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 Japanese Eats Roundup: Nadai Fujisoba and Oedo Japanese Restaurant

It's been awhile since I wrote about food. With no yaya and me doing the laundry and cooking, there's not much time left for me to write! One post can take me three days, oh well papel! Here's a quick A&D Eats post! I didn't realize we ate Japanese in a span of three days, one was for R's birthday and another was to celebrate our 7th year wedding anniversary!

We ate at Nadai Fujisoba on R's birthday. I think it's the newest restaurant in Lucky Chinatown. I've been wanting to try this restaurant and since we must eat noodles on R's birthday, it was the perfect occasion to try Nadai Fujisoba. It's not ramen but it's still noodles and my kids love noodles in any form. Heehee!

Nadai Fujisoba specializes well in soba. It's actually a nice alternative to ramen if you're not a ramen person. They also serve udon, rice bowls, and other ala carte dishes.

Kake Soba, Php180, for the kids to share

Niku Fuji Soba, Php260, for me! Beef strips, nori, soft boiled egg and onions, I enjoyed every slurp, or maybe I was hungry.

The broth was good, it's clear and light, a big difference with the thick and creamy ramen broths serve. The kids and I enjoyed our bowls of soba! I wanted to order more but I can't eat leisurely with them in tow. I think my mom would like this because she always complains ramen broths are salty and too rich for her. Must take my parents here soon!

Nadai Fujisoba

@fujisobaph

Bonifacio High Street

Lucky Chinatown

Our next Japanese meal was at Oedo Japanese Restaurant 2 days after eating at Nadai Fujisoba to celebrate naman our wedding anniversary! We went to Oedo after picking up Y from school. I've heard great things about the place so I was excited to eat!

Love the outdoor dining area. Feels like you're in Japan! 

View from our table.

Let's get down with the food. I always ask for their recommendations and best-sellers because sometimes I cannot decide which ones to order. I also checked a few food blogs for review and here's what we ordered:

Fresh Salmon Sashimi all to myself!

Mixed Tempura, Php320. There's shrimp, fish, and veggies. I like that the shrimp is whole and not just half like other restaurants serve.

Oedo Maki, Php300. There's unagi somewhere there. Heehee!

Shio Ramen, Php240. The kids had this and well they liked it! Hehe!

Chasyu Ramen, Php280. BOS ordered this and wasn't happy. The noodles were sticky and tasted undercooked.

Left: Gyoza, nothing special.

Right: Mixed Yakitori, Php350, nothing special too.

Chawan Mushi, Php150, the kids and I love it!

The kids were happy what they ate. I was happy with what I ordered but BOS wasn't. He's very hard to please talaga and once he's not satisfied, he won't go back anymore. A friend told me I should have ordered the beef teppan, I will the next time I go back... with friends! Haha!

Oedo Japanese Restaurant

105 Sto. Domingo Ave. cor. Sgt. Alcaraz, Quezon City, Philippines
5180058/2555993

A&D Eats: Cafe Monaco, Banawe, Quezon City

When you're in Banawe and looking for a place to eat, you must try Cafe Monaco! 

The last time I was here was 6 or 7 years ago pa!

Cafe Monaco is a hole-in-a-wall restaurant. They serve Korean, Japanese, sandwiches, crepes, and more! And what I like about the food is it's good and very affordable!

Cafe Monaco Menu

We had dinner here last week with my mom and the kids. Here's what we ordered:

I had the Korean Beef Stew with Kimchi Rice. The beef portion looks small but it's just right and it goes well with the mild spiciness of the Kimchi Rice.

 My mom had the  Bibimbap. You can have the meat changed to pork or chicken if you don't eat beef like my mom.

 

Beef Ramen for the kids which they wiped out!

Filling and good dinner for a pocket-friendly price! That's the best combo, in my opinion! My sister and a friend said to try their halo-halo but we were too full na from dinner. Must come back for that and for their crepes!

Cafe Monaco

647 Banawe St., Sienna, Quezon City