CARLOS RECOMMENDS!
MALATE MUSINGS AND GOOD AGEDASHI TOFU
A couple Saturdays ago, the wife and I found a great new Japanese restaurant while we were strolling around a blessedly pedicab (a form of Philippine made bicycle cab) free Malate. Apparently someone somewhere paid the pedicab drivers Php1,000.00 and a cavan of rice not to ply their trade for the three weeks that the SEA Games were being held. What an idea. It only makes me think: Why can't they pay them do that everyday instead? Find some philanthrophist to foot the bill? Sounds like a bargain to me if only to rid our streets of those terribly designed things. Really. They are bicycles, they are great for the environment, but why are they such a nuisance in this town? Even in less motorized provincial towns, they are still a pain. Yoo hoo! Calling all Philippine designers out there! Redesign the damn thing to make it more pleasing to the eye and beneficial to society. Sigh... But I digress. Ahem. Tanabe is the real thing. Perhaps the best Japanese cuisine available in it's league within the Malate district. It's a step up classwise from DoSanKo on Mh del Pilar and definitely cheaper than Yurakuen at the Manila Diamond or Furusato for that matter. The tuna was red, the tempura wasn't Filipino sweet style and the wasabe was the real thing. The staff was extremely efficient and could even speak a bit of Nipponggo. The smoking section upstairs definitely had a classier feel than the downstairs area so too bad for the non-smokers. But most importantly, there were a lot of Japanese diners. Defitely a good sign when it comes to authenticity.
TANABE
Adriatico Circle, Malate. Right beside Cafe Adriatico. For Malate oldtimers, it's the same building as the former Moviola and Racks.
posted by carlosceldran @ 10:08 PM
6 Comments:
Yup, you're right. Tanabe's pretty good. certainly does the job when i get a japanese food craving. But it's been there a while, carlos, i'm surprised you didn't know about it sooner.
the other place i like in the general malate area is the noodle joint along roxas that's very close to furusato (it's right before furusato and jollibee coming from pasay). I think it's called yakiniku fujien, or something like that. open all night, it's terrific for when you've got PDS (post-drinking starvation). It's also ideal for all your Tampopo movie fantasies (perfect shoyu ramen, as described in the film). So, get a ramen and gyoza combo and you're sorted for the evening..
Yes I thought that Tanabe was pretty good. Although, when I wanted to go back a second time my husband told me he thought it was 'gross.' I was surprised, since he didn’t mention anything when we were there. Another similarly priced Japanese restaurant in Malate is Miyabi in the Pan Pacific. I don't know if Miyabi is a chain, (there is a karaoke joint of the same name on Mabini. I do not think it is related) but if the method of judgment is Japanese patrons Miyabe supplies them in spades. We go to the Miyabi on the second floor, not the café near the ground floor entrance. The café’s atmosphere in the hotel is a little too cavernous for me, although it might be a good spot for people watching… Yes, it is a hotel restaurant, but still not as stuffy as some and the tuna is red. And since my husband thinks Tanabe is gross, Miyabi will probably be our spot for spontaneous-within walking distance-sushi cravings.
carlos,
you should try the beef rolls of tanabe...to die for!!!
Tanabe used to be the head chef of Furusato Roxas Boulevard. He is an excellent chef, always has been.
Another ex-Furusato chef who opened up his own place is Tsumura-san, one of the best sushi chefs around. His restaurant is on Pasay road Makati.
i know these guys. I used to work at Furusato and Zen.
Just been mapping this area. Thought you might be interested
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=14.57161&lon=120.98534&zoom=17&layers=B000FTF
Feel free to correct any mistakes ... its a collaborative effort!
Hi Guys... i would like to tell you this good Japanese restaurant at along side in macapagal ave. its in the hobbies of asia.. the name of the restaurant is Yakiniku HIRO, Noynoy Aquino eat there... and they got picture of him... the the one gonzo telling you is Yakiniku Fujien along roxas that's very close to furusato (it's right before furusato and jollibee coming from pasay). many celebrity eats there... you can see their pictures there... and the tv show named NUTS entertainment shoots there i think its 2004... so try it guys....
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