Dohtonbori's Okonomiyaki and Beyond in Mall of Asia
I don't know if it's just me, but I currently don't find Mall of Asia's food choices quite interesting yet. This is why when we were in the area searching for a restaurant to celebrate the twin's birthday (my brother and my sister), we couldn't settle with one. It was just after a gruesome 20-minute search when we decided to just go for Dohtonbori.
Confidence in Dohtonbori
Dohtonbori is something we are already confident about because almost everyone in the family already tried dining in other branches (e.g. the one near Greenhills and the other in SM North Edsa), and all of us enjoyed the experience. We tried searching for something new and interesting in the area, but we just couldn't find any (unless we didn't search enough). Hence, we decided to to go for the "tried and tested".
Read: The First Branch of Dohtonbori in the Philippines near Greenhills
Larger interior and seating capacity
The Mall of Asia branch seems to have the largest space based on my observation, and logically this amounts to larger seating capacity. In fact, in this branch, there is a higher chance of you dining the Japanese way in the section of the dining area where the set-up is more "traditional".
Interestingly, they have this locker area where place your footwear before entering this particular section.
Fresh and prepared on-the-spot
Most dishes here in Dohtonbori are prepared on-the-spot which add a layer of excitement as you watch in fascination. There is some sort of art infused in the technique as the intervals are precisely timed. Of course, you can choose to cook the dishes yourself (if you are bold enough to try).
The first dish to arrive was the Pork Yakisoba (P260). It came with a small tea pot which was quite adorable!
The yakisoba had this bold tangy flavors that tickle the palate. The sharpness in taste may not be appealing for some as it did to me, but my siblings found it enjoyable!
The okonomiyaki dishes here in Dohtonbori ranges from P199 to P360 depending on the set of ingredients. For the night, we had two orders of Mixed Okonomiyaki (P290) which had both beef and seafood in it.
The Mixed Okonomiyaki is possibly the best okonomiyaki I've tasted in my foodie life. It had this subtle toasted tang that gave more life to the dish. The combination of meat and seafood dances well in the buds.
The Chicken Karaage (P200) was a great dish to order to fill you up as you wait for the other dishes to be prepared. You can drizzle it with Japanese mayo to bring further joy to your palate!
There are grilled dishes to choose from geared towards the voracious eaters. For this night, my younger brother was one of them, so we ordered a Kalbi Yakiniku (P280).
The kalbi was juicy with right peppery taste which brought a savory goodness. Saltiness gradually intensified as the meat melted in our mouths.
The Hamburg Cheese Steak (P360) had this oozing cheese that appeals to cheese lovers (like me). This is certainly a must-try! In fact, I should have tried this before.
The dish had this amazing sweet-and-salty experience coming from the blend of okonomiyaki sauce and melted cheese, respectively. It was a perfect foodie experience! At the bottom, there were toasted meat strips that was bacon-like, adding more dreamy appeal to the taste!
To end the night, the servers of Dohtonbori greeted the twins with a cheerful birthday song, followed by the blowing of the candles. It was a wonderful dinner indeed!
Dohtonbori - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings reflect my personal experiences on the times I dine here.
Place ★★★★☆
Taste ★★★★☆
Service ★★★★★
Value for Money ★★★★★
Budget: at least P350 each for a moderate sharing type of dining experience for a group of at least 4
No. of visits for this particular restaurant/branch - 1 || Date of last visit - July 11, 2017
Dohtonbori is one of those restaurants that are "tried and tested". Dishes are authentic and freshly made on-the-spot -- not to mention, reasonably priced! The interior also adds to the experience especially when you dine in the area where the set-up is more "traditional". Servers are very attentive and have this warmth as they prepare/cook the dishes. Two thumbs up!
Dohtonbori
Location: Second Floor, Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Contact No.: (02) 889 0587
Service Charge: NONE
Service Charge: NONE
