Restaurant Notes: MANGETSU

Agedashi tofu.

Restaurant Notes.

Where to Eat this Weekend: Mangetsu

Friday, January 24, 2012

I was really ecstatic when Menu continued to be a weekly indulgence as it was adopted by Thursdays Lifestyle of The Philippine Daily Inquirer. But then, apparently, it doesn't come out every week "due to space limitations" :(

So it puts me in a QUANDARY (impeachment trial week 1 word of the day) as the compliments I receive ("Congrats on the column!") are tied in with an accusation ("Why don't you submit your column every week? Too busy?" - NOT!) Unfortunately, the "space limitations" are not within in my control.

Fortunately, this site is. So I refuse to let that limitation rain on my parade and I am going to sing in the rain and forge ahead with my recommendations on where to eat this weekend! :)

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Japanese fried chicken

Mangetsu

Mangetsu is a well thought-out Japanese restaurant on Jupiter Street. Owned by Manny Zamora, among other partners, it was supposedly created to accommodate Japanese businessmen who craved a taste of Japanese cuisine as they would appreciate it in their homeland and which they could not find here in Manila.


Interestingly enough, the signature item for the resto is not the sashimi or ramen but their fried chicken or karaage. In Japanese fashion, it is not too oily, with the flavors of the soysauce most palpable. Squeeze calamansi on it and sprinkle either black pepper or green tea salt on it.

This fried chicken is best paired with fried rice (how else?). This is rice is distinguishable due to the garlic mixed with it. 

Egg and leek chahan

The miso ramen is also notable, while second only to Ukokkei, because of the quality of the pork that it comes with.

But if the restaurant is to capitalize on its hot items, it may just fall into the list of Jap restos in Makati, without really making its mark or being heralded as it should. Instead it should capitalize on what are truly outstanding items and these are all cold:

The sashimis are excellent: fresh, generously cut, beautifully presented. Especially the hamachi and the uni. 

Hamachi. So fresh!

Uni love.

The cold soba is likewise notable not just for the noodles but for the red peppercorns that give a 180 to the character of the dish. Ask for extra.

Cold soba

This pork shabu shabu salad is likewise excellent not only for the bacon-thin slices of pork but also for the peanut-based vinaigrette.

Pork shabu shabu salad

The interiors of the restaurant were reportedly imported from Japan, explaining the clean finish and the seemingly simple yet functional interiors.

The chef is Masamoto Ishikawa, who used to own a restaurant of the same name on Milelong/Creekside.

The surge in customers has resulted in rather slow service but this is attributable to birthing pains. Otherwise, the waitresses are very friendly and as attentive as they can be.

Function rooms for 6-10 pax are available on the second floor, allowing privacy and smoking.

Rates are on the pricey side but not over the top (like Inagiku). The chicken is P380; the hamachi is P580; Coke is P80.

MANGETSU
Jupiter cor Paseo de Roxas, Makati.
Reservations recommended.
Wheelchair accessible on the G/F only.
Major credit cards accepted.
478 3292
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