A&D Eats: Okonomiyaki Experience at Dohtonbori Greenhills

Before having dinner at Marufuku Restaurant (my previous post, please read my review here!), my best friend and I had our annual birthday lunch (our birthday is one day apart!) at Dohtonburi Greenhills last month! If you want to get the most authentic Okonomiyaki experience, this is the place to go! It really seems I'm having a big Japanese fever will all the restaurants we've been dining at!

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake but when the word it broken down... From Dohtonbori Philippines Facebook Page: "What is OKONOMIYAKI (お好み焼き), you may ask? From the word itself OKONO (What you want) and YAKI (Cooking), it is basically "COOKING WHAT YOU WANT". Okonomiyaki has been one of the most popular staple food in Japan where they consider this as their essential soul food."

Dohtonbori gives you an authentic Japanese ambience. Each table is equipped with a griddle that has a built-in sensor to maintain the perfect temperature for cooking whatever you order at Dohtonbori.

This is the main dining area but we opted to have our lunch at the area with the tatamis.

Kids loved the tatami but just a warning, their tables with the griddle are not the safest for kids though. Although the griddle on their table wasn't turned on, I still reminded them not to touch the griddle.

We were the first ones to arrive and my kids were already hungry so I ordered a bowl of ramen (what else?! haha) for them. They provided plates bowls, glasses and utensils for the kids (Cars and Frozen characters, siyempre benta sa mga anak ko haha!) which is always a plus in my book whenever we dine outside.

Ramen Tonkontsu, Php290, with everything on the side because my kids don't like spring onions. The kids finished everything!

My best friend ordered Tempura Soba, Php390, for her daughter. I'm not a fan of soba but this was quite tasty!

They cook everything in front of you, even the Gyoza! I was pretty impressed (or ignorant lang hahaha!)!

They cooked the Gyoza, Php120, in front of us. I was wondering how they would cook it since it will need water to steam the dumplings. It was fried first, then they put a chunk of ice cubes, covered it with a stainless bowl and let it steam until cooked.

Because it was our birthday, hindi na uso ang birthday cake. Birthday steak na! Haha! We ordered this Garlic Angus Striploin Steak, Php530. We asked it to be cooked medium. Sorry no more picture of the cooked steak because we wolfed it down once cooked.

For the okonomiyaki, we had the 5 Seafood Okonomiyaki, Php360, which was their best-seller. You can cook it yourself, they have an instruction on how to cook, but we left it to the experts. Hihi! It took about 20 minutes to cook, they use a timer while cooking the okonomiyaki. They cook and we just watch!

I like that they cook everything in front of us. The food is freshly cooked and hot. The Okonomiyaki was good! They certainly didn't scrimped on the ingredients!

We also had the Pork Yakinuku, Php180, which would go really well with rice.

I felt bitin with our okonomiyaki experience haha! The okonomiyaki was good but I wanted to try more flavors and variety so I'll come back again and maybe try to cook it myself! For the yakiniku, everything seems to taste the same, maybe because they use the same sauce for marinade? Maybe just try one kind for the yakiniku. I like the whole experience!

Dohtonbori Philippines

Branches: 8 Missouri st., North East Greenhills, San Juan, Manila and UGF, SM North Edsa

Menu

Facebook: Dohtonbori Philippines

Instagram: @dohtonbori_ph

Opens : 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Contact No: (02) 570 2765

A&D Eats Japan(ese) Edition: Marufuku Japanese Restaurant

Everyone seems to be going to Japan for vacation noh? BOS and I are planning to take our kids to Japan when R is 5 years old. The first and last time I went to Japan was when I was 10, I remember staying at a hotel in Ginza, then staying at Hilton so it is near Disneyland! It was 1994 and it was Disneyland's 10th year anniversary, it was one my fondest memory with my Achi, Angkong and Amma. Today, there's so much to see and eat in Japan! There's DisneySea, Universal Studios Japan, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Sanrio Puroland and so many more plus a vacation of just eating Japanese food!

