I'm taking it quite slow with my Katsu adventure.   A few nights ago, my cousin and I had out girls bonding night where she mentioned Saboten as being one of her and her husband's favorite.  That made me curious and teased me to want to try Saboten.

       Saboten's latest branch is in Glorietta 5.  I think it's strategically located, very bright and welcoming so it's difficult to miss.  Saboten is actually brought to the Philippines by Raintree group whose other concepts I've encountered before.

 

       As soon as I walk in, I noticed that they have a take out counter with comfortable seating for those who are waiting.  


     While waiting, I also took my time to read about Saboten and their thick cutlets.



     The area is very spacious and they made sure that their diners are afforded a lot of space and privacy.

     Each booth had a divider see?  

Condiments

      Saboten's secret sauce is made in Hokkaido using onions, carrots, apple, tomatoes and over 10 spices so make sure to try it out.  They also have the pink Himalayan salt. 

Pour the Special Sauce in the Grinded Sesame

Food
    Katsu is best shared with a group so we ordered based on our servers suggestion for us three girls to share.  And, somehow we managed to swipe this clean. =)) 

All set meals include refillable shredded cabbage, pickles, rice and miso soup

      I noticed that they don't have any ala carte.  Everything is ordered by sets.

 Grated Radish Katsu

Grated Radish Tenderloin Set (440 php)

         We opted to go for the Grated Radish Tenderloin Set which was an upgraded version of The Original because it had grated radish on top of it and is supposed to be served with a slice of grapefruit (but we got lemons instead) and ponzu sauce.  We noticed that they pork cutlets are thicker than others we've tried.  The tenderloin is really lean and meaty.  I was expecting this to deliver a whole new experience but I noticed that the other variants were served with ponzu sauces with grated radish on it so its almost the same.

Katsu Curry   

♥ Curry Chicken Set (575 php)

       I'm glad they offered the Curry Chicken Set for people like me who want to feel healthy once in awhile and opt for chicken over pork.  I find their curry sauce to have just the right blend.  I declare it safe even for those who can't eat spicy food.
 

♥ Curry Chicken Set (575 php)

       I know I mentioned last time that I won't go for chicken anymore but I'm now retracting that because Saboten has executed this dish so well that I could hardly distinguish any difference in moisture and texture with that of a pork.   I think I finished most of this dish.

Claypot

Clay Pot Tenderloin Set (440 php)

      The Clay Pot is their version of the Katsudon.  While my friend Berylle enjoyed this, I found the sauce to be too sweet for my liking.  And, I also prefer wet and runny yolks than dry than fluffy ones.

Clay Pot Tenderloin Set (440 php)

       But, what I like about the Clay Pot Tenderloin is that it's more moist and soft than the other variants. 


Mille-Feuille Katsu

♥ Mille-Feuille Combo Set (595 php)

      The Mille-Feuille Combo Set had 130g Mille-Feuille Katsu, 1 Deep-Fried Shrimp and 1 Crab Cream Croquette.  The deep-fried shrimp is one of the best I've tried.  I also loved the Crab Cream Croquette because the flavor of the crab was brought out by the cream instead of being dominated by it.  
 

♥ Mille-Feuille Katsu

      Their Mille-Feuille Katsu was very tender and more juicy than the rest because we noticed it had a lot of fats especially at the center part.  It's a really good alternative to The Original one.  I really like their spiky bread crumbs.  It's doesn't absorb too much oil so it was not oily and the crunchiness is so light and easy to breakthrough. 

Dessert        
        After eating a heavy load of meat, we felt a huge craving for something sweet.  And, since we can't decide on what to order, we decided to try all four of their cakes.

♥ Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Cake (195 php)

      I actually voted for the Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Cake despite it being the least visually appealing (Yes! When it comes to desserts, we tend to use our eyes) because I saw a lot of blogs raving about it.

♥ Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Cake (195 php)

         Sure enough, it did not disappoint.  It was a chocolate lovers dream with its rich chocolate ganache coating and velvety hazel cream filling.

Matcha Lychee Almond Cake (210 php)

      My two girl friends seemed to be drawn to the exciting combination of the Matcha Lychee Almond Cake and insisted on ordering it.  I didn't like it because the chiffon sponge cake felt too moist as if chilled too long and the matcha, lychee and almond were all too light that I could hardly recognize it from the sweet white ganache.

Strawberry Shortcake (195 php)

      I'm a huge fan of strawberry shortcakes especially Japanese ones so I was really persistent in having this.  But, when our Strawberry Shortcake came, I was surprised that it didn't have a single strawberry slice between the layers as shown on the menu.  The taste of the shortcake was good but it failed in terms of texture as it has the denseness similar to that of being chilled too long.

