It's funny how timely opportunity seems to just knock on my door.  Just a few weeks ago, my friend Hana, her better half Kyle and I were planning to go for a Maginhawa food trip.  A week later, we all received an invited along with our blogger friends to go join their Food Panda Maginghawa Food Crawl.  I'm so glad Food Panda organized such a gastronomic adventure because we would never have made an itinerary as awesome as they did!  Our first stop was Katz Diner. 
  
Katz Diner is located in Malingap Sikatuna Village (within the Maginhawa area).  It has two parking slots and an al fresco area which you can visibly from the outside.

Inside, you'll see that it's no ordinary hall in the wall.  It's very bright, warn, colorful and cozy with nice frames hanged on its walls and quirky displays.

Simple but very pleasing to the eyes right?


Food

Entrees

Grilled Pork Steak (260 php)

The Grilled Pork Steak is a plateful of sweet marinated pork cuts which is great when dipped in the vinegar-based sauce.  It is also served with a cup of rice, fried egg, pickled radish and carrots and fresh slices of tomatoes and cucumber. 

♥ Roast Pork Belly (290 php)

Isn't the Roast Pork Belly just stunningly beautiful?  We all had a few seconds just looking at this to appreciate it before digging in.  Some of the skin delivered a crackling sensation.  The roast pork belly was so soft and so flavorful as it was swimming in gorgeous, gratifying although quite guilt-bearing oil.  The oiliness was properly subdued by the delicious sweet potato puree, gravy and chimchuri sauce.  It also comes with a cup of rice, fried egg and pickled cucumber.


All Day Breakfast

♥ Longganisa (185 php)

My favorite among our orders would be the Longganisa.  Although my mom is from Ilocos Sur and we regularly cooked longanisa at home, I super rarely eat them because I'm not much of a fan.  I'm so glad that Katz' Longganisa is unlike any other.  It is deconstructed into bits and mixed with a delicious salsa.  It actually felt like eating a Filipino-style taco but with scrambled egg and rice instead of cispy taco shell or soft tortilla.


Dessert

♥ Lava Cake (100 php)

Save room for dessert because there's the Lava Cake!

♥ Lava Cake (100 php)

The Lava Cake has a rich, sweet, gooey chocolate fudge that oozes out in every forkful.  Yum!

Drinks

♥ Brewed Tea (80 php)

For drinks, the hot Brewed Tea is highly recommended!  You can choose between black tea or oolong tea and they serve it with a mix of creamy sweet milk.

Tea-Based

Citrus Tea Pitcher (140 php)

I found the Citrus Tea a bit too sweet but I liked that the citrus flavor was bold enough to be distinguished.

Yakult-Based

♥ Green Tea Yakult (90 php) *Sample size only

The Green Tea Yakult we tried was at a sugar level of 25%.  It was just right for me.  I liked their blend.  I could sense the floral flavor of the green tea and at the same time, recognize the sweet and tangy flavor of the Yakult.


Order from Katz Diner Through Food Panda
Food Panda is an online delivery service available in over 35 countries.  If don't want to hassle yourself to go Maginhawa (I personally find it difficult to commute in that area), you can easily order from Katz Diner through Food Panda. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If you're looking for a diner that serves hefty breakfast with a nice atmosphere to brighten your day, then consider Katz Diner.  It's also an ideal place to just chill (they have a very good air conditioning) and relax.  Their drink selections are very affordable and really good.  But, I can't say the same for most of their food items.

The family loves Tokyo Tonteki.  But, such love cannot overcome the distance from our home to UP Town Center so we're very glad they opened their second branch in Greenbelt 5. 

I actually find it a bit odd that they had a narrow entrance. 

And, along that narrow entrance is a display of their dishes.

The design is less elegant than their UP Town Center pioneer branch but it's still bright and clean looking.

Food

Starters

Spring Roll of Prosciutto, Avocado and Onsen Egg (190 php)

I've shared and raved about the Spring Roll of Prosciutto, Avocado and Onsen Egg on my first review.  Of course, I have to have more of it! 

Set Meals (Unlimited Pork Miso Soup, Japanese Rice and Cabbage)

Tonteki Sets (Premium Pork Loin Sets)

Regular Tonteki Set (375 php)

Starting with their classic item: Regular Tonteki Set served with unlimited pork miso soup, Japanese rice and cabbage.

