Sankai Japanese Restaurant

Japanese cuisine restaurants are not scarce in Davao. In fact, I have a long list of favorites that I go back to over and over again, namely Tsuru, Tadakuma, Nonki, and mid-priced restaurants like Sushi Dito and Teriyaki Boy. There is also a new addition to that long list in Yakimix, which is a dream for Japanese food lovers because they have a buffet of dishes from this cuisine. Then there are also those long standing restaurants that do not get all the hype but the lack of it speak nothing of the restaurant's quality. In fact, it is like a hidden gem tucked away in a quiet part of the city that those who are unaware that the restaurant even existed would not dare stop by. I feel that way about Sankai Japanese restaurant. Even though I had been eyeing a visit for a very long time, the opportunity did not arrive until I decided to have an intimate dinner with friends.

the sushi bar

This restaurant was the perfect venue for that. As I said, it is not located inside a mall or the central part of the metro so it is quieter and more laid back. The restaurant in itself is warm, cozy, and quiet. There were plenty of empty tables and so we had the liberty to choose the table we want. It is also staffed by friendly waiters and waitresses that were quick to accommodate us upon entrance.

However, people come to Sankai mainly for the food. And that is what I was most excited about. Check out below to see what dishes we've sampled:

Vegetable Salad

A very light salad that consists mainly of shredded cabbage. It is also served with a Japanese soy sauce to add richness to the flavor of the vegetables. A great way to start off the meal, especially for vegetable lovers.

California Maki

I don't know where to start so I am going to say it outright - this is the best California Maki I've had so far. The Japanese rice is of premium quality. The sweetness from the mango and cucumber when combined by the savory taste of the crabsticks delivers an indescribable feeling inside your mouth. Take my word for it - you have to try it when you visit Sankai!

Shoyu Seafood Ramen

This is the perfect choice for the rainy night. I almost always find myself ordering ramen whenever I go to a Japanese restaurant. Sankai's seafood ramen fits my idea of how a Japanese ramen should be. And check out those huge pieces of shrimps, too!

Okonumiyaki

According to my friend, Okonumiyaki is like a Japanese version of pizza. The term literally translates to "grilled as you like it", which implies that this particular recipe can be prepared however you want and using any ingredients you might have in mind. But for this recipe, the dish is made with shredded cabbage and batter to hold them together. There is also a soft interior, which seems like egg mixture (sort of like an omelette), to bring another layer of flavor into this dish. I wasn't such a big fan, although it could just be that I was too full at that time as this dish was served last.

Gyoza

Gyoza is another famous Japanese cuisine dish and is something that you have to try, especially when dining in a Japanese restaurant for the first time. Basically, a gyoza is like the Japanese version of Chinese dumplings. These savory parcels are dainty looking but they are quite the delectable treat. The filling can either be made of pork or seafood (minced, of course) so you can get a flavorful bite every single time. Meanwhile, it is also served with its own dipping sauce to add more flavor.

Our dinner at Sankai was no less than satisfying. Authentic Japanese food coupled with excellent service and a good company is my idea of a perfect date night. If you did not know about Sankai yet, or knew about it but hasn't paid the restaurant a visit, now is the chance to.

Sankai Japanese Restaurant is located at Emilio Jacinto Extension, Davao City. You can call them for inquiries or reservations at (082) 222-1799.

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Let's Have Sushi Dito!

I have been on a Japanese food trip hiatus for a long time and it's about time I break that dry spell. Earlier this week, I had a chance to return to Sushi Dito and finally able to chronicle my dining experience. I also felt it worthy to feature them because I've heard a lot of positive reviews and I did enjoy my previous visit. And because I am the biggest advocate for Japanese cuisine, I can't be any happier that not only was Sushi Dito still operational, but that they also made a few revamps to the interior design of their restaurant (hint: more comfy chairs!).

The menu at Sushi Dito is quite extensive that you can find nearly all kinds of sushi, sashimi, and ramen dishes imaginable. Hence, I went ahead and ordered two different kinds of sushi to be able to sample more of what's on their menu.

