In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: A "New" Old Discovery

So I thought I already found one of the best, if not the best, beef bowl in this country... But then I stumbled on a "new", old discovery.. Apparently, Tempura Japanese Grill is already quite established in the urban foodie scene, but I had just recently discovered that it serves one of the best beef bowls ever!  Sure, this joint is known for its yakiniku grilled food and of course, its tempura, but then, its gyudon is certainly worth a try.

What stands out from their version is that the beef has a hint of grill in it, and only the palate trained in the art of beef bowl tasting will probably be able  to differentiate it... The sauce is superb, and a tossing of green onion leeks adds a twist of spice  in this dish... What more, is that the shitake mushrooms are heftily served, and this adds body to an already bountiful treat... And all these for a bargain price.

And as such, although Tempura Japanese grill is famous for, obviously, other things, the beef bowl is a hidden treasure waiting for so long to be discovered.

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P185 per serving

Tempura Japanese Grill

SM Southmall, Las Pinas City

Rating: 5 stars!!!

(originally posted on February 24, 2008 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/4)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: Dasma's Little Secret

And my search brought me back to my second home, in the quaint town of Dasmarinas, Cavite... There's a little known joint, just a stone's throw from Nicasia.. It's been there since 2 years ago, and their Gyudon hasn't changed since ... And surprisingly, it's one of Dasma's best-kept secret.

Takumi's beef bowl is fairly priced, considering this is just a small establishment... But you get more than your money's worth.. The serving is adequate, but a striking difference from the more commercialized beef bowl, is the addition of green onion leeks, admixed with onion strips and shitake mushrooms... One noteworthy difference also, is that the beef strips taste somewhat like, well, beef tapa, rendering somehow a more Pinoy taste to this signature Japanese dish.

Overall, I admit I'm slightly biased, since their joint is very accesible to me, although on its own, it is a must taste to any gyudon addict!

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P180 per serving

Takumi Japanese Restaurant 

Dasmarinas, Cavite

Rating: 4 stars!!

(originally posted on March 13, 2008 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/5)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: A Weak Karate Kick

Too many Japanese fast food joints have sprung up recently, and though it has brought Japanese food closer to people, some quality has evidently suffered... Enter: the Karate Kid Japanese fast food.  Its take on the sacred beef bowl, the Gyudon, however, amounts to only a very weak karate kick.

                                                         Although priced attractively at only under a hundred bucks, their dish wants in taste, and well, a good karate kick! The rice serving is good, but the good things end there... The rice itself masquerades as Japanese rice, for it's not too glutinous... The sauce is too salty, and the beef slices, though tender, does not pack a punch in its taste... In fact, you could hardly taste the beef at all!  An attempt is made though, to enhance the taste with a good mix of white and green onions and juicy slices of shitake mushrooms, along with a dash of egg yolk.

But then, gyudon is all about the beef and the sauce...  Overall, with its attractively low price, the Karate Kid version should suffice for your hunger, but fails to give a good flying kick to your palate, and fails further to give a bang for your buck.

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P97 per serving

Karate Kid

SM Dasmarinas, Cavite

Rating: 2 stars =(

(originally posted on March 22, 2008 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/6)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: A Dead End

It's been a while since my last review on the sacred beef bowl, as I wallowed (perhaps content) on my previous discoveries... But my hunger for a newer taste led me to renew my search once again... Unexpectedly, it lead to a really dead end... I happened to chance upon this joint in Robinson's Ermita, and the Sai-Bachi Restaurant's take on this sacred beef bowl, was well, disappointing.

What the hell was this?!?  Did I order a Katsudon or Gyudon? It was sacrilege to masquerade this sublime dish for something so unholy (pardon, Katsudon lovers)... Oh well, the beef strips were thin and tender, and the rice portion was enough, but to cook that raw egg and turn this into an omelette??  It's a blatant crime!  And those seaweed strips did nothing to help.

Sadly, my palate was frustrated, and my wallet too!  Not really worth your money... And so, I fear now for my future discoveries.

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P160 per serving

Sai-Bachi Restaurant

Robinson's Place, Ermita, Manila

Rating: 2 stars

(orginally posted on September 7, 2008 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/7)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: Something New

Tucked auspiciously somewhere inside the sparkling new Greenbelt 5 is the home of a unique take on the sacred bowl... John and Yoko Cosmopolitan Japanese Restaurant  is one of the hits of the urban chow crowd, and don't be fooled by its chic interior and fashionistic appeal: its version of the gyudon is simple, yet authentic.

