cream, please.
• The ramen station! I didn’t expect it.
• Some foods cooked on the spot. Hot!
• The showcase of Japanese artistry.

Overall, it was a great experience. I truly felt that I was in Japan. And hopefully, so.

Banzai Rates:

• P699 for Monday to Friday lunch
• P899 for Monday to Friday dinner
• P1,088 for Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. 

 

Rating: 4.0


Banzai is located at:

Building J, SM by the Bay,
Seaside Blvd., MOA,
Pasay City

Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater buffet eat-all-you-can food blog Japanese Japanese food Kaniyaki Ramen Sashimi and Rolls Sushi Tempura and TonkatsuYakitori and Grill teppanyaki yakitori

Saturday, April 04, 2015