First up is the Miami Roll (P98 for 4 pieces, P190 for 8 pieces). It is made with prawns, avocado, Philadelphia cheese and sesame seeds. I did not expect much from this but it blew me away. Love the combination of flavors: savory from the prawn, a little bit of tangy flavor from the Philadelphia cheese and the drizzled mayo on the plate, and some sweetness coming from the avocado. The sesame seeds also helped to bring forth a delectable aroma to this sushi.

Next up is the Salmon Cucumber. This one is available for P100 for 4 pieces and P185 for 8 pieces. Each roll is filled with Japanese rice, salmon and cucumber. This one comes with very subtle flavors. My only qualm though is that the salmon slices should be made bigger so that the salmon flavor would become more prominent. It is a little too subtle that the cucumber flavor overpowers the salmon. Nonetheless, I would still order this when I get the chance.

We also tried one of their rice bowl meals - Mussels Rice Bowl (P170). This dish, on the other hand, is anything but subtle. It is packed with flavor! The mussels are cooked in oyster sauce, garlic, and butter so you treat both your palate and sense of smell while eating this dish. However, again, I have to note that the serving is tad too small for its serving. I am not a big eater but even I felt like I got the raw end of the deal for the price that I paid on this one.

If you are a fan of Japanese cuisine but is intimidated with the expensive cost of dining in other authentic Japanese restaurants in the city, Sushi Dito is an affordable alternative. And if you love sushi, this is the place to be because they have plenty of options to choose from.

Sushi Dito is located along E. Quirino St., Davao City.

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Teriyaki Boy: Affordable Way to Indulge in Japanese Cuisine

Japanese restaurants, like most foreign cuisines, have intimidated many with the notion of expensive and fine dining experience. In some parts, I do agree. Japanese food entails the use of the freshest ingredients, mostly seafoods, that you have to pay a huge price in order to enjoy quality Japanese cooking, especially an authentic one. But Teriyaki Boy seem to belie this myth and has proven to be a quality contender in the local scene for those who are into Japanese food. 

Davao City is now saturated with Japanese restaurants like Tsuru, Tadakuma, Rai Rai Ken, Red Kimono, Sumo Sam, Nonki, and with the arrival of newbies like Sushi Dito and Pepper Lunch. But I do believe that Teriyaki Boy will find itself establishing loyal patrons with its budget-friendly yet quality culinary offerings. Hence, I made sure to give this resto a try as soon as they opened their first branch in Davao at Abreeza Mall.

The most notable difference with Teriyaki Boy is the casual dining experience, which is not usually the case with most Japanese restaurants in the city. It does not care for the fancy stuff because at the heart of your dining experience here is the quality of the food that won't hurt your pockets.

First on the plate is the Kanikama Roll (PhP 100). This is a very affordable sushi considering that you are served 8 pieces. And yet, you can enjoy delectable combination of flavors from the sushi rice, nori, and crabsticks. The presentation is also very clever!

We also picked one of their Ramen because soups are a must when you visit a Japanese restaurant. I am a big seafood fan, so we went for the Tanmen Ramen. In this dobin soup base, you can enjoy a variety of seafood meat to feast to such as cream dory, squid, tiger prawn, and shrimp! Sorry, I got too excited and forgot to take a photo until after I've dug in.

Another one of their noodle goodness that I had a chance to try is the Gyuniku Yakiudon. Priced at P250, the glassy udon noodles are stirfried then added with tender beef slices, chives, and shiitake mushrooms. I love shiitake mushrooms and their strong yet savory flavor! The serving of this noodle dish is topped with an egg yolk and nori flakes. Needless to say, I enjoyed this dish a great deal.

Who says you can't enjoy quality Japanese food at a reasonable price? Try Teriyaki Boy to see for yourself...