Sesame Sansrival Cake (210 php)

        The Sesame Sansrival Cake is my second choice next to the Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Cake.   It was not overwhelmingly sweet like most sansrival.  And, the black sesame in butter cream was quite evident.

Drinks

♥ Ripe Mango and Passion Fruit (195 php)

       I highly recommend the Ripe Mango and Passion Fruit which was the drink I got to try.  It was very sweet and refreshing that it mellows down the palette in every sip.


Promo

        Collect all of these by purchasing for 295 php or dining in every Rain Tree Restaurant with a minimum of 1,000 php.


Other Katsu Reviews
Ginza Bairin
Katsu Cafe
Kimukatsu
Tonkatsu by Terazawa
Yabu 1 | Yabu 2

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Saboten offers its own distinguishing katsu experience that is sure to satisfy any katsu craving.  The thickn but tender pork cutlets, exquisite crisp of the breading and flavorful sauce is worth coming back for. 

I just love new discoveries.  My first exploration at Zuellig Building led me to the food court where I discovered Zigla!  Well, I just found out that Zuellig Building has a lot more to offer with Terraz Meetings & Bistro located at the 3rd floor. 

When you're in Makati and all you could see are cars and tall buildings, you'd understand the refreshing feeling I had upon reaching Terraz.  I just love it's bright and spacious motif with clear glass windows and yellow green and yellow soft and well-cushioned seats.  Diners were enjoying themselves as if the busy and fast-paced office life has been put on hold.

I couldn't help but appreciate the huge space that Terraz has to offer.  Aside from the generous distance of each table from one another, affording their diners comfort and privacy, they also made sure the diners have a beautiful view of their open kitchen, cake chiller and the garden outside. 

It was a usual lunch on a weekday workday and the place was packed.

It also has a bar area which is understandably unoccupied during the day.

What sets Terraz apart from other restaurants is its meeting rooms.  Doesn't it resemble a grand board room?

Food

Complimentary Flat Bread with Pimiento Cheese and Aoili Dip

Upon being seated, we were given a Complimentary Flat Bread with Pimiento Cheese and Aoili Dip.  I just love flat breads like the roti prata so I quickly got my hands and mouth busy with these.

Salads

Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna (275 php)

The Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna is one of the few salads that has left a distinguishing impression upon me.  The highligh of the salad are the perfectly prepared pan-seared ahi-tuna crusted with sesame seeds.  It really brought the other fresh ingredients to life.  Other components are fresh and crunchy romaine lettuce, sliced Japanese cucumber, red beets and vine cherry tomato.  It also had a flavorful sesame dressing. 

The Terraz Chef Salad (295 php)

The Terraz Chef Salad with romaine lettuce, red wine, hard-boiled egg, crispy parma ham, grilled bacon, roast beef in light salt, cheddar and emmental cheese cube in pepper vinaigrette and ranch dressing was also good.  But, I personally prefer the Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna over it.

Pizza and Pasta

Truffle Herbed Chicken& Creamy Mushroom

I am a big sucker for an dish with truffle on them.   The Truffle Herbed Chicken& Creamy Mushroom with its moist and tender marinated grilled chicken breast with 3 kinds of mushroom and red wine sauce pasta dish is no exception.

Simple Saffron Spaghtetti

It's actually my first time to try something like the Simple Saffron Spaghtetti.  It's their home made (made from scratch) saffron spaghetti with spinach and grilled asparagus.  Usually, when I eat pasta, my taste buds tend to be drawn towards the sauce.  But, in this case, the sauce is so light that it actually let's you appreciate the distinct flavor of a very precious spice: saffron.

Western Flavors 

Buttered Tilapia Saltimbocca (350 php)

I'm very particular with fishiness so I often steer away from the tilapia.  But, the Buttered Tilapia Saltimbocca is surprisingly clean-tasting that I'm surprised it is actually tilapia.  It is served with vegetable pilaf asparagus sage tomato sauce and grainy cream mustard sauce.

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pork Medallion and Foie Gras (695 php)

Upon seeing generous chunks of foie gras, the Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pork Medallion and Foie Gras has already won over me.  I'm very biased towards dishes with foie gras.  I'm so in love with it.  The dish is delicious!  It is also served with macaire potato, sauteed vegetables, mushroom ragout and merlot sauce.

Merlot Braised Veal Cheeks (550 php)

Another dish that I found simply irresistible is the Merlot Braised Veal Cheeks served with crushed garlic potato in olive oil and marinated vegetables: beets, beans, potato, carrots and mushroom ragout.

