I'm going to a wedding on Thursday and my secretary says I simply can't go dressed in some outfit that has graced Facebook! Luckily, I had time to be at SM Megamall as it opened, picked up a few, fitted some and bought my choice in less than an hour. All that amidst the Christmas rush. Hurray for shopping early!
Mission accomplished, I trooped to Yabu at the Atrium to reward myself. I've been meaning to try the place since reading it in Chuvaness.com. After all, my introduction to Japanese food came via their deep fried selections. It was only as I got older that I became adventurous with my choices.
Yabu is billed as the restaurant serving the best tonkatsu in town, authentic even. Chuvaness and Sandy Daza agree that it's almost heaven. With the two in mind, I proceeded to order one of their Tonkatsu Sets (served with Japanese rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles, unlimited cabbage with sesame dressing and a bowl of fruit). I opted for Rosu (pork loin) set (PHP 320), described as 3/4 inch thick and juicy, "rosu" is Japanese for pork loin, wherein the slice of pork has a trimming of fat with it. Available in three sizes, 90, 120 and 180g, I opted for the middle option which the waiter said was just right. I thought my dietitian would be so proud of my choices - a balanced diet with carbohydrate, protein, vegetables and fruit. When my order came, I realized I was in trouble. The size of the pork was not what the dietitian ordered. I should have gone with the smallest sized one, especially so since I was dining alone.
Now, let's dissect the meal. I don't really like miso soup but Yabu's version is very good. The Japanese rice is how it should be, not like some wannabe versions. I skipped the pickles but finished all of the cabbage. It was very fresh and crunchy. Hurray for me! The tonkatsu was wonderful but the serving size was way too much for me, better probably if shared with a friend as the crunchiness of the coating and tenderness of the pork are best appreciated when served right away. The bowl of fruit was a perfect way to end the meal. Of course, Coke Light was the perfect partner.
I realized though that aside from tonkatsu or variations of it, they have few choices to offer.
Service wise, it was quite good too. The waiters were very attentive despite that it was very busy during my visit. The manager too was very much hands on.
Yahoo for Yabu!
Labels:
taste test