One look at the bowl before you even bite will really strike you: the garnishing are thoughtfully arranged: mushrooms lying side by side, the glistening yolk in the middle surrounded by piping hot beef strips  and showered by green onions... And that's just the visual treat... Indulge yourself  as you take a slow, sumptuous bite, and what stands out is the sweetness of their dish!  It's quite  a refreshing twist to sweeten up the beef bowl, and indeed adds a sort of adventure to someone in search of the perfect gyudon... 

The rice portions are more than enough (for the first time ever, I failed to finish my rice, I don't know if I was quite full already before I ate or the beef strips are really quite heavy), the shitake seems juicier, and the beef was exquisite... The twist on the taste nets this beef bowl a five-star rating, and throw in the fact that its just under P250, add a little cosmopolitan chic feel, and you have one great adventure... Really something bold and new!

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P228 per serving

John and Yoko Cosmopolitan Japanese Restaurant

Greenbelt 5, Makati City

Rating: 5 stars!!!

(originally post on January 18,2009 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/8)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: A Few Little Secrets

Obviously, my search has not yet revealed the true treasures of the gourmet world of gyudon.. For deep inside the bowels (pardon) of Alabang Town Center, there lies  a not-so-secret joint, the Omakase Japanese restaurant... But of course, in my quest for the golden bowl of gyudon, I would not leave a single stone unturned!  But I was not quite ready to be disappointed this way.. Well, apparently their joint is quite known for its sushi / sashimi (I must say, they are quite creative), but I wished they tried to exude the same creativeness  in their gyudon... But alas, it was not to be...

At the start, their version reminds me of one of my favorites, the Kimono Ken version... The slices of beef are fine, not too thin, neither too thick... The rice portions are ample... But what is lacking is the color and variation... I had trouble finding some juicy shitake mushrooms and itsy bitsy onion strips simply did not suffice... And the sauce was, well, ordinary...

Nothing spectacular here, really, just something to fill your hungry stomachs... I might be a bit biased, ever since my palate was tickled by a clever variation by my previous discovery (read: John and Yoko), but had it not borne a similarity with the Kimono Ken version, I would have dropped my rating a star lower... Anyway, for those in the southern part of Manila, it's still worth a visit just for the sushi though, but I still can't recommend the gyudon, unless you are really hungry.

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P240 per serving

Omakase Japanese Restaurant

Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa

Rating: 3 stars!

(originally posted on January 26,2009 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/9)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: A Classy Take On A Classy Dish

Being back in the shores of the Philippines  was quite thankful for me, and there was one good reason: I was back in the hunt for the best gyudon version!  Anyway, thanks to some of my good friends, I stumbled upon this hidden wealth of palatable treasure...

Red Kimono, ostensibly located in a classy section of Alabang, offered quite a surprising take on a classic dish.. Their version catches your eye the moment it is set on the table: the pristine white bowl is ingeniously slanted at its rim, therefore allowing true-blue gyudon gourmets the appropriate way of gulping down this sacred dish: bottom-up, chopsticks pushing each morsel straight down our hungry throats!  But the visual treat does not stop there....

Blending well are the hues of the yellow egg yolk, the pale green onion leeks, the black shitakes, and the tangy brown mirin sauce drenching the tender beef strips... Presentation alone catapults this version into my top list, but the adventure merely is halfway: the beef strips are tender, the sauce tickles your palate with a hint of sweetness, and the rice is authentic Japanese... And I'm not even talking about the price tag yet, as it is quite reasonable for this kind of joint... A few drawbacks remain however... The rice serving is quite mediocre.. And somehow, it lacked a bit of neatness (a few stray grains of rice and a dash of sauce tainted the immaculate white)... Overall, however, the Red Kimono gyudon is a must-try for those who dare join me in my quest.

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P270 per serving

Red Kimono

Westgate, Alabang, Muntinlupa

Rating: 5 stars!!!

(orginally posted on July 12,2009 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/11)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

On a cold, dreary, rain-drenched night, one searches for the comforts that will bring warmth to the chilliest soul... And for gyudon-addicts like me, nothing beats a piping hot bowl of that good ole' beef... Amidst the pouring rain, I joined a trip to downtown Makati to grab that treat before downing a few drinks... And the place was quite familiar, in fact, its numerous branches litter the metro, albeit unassumingly... But Rai-Rai-Ken perhaps does not suffer yet from the ill effects of commercialization and franchising, perhaps preserving its original taste...

