Rap and I are big fans of Japanese food so when we found out that there's a Little Tokyo here in Manila, we promised we'd visit the place soon! Then came a special occasion, our anniversary! We're both bad with directions so we had a tough time finding the place but when we saw the entrance, we knew we're in for something good. That authentic Japanese vibe kicked in right away!
For our first visit, we tried the famous Hana Restaurant. I remember from my Japanese class in college that "
Hana" means flower. Check out our orders!
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| Shoyu Ramen, P180. |
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When we tasted this, we finally understood the expressions in the anime Cooking Master Boy when judges bite into a noodle and it sort of bounces. The soup has a rich taste that blends so well with the noodles and toppings. And oh, the narutos are just cute. ^_^
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| Takoyaki, P120 |
I've read a lot of good reviews about their Takoyaki so it was definitely a must-try! We don't know what authentic Takoyaki tastes like but we thought,
ito na talaga 'yon! I hope that makes sense. :)
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| Spicy Salmon Salad, P180 |
This dish has a superb balance of tastes and textures. I never eat the veggies with my tuna/ salmon salads but with this one, mixing everything made it perfect. You feel the soft and spicy salmon, coated with sweet Japanese Mayo sprinkled with peanuts and then there's the crunch from the strips of cabbage. We'll definitely come back for the tuna version.
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| Unakyuu Maki, 250 |
I really like
Unagi (Eel) but it can be very pricey so when Rap suggested this and I saw that it's only 250 pesos for 6 pieces, there was no debate about getting an order. What makes it so delicious is that they use fresh ingredients. They did not tell us that but you just know it when you bite into the unagi and cucumber. In your mouth, it mixes with the sharp flavor of nori and then you'll feel and taste the sesame seeds that completes the experience.
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| Ramune Kakigori with Milk, P70 + P10 |
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| Melon Kakigori with Milk, P70 + P10 |
These are pieces of heaven on earth. These reminded us of cotton candy topped with milk that we used to buy in our childhood. The shaved ice was so fine and the flavored liquid was evenly distributed. It didn't taste artificial at all! This is officially my favorite dessert!
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| These are just too cute, I had to take a picture. ^_^ |
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| Loved the design of their bar. The whole place is so simple yet there's warmth. |
Kumain ka na nga ng masarap na pagkain, may free drink ka pa! =)
It was all so worth the travel!
