Kai Restaurant's Contemporary Japanese Cuisine in Greenbelt 5, Makati
It is a practice in the company that I currently work in that we meet with our "counselor" once in a while, and during one of those times, we opted to have our conversation in Kai. It was fortunate of me to have this chance to dine here because I normally avoid the restaurants found along the stretch where Kai is. Well, I just feel intimidated by these restaurants, and I always think that my wallet would not be enough to stand the battle. Yes, so I really got pretty excited to try this place and share about it.
The ambiance as implied a while ago has this intimidating sophisticated feel that make you immediately think that your pocket will struggle. It was good thing that when you start feeling at home, it indeed feels like home. Plus, upon seeing menu, I realized that not all are really expensive.
The Lack of Enthusiasm in Kai
I usually don't write about the service except when I find something really excellent or slightly off that infiltrates the foodie experience. In this case, I just felt that the staff lacked the enthusiasm to provide service, and it somehow bugged me deeply which eventually made me feel like I do not fit there.
Fortunately, the food we had was great resulting to a great overall foodie experience. For this evening, we had one appetizers and two (2) main dishes.
Unagi Sashimi (40g) || P160
I must admit that the price of this sashimi is very much within reach. Plus, it was still fresh to bring that potent seafood goodness that was just dreamy. Also, the way it was presented added simple appeal.
10-Hour Buta Kakuni "Braised Pork Belly" || P350
The first main dish to arrive was this pork belly, and it came in as an eye candy. In short, it was really pleasing to the eyes, but what's great is that the beauty was skin deep. It was juicy, sweet (resembling that of a pineapple or fruity tang in general) and subtly smokey. Oh, and the best part of the dish was the small portion of rice on the side. It was gluttinous yet crispy on its outer layer.
This dish had a more pronounced smokey taste that went well with the teriyaki-like sauce. Other portions were tough, but overall it was satisfying.
Kai - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings apply solely to this dining experience.
Place ★★★★★
Taste ★★★★
Service ★★★☆
Value for Money ★★★★
Budget: at least P500 each for a moderate dining experience
Overall, my experience here in Kai was good enough to stir my curiosity to try more of the dishes found here in this restaurant. However, I just honestly think that the service (or the disposition of the staff rather) failed to be at par with the quality and taste of dishes we had. Despite this, I'm giving this restaurant a thumb up!
Other restaurants in Greenbelt that I recommend:
- Must Try Steaks and Pasta Dishes in Dillinger's 1903, Greenbelt
- Ramen Nagi Manila - The Top Choice for a Not-So-Ordinary Ramen!
- Sugi Restaurant - Authentic Japanese Food at its Finest
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Kai
Location: Level 1, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Operating Hours: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM daily
Contact No.: (02) 757 5209
Service Charge: 10% before VAT
