Japanese food is one of the most-loved cuisine in the Philippines.   While I would love to eat authentic Japanese food everyday, the high cost of Japanese food prevents me in doing so.  So when I heard about Platina Modern Japanese Food Village with 16 authentic food franchises from Japan.  The price range is from 150 php to 500 php.

The ambiance differs per area.  Platina labelled this bar area on the first level as the Roppongi Street.



Food

Sushi Sakura

Salmon Aburri Maki with Aligue Mayo (315 php)

Probably the first one to impress me was this Salmon Aburri Maki with Aligue Mayo.  I just love how flavorful it is and the salmon almost melts unto your mouth.


Kushikatsu Ebisuya

Pork (30 php/stick)

This Pork Kushi looks a bit drenched in oil. Let it sit for awhile so some oil is drained.  I like the tenderness though.


Kobe Beef Burger

Wagyu Burger (320 php)

The Wagyu Burger is also a must try!  Aside from the juicy wagyu pattie, you can also enjoy your burger with unique sauces like teriyaki sauce.

Fried Potato

The Fried Potato is nothing special but still the best pair for burgers right?

Pig Man

Pork Bowl Small (210 php)

If you're looking for for authentic yet affordable pork donburi, then try out the Pork Bowl at Pig Man.


Tappan Yaki Kushi No Nobo

Meat DX (360 php)

Surely, one of the best Osaka-style Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) I've had in Manila is Tappan Yaki Kushi No Nobo's Meat DX - with beef, pork and chicken meats. As expected from a brand that has multiple stores in Okinawa.


Pizzeria di Baldi

Margherita (290 php)

I'm a big fan of Neopoli Pizza or Brick Oven Pizza.  These are pizzas which are baked at a high temperature for a short time so the flavor is sealed in.  We don't have enough of these in the Metro.  Thus, I really welcome Pizzeria di Baldi authentic and quality Neopoli Pizza.

There are a lot more to try.  Some were not yet open or available during my visit.  But, I found the concept of Platina Modern Japanese Food Village quite interesting.  It really fits the food and drink scene of Poblacion.

Platina Modern Japanese Food Village Map  Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies                              

Upon learning about the opening of S Maison Conrad Manila, the family has been itching to check it out.  As usual when we check out a new mall, we find a new place to eat.  We initially intended to try Umu Umu Ramen but we were number 48 in the queue and figured we couldn't wait so we shifted to Okonomiyaki Chibo Restaurant instead.  


According to the menu, Okonoiyaki Chibo Restaurant is established in 1973 at Sennichimae in Osaka. And, they were the first to introduce the fusion of Okonomiyaki and Teppanyaki.  They have a cool electronic menu by its entrance.  It's so convenient that they have some waiting lofts because we had to wait for our turn.


The interiors are elegant.  Having an okonomiyaki or teppanyaki table, seating are fixed for four persons. They have one function room for a big group though.

Seeing the tables...

along with these utensils got us all excited.  We were really expecting some kind of an authentic Japanese or specifically Osakan way of cooking before us.

Food

Salad/Appetizer

Tuna and Avocado Tartar (280 php)

For starters, we had the Tuna and Avocado Tartar which was really good! 

Side Dishes

♥ Gyoza Teppan (150 php)

The Gyoza Teppan is a must try!

♥ Gyoza Teppan (150 php)

These Gyoza Teppan shaped like a shiruken gives it a perfectly crispy wanton shell with a succulent pork meat.  I think we ordered this twice because we loved it!

Teppanyaki Seafood

Hotate (Scallops) (280 php)

When the Hotate (Scallops), we had th impression that our table is only used as a food warmer.  They were delicious and we were more excited with the okonomiyaki so we didn't mind.

Okonomiyaki

Chibo Okomiyaki is said to be the king of all okonomiyaki in the Dotonbori area in Osaka.  Of course, we were very eager to verify its reputation.

♥ Chibo Okonomiyaki (380 php)

Since it's our first time, we will go with the popular path and try its namesake item: Chibo Okonomiyaki.  It has prawn, scallop, beef and pork.  The crablet on the top seems to be for garnishing purpose only.

♥ Chibo Okonomiyaki (380 php)

I guess my enthusiasm faded when the server just laid down an already cooked Chibo Okonomiyaki on our table.  He merely added the Japanese mayonnaise, designed it...

♥ Chibo Okonomiyaki (380 php)

added some bonito flakes and nori.  The condiments are unlimited since they are on the table by the way.  I really liked the Chibo Okonomiyaki because of its generous toppings.  On the other hand, some of my siblings missed the classic less topping kind of okonomiyaki.

♥ Hiroshima Yaki (330 php)

Most of us liked the Hiroshima Yaki.  It is an okomiyaki made of egg and dough filled with
mixed yakisoba and dried shrimp.  

♥ Hiroshima Yaki (330 php)

I enjoyed the soft texture and subtle flavor.

♥ Hiroshima Yaki (330 php)

Our metal spoons were used only to get our slices from the table to our plates.

Yakisoba 

♥ Omusoba (Omelette Yakisoba) (230 php)

Like the okonomiyaki's the Omusoba (Omelette Yakisoba) is also finished when served.  It is a yakisoba wrapped in egg.

♥ Omusoba (Omelette Yakisoba) (230 php)

Everyone loved the Omusoba (Omelette Yakisoba).  

