A Japanese favorite in SM North Edsa!
My first experience at Dohtonbori was at their Greenhills branch. Back then, I was still adjusting to using my 50mm lens, but now, I can't imagine going anywhere without it.
For those who don't know, Dohtonbori is the #1 okonomiyaki restaurant chain in Japan. I just love how they try to keep everything as authentic as possible - from the food to the interiors. It's like getting the real Japanese experience without having to leave Manila.
Dohtonbori is a great place for friends and families to eat. It offers a different kind of experience as you get to see the food cooked right in front of you - you can even choose to cook them yourself! Just be mindful when bringing kids as the teppan grill can get really hot.
For starters, we had the Ajitama Ramen (P330).
This warm bowl of ramen was the perfect dish to start our meal. Since it was already out third restaurant for the day (the first two being King Chef and Snow Bing), one bowl was enough for all five of us. Choose between a Tonkotsu or Shoyu base to go with their premium Chashu Pork, Aonori, and a tasty soft boiled egg (which I personally think is a must-have in every bowl of ramen!)
Gyu-don (P260)
Who doesn't like Gyudon? It's a no-fail Japanese rice bowl that will surely fill you up! This one has thinly sliced beef and lots of onions, finished off with a light sweet soy sauce.
Both dishes arrived at our table fully prepared. Next comes the exciting part - watching your food get cooked!
First up, the Kalbi Yakiniku (P280).
This is one of the most popular cuts of beef to order in Japan. It's more on the fatty side, kind of like bacon, actually. And let's face it, who doesn't like bacon??
Another favorite of ours that afternoon was the Garlic Angus Striploin Steak (P650)
The moment the chef placed the Striploin steak on the grill, the smell of garlic butter filled the room. I honestly couldn't wait for it to get cooked so I could dig in! I've always been partial to steaks with sauces and lots of seasoning, so yes, I would order this again in a heartbeat!
But the main highlight at Dohtonbori is their okonomiyaki. It is a Japanese savory pancake made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, some kind of meat/protein, and finally topped with a variety of sauces. The Okonomiyaki has been present in Japan for over 500 years already - dating as far back to the Edo period. Apparently, it became popular during WWII when the Japanese made use of whatever ingredients they had readily available to them. To date, Okonomiyaki has become one of the most popular staple food for the Japanese, especially in Osaka where they consider it as their "essential soul food".
Butatama Okonomiyaki (P240)
The Butatama Okonomiyaki is what Dohtonbori considers their "simple okonomiyaki" as it mostly contains pork (aside from the usual ingredients of an okonomiyaki, of course).
But if you're looking to try something different, go for the Hamburg Cheese Steak Okonomiyaki (P360).
This one consists of a thick and meaty Hamburg Steak topped off with sizzling cheese sauce.
We ended our meal with yet another cheesy dish, the Four Cheese Monja (P260), as recommended by one of the servers. It is made up of mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, gouda, and tomatoes.
We weren't actually sure when and how to eat this one so we had to ask. Apparently, it is meant to be scraped and eaten straight from the grill using tiny spatulas. It has a paste-like texture to it, kind of like an egg mixture that hasn't been fully cooked yet. Haha! I don't know how else to describe it, but it was definitely interesting.
P.S. Dohtonbori is now open at SM Fairview!
A huge congratulations to Dohtonbori on their new branch! Do also visit their branches in Greenhills, MOA, UP Town Center, and SM North Edsa :)
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