Kessaku Goes South in Alabang

I braved the ever disastrous EDSA traffic to make it at the Kessaku restaurant at the CommerCenter in Muntinlupa City. It was worth the travel as I was treated to sumptuous dinner.

I tried Shishamo first. The fish dish reminded me a lot of the Filipino recipe paksiw.

Then I tried its Angus Prime Cha Han. Since I had a very busy day, I ate a lot!

Of course, what's a Japanese restaurant if it's not serving tempura?

I really felt good after the dinner, so why not you try Kessaku? It's located at the heart of the Filinvest City. From the Festival Supermall, just exit at the Commerce Avenue gate and just walk straight ahead. For more information, check out its Facebook page or Kathy Ngo's own take about Kessaku.

All photos courtesy of Rence Chan

Akira Finds New Home at New Alphaland Makati Place

There's a new spot in Makati where we can go to after a grueling work at the office, the new Alphaland Makati Place along the corner of Ayala Avenue and Malugay Street just across the Makati City Fire Station. One place inside the new building where we can hang out is the new Akira Restaurant branch there.

The said Akira branch is the third of the restaurant franchise owned by renowned industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue and Golden Potbelly Pig Corporation head Gilbert Go, who welcomed me and my homies as we graced the restaurant's weekend treat, the Yamazaki and Hakushu Nights.

Cobonpue himself designed the seats in the resto.

Go and Marketing Director Miguel De La Rosa gave us a warm welcome and gave us the description of the restaurant and its menu.

We were treated to their sumptuous meals ranging from the sushi rolls and the sashimis...

...to the teppanyaki sets...

Japanese Beef Wagyu

Oyster Teppanyaki

...to the desserts, particularly the ice cream parfait...

... and the Kani Salad!

And now, the main event of the evening. The highlight of Akira Makati's Yamazaki and Hakushu Nights is a teppanyaki cooking demonstration (with cool sounds) by Lucky Salcedo, the teppanyaki chef of the resto. I don't usually spoil some stuff (unless it's a movie review), but here's a cooking exhibition of him.

Update as of April 24: I celebrated my birthday at Akira AMP, and I tried two more of its products, the tonkatsu and the pineapple shake. The shake is made of fresh pineapple, so I really felt its goodness. The tonkatsu is crispy outside but very delicious inside.

Again, Akira Makati is located at the new Alphaland Makati Place, Ayala Avenue corner Malugay Street, Makati City (not that Alphaland at the corner of E. Delos Santos and Chino Roces Avenues). To get there by commuting, ride an "Ayala-LRT-Leveriza-Baclaran" bus (if you're coming from the south, tell the conductor to drop you off at Ayala Avenue so that you can ride the said bus). The bus will directly lead you to AMP as the no-left-turn rule along the Ayala-Gil Puyat intersection forces the buses to take Malugay Street to get to Gil Puyat Avenue. If you have your own car but still confused where to find AMP, the closest landmarks are the RCBC Plaza, The Columns, which is right in front of AMP, and the central fire and police stations of Makati, which are across AMP via Ayala Avenue.

For inquiries and reservations you may call 09177067328 or email Marketing Director Miguel De La Rosa at migs.mktg@gmail.com.

All photos courtesy of Kamila Cinco. Video courtesy of Florencio Jusay.

Yoshinoya Reopens in MOA

(L-R) Pasay City Mayor's Office Chief of Staff Albert Paredes, Yoshinoya
Century Pacific President Timmy Yang, SM EVP for Operations Perkin So, and
Japanese Embassy Director Tatsuo Kitagawa cut the ribbon to formally reopen
the Yoshinoya Mall of Asia Branch. Alice Mate

Yoshinoya's Pasay branch is back with a bigger restaurant. The Japanese resto's store at the SM Mall of Asia was reopened at its new location along the ground floor.

Timmy Yang, Yoshinoya Century Pacific Inc. President, Perkin So, SM EVP for Operations, Tatsuo Kitagawa, Director of the Embassy of Japan, and Pasay City Mayor's Office Chief of Staff Albert Paredes graced the ribbon-cutting ceremony signaling the reopening of the Yoshinoya branch.

The reopening of the MOA branch ups the number of Yoshinoya restaurants to seven with other branches located at the Fairview Terraces and the SM North EDSA in Quezon City, Robinson's Galleria and SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, Glorietta in Makati City, and the SM City Manila in the said city.

Yoshinoya is home to the world famous Gyudon beef bowl.

GoodAh!!! Opens in Metrowalk

GoodAh!!! opens its newest branch inside the Metrowalk Complex.
Wilmar Duldulao

GoodAh!!! shows its gratitude to "every-all" who patronaged the Filipino restaurant chain for 31 years by opening its newest branch at the Metrowalk in Pasig City.

Now under a new management in Soyamensa Foods Inc., GoodAh!!! launched its bid for a massive makeover and expansion by opening the said branch, its eighth overall since 1983, to cater those along the Ortigas CBD.

The owners of Soyamensa Foods graced the ribbon cutting, formalizing the grand opening of the new restaurant, located just beside The Library.

GoodAh!!! is open "25 hours a day, eight days a week" and serves various Filipino cuisines like tapsilog, pares, and goto.

Black Canyon Opens in Taguig

The Tuscany at the McKinley Hill in Taguig City is now the home of the newest Black Canyon Coffee branch in the Philippines.

The Thailand-based coffee shop and restaurant franchise formally opened its Taguig branch at the Tuscany, just across the Venice Piazza.

Various media practitioners got a chance to experience the foods and drinks Black Canyon offers. The owners also revealed plans to further expand the franchise here in the Philippines.

The coffee shop is open everyday from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. For more information, visit Black Canyon Philippines' Facebook page.