But since our trip will happen in one to two years pa, all I can do now is eat all the Japanese food in Manila! There's a lot of Japanese restaurants in the metro, not all are a hit though. Little Tokyo is a place to go when you want authentic Japanese food. Ramen restaurants are every where and most often than not, we would always eat in one because it's the kids' favorite. In this Japanese edition of A&D Eats, I've tried two new restaurants

Last Easter Sunday, we took the kids Easter Egg Hunting at Podium, watched Batman vs Superman (which I found dark and dragging, di bagay kay Ben Affleck maging Batman and also ang tagal kasi lumabas ni Wonder Woman!) then had dinner at Marufuku Japanese Restaurant. I always curious about Marufuku because we always pass by the sign at San Miguel Ave whenever we would go to Podium and Megamall, then I saw Tina posted yummy photos when they dined there and finally we were able to try the food for ourselves!

Marufuku Japanese Restaurant is located at Crescent Building 29 San Miguel Ave, 1605 Pasig.

We just walked in and they accommodated us naman but reservation is recommended.

We were open to try anything they recommend but there were a few things I wanted to try too! We ordered a lot and BOS still wanted to try more dishes (yes, he was pretty pleased with Marufuku!) but were so full. Be prepared for some food porn!

They served a complimentary Pickled Cucumber with Carrots, Beansprouts and Sesame Seeds.

Marufuku Roll, Php645. It's a futomaki with wrapped with prawn tempura and topped with mango and unagi. This one was recommended by the server. I love this roll!

Aspara Bacon Yaki, Php85/stick

Kaki Motoyaki, Php290. Perfectly grilled Hiroshima oysters topped with creamy miso. BOS and I both loved this that we had two orders! This makes a perfect pulutan (mahal ng pulutan! Haha!) but I imagine this goes well with beer or sake!

Norwegian Salmon Sashimi, Php480. Just look at how fresh those are! It's so good, it's a must-order!

Gyukushiyaki, Php185/stick. Diced Wagyu Beef Skewer, ang sarap i-ulam sa kanin! Hihi! One stick is bitin!

Tonkotsu Ramen, Php450. I ordered ramen for the kids. It was good enough for the kids but if you are going to have ramen, better have it at your favorite ramen place.

Kaisen Kamameshi, Php490. Rice casserole with salmon, shrimps, quail egg, oyster, scallop and ikura. I was a bit disappointed with this, It lacks flavor. I was imagining one of my childhood memories of kamameshi rice at Kamameshi House but this not so good.

And to end our meal, we had the Mango Kakigori, Php220, shaved ice with mangoes, milk, mango syrup and mango ice cream! I love it! It reminds me so much of Ice Monsters! Yum!

Even with a couple of disappointing dishes, it was still a good meal! BOS was happy so I was happy too! Service was good too! We'll come back again soon and try more of their Robatayaki and Teppanyaki! My photos made my BIL craved that they went the next day! Haha! Their prices are a bit on the higher range but you get quality food. Oh and don't forget to make a reservation!

Marufuku Japanese Restaurant

Open everyday. Lunch 11:00 am to 2:30 pm. Dinner 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm. 

Ground Floor, Crescent Building, 29 San Miguel Avenue, 1605 Pasig

Menu

Facebook: Marufuku Japanese Restaurant

Instagram: @marufukuresto

Telephone Number: (02) 5703989

A&D's Kitchen Attempts: Marumiya Mabo Tofu Soup

I love grocery shopping especially at Japanese or Korean groceries for things you can't find in the normal groceries. I go to Konbini in Greenhills, the Japanese grocery in Little Tokyo or any Korean grocery in Malate.

One of my discoveries is Marumiya's Mabo Tofu in Sweet variant which I bought in Little Tokyo for about Php149 I think. I bought this so the kids can also try it. This was actually my second time to buy and cook this. Diba Mabo Tofu is supposed to be malapot? This one is soupy which at first I thought I cooked it wrong the first time but turns out really good!

I'm writing this entry so I could remember how to cook it because the instructions on the box is in Japanese!!! I had to ask BOS to look for an English translation on the net only to find a video in Japanese as well! Haha! So I'm sharing the process on how to cook and how I tweaked the recipe!

Here's what you'll find in the box:

It comes with 2 packs of Mabo Tofu sauce and the flavor packets. You can just use one of each if you're cooking for just one meal or if you're cooking for 2-3 people.

What you need:

1/2 medium onion, chopped

250g of ground pork

1-2 blocks of tofu, cubed. You can also use the silken one but I prefer to use the firm one

And now on to the part I love, cooking!

