♥ Matcha Latte (140 php)

Food

Longganisa Pasta (190 php)

For a prolonged stay, they also have food dishes.

I guess since the family is mostly ladies, we were all attrached by the cute signage of Mirinae Tea.

I mean how could we resist the color pink with matching cute little hearts right?

So we decided to make a quick stop to try it out.  Because of the cuteness, we thought it was Taiwanese or Korean.  To our surprise, it was actually a local concept.  Also, the counter had a  different sign "Milky Way Tea" which was it's former name according to the staffs.


It has a nice interior.  I love the colorful place mat idea.  It was very spacious too.  But, the electric fans were a bit of a turn off to the overall atmosphere for me.



Food


Moffle (Mochi + Waffle)

Green Tea Moffle Large (170 php)

We were curious to try the Moffle which was said to be the mochi plus waffle so we wanted to order the Green Tea Moffle in regular for sampling.  Unfortunately and odd enough, they didn't have the regular size available but the large size was available so we had no choice but to order it in large instead.  

We liked it.  I'll try doing this at home.  It was basically mochi flour mixed with matcha powder then cooked in a waffle maker.  I think you can even use the Beksul Instant Sesame Glutinuous Bread Mix with this. For topping, I'd prefer if they only added red beans as the condense milk made it a bit too sweet for me.  We also did not like their cream.  After tying the cream, no one wanted it.  "Nakakaumay siya".

Drinks

Rock Salt and Creamy Cheese Tea

Green Tea Rock Salt and Creamy Cheese Tea R (85 php)

For the record, the Green Tea Rock Salt and Creamy Cheese Tea is by far the worse tea drink we've tried.  Their Creamy Cheese topping is really bad that it ruined the whole experience.  

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I don't think we'll be visiting Mirinae Tea again due to our disappointing experience. 

As SM North Edsa is so crowded on a weekend afternoon, I found it very comforting to chill at TamaYaki.  


TamaYaki is an international takoyaki and milk tea chain that originated from China and has now over 200 stores internationally as it already has franchises in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Australia and Spain.
 

It has a hip and retro interior that's very distinct to it.   The ordering takes place by the counter.  For the drinks, don't forget to indicate your desired sugar level.  You will be given their cute number stub and wait for it to be displayed on the monitor.

 I really like their design especially the lighting.

The ccharacters are so cute! 

Food

They have a very nice packaging for their Tamayaki.  Did I mention, that their takoyaki is bigger than average?  And, it has a crunchy coating too.  It actually reminded me of the crunchy sensation when eating Hash Brown.  Because of their huge serving size, I suggest you better bring some company so you can share and try more flavors or just add more toppings for 25-35 php each.  Otherwise, you'll be satisfied with just one order.

Mussel & Cheese (125 php) and Seasoned Octopus (115 php)

 The Seasoned Octopus is the classic takoyaki I've grown accustomed too with sliced octopus and cabbage topped with nori strips, bonito flakes and sweet takoyaki sauce.  But, in addition, they also offered the white Japanese mayo (for non-spicy lovers) and spicy curry sauce (for spicy lovers)
 

Mussel & Cheese (125 php)

I was really intrigued with the Mussel & Cheese because I've never tried something similar before.

 

Mussel & Cheese (125 php)

To identify your orders, they have a label on the box.

Mussel & Cheese (125 php)

Each piece has a mussel, shredded cabbage and melted mozzarella cheese.  The Mussel & Cheese is my favorite among all our orders.

Korean Pork BBQ (95 php)

We were really surprised that they offered the Korean Pork BBQ because takoyaki is Japanese and the brand originated in China.

Korean Pork BBQ (95 php)

The Korean Pork BBQ was pretty good as it contained a Korean-spiced pork cube along with the cabbage.
 

Double Cheese (115 php)

If you love mozzarella, the Double Cheese is for you.


Drinks

Milk Tea

Sake Milk Tea with Rice Ball Cold (110 php)

For their tea selections, you can choose either Hot or Cold.  I got to try the Sake Milk Tea with Rice Ball which had a harmless amount of sake.  My friends liked it because of the sake.  They say it was very smooth despite the alcohol.  As I'm not an alcoholic drinker, it didn't appeal to me so I traded it with a friend for the Tamayaki Milk Tea with Pearl Cold (85 php).  The blend of tea is not strong but not too light either.

Matcha Milk Tea with Adzuki Bean Cold (95 php)

They only have one size which is the tall cup you're seeing.  I ordered Matcha Milk Tea with Adzuki Bean.  It was really good even though I opted to have it without sugar.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
TamaYaki offers next-level takoyaki selections unlike any other.  I could see why it's popularity has sweeped many countries.  Their crunchy coated and huge-sized takoyaki with special fillings are worth coming back for.  The price may seem hefty but really it's not as you're sure to be full after snacking.  The awesome ambiance is another plus.