Japanese Cucumber Pickles

It also comes with a serving of Japanese Cucumber Pickles.
 

Regular Tonteki Set (375 php)

The Regular Tonteki is glazed with the tonteki sauce.  It's a really flavorful blend that's quite captivating.  But, I still like the Ginger Flavored Pork Steak Set more.

Tonburg Sets (100% Pure Ground Pork)

Tonburg Steak Set with Tonteki Sauce (375 php)

The Tonburg Steak Set with Tonteki Sauce is another all-time favorite for me.  But, if you  have more money to spend, I' suggest going for the heese Tonburg Steak Set.

Chicken Steak Sets

Chicken Steak w/ Teriyaki Sauce (350 php)

I really liked their Chicken Steak w/ Teriyaki Sauce because the taste is just right.  It wasn't short of flavor nor was it too sweet or salty.  It's difficult to decide whether this is better than the Chicken Steak Set with Onion Steak Sauce I've tried before.


Katsu Sets

Salmon Fry 4 pcs. (360 php)

This is the first time I'm trying their Katsu. As you can see, their Salmon Fry is beautifully prepared.  The Katsu breading is so thin and crisp.  The salmon is also fresh and juicy.

Side Dishes

Sundubu Style Tonteki Stew (300 php)

My favorite dish in Tokyo Tonteki is actually not their pork steak but just a side dish.  It's the Sundubu Style Tonteki Stew I just had to order in every visit!  It you like spicy Korean dishes, order this!

Stir-Fried Japanese Mushrooms (250 php)

The Stir-Fried Japanese Mushrooms still has 3 kinds of mushrooms.  But, I noticed that their not as big as I remembered them to be.


Rice

Special Fried Rice with Egg (150 php)

The Special Fried Rice with Egg is sinangag escalated ti the highest level.  Everyone was crazy for this!

Dessert

Chocolate Pudding w/ Whipped Cream (120 php)

It appears that they have totally revamped their dessert menu.  Although I liked the old ones, I'm glad they did because of this Chocolate Pudding w/ Whipped Cream.  It's so good with its semi-powdery but still silky texture, rick dark chocolate taste and addictive vanilla whipped cream.  I won't deny that I didn't want to share this and I didn't!  I swear I'll order this in every visit!

Creme Brulee (120 php)

The Creme Brulee is good but it faded just behind the Chocolate Pudding w/ Whipped Cream's limelight.

Beverages

Bottomless Iced Tea Lemon (85 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Tokyo Tonteki is now available for those from the South side. I know I'm surely coming back for more of their pork steak and more.  I'd strongly suggest you give it a try too.

The Up Town Center in Katipunan which is 2-floors filled with restaurants is a new foodie haven.  What is interesting about the UP Town Center is that it offers new and pioneer concepts such as the Tokyo Tonteki which has no branch elsewhere in the Metro except there. 

While I intend to venture with the rest, Tokyo Tonteki seemed like the ideal first stop because it was very fresh concept for me.  I've tried Japanese izakayas, the hyped ramen shops and katsu shops, home-cooked style Japanese and many other Japanese restaurants but I've never once encountered Tonteki.  During my visit, I also noticed that it drew the most number of diners among all the establishments in the area.

Tonteki did not actually originate from Tokyo.  It is a famous dish of Yokkaichi City in Mie Prefecture.  Tonteki is derived from Ton which means "Pork" and Teki which means "Steak".  Chef Shusaku Namikawa noticed that there is no restaurant serving Tonteki in Tokyo so on April 15, 2007, he opened the first Tokyo Tonteki offering his own tweaked version of Tonteki in Shibuya Prefecture in Tokyo, Japan.  It became an instant hit which paved way to his opening of three more branches in Japan. 


Although the place is not as spacious with only 40-50 seating capacity, I love the modern and clean interiors with its white soft lofts, soft yellow lighting and wooden walls. 

I bet it took a lot of craftiness to produce this.

Their open kitchen is really open!  There is no glass or anything that separates it from the dining area. 

I also loved there cute black wall with print on some parts of the wall.  The drawings are the same as with their other branches in Japan.

Each table is complete with condiments, sauces, utensils and even small plates.

 Upon ordering, they will place these Tokyo Tonteki cast iron brandished cork pot holders on your table.  What's unique about Tokyo Tonteki is that their servers are also cooks.  All of them are capable of doing every work required in the restaurant.


