Last week, I was glad to find my Little Tokyo in the culinary wonderland that is the South of Manila. It was even good enough to transport me back to our time in Osaka where okonomiyaki and simple things like skewered asparagus with pesto sauce all tasted divine.
Kushiten Yakitori and Kushiage is a cozy nook (almost like a hole in the wall) along President’s Avenue, just a few steps away from my other favorite Japanese place, Kenji Tei. I get baffled by the name and only tried this place because of someone else’s recommendation. Kushi refers to skewers (think barbecue sticks!) while ten means the sky or the heavens. Yakitori refers to grilled chicken while kushiage is deep-fried food that’s skewered. There goes our learning Nihongo 101:)
We met Kushiten’s young, twenty-something owners PJ and Kat Dacuycuy. But is Kathleen or Kat, a half-Japanese, who is the real whiz in the kitchen. Upon her recommendation, we tried the yasai okonomiyaki. At only P90 per order, it wasn’t hefty like the one we tasted in Osaka but very delicious. Soft vegetable pancakes drizzled with savory sauce, Japanese mayo and bonito flakes. Hands down, this is my favorite out of all those I tasted anywhere in Manila. I won’t hesitate to have this again.
The Chizu Spam Maki (P65 a piece and bigger than I imagined) was another delight. The menu describes this as Spam sandwich, Japanese style. Rice wrapped in nori with cheese, veggies, a slice of Spam and a most tasty dressing.
It warmed my heart at first sight.