If you think that Kimukatsu is just another Katsu chain, I'm telling you straight out it isn't!  Kimukatsu offers 25 Layers of Mille-Feuille Katsu goodness that comes in 7 different flavors.


Compared to its neighboring restaurants, Kimukatsu's facade may not seem as noticeable with only the hint of its small "Kimukatsu" lighted sign against the blackness.


But once you step in, you'd be awed with the beauty of the place.  It has glowing lanterns and a cherry blossom wall.  The plastic chairs are not only stylish but are very sturdy too.


They also have private rooms available.  It can also be merged into one for big groups.

Find this through the pebbled track on the side.

Complimentary Hot or Cold Brown Rice Tea

Upon being seated, we were served our choice of Complimentary Hot or Cold Brown Rice Tea.

Food

Side Menu

♥ Kimutaku (110 php)

The Kimutaku is a hybrid between kimchi and picked raddished topped with sesame seeds.
 

♥ Ebi Mayo (210 php)

The Ebi Mayo is soft shrimp battered and topped with Japanese mayo.

♥ Agedashi Tofu (180 php)

The Agedashi Tofu is delicious!  This is one of the best I've tried.  


Kimukatsu Assorted Set

♥ 7 flavor KIMUKATSU SET (2,400 php)

The 7 flavor KIMUKATSU SET includes 7 flavors of kimukatsu: Plain, Garlic, Ume Shiso, Yuzu Pepper, Negi Shio,  Cheese and Black Pepper and 6 rice set with unlimited Cabbage and Miso Soup: White and Red.

Plain

Look at that layers of pork meat with the right amount of fats so each bite has the right amount of crispy, tender and juiciness.  With the Plain one, you can also appreciate the natural tastiness of the pork meat or pair it with their dips and salt.

Garlic

The Garlic comes with crushed garlic bits which garlic lovers like me adore.  

Ume Shiso

The Ume Shiso is filled with sour plum and shiso leaf.  This has an interesting twist that will surely enlighten your taste buds.
 

Yuzu Pepper

The Yuzu Pepper gives off an initial citrus flavor from the yuzu fruit and ends with a spicy kick from the chili pepper.  Spicy lovers will surely enjoy the tickling spice to their taste buds.
 

Negi Shio

The juiciest among all the flavors is the Negi Shio. This actually reminded me of pork gyoza stuffings upon first bite.

Cheese

The Cheese is of course a sure hit to everyone.  The oozing cheese is simply irresistible.
 

Black Pepper

The Black Pepper has layers of pepper before the coating.  It was a bit dry but nevertheless simple but nice.


The staffs demonstrated how the dipping tradition is done.  First, you grind the sesame seeds.  Then, pour some tonkatsu sauce on the first partition and some ponzu sauce on the next.  Lastly, add some Himalayan salt on the third partition.

Unlimited Cabbage with roasted sesame dressing and ponzu based dressing

Kohikiri Rice

The Kohikiri Rice is so fragrant and delicious! I couldn't resist loading on some carbs.
 

Miso Soup: White and Red

It's actually my first time to encounter a  White Miso Soup.  It was sweeter and smoother than the Red which is more commonly served by Japanese restaurants here in the Philippines.

Pickled Vegetable Side Dish

They also serve a Pickled Vegetable Side Dish.




Kimukatsu Sandwich

Kimukatsu Sandwich Plain (210 php)

Kimukatsu Sandwich Plain (210 php)

If you want to share the experience with others, I highly recommend that you take out the Kimukatsu Sandwich Plain.  

Kimukatsu Sandwich Plain (210 php)

I brought some of this home and my family is quite thrilled with it.  I'm sure even kids will enjoy this.

Kimukatsu Sandwich Plain (210 php)

This lasts up to one day.  The soft buns, tender and crunchy katsu and savory sauce makes this a delectable snack.

Dessert

♥ Macha Parfait (250 php)

Their Macha Parfait is a nice meal ender.  The macha ice cream is top quality and the mochi, red bean paste as well as chest nut are excellent complements too.

Soy Cotta (160 php)

The Soy Cotta is a soya gelatin with sweet syrup.  My friends seemed to like it but it didn't appeal much to me.

♥ Japanese Panna Cotta (110 php)

The Japanese Panna Cotta is the best Japanese dessert I've ever tried.  I'll order this on every visit!

Other Katsu Reviews
Ginza Bairin
Katsu Cafe

Maisen 
Saboten
Tampopo たんぽぽ 
Tonkatsu by Terazawa
Yabu 1 | Yabu 2

Other Reviews on Shangri-La East Wing
Green Pastures
Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen
Zao Vietnamese Bistro

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Kimukatsu is a must try for katsu.  It's a whole new and upgraded katsu experience!  After our first visit, my little sister went back immediately with her better half.  That's how good it is.  I'd like to try their Kurobuta on my next visit and their Kurogama Pudding which was unavailable during our visit.