Tadakuma Japanese Restaurant

It’s no secret that I love Japanese cuisine. If I had to eat one particular cuisine for the rest of my life, I’d pick Japanese without hesitation. It therefore comes as no surprise that I’ve made a few  rounds to various Japanese restaurants in Davao, but here’s one that truly brought that authentic Japanese vibe – Tadakuma. 

This is one of the first Japanese restaurants in Davao City and was formerly called Ramen Tei. They have a couple of branches in the city, the first one is located near Central Bank (where I had the opportunity to dine in) and the other one is in Damosa. I prefer the branch near Central Bank because the ambiance feels more authentic, in fact it is more like dining at an actual Japanese home.

This is, therefore, a relatively small restaurant with only a few tables to pick from. However, every small detail of the restaurant's interior design help to incorporate authenticity into your dining experience. There is no need for anything fancy because the food is the star here.

Image: blogalag.com

Image: Blogalag.com

Here are our orders for the night…

First order up is the Seafood Ramen. The sauce is thick and creamy with a succulent flavor coming from the seafoods added into the soup stock. I appreciate the fact that it is served with huge slices of squid, fish, and crabsticks so every mouthful is a pleasure to your taste buds. The noodles used for this soup is also homemade, not the variety you can get from the grocery. Nothing fancy with this dish - just pure Japanese soup goodness that makes it the perfect comfort food for that night (it was fitting that it was a rainy evening when we dined here, too). 

Of course, I can't have a proper meal at a Japanese resto without trying out their sushi. We went for the California Maki, which is an 8-piece serving. I forgot to note the price for this one but it is certainly affordable, especially when compared to the more high-end Japanese restaurants in the city. The freshness of the ingredients is very apparent here. And they don't scrimp on the fillings on this sushi.

We also ordered their Ebi Tempura consisting of two slices of prawns. The simplicity and fullness of the flavor to these dishes remind me why I have come to develop such a deep love for Japanese food. The freshness of the ingredients and their natural flavor serve as the highlight of every meal. And here in Tadakuma, you cannot get anything better than that.

The authenticity of the ambiance and the food are two of the qualities that make Tadakuma a true favorite for the Japanese food lovers out there. If you haven’t been to Tadakuma, you haven’t tried the best of what Japanese cuisine has to offer, locally speaking.

Tsuru Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar – Japanese Food Haven

Tsuru is an authentic Japanese restaurant located along J. Camus Street (if you don’t know where that is, it is right across People’s Park) and situated within the same building as Hanoi, another famous restaurant in Davao. According to the restaurant’s website, they take pride in using the freshest ingredients in preparing their dishes and anyone who’s dined here can attest to the quality of their food offerings.

Being a lover of Japanese food, I didn’t require any more convincing to dine here. And I am happy to report that the restaurant has not, in any bit, disappointed me. In fact, I am keen on declaring it as the city’s best Japanese restaurant – it’s just that I love so many of them that I can’t pick a favorite!

I ordered Salmon Belly Teriyaki (PhP 370) because I had to have salmon. This dish was seasoned with a sweet sauce, which leaves a desirable aftertaste to your palate. If you love fish or salmon, this dish is a must-try. Serving is good for 1-2 persons (but maybe one if you’re really crazy about salmon. Ha!)

Luckily for me, E also loves seafood as much as I do. As if the teriyaki dish isn’t enough to satisfy our seafood craving, we also opted for the Mixed Teppan (PhP 335). It is a combination of squid, shrimp, and lapu-lapu cooked on a hot steel plate, a form of cooking originated by Japanese cuisine.

Lastly, we ordered Asparagus Bacon Maki (PhP 170). If the pic of this dish doesn’t look appetizing for you, then I don’t know what is. Even steamed asparagus tastes heaven to me, what more when you wrap it with bacon? Pure Japanese cuisine heaven right there.

I enjoyed this lovely dinner with E so much that we can’t wait to be back. There’s a sushi bar that I want to try, too. How about you? Have you tried dining at Tsuru? How’s the experience? Be sure to sound off at the comments section below. 

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Tsuru Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
J. Camus St., Davao City
(082) 221-0901