Osaka Ohsho: Not the Best Gyoza I Ever Had

Finally got to try Osaka Ohsho in the spanking new Fashion Hall of SM Megamall with my friend Kimi, her (my god)daughter, Kai and her Aunt Sue.

I ordered the Gyoza Koshihikari set while she had the Black Vinegar Chicken set, chicken for the little one.

These ropes as decor.

Babygirl Kai Mykonos intent on practicing her chopstick skill.

The place was packed (it was Friday) after we have placed our order so I guess that

The Gyoza Koshihikari Set. Too bad the fruits were not unlimited like the rice.

I had such high expectation with Osaka Ohsho's gyoza especially after being hailed as the best gyoza in the world (by whom anyway?) but I don't think it was met. For me, there was nothing special with the gyoza. It even has this after taste that I honestly didn't like, whatever it was (I told you, I am a crappy food blogger). I am easy to please and not picky with my foods but these gyoza I just had do not count as the best I ever had.

I probably should try the cheese and the nori gyozas next time, maybe those will live up the hype.

Weird But Cute Pocky Design

I saw this weird-looking packaging of Pocky in Paseo de Santa Rosa the other day, one that totally screams I'm from Japan!

Tell me, what do you make out of it? Me, at first I saw a swine then upon closer look I thought it looked like a butt-cheek. Yes I know it's supposed to be a peach-flavored Pocky based from the design but it doesn't look like one to me lol.

Is this a limited edition? Oh Japan, how do I love thee.

Edited: Apparently, this weird looking guy named Kakuremomojiri is a character in the Kobito-Zukan (literally translated as dwarf encyclopedia), a very popular picture  book in Japan illustrated by Toshitaka Nabata. Since he is a peach, he lives in a peach orchard.

Katsu Sora

The Cheese and I finally had the time (and moolah) for Katsu Sora's version of tonkatsu set. I could tell the Cheese was feeling extra gracious that day when he ordered the top grade and most talked about Iberico Pork and Kurobuta Pork. My, my, your tonkatsu perspective will certainly change after consuming the Iberico and Kurobuta. Mapapa-"Tokyo Tokyo whut" kayo. 

Katsu Sora is located at 2nd floor of the Promenade in Greenhills, sitting right beside Santouka Ramen (they both have the same owners). 

Before our finest tonkatsu sets arrived though, we had to deal with their salad and fruit bars first. And oh, let's not forget the soup too. You can get unlimited servings of both when you avail of any of their Tonkatsu Sets.

Katsu Sora serves 4 kinds of pork. There's the Iberico, Kurobuta, Shimofuri and Sakura. The Spanish Iberico pork is uniquely Katsu Sora's, the elite among the four. The Cheese got the Iberico while I had the Kurobuta.

Bite into a tonkatsu made with world's most sought after pork meat. It's so highly marbled, juicy, and sweet that it melts in your mouth. This is the height of the premium pork experience. PhP655.

It was my first time to have the kurobuta pork. Even Yabu's kurobuta I haven't experienced yet. Kurobuta is considered as Japan's most prized meat. If España has their pata negra, Japan has their kurobuta.

A tonkatsu made with the most prized heritage meat from Japan, Kurobuta is finely marbled, moist, and flavorful with a delicate meat texture. A solid choice for every pork connoisseur. PhP550.

I think ordering both Iberico and Kurobuta porks was a bad decision. I had no idea how to differentiate the two!! Although if compared to other tonkatsu sets we've had, these two are definitely topnotch.

They weren't exaggerating when they said how soft it was it actually melts in your mouth. It was really tasty. The Cheese, ever the kitchen master between us two, showed to me why it was so special. Look at the marbling! That is not something that can be easily achieved here on a regular basis. 

Our tonkatsu sets.

We both loved the Juugokokumai Rice - 15-grain rice - that came with our tonkatsu (regular Japanese rice when you order the Shimofuri and Sakura porks).

Juugokokumai Rice

The ritual of grinding the sesame seeds is extremely satisfying. At least on my part it is.

Thank you to my beneficiary! Til our next date, the tonkatsu war awaits.

###

Katsu Sora

Greenhills Shopping Center, Promenade

Greenhills, San Juan

+639158741990 / 9251411

Today 11:00 - 23:00

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen

With my Brady colleagues, all 16 of us trooped inside Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen at the dashing and now almost complete Shangrila Mall East Wing to have our Christmas dinner together. 

Japanese dinner for Christmas. How apt. I couldn't think of a better place

Takowasa. Raw octopus mixed with wasabi paste (PhP120.00)

Ikano Shiokara. Sliced squid marinated with salty paste (PhP120.00)

Add caption

My officemate Josh ordered these edamame which I had a major booboo eating in. Paka-baryotic ko lang.