First, dissolve the small packet of powder included in the box in 300ml water, set aside.

Saute onions until translucent then add ground pork, saute until the pork browns.

Add 1.5 liters of water and the two packets mabo tofu sauce. Stir well and let it simmer for 2 minutes.

Then add the flavor that was dissolved earlier and stir.

Finally, add the tofu and let it simmer again for another 3 minutes.

By this time I'm hungry just by looking at this photo!!!

I like to cook in one big batch and just reheat it because I'm lazy like that heehee! This is so good with a hot cup of steaming rice. Y and R both loved it. Y likes tofu and R eats anything naman haha!

I'm planning to go to the Japanese gorcery again next week. I shall buy another box of this and try the spicy one naman! If you happen to see one of these, try it and let me know what you think! :)

ITADAKIMASU! Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater

Do you love Japanese food? And do you also love buffet? Well, well, well, there's a new Japanese buffet in town, Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater!

Banzai brings us an authentic, avant-garde, colossal Japanese buffet. Last week, some of us SoMoms and SoKids were able to experience the ultimate Japanese experience. Once you enter Banzai, it's like you are also being transported to Japan!

Moshi moshi! I felt like I was really in Japan!

Left photo is where they cook the teppanyaki. Right photo is one of the dining areas.

This area is perfect for little and intimate parties

They also have the Japanese Castle area

Dotonbori area! All the signs lght up at night!

And now for the buffet and food tour naman! Banzai only uses Japanese ingredients so you can be sure that the quality of food is great!

Only Japanese ingredients

Map of Banzai

Sushi station where your sushi is freshly made and sliced

I love their Okonimiyaki! I have three servings ata!

Tempura Station, the Ebi Tempura always gets wiped out!

Barbecue station!

Ramen Station which I'm so happy about. Y was happy too! So many choices.

Gyoza Station. Their gyoza is good! Well, I love dumplings!

Takoyaki Station. They have octopus and crab!

Drinks Station. Drink all you can soda, iced tea, lemonade, iced milo, iced coffee!

For coffee lovers out there, unlimited coffee too!

Cold Soba Station. Yum!!!

There's also Japanese Caesar  Salad Station. There are also other ready made salads choices!

Salads like this!

Desserts Galore!

For the sweet tooth. They make their own desserts from scratch!

Be sure to go on an empty stomach, don't eat breakfast or lunch, because I am sure you will go back for the beef teppanyaki, tempura, okonimiyaki and the piza!  I actually went back with my family two days after this. Heehee! That's how good Banzai is!

Salmon Sashimi, Okonimiyaki,  Beef Teppanyaki and Potato Salad

Left: Japanese pizza which I personally love!

Right: Shoyu ramen for Y. What I like about the ramen is they have small and large bowls  And they don't skim on the toppings

Left: Blow-torched salmon sushi. You can request for it!

Right: Takoyaki!

And after eating all those sushi and beef teppanyaki and before having dessert, pababa muna ng kinain ! take a walk at Banzai's Trick Art Gallery!

This is by the entrance, you can opt to have the "tour" before eating also!

You can wear costumes too! And have your photos taken at the gallery! I betcha you wanna wear that sumo costume! Hihi!

You can fight with the ninjas/samurais

Y was clueless what to do haha!

Y is still clueless  or amused haha! I don't know.

But little Juro gamley posed hehehe!

Little Gabbie is super adorbs here!

If my photos haven't convinced you yet, well, here's more reason to dine at Banzai!

5 + 1 Promo!\

Get 15% off when you follow al their social media accounts!

Celebrate your birthday at Banzai! More details on their Facebook Page!

Or celebrate Easter with Banzai this weekend!

Buffet Rates

Book a table, plan a get together, go eat at Banzai!

For more information, check their social media accounts to get updates and more!

Facebook: Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater 

Twitter: @Banzai_PH

Instagram: @banzai_ph

Email: banzaiphilippines@gmail.com

How to get to Banzai?

• Bldg J, By The bay Leisure Park, Seaside Blvd., Mall of Asia Complex, Brgy. 76, Zone 10, Pasay City
• 1300 Pasay City, Philippines

09155245705,09994713579, 09163775357, 552-7368