Pick Your Favorite Japanese Food and We’ll Tell You Where To Eat!

Which one’s your favorite?

Ask anyone which cuisine they love the most, and more than half will probably say Japanese. It has the widest variety of specialties from fresh sashimi to ramen to tonkatsu and more. In this list, we give you your best restaurant options around Metro Manila, based on your favorite Japanese dish!

P.S. You’re probably going to want to try all of them, don’t stop.

For Sushi & Sashimi

Ogawa – The Fort Strip

Ogawa with the Chef Kiyoshi Ogawa (formerly from Senju of EDSA Shangri-la Hotel), offers a unique and authentic old-town Japanese dining experience serving a menu of fresh sashimi and sushi, as well as other Japanese favorites. READ MORE

Must try: Crazy Maki, Dragon Roll

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2/F Fort Strip, The Fort Entertainment Center, 5th Ave cor 28th St, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 886-4994

Also try:
Haru, Shinsen, ROKU, Fukudaya and Kessaku

For Japanese Hotpot

Shaburi – Uptown Mall

Shaburi is an all-you-can-eat healthy Japanese shabu-shabu from Japan that offers unlimited premium meats, fresh seafood, organic vegetables and a buffet of appetizers and other bites. READ MORE

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Level 4, Uptown Place Mall, 36th St. cor. 9th Ave., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 805-2932

Also try:
Ganso-Shabuway, Nikuya Charcoal Grill & Shabu-Shabu

For Tempura

Asakusa: Home of Tempura – The Grove

Asakusa (pronounced as ah-sahk-sa) is a homegrown Japanese restaurant specializing in all kinds of tempura, from shrimp to veggies to uni. Get their value-for-money Emperor Set (biggest tempura set they have) or build-your-own. READ MORE

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Grove Retail Row, Ortigas Ave, C5, Ugong,Pasig
(02) 941-0157

For Yakitori

Tori Ichi Yakitori Bar – Net Quad BGC

Tori Ichi is a premium yakitori bar hailing originally from Kyoto, specializing in seasoned grilled meats on skewers. Must try’s include the Hasami, Bacon Mochi (in photo), Butabara Karashi, and Momomi Mentaiko.

Related Post: 15 Most Favorite Japanese Restaurants for Yakitori in Manila

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G/F Net Quad Bldg., 31st St cor 4th Ave., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(0917) 876-2397

For Japanese-Peruvian Cuisine

Nikkei – Legaspi Village

Nikkei is the first Peruvian-Japanese sushi bar in Manila headed by Argentinian Chef Christian Cejas. “Nikkei” is a term that describes Peruvian cuisine culturally inspired by the Japanese; it is a popular new cuisine in Europe. READ MORE

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Frabelle Business Center, Unit GO3, 111 Rada St., Legaspi Village, Makati
(02) 880-0231

For Gyoza

Osaka Ohsho – SM Megamall

Osaka Ohsho is a Japanese gyoza specialist and a popular restaurant serving unique Japanese favorites with a twist like their bestselling Truffle Gyoza, and a whole menu of new items like Nori Nachos, Chicken Truffle-yaki, Matcha Butter Tonkatsu and more.

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3/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong
(02) 631-7494

For Tonkatsu

Maisen – various branches

Maisen, franchised by Bench group, is one of Japan’s finest tonkatsu restaurants. It offers various tonkatsu sets including its bestselling Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu, served with their signature sweet and spicy Kurobuta sauce.

Also read: 10 Best Places to Get Katsu in Manila

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Also try:
Saboten

For Aburi (torched sushi)

Aburi – Alabang

From the team that brought us Relish and Romulo Cafe, Aburi offers modern Japanese cuisine specializing in aburi or “torched” sushi, chirashi bowls and other unique dishes. Try their Salmon Aburi, US Beef Gyudon Bowl and Wagyu Cubes. READ MORE

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2/F Madison Galeries, Don Jesus Boulevard, Alabang Hills, Cupang, Muntinlupa
(02) 776-1474

For Okonomiyaki

Dohtonbori – various branches

Dohtonbori, from Tokyo, is Japan’s #1 okonomiyaki restaurant chain that offers the first cook-your-own okonomiyaki experience to Manila. Top recommended dishes include the Deluxe Okonomiyaki, Kiwami Ultimate Cheese Okonomiyaki, Quattro Formaggi pizza, and their premium yakiniku. READ MORE

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For Steaks and Japanese BBQ

Buta+Wagyu – SM Aura

Owned by the Villarica family, Buta + Wagyu is a Japanese Wagyu steakhouse serving only the most authentic and high quality beef and homegrown organic pork. Must try’s are the Japanese Wagyu Sushi, Steamed Omi Wagyu Sirloin, A5 Omi Wagyu Ribeye, and their gyoza!

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5/F SM Aura, 26th St cor McKinley Parkway, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 946-7262

Also try:
Gyu Kaku

For Teppanyaki

WAFU – Greenhills

WAFU is a modern Japanese restaurant helmed by the new executive chef, Chef Nobuyoshi Onishii, former Sushi Master from the renowned Midori Sushi in Japan. It is most known for its value-for-money all-you-can-eat teppanyaki nights, great ambiance and interiors.

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N. Western St, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan
(02) 570-3242

For Ramen

Butamaru – Alabang

Butamaru is known to serve authentic Japanese ramen that specializes in the pork flavor as to which ‘buta’ means ‘pig’. In Fukuoka, Chef Jerome discovered a way to prepare and serve “melt-in-your-mouth” pork chashu, while his visit to Hakata inspired Butamaru’s 16-hour tonkotsu broth. Finally, in Oita was where he learned the art of noodles from Master Artisan Sugimura, a veteran with 40 years of noodle-making experience under his belt. READ MORE

Insider tip: Order the off-menu hane gyoza, made with cheese and lightly fried until the edges of each piece connect to one another. P.S. It’s not always available though, so good luck!

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CE405 Westgate Center Commerce Ave, Alabang, Muntinlupa
(02) 887-4255

For Desserts

Le Petit Souffle – various branches

Le Petit Souffle is a French and Japanese-inspired cafe from the Tasteless Group (of Hole in the Wall, Scout’s Honor, Bad Bird, Wrong Ramen, etc). They serve modern dishes crafted with flavors and precision of Japanese and French cuisines.

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4/F Century City Mall, Kalayaan Ave., Makati
(02) 718-5681

Which of these Japanese restaurants are you most excited to try? Book a table through Booky to avail P500 discount on your total bill. You can even get a free dessert in the end just by “submitting feedback” in the app.

Sign up to Booky today to receive your first P1,000 discount credits, which you can use at any of the restaurants listed above. Happy dining!