Gokû!

Get ready with your chopsticks…get ready for a gastronomic feast of anything Japanese.

Gohan, maki, sushi, sashimi, gyoza, tempura, sukiyaki, tonkatsu, tofu, among many others – I’m sure they ring a bell. Japanese cuisine is no alien to the Filipino palate, especially to those who continuously explore different authentic delights. For the Japanese, staple food such as the gohan (Japanese white rice) or soba (Japanese noodle) is usually paired with an ozaku (side dish) like meat, vegetables and seafood (fish, squid, shrimps, scallops, etc.). Cebuanos are lucky enough to have full access to Japanese restos within the vicinity, one of which is Gokû Japanese Restaurant, towering at the Paseo Saturnino at the Maria Luisa Entrance Road in Banilad.

Gokû Japanese Restaurant, named after a famous character of the Dragon Ball Z fame Son Goku, is designed to host family dinners and functions with Japanese fare. The two-floor abode has private rooms and a VIP area where everyone is encouraged to sit in seiza (the traditional formal way of sitting in Japan) style. 

Tuesday is Toss Up Tuesday in Gokû: a diner gets a free dish on Gokû’s special menu. Isn’t that neat? Tip: Aside from ordering the restaurant’s specialties, try its menu of the month, which is cheaper. A Japanese chef takes charge of the kitchen, so you’re sure that what you partake in Gokû is authentic Japanese food. Homemade, hand-made noodles are not to be missed out upon dining, as well. To cap your dining experience, order draft beer or the famous sake. Kanpai!

Gokû is open 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Monday to Friday and from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. during Saturdays and Sundays. Call 343 3157 for reservations.