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Taste-wise, food in Okonomiyaki Chibo Restaurant is good.  But for the price, we kind of expected a bit of live cooking which utilizes their already installed tables (more than being a food warmer).  I have high respect for authentic Japanese restaurants in the way that they assure the best quality.  But, somehow I felt that they were not prepared yet.  The servers doesn't seem friendly or familiar to answer questions about the dishes.  It's still worth the try but it could be so much more.

Last Mother's Day, my aunt spontaneously wanted to treat all of us out and tasked me to look for a place for last minute reservations.  I just had an inkling for fusion this time and see if the family will like it.  I chose Toki Japanese Fusion & Fine Dining Restaurant as a first option but they were fully booked so we decided to go for Mangetsu Japanese Fusion Restaurant instead.  Reservation for a private room required a spending of at least 700 php per person.  Well from our experience, we greatly exceeded this. 

Compared to the seating capacity of the restaurant, the parking space available is inadequate but the guard will assist you in looking for one. 

The first floor has a casual dining ambiance with wooden chairs and tables.

Private rooms are located on the second floor. 

This is what a typical private room looks like.

Food

Sake Accompaniment

3 Varieties of Sashimi (650 php)

The 3 Varieties of Sashimi depending on the catch for the day.  I guess we were lucky because we were served our favorites: Salmon, Tuna and Hamachi (yellow-tail).

Hamachi (Special Order)

I guess the reason why we have a hefty bill is because my relatives has a knack of making special orders or orders not on the menu.  I don't advise this because they dictate the price.   To give you an idea... They ordered the Kabutoyaki (grilled fish head) which came only after we finished eating so we had it for take out instead, it had a special price of 1,300 php.

♥ Tuna & Salmon Carpaccio (520 php)

The Tuna & Salmon Carpaccio with fish sauce gained a lot of praise.  This is an interesting twist to the usual sashimi.

Sushi

Assorted Sushi Toku-Jo (980 php)

The Assorted Sushi Toku-Jo is a platter of 12 kinds of sushi.  The ingredients are the freshest quality as expected by its hefty price tag.  I really liked their smooth and custard-like tamago (egg). 

Salads

♥ Spicy Tuna Salad (410 php)

The Spicy Tuna Salad is different from the traditional because the marinade is sweet.  It's is balanced by the crunchy greens.  It was good enough for me but my cousins fond it too odd for their taste.

Deep-Fried Dishes

♥ Pork Gyoza (295 php)

The Pork Gyoza awed as in terms of visual appeal.  Texture and taste-wise, it was quite competitive too.

 
Chicken

♥ Karaage Fried Chicken Thighs (430 php)

The Karaage Fried Chicken Thighs with 3 Kinds of Salt is delicious!  All of us, adults and kids, loved this!  The golden brown coating is crunchy and the chicken meat was tender and spewing juices in every bite.

Shrimp

♥ Shrimp Rice Gratin (520 php)

Although I'm not fond of gratin dishes, I enjoyed the Shrimp Rice Gratin.  This is an exemplary fusion dish with rich shrimp flavored rice in partnership with cheese. 

Shrimp Tempura (3 pcs.) (510 php)

Other than the steep price and good presentation of the Shrimp Tempura with salt & tempura dipping sauce, I don't find extraordinary about it.


Egg

♥ Sea Urchin Omelet (380 php)

The Sea Urchin Omelet with thick chicken broth sauce is something interesting to try!  I love the savory and briny flavor together with the thick sauciness.

Tuna Omelet (360 php)

The Tuna Omelet is the classic okonomiyaki (Japanese omelet) filled with canned tuna chunks and embellished by Worcestershire sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and bonito flakes.  Flavor is alright but I'd prefer a fluffier version.

Hibachi

Beef Yakiniku (890 php)

The Beef Yakiniku grants an fun mini charcoal grilling experience.  The quality of the beef short ribs is just good enough.  It is tender with the proper grilling time.   It is served with sesame and ponzu sauces and calamansi. 

Japanese Pasta

Sea Urchin Cream Pasta (310 php)

The Sea Urchin Cream Pasta would have been better had there been more Sea Urchin on it.  They are so few that they are hardly distinguishable in terms of taste and flavor.  

Rice

Egg & Leeks Chahan (240 php)

Just to have a staple, we ordered the Egg & Leeks Chahan.

Desserts

Uji Matcha Ice Cream (320 php)

The menu indicates the Uji Matcha Ice Cream as green tea flavored ice cream.  The menu photo shows a vanilla ice cream covered in a heap load of matcha powder but what we got is so scarce of it.  While I enjoyed the twist they did with the conventional red beans, this turned out to be disappointing.

 

Honey Tofu Ice Cream (275 php)

The Honey Tofu Ice Cream is composed of two blocks of tofu glazed with honey and topped covered in soy flour.  It is also served with a chocolate wafer stick and vanilla ice cream.  This is a simple and light yet surprisingly refreshing dessert.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Mangetsu Japanese Fusion Restaurant is a good experience especially when you want to try something new with Japanese Cuisine.  I noticed that not all dishes are interesting though.  Some are almost the same as the classic.  While others are extraordinary but does not appeal to our preference.  As the dishes are hit or miss, I'm not convinced with its very steep pricing.