The art of Zen dining
Few cuisines have attained the kind of status Japanese culinary fare acquired over the past two decades. Worshipped by some as the answer to flawless, beautiful skin (one only has to look at Japanese women and their pore-less complexions for proof), while hailed by others as the only true modern culinary art form (example: those beautifully rendered plates of sashimi at high-end restaurants), Japanese food has gained iconic status, both as a quick-fix meal (quick bites of the over-popular California maki, anyone?) and go-to option for anyone with a platinum credit card and a taste for the almost-extinct yellowfin tuna.
These days, even children of the well-to-do are crying out for their favorite sushi rolls the same way kids a decade ago (i.e. moi) yearned for spaghetti and hotdogs. You know you’ve come a long way when kids in Spongebob tees ask politely for another serving of soba.
I took a tour of affordable Japanese joints at SM Mall of Asia that run the gamut from totally authentic to something more western in concept. My verdict? You don’t need to be a high-falutin’ epicure to enjoy some of the tasty treats courtesy of our Asian neighbors. Hai!
Sakae Sushi: Eat and be merry
Its slogan, “Healthy cuisine at great value,” speaks volumes about this Japanese franchise. Known for its conveyor belt of sushi and sashimi, which revolves through and around the restaurant, allowing diners to sample small orders of their favorite dishes, its mantra serves to illustrate the kind of affordable, filling meal most people on a budget are looking for. Color-coordinated plates signify price points (the highest coming at a mere P99), while those who opt for eat-all-you-can (available between 2 to 6 p.m.) can snack on the bite-sized goodies without concern since buffet costs little more than 300 hundred pesos.
Established in September of 1997 in
Sakae Sushi is located at the 2nd floor,
Tokyo Café is located at the ground floor,
Tanabe: Where raw rules
Named after the general manager, chef and member of the company’s board of director’s, Tanabe boasts Japanese-inspired interiors (look to the wooden floorboards, indoor garden elements and the large Japanese painting) and Japanese-trained sushi chefs. Opened in May of 2006, this restaurant’s specialties include Wagyu imported from
Tanabe is located at the 2nd floor, Entertainment Mall, South Wing, SM Mall of Asia (tel. 556-0360).