Sakura By Edo-san - Makati

Loved the service they gave to our group. Classy Japanese aura and ambiance with waiters in their kimonos. Hehe! Loved the food especially their tea! Authentic... read more Loved the service they gave to our group. Classy Japanese aura and ambiance with waiters in their kimonos. Hehe! Loved the food especially their tea! Authentic taste! Miso soup is a champion too!

Verdict: A maki roll that stands out and can stand alone. (A strong, independent maki roll that don’t need no other dishes) It is not very often that I’ll feel... read more Verdict: A maki roll that stands out and can stand alone. (A strong, independent maki roll that don’t need no other dishes) It is not very often that I’ll feel compelled to write about just one dish from one restaurant but I think the Edo San Maki from Sakura by Edo San deserves it. The (massive) maki roll has multiple simple ingredients that manage to form rich flavors. The Chef starts this maki using simple ingredients like cream cheese, avocado, kani and eel. He then deep fries the whole maki in a tempura batter to make it crispy then he tops it off with one piece of shrimp and caviar. As if that’s not enough, he then lathers on his special sauce and torches the dish to give it a unique taste. All those ingredients make up one mind blowing piece of maki. Initially, I thought this was too many different flavors in one maki but Chef Edo San proved me wrong by carefully portioning each ingredient so that each one complements the other. I learned that the restaurant itself was actually exclusive before since it was located in Balesin Island but the Chef decided to expand and brought these unique flavors to the heart of Makati. The branch that I went to is located on the 6th floor of Alphaland Southgate and was completely empty during dinner time because not too many people from outside the building know of this restaurant – it is truly a hidden gem in the heart of Makati. Though it is quite pricey (P795/5 pcs), one order is enough to fill you up so trying it at least once is absolutely worth it. PRO Tip: They also have a bar menu available with similar items but priced significantly lower.

We loved their chirashi-don and their various specialty sushis, especially the spicy salmon maki and their unagi maki. Our other cooked meat orders were just OK... read more We loved their chirashi-don and their various specialty sushis, especially the spicy salmon maki and their unagi maki. Our other cooked meat orders were just OK. Ingredients are said to be flown in from Japan so the quality of their raw stuff is there. They're sometimes out of stock of our favorite items such as uni so it's best to call first before going.