Little Tokyo Makati cradles the white-walled gem of Japanese cuisine in Manila. Serving premium quality sashimi, sushi, and grilled food on a daily, this place is where the people come to eat the best of the best. It definitely does not get much fresher than Izakaya Kikufuji. Tip: Make reservations or else you will be waiting in line for hours.
The Restaurant
A genuinely authentic Japanese restaurant is really all anyone can ask for in life. To me, a kitchen's aura lends plenty to the entire eating experience. You need to feel the culture of a place to really appreciate what you are eating. Judging on the basis of cultural authenticity and quality food, Izakaya Kikufuji has the goods.
Skilled Chefs? Check! These guys really know what they're doing. They are quick, friendly, and they're very generous with the servings (especially to the regulars). Situated in an open space at the center of the room, you are free to see what the chefs are up to as well as your orders being served at the counter for the waitresses to pick up. The seafood they are preparing is prime quality, and they are positively experienced at handling it with care.
Izakaya Kikufuji has seafood and ingredients shipped from Japan daily. When you are dealing with a menu full of raw seafood and prime beef, freshness is a huge selling point. Just from a single bite, you can already tell that what you are eating is the real deal. (Well, it's as authentic as it gets in the Philippines.) Plus, if you're not into raw food, they offer a great grilled-foods menu too.
The guys at Kikufuji take their grilling business to another level. They actually have a chef that mans the grilling station 24/7. This ever-so-cautious guy makes sure the food is charred or smoked to perfection. Excellent quality sashimi, sushi, and grilled food is not something you come by all the time. In my opinion, Kikufuji trumps a lot of places simply because of the caliber of the food and the extremities they take to get it on our plates.
The Food
Special Kani Salad
This dish earns every right to its title. Kikufuji's special kani salad is by far one of the most unique tasting Japanese salads I have ever tasted. Straying from the usual cafeteria-esque kani salads, this one reminds me of something a mother would make you for dinner. It is strangely soothing and tastes oddly familiar. Besides the normal ingredients, it has sesame seeds and baby corn.
Spicy Tuna Sashimi
The perfect concoction of spices, fresh tuna sashimi, and crunchy tempura bites makes a divine combination. I order this dish every single time I go here. It is definitely my go-to order in most Japanese restaurants but Kikufuji's spicy tuna sashimi takes a top spot on my list of greats. It's a good dish to share with your family or friends.
Wagyu Sticks
Tender, succulent, and flavourful beef cubes that almost melt in your mouth as you devour them? Um YASSS, this is where it's at. Steak sticks are a simplistic but twist to an almost intimidating wagyu steak. Sometimes I find myself making a prayer as I eat these beef cubes, wondering how on earth something so heavenly can even exist. (Don't knock it 'til you try it.)
Chicken Sticks (Yakitori)
You can pick your favourite part of chicken and they will cook it for you so faultlessly you will never turn to street chicken sticks again. This is a big deal. I am not entirely sure if chicken in sticks is as popular in Japan then it is here but boy do these guys take it to another level. The chicken is usually well-cooked for that soft bite and delicately seasoned to match. This one is undeniably a must try. Tip: I suggest you order the chicken butt and the chicken liver.
Chicken Teriyaki
Soft and juicy chicken bites that are coated in a sweet and salty marinate and grilled to crispy-skinned-greatness. When I was younger I used to order chicken teriyaki in Japanese restaurants all the time. It is a great comfort food, and it is indubitably not underplayed in this restaurant. Order it with a side of rice and all your worries will go away.
Japanese Fried Rice (Chahan)
Kikufuji's Japanese fried rice is tossed in a melody of spices and complementary toppings. It is essentially such a simple dish but the flavours in this dish are just above and beyond! It's a delicious accessory to grilled food and sashimi, and it is also good on its own.
Large Oysters
A spicy, humungous oyster marks a special occasion for me. I remember my dad first ordered me one (yes it's just one oyster per order) on the week of my high school graduation and ever since then it kind of became a tradition. Honestly, the picture does not do the oyster justice. I probably got the smallest one in the pile at the time but it is usually really, really big. It may be a bit on the pricey side but you get your buck's worth. They do not have these in fridge all the time so you'll be lucky if it's in when you visit. PS: You'll have to ask the chef or server if it is available because they do not have it in the menu.
Sashimi Platter (3, 5, and 7 kinds)
This is probably the freshest you can ever get in the metro. As far as I know, they can change what is on the plate depending on your preference but the default plating for 3-kinds is salmon-tuna-hamachi, 5-kinds is the salmon-tuna-mackerel-hamachi-uni combination, and for 7-kinds is the salmon-tuna-hamachi-uni-mackerel-unagi-squid. This of course depends on what they have shipped to the restaurant on that day. Order this and I promise you, you won't regret it.
Oh, and their beer is great too.
Oh, and their beer is great too.
Thanks for the read! Let me know if you want me to blog about anything in particular. If you loved or hated it you can comment down below. If you have any questions or want to send me a message you can reach me at sunnysideash.official@gmail.com.
Love lots,
xx Ashley