I ordered Ajitama Tonkotsu and boy was my stomach satisfied. Definitely worth your quid. Okay too many British films/series going on.

Ajitama Tonkotsu. Topped with a special half-boiled egg that is fully marinated with a special blended soy sauce base (PhP380)

###

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen
Shangri-la Plaza Mall
5/F Shangri-la Plaza Mall, East Wing, Shaw Blvd cor EDSA
Wack Wack, Mandaluyong

Ginza Bairin at UP Town Center

Had a reunion lunch with my Spice Team friends at Ginza Bairin in UP Town Center where we had an amazing server whom, unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the name. There were so many of us and conversations were flying in, on and over the table you name it, so medyo kaguluhan lang talaga. 

Nonetheless, I still want to thank you for taking care of us lot. I will remember your face when I go back there. If I ever go back there. It's not you, it's me :)

Gyoza (PhP150)

There's an inside joke to this Special Tonkatsu Set that my friend Amy ordered but we'll just keep it to ourselves na lang. 

I ordered a regular Rosu Katsu Set (PhP345)

This baby makes the most adorable facial expressions! Hay Habagat, y u so cute.

The whole gang! Although we are still missing some Spice team members here.

###
Ginza Bairin
UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave
Loyola Heights, Quezon City

Payday Lunch Series: Saboten

Aaaand we're back after a short hiatus. To kick off our reunion, we chose Japanese food - Saboten. I have to admit I discovered the Saboten hype from Chuvaness. She tweets and blogs often about it, never fails to eat in countries where there is one. It was so funny when I went to Hong Kong in 2011 I was kinda fixed into testing what Saboten is all about as there is one in HKIA departure lounge but I chickened out at the last minute, fazed by all the $$$ I was seeing hahaha.

When the news circulated that there'll be a Manila branch I was ecstatic! Would you believe it wasn't as fancy as I thought it would be? Probably because Yabu rate has already prepped me for it lol. Saboten has more expensive choice of set meals but all in all, the price range aren't too far off. Okay tama na baka magalit ang Saboten sabihin kinukumpara ko sila sa Yabu. 

More than the zen and interior design, I especially loved the fact that they hand out complimentary teas once customers have settled in on their seats. No need to beg for it. Plus points na agad!

So we ordered the following:

Mixed Set (1 Deep-Fried Shrimp, 1 30g enderloin Cutlet and 1 Crab Cream Croquette).

Grated Radish Tenderloin Set

Tenderloin and Loin Set (1 Tenderloin Cutlet 50g. and 1 Loin Cutlet 65g.)

Ten and Romy.

Gotta love the unlimited serving of cabbage in one huge bowl. So even if you didn't order a set meal (which automatically included the unlimited cabbage), you can be sure to have a go at it still. If there's one thing though that was a bit off about Saboten, it's that their meat cuts are too big (for our mouths haha). I think that could do an improving. Unless they don't want to. Okay.

For dessert we ordered the Vanilla with Black Honey and Green Tea Ice Cream Combination (75 pesos only!). Unfortunately, their green tea was not the green tea I had in mind. It was rather milky than tea-y. Buti na lang vanilla saved the day :)

All in all our Saboten experience was really good. The waiters were prompt and really attentive. They announce your food and how best to enjoy it by suggesting ways on what seasoning to use. But I gotta say, aside from that, there really isn't anything special about it. It's hard not to compare Saboten to Yabu when the latter has been here for a while now. Our taste buds has gotten accustomed to Yabu that Saboten is just like one of those katsu house. Maybe we should try the other specials just to be fair...

###

Saboten
G/F Serendra, McKinley Parkway
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 625-2000

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

 Recently met up with a couple of girlfriends both of whom just recently came home from an out-of-the-country sojourn (but for different reasons). We decided (more like I did) to eat at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka so I can finally try for myself what all the fuzz about this ramen joint is all about.

Instead of ordering set meals we decided to just order a la carte and share it among us. We ordered Shoyu Ramen (Medium size for sharing), Char Siu Gohan, Tori Karaage and Pork Gyoza. Shoyu Ramen's broth was good but the noodles were quite disappointing. It tastes like our regular local instant noodles. Honey, who has lived and worked in Japan for a year, stressed her disappointment more than any of us. I, on the other hand, can't seem to find anything come close to the ramen I had in Singapore last January. So far, best ramen I've ever had in my life.

Char Siu Gohan. Best eaten while still hot otherwise texture becomes sort of err, wiry? chewy? You know those rice that has been left on the open for quite some time. Shet wala talaga kong pag-asa sa food reviews!

Tori Karaage was okay.

So was their Pork Gyoza.

Honey, Me, and Che

This was Honey's pasalubong to us from Taiwan, peanut mochi which is soooobrang masarap!!

Grabe I wan't more of this peanut mochi hello friends going to Taiwan!!!