MANILA, Philippines - Want to be transported to Japan without paying for an airfare?
Joining Bonifacio Global City's flourishing dining scene is George Pua's newly-opened Ogawa Traditional Restaurant.
Nestled at the 2nd floor of the Fort Entertainment complex, the restaurant promises to not only bring you dishes that made the land of the rising sun the most sought after dining destination, but also the experience of dining in a traditional Japanese restaurant.
"We chose the traditional Japanese restaurant, not the fusion or the modern type of Japanese cuisine, because if it's fusion, the lifespan is very short. At the end of the day, people go back to its roots, people go back to traditional," explains Pua in an interview with Philstar.com at the press launch of the restaurant on Wednesday.
For Pua, dining in their restaurant is not just about eating Japanese, but setting an atmosphere where the Filipinos will truly feel being one.
"When you are inside, you will never know that you are in the Philippines!" Pua said.
Ogawa stops at no expense in providing customers the most authentic experience that they can get.
The restaurant will welcome customers with an antique main door in the reception area, which embodies the heritage the restaurant upholds.
Main door of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
The main counter is patterned after the Mikoshi, a portable shrine that can be seen in Shinto temples in Japan.
Robatayaki and Teppanyaki Station of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
The sushi station is created with a sense of space that highlights the art of making sushi.
Tokujyo Chirashi Sushi (Sakura) of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
A sake bar, for those who would like the Japanese alcoholic drink to go with their sushi.
Tokujyo Chirashi Sushi (Sakura) of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
The restaurant has fine private dining rooms, named after cities in Japan: Ginza, Roppongi, Akasaka, Aoyama and Shinbashi.
Roppongi VIP room inside Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Ginza VIP room of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Shinbashi VIP room of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Akasaka and Roppongi VIP rooms of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Main door of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Ushio Sekiguchi’s Japanese wallpaper
Booth seats and Ushio Sekiguchi’s Japanese wallpaper of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
According to Pua, they hired two Japanese interior designers to set the ambiance for the diners.
"When you are working for a food business, you get to eat the most expensive dishes and the cheapest ones. Because I was able to experience all that, I learned to differentiate what is really good, what is fresh and what is not," Pua told Philstar.com.
Check out some of the dishes at Ogawa:
Chef Sashimi Mori Deluxe of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Tokujyo Sushi of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Robatayi and Tare of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Crazy Maki of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant
Tokujyo Chirashi Sushi (Sakura) of Ogawa Traditional Restaurant