Pan-Seared Boneless Chicken Cream Emince (350 php)

The Pan-Seared Boneless Chicken Cream Emince is a dish that will surely please mushroom lovers like me.  It has a rich mushroom flavor with a wholesome creamy texture that complements the moist chicken fillets well.  It is served with baked potato, bacon, peppered asparagus and french beans.

Asian Inspirations

Spicy Terraz Corned Beef Adobo (495 php)

An interesting clash of two Filipino classic favorites: corned beef and adobo is the Spicy Terraz Corned Beef Adobo.   Seriously, this is one of the best corned beef and adobo dish I've ever tried!  Even the sides were surprisingly awesome!  I loved the garlic pumpkin, sweet mashed potato and kesong puti which are fried and buttered like chicken nuggets. 

Dessert

Crepe Zamurai (150 php)

We all wore puzzled faces when the Crepe Zamurai was served. We could only identify the caramel sauce and cinnamon sugar on top of the crepe.  What lies under is still a mystery.

Crepe Zamurai (150 php)

As soon as everyone got to try the Crepe Zamurai, we all had smiles plastered on our faces as we kept spooning for more of its addictive mango and banana bits in a pool of caramel sauce and Cinnamon sugar. 

Pavlovaz (150 php)

The Pavlovaz which is a meringue filled with light cream, cherry and berries was good too.

Drinks

Ginger & Mint Lemonade (130 php) and Strawberry & Mango (120 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I've so glad I've discovered Terraz Meetings & Bistro, Makati's hidden gem!  It offers a one of a kind experience at reasonable price.  I definitely want to try more of their menu selections.

My first acquaintance with the Raintree Restaurant Group was when we dined at MoMo! Cafe.  After that pleasurable dining experience, I was epicurious to try more of their other concepts starting with Kabila Filipino Bistro.

It's named Kabila because it's right next door to Museum Cafe (I want to try that sometime too!).

 The high ceiling design gives the place a nice, clean, refreshing and spacious appeal.

The first thing you'll notice upon walking in is the cake display.  Yes! I was successfully tempted.

I'm not really sure what this station is for but it showcases their famous Shrimp Okoy and Bagnet.

There are bottled of fermented vegetables.  I'm told it is only for display purposes. 

Food

Complimentary Appetizers: Tamarind Peanuts, Kropek and Shing-a-Ling

First

Shrimp Okoy (195 php)

I suggest that you have the Shrimp Okoy as a finger snack to share with a group.  It's as big as their big round platter.  It's different from other ones I've tried because it was very crispy and golden brown and made use of tiny baby shrimps and leeks.  It is served with sukang ilocos, chili and rock salt.


Salad & Vegetables

Ensaladang Kabila (225 php)

The Ensaladang Kabila is a foodgasmic orchestra of flavors.  It has salted eggs, ripe and green mangoes, guava, turnips, pomelo, pili nuts and diced tomatoes and onions.  It is served with bagoong alamang.

Fresh Lumpia sa Kabila (295 php)

The best dish I've tried is the Fresh Lumpia sa Kabila.  It's my first time to encounter a fresh lumpia ubod that is wrapped in an egg net (similat to the ones used for pad thai).  It has shrimp, minced pork, sweet garlic sauce, fresh garlic and sugar mixed ground peanuts.

Second

Seafood Kare-Kare (550 php)

This is the most flavorful Seafood Kare-Kare I've ever tried.  You can njoy this without the two types of bagoong served with it because of its rich peanut-y sauce.  As you can see, they don't scrimp on the ingredients too.


Pancit

Kabila (350 php)

The Kabila pancit is topped with carrots, green onions, beans and their famous Bagnet.  It is best eaten with the suka similar to the Pancit Habhab.


Rice

Alamang (195 php)

Plated Desserts

Leche Flan Turon + Chocnut Sauce (195 php)

Who doesn't love chocnut?  I love the creativity they put in the Leche Flan Turon + Chocnut Sauce.  I can't stop dipping onto the sauce!

Chocolate Filled Buchi Balls (195 php)

The Chocolate Filled Buchi Balls are deep-fried buchi served on top of a shot glass with vanilla ice cream so it's enjoyed ala mode style but in a fun dunk-and-eat way.
 

Chocolate Filled Buchi Balls (195 php)

I'm quite pleased with its dark and creamy chocolate filling.

Specialty Cakes

Impossible Cake (275 php)

They probably called this the Impossible Cake because it's impossible to resist!  It has a leche flan top and moist dark chocolate cake on the bottom.

Pineapple + Ripe Mango (175 php) and Ginumis (165 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Experience a fun-filled Filipino dining at Kabila Filipino Bistro.  The food has a nice innovative flair without losing the essence of its native Filipino roots.  It's dishes are also bolstered by rich quality ingredients.  The awesome interiors is also a plus.