Food

♥ Spring Roll of Prosciutto, Avocado and Onsen Egg (175 php)

Upon being served the Spring Roll of Prosciutto, Avocado and Onsen Egg, I knew I was in for a whole new dining experience.  I consider this dish of modern Japanese.  It's onsen egg and avocado slices wrapped in lettuce and then prosciutto topped with alfalfa laid on a bed of chili mayonnaise.

♥ Spring Roll of Prosciutto, Avocado and Onsen Egg (175 php)

Onsen egg is the Japanese traditional way of cooking the egg in hot springs which are approximately 70°C for 30-40 minutes of slow cooking to produce a milky and creamy custard-like egg white and dark and creamy wet yolk.  This dish is sensational with the beautiful oozing yolk and custard-like egg white, smooth and flavorful avocado slices, crunchy lettuce, slightly salty and chewy prosciutto and lightly tingly alfalfa.

Tonteki Sets (Served with UNLIMITED pork miso soup, rice and cabbage)
For all the sets, you can request extra servings of the pork miso soup, rice and cabbage. The pork miso soup is a miso soup with ground pork and onions.  For the cabbage, you can choose from Balsamic Vinegar, Wafu Dressing or Japanese Mayonnaise.

♥ Ginger Flavored Pork Steak Set (350 php)

The Ginger Flavored Pork Steak Set is one hefty meal!  It's a pan-filled with Ginger Flavored Pork Steak and shredded cabbage served with a bowl of Japanese rice, pork miso soup and Japanese cucumber pickles.

As the Tonteki used are thicker than traditional, the pork steak is fried for about 5 minutes before grilling and being topped with the sauce and other ingredients.  The Ginger Flavored Pork Steak had a slightly sweet gingered sauce which was greatly complemented by the walnuts.  The pork meat is tender and juicy. 



Tonburg

♥ Cheese Tonburg Steak Set (400 php)

For a hearty option, I'd suggest the Cheese Tonburg Steak Set.  It is a pan-filled with Tonburg or Hamburger Steak covered in zesty melted cheese and their special Tonteki sauce.  This is gastronomic with savory, soft and fine ground meaty goodness in every bite. 

Chicken Steak Sets

Chicken Steak Set with Onion Steak Sauce (325 php)

The Chicken Steak Set with Onion Steak Sauce is chicken steak glazed with sweet caramelized onion sauce.  This would be the ideal option for those who don't eat pork.  But I have to admit that the pork delivers a bolder flavor.


Side Dishes (Available only for dinner 6pm onwards)

♥ Sundubu Style Tonteki Stew (280 php)

I'm still wondering why the Sundubu Style Tonteki Stew is listed as a side dish when this dish alone could make me a happy camper with just a cup of rice with it.  We just fell in love with it's sweet, spicy and savory stew with tofu, egg, green onions, beef and wood ear mushrooms.  Perhaps this is the modern Japanese counter part of the red hot and spicy Korean Sundubu Jjigae?

Stir-Fried  Bean Sprouts (190 php)

The Stir-Fried  Bean Sprouts is a small pan filled with buttered crunchy beansprouts and leeks topped with Shichimi Togarashi (seven spice chili powder).

♥ Stir-Fried Japanese Mushrooms (220 php)

The Stir-Fried Japanese Mushrooms is a mini pan full of buttered three kinds of mushrooms: matsutake, shitake and enoki topped with bonito flakes.

Dessert

Homemade Almond Pudding (110 php)

The Homemade Almond Pudding is a bowlful of silky smooth almond pudding cubes in creamy almond milk.

♥ Cheesecake (140 php)

The Cheesecake is souffled and topped with blueberry syrup.  As expected from a Japanese style cheesecake, this is not as dense as the typical cheesecake.  Yet, it is still profoundly cheesy and creamy and not the cotton chiffon type which is probably why it was heavily sinking on the center.  We enjoyed this!

Other Reviews at UP Town Center
Cafe Shibuya
Casa Verde
Dulcelin Gourmet
Ginza Bairin
Lucca Bakery

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I whole-heartedly welcome Tokyo Tonteki in the Philippines!  I'm sure it will gain as much or even more fame in the Philippines as it did in Japan.  It offers a truly remarkable variety of dishes that can't be enjoyed elsewhere.  The food variety and quality, ambiance and service is outstanding.  The price in relation to the ingredients and serving portions is very reasonable too.