Whenever we feel tired and stressed after a long day at work, we usually head out to our favorite restaurants to get our dose of comfort food to end the day on a high note. Everyone has their own preferred choice of comfort foods, with some going for American dishes (that burger, fries and shake combo sounds to die for!), Filipino cuisine (if you haven’t tried Sisig and Grilled Liempo, Anthony Bourdain would be shocked!) or Italian dishes (who doesn’t get comfort from pizza). But for some, Japanese is the best place to eat when you’re looking for a delicious and comforting meal.
Japanese cuisine has been integrated in the Filipino market with different restaurants around the Metro offering authentic Japanese food. For Jap food lovers out there, this article aims to suggest popular Japanese restaurants in Metro Manila to get your sushi fix! So whenever you’re craving for some tempura or sushi, check back on this article where to satisfy your need, stat!
1) Ooma
One of the newest Japanese restaurants that became an instant hit to the Filipino market, Ooma is known to produce world-class Japanese sushi that are a delight to the taste buds. The first branch of the restaurant opened its doors back in 2015 and it has slowly penetrated the local market of Japanese food lovers as they opened 2 more branches over the next few years. As of this writing, Ooma has a total of 4 branches including a newly opened Sushi Bar in Metro Manila. Their best sellers include California Taco Maki, Salmon Skin Aburi Maki, Scallop and Tuna Aburi Maki and Salmon Tartare Maki. Ooma is a great casual place to get your Japanese food fix as it also offers reasonable prices for their food. Budget for 2 pax is Php1,000 to Php1,500.
2) Haru
This hole-in-the-wall restaurant can be found in the Kapitolyo strip, a food hub in the heart of Pasig City, and is probably one of the biggest Japanese restaurants you can find the area. The place is a treat to the eyes as it has a wonderful interior of Japanese old houses. The servers who are dressed in Japanese Kimono also welcome the customers in Japanese!
Try out Haru’s Sushi Platter which includes a variety of choices such as tuna sashimi, salmon sashimi, Ebi, Uni, and more. This is a good choice for those who want to try Haru’s sushi. They also offer a wide choice of both imported and local sushi. Haru is a good option for those looking to have a quiet dinner complete with a Japanese ambiance for that authentic dining. Parking also wouldn’t be a problem as the restaurant has ample spaces in front. Budget for 2 pax is Php 1,000.
3) Little Tokyo
This place in the Central Business District of Makati is an ideal destination for those craving for Japanese food, but have no exact restaurant in mind. Little Tokyo is a small compound in Makati where you can find multiple Japanese restaurants right beside each other. The name of the place speaks for itself as visiting Little Tokyo will definitely bring you closer to Japan’s capital thru a strip of different authentic restaurants serving equally authentic Japanese dishes. You can even dine al fresco and fully appreciate the vibe Japan has to offer via Little Tokyo’s charming design. Two of the most popular restaurants you can find in Little Tokyo are Seryna and Izakaya Kikifuji. Budget in each restaurant may vary but having Php2000 should be enough.
4) Nihonbashitei
Not so far away from Little Tokyo is another popular Japanese restaurant – Nihonbashitei. One of the older Japanese restaurants in the area, you can visit it in Arnaiz Avenue. The ambiance is also an old Japanese house where a section is also open for those who want to eat sitting down and barefoot – true to Japanese form.
Popular dishes include Spicy Toro Maki and Salmon Ozishushi and choices of sushi can go as low as Php50/piece and as high as Php150/pc. Nihonbashitei is also a popular choice for late night craving as the restaurant closes at 12 midnight. You can even reserve a room complete with karaoke if you plan to dine and drink with your friends. Budget for 2 pax is Php1,200 to Php1,500.
These are just some of the top choices where you can get your Japanese fix when visiting Manila. There are other Japanese restaurants available but these 4 options will definitely give you value for your money.
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