August 6, 2012
Yabu: The House of Katsu
2nd floor, The Atrium
SM Megamall
5763900
It seems to me that every food blogger has already blogged about Yabu, The House of Katsu except me hahaha It was during the beginning of the habagat (monsoon) week when I had the chance to go to SM Megamall. There was no traffic going to SM because some of the schools have already suspended classes that day. As usual, I was with my parents. Came lunch time, I told them we were going to pay Yabu The House of Katsu a visit ; p
Chicken Katsu Set 120g PhP 325
Katsu is an abbreviation of the word "katsuretsu" meaning "cutlet". It generally refers to a sliced piece of meat that is breaded and deep-fried. The dish was introduced to Japanese culture in the late 19th century during the Meiji period, when Japan opened its doors to the West. In the beginning, beef cutlets were used, but pork eventually became the more popular choice of meat by 1900s, giving rise to dishes such as tonkatsu ("ton" is Japanese for "pork").
Perusing the menu, I found the dishes a bit pricey and of limited variety. Paying a minimum of PhP 300 per dish is a bit too much for me because it's just deep-fried food.
Find out after the break if my opinion has changed after tasting Yabu...
aromatic dip only at Yabu
Aside from several condiments (chili powder, Japanese pepper, Goma (sesame) dressing, shiso vinaigrette and Tonkatsu sauce) found on the table, a bowl of black and white sesame seeds with wooden pestle was served upon ordering a katsu dish.
mix in Bulldog Tonkatsu sauce
How to enjoy your katsu:
- Grind
- Pour
- Mix
- Dip
Layu sauce PhP 35
I ordered Layu sauce for an extra PhP 35 and it's totally worth it. Layu sauce is perfect for spicing up your order of Yabu dish. It is a mixture of chili oil with finely chopped garlic. I should have ordered two of these hahaha
2 appetizers - edamame & hiyayakko tofu PhP195
There are a total of four appetizers to choose from - edamame, hiyayakko tofu, superior potato and egg salad and wakame.
Wakame - seaweed salad topped with ebiko
Superior potato and egg salad - chunks of potato and egg, tossed in creamy mayonnaise and mustard dressing
Edamame - young green soybeans
cold silken tofu cubes in ponzu sauce, sprinkled with bonito flakes
The above featured appetizers were not included in my order. It was served to us for free because we waited for more than 30 minutes before our orders came out. At that moment, I was seriously contemplating of walking out of the restaurant. The kitchen totally forgot about our orders ; (
Original Katsudon Set - Rosu (porkloin with fat) Katsudon PhP 315
I don't want this dish to appear soggy when served so I requested the egg and the sauce be separated from the katsu. That explains why you can only see a few cutlets in the bowl. The sweet sauce is just the way I like it!
Each original katsudon set comes with:
- miso soup
- Japanese pickles
- unlimited cabbage
- unlimited rice
- a bowl of fruits
Katsu means cutlet
Donburi means rice bowl dish
Yabu's original katsudon is dipped in egg and dredged in fresh panko, served over a bowl of steamed Japanese rice.
Other original katsudon sets available are:
- Hire (pork tenderloin) Katsudon PhP 335
- Chicken Katsudon PhP 315
- Ebi & Fish Katsudon PhP 350
There is a more expensive set called Premium Tonkatsu Set. It comes with the same items found on the list of Katsudon Set. The difference lies in the type of pork used - Kurobuta.
Kurobuta, also known as Black Berkshire pig, is the world's finest pork. It is called the "kobe beef" of pork due to its rich marbling, softness and flavor
Available in:
- Kurobuta Pork Set 120g PhP 575
- Kurobuta Pork Set 90g PhP 515
The manner of cooking is still deep-fried. I figured, if I want to taste the softness and flavor of the meat, it should be cooked other than deep-fried. Otherwise, it will just be a waste of money.
For kurobota fix, I suggest that you go to Nodasho Japanese Restaurant in Little Tokyo, an order is a little less than PhP 300. Kurobota does not need to be expensive ; p
Chicken Katsu Set 120g PhP 325
This 3/4 inch thick chicken breast fillet also comes in:
- 180g PhP 360
- 90g PhP 310
What's the Yabu difference:
- Only the finest Japanese Rice, Koshihikari, is used
- Uses 100% Canola Oil - rich in Omega 3, 0% trans-fat and cholesterol
- Not greasy
- Finest pork with generous cut, nothing less than 0.5 inches
- Crispy katsu cooked at 165 degree Celcius
- Juicy and tender meat
- Uses fresh Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
My dad loved his order of Chicken Katsu Set. He said that its crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside.
Oh, I failed to mention that we waited for another 20 minutes just to get our bill. Well, slow service aside, I can eat in this restaurant again. Next time, with DH in tow!
Yabu accepts Senior Citizen discount. This restaurant has service charge.
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