Their take on the sacred beef bowl was quite a pleasant surprise, much like a hot cup of chocolate filled with marshmallows on this stormy night.. The beef strips are rightly cut, with just enough tenderness and grit.. The sauce was quite sweet, however, leading me to think that some teriyaki sauce must have gotten in the way.. The rice serving though was more than adequate... However, lacking obviously was the apparent absence of shitake mushrooms  and onion strips, that give this sacred dish  its necessary contrast of soft and sinewy, sweet and spicy.. Overall, however, it was a satisfying treat for a friendly price, a comforting get-away for the stressed soul, and perhaps one that should be visited more often, when one strays into the heart of the metro.

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P195 per serving

Rai-Rai-Ken Ramen House and Sushi Bar

Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City
Rating: 3 stars!

(originally posted on July 18,2009 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/12)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: Poetry In Motion

It's been a long while since I last ventured on my culinary journey, since I continued my long trek in search of the perfect Gyudon... That sacred bowl seemed so elusive lately, with I being so busy with seemingly mundane stuff... But the thirst, the longing for this holy dish led me to scrap the idea of an overfilling buffet, for the simplicity and humility of a single bowl... And what better way to stumble upon a work of art, melodious piece of rhyme and rhythm, with Haiku's version of the Gyudon.

The moment the bowl is set upon your table, this humble dish seems not to grab your attention... Enclosed in a rugged, roughly square bowl, with the contents apparently arranged carelessly... Oh but the poetry erupts once you take a few bites of this... The beef strips are tender, but not too soft, offering a hint of grit, a slight resistance to your rabid, hungry teeth... Sliced into ample portions, the beef strips are the body of this dish, for in fact, the slices are neither too thick or thin.. The onions come in two types... The green onions provide a touch of spice, while the larger white ones a contrast to the darkness of the bowl and sauce.. Oh, and the sauce... What stands out is that the sauce feels like it's not there... I mean, it blends so well with the dish, and that it does not overpower the essence of the gyudon, which is of course, the beef itself.. The sauce gives you a slight hint of sweetness, and a tease of tangy... And like an idyllic haiku, the sauce blends well with the rhythm, immersed in its music... But I'm not all praises though, as this version strikingly wants in shitake mushrooms, as it gives that sense of contrast, an opposing smoothness to the rugged beef strips.. Even so, Haiku scores on a high note with their version.. A masterpiece of poetry and taste, all for a very reasonable price at this classy place... If a face launched  a thousand ships, this gyudon will launch a thousand haiku to be sung endlessly...

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P240 per serving

Haiku Japanese Restaurant

Greenbelt 3, Makati City
Rating: 4.5 stars!!

(originally posted on January 17, 2010 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/13)

In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: The Poor Man's Gyudon

They say harsher times call for more desperate measures... And yet my hunger, my desire to go on  with my journey pushed me to desperation.. In my search to comfort my insatiable hunger pangs, and in my effort to scrape the bottom of what's left of my tank, I ended up in the budget section of the Greenhills Shopping Center Food Court.. Okuya Food Express was the fastfood version of the Okuya Restaurant, of which I was hitherto unaware of.. Ah, but the words "Gyudon" on the menu immediately caught my eye, so I had a go at it.  

At first  I was skeptical of what to expect... More so, my first bite ended up burning my tongue and my palate (apparently, they never bothered to cool the dish down a bit... After all, this was fastfood)... But amazingly, their version managed to stand out with a certain touch of sweetness in the mirin sauce... However, with successive portions, it proved to be too sweet... The beef slices were rather thin, but what  do you expect with this budget version costing under 60 bucks.. I managed to find a few stray strips of green onion inside that bowl, but the shitakes were all but lost.. And where, in heaven's name, is the raw egg???  The only fitting portion was the rice itself, more than adequate for the average yeoman.. As such, this was nothing but a swift answer to my hunger cramps, a quick fix for my addiction.. But still, being strategically near to my new home, and lightly priced at under 60 bucks, I may find myself frequenting this overlooked place.. But if you're searching for a culinary adventure, this is obviously the wrong turn.

Gyudon Beef Bowl
P55 per serving
Okuya Food Express
Second Floor, Greenhills Shopping Center Foodcourt
Greenhills, San Juan


Rating: 2 Stars!


(originally posted on March 8, 2010 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/14)