I will never get tired of eating Japanese food, probably until the day I die. I will also never get tired of discovering places that serves my number one favorite cuisine in the world and satisfy my cravings for all thing Japanese food. Every time I get to eat any dish from this cuisine, I will always say “I love it, I love them all!” I’ve said it in person and in all my blog posts where I feature a new Japanese restaurant I feature or blog about. Call me bias, but it is what it is.
Just last weekend, I discovered another Japanese restaurant in Katipunan, QC: Hanako! Hanako is a Japanese, casual dining restaurant. The word “Hanako” is a popular female Japanese given name, which means 'flower girl'. The brand has been operating since October 2012. It started as a small commercial nook in Moonwalk Village, Paranaque. And their branch in Regis Center along Katipunan is just 2 months fresh from its grand opening.
Hanako offers mouth-watering and easy-on-the-pocket authentic Japanese food in every office hub, in every neighborhood in and around Metro