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

Fukuoka is a city in Southern Japan on Kyushu. It’s where Tonkotsu ramen, a popular regional style of ramen originated.

I tried searching what Ikkoryu means. Sorry. Nil.

Going back to Kyushu, Tonkotsu is characterized by its thin, straight noodles in rich and creamy pork broth. That can only be done after laborious boiling.

According to Ikkoryu Fukuoka, their ramen is special because of the ff:

• Tonkotsu soup
• Noodle- freshly made using premium flour from Japan
• Chashu- roast pork cooked in a stringent process
• Special soy sauce- secret soy sauce producing the rich ramen soup

People are raving about it. Let me see.

Upon entering Ikkoryu Fukuoka, tall wooden fences with Japanese calligraphy dotted by red chairs welcome everyone. That is, alongside with the staff’s loud “irrashaimase” (“welcome” in Japanese).

The menu welcomes guests, too

The interior exudes coziness and the staff are ready to suggest what best to eat. So as recommended, Ajitama Tonkatsu at Php 380 it is.

Hot bowl of Ajitama

The ramen is topped with special half boiled egg fully marinated with special blended soy sauce base. Of course, there’s also the chashu, green onions, bamboo shoots, wood ear and dried seaweed.

The tonkotsu soup for me is rich and creamy, but very basic. My heart still roots for Kichitora’s PaitanRamen Zenbu no Se.

The noodle quality is okay. Chose it ‘hard’, as suggested too.

The chashu is thin and big enough. And the fatty portion, I’m quite satisfied. But the best chashu’s I’ve ever tasted was in Hokkaido Ramen Santouka.

Then the star of the ramen: ajitama or boiled eggs. Yummy! It’s so soft and runny in a good way. I enjoyed it. Truly, the cream of the crop.

For the salad, they recommended Tofu Salad at Php 160 and it’s good. What I love about it is the sweet something-like-chips on top. It added texture and a bit of flavor to the salad as there’s nothing to expect from a tofu. As always, Japanese dressing’s yummy.

Yummy tofu salad

Aside from the very proactive staff, their service is fast, too. Additional points for that.

Menu here:

 

 
Rating: 3.5 

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen has a branch in:

Wack-Wack 5/L, Shangri-la Plaza Mall 

EDSA, Shaw Blvd. cor. EDSA, 

Mandaluyong City

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Saturday, March 21, 2015

Yabu: House of Katsu might be the popular favorite for the best katsu in town but I digress, having tasted what might topple it off: Tonkatsu by Terazawa.

Located in Greenbelt 2, Tonkatsu by Terazawa is first in the Philippines from Nagoya, Japan. Just like their straight to the point yummy katsu, the restaurant was simply named after its owner Akinori Terazawa. 

Terazawa's Tonkatsu is perfectly crisp and just like an mm's it heavenly melts in the mouth. Thanks to nama panko, a kind of breading that they use to make it oh-so perfect. Not to mention too that it's less greasy. That we have to take credit from their imported oil from Germany. 

When dipped of course in a tonkatsu sauce, the experience almost complete. Unlike in Yabu where they'll give you a wooden mortar with sesame and a pestle, in Terazawa, you're left to enjoy how to make your best sauce with the aid of their info-graphics. 

So well now, how to best enjoy it according to the expert? 

Every tonkatsu is provided with a salt in the sidedish plate, grind it and pour two to three (yes, just like how they say it in Yabu) spoonfuls of tonkatsu sauce-- although right estimation comes in handy as it's served in something like an oriental teapot. To add the aroma we loved in Yabu, sprinkle it with grounded sesame seeds. Then hoola, you're just about to taste the dream of Mr. Terazawa: to provide the best katsu in town.

Here's what I first tried in Tonkatsu by Terazawa: Cheese Hire (lean pork without fat) Katsu at Php 485.

 

I enjoyed the menchi of my friend back in Yabu, that's why.

The cheese was just mild and half of the tonkatsu can still be enjoyed with its sauce. Aside from the tonkatsu that I love, their cabbage and its sauce is exceptional too! I have to get back again to relish that burst of flavor! Just like in Yabu too, rice and cabbage are refillable. But with its inclusion of tonjiru (special miso), side dish of tsukemono or pickled vegetable, corn and mustard, it's already too hearty for my appetite to ask for more of their yummy cabbage. 

Tonkatsu by Terazawa is so good I want to try it again. Although it's a but expensive than Yabu. But then again, with their comfortable ambience and their relatively fast service, it's every penny's worth.

I bow. 

 
Rating: 5

Tonkatsu by Terazawa is located at:

Greenbelt 2,

Makati City

Cheese Hire Katsu food blog food review Greenbelt 2 Japan Japanese food Makati City Nagoya reviews Tonkatsu by Terazawa unlimited rice and cabbage verdict Yabu: House of Katsu

Sunday, March 02, 2014

It might be just a craze this year, but indulging in a bowl of hot ramen in this particularly cold weather doesn't sound crazy at all. Definitely not, when it's Hokkaido Ramen Santouka opening its doors. Their ramens are to reckon with.

 

Let's get this ramen on!

Choosing what ramen to eat is like picking up my lugaw for the day. If with ox tripe then that's gotto; if with  chicken and egg, arroz caldo that is. For ramen though, aside from the toppings, the broth also comes in consideration. 

There's shio for salt flavored with seaweed, fish and chicken bones, tonkotsu for pork bone, shoyu for soy sauce and chicken stock and miso from the paste, as we all know. 

 

Drown in their selection of ramen, set menu, rice toppings, curry and rice and etc.

I decided for a Shoyu Ramen (Php 330, medium) this time. It was topped with nori, naruto, menma, negi and slices of pork. It wasn't so spectacular for me only that the braised beef was so tender and so flavorful! The medium-sized bowl was more than for me, I could be full with just small (Php 280). It was served in just the right temperature it didn't scald my tongue.

My first choice though was their special Santouka Chicken Ramen (Php 300), which according to the menu they only serve 15 bowls. I was able to taste it and it was way better than my shoyu. My friend really enjoyed hers, and I didn't even wonder why.

One of my friend also enjoyed his Ramen and Curry & Rice bowl set (Php 450) and was full afterwards. I got to try his ramen too and was I envious, again! 

I was just a bit wrong with my ramen choice but with my friends' reaction, Ramen Santouka nailed it. Made a mental note too to try char-siu ramen next time and add additional braised beef. Yummy! 

More than the food, the ambience is nice and the seats are comfy too. Service is also good I didn't have to wait long for my order.

  
Rating: 4

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka has a branch in: 

SM Mall of Asia, 
J. Diokno Blvd.

Pasay City

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Saturday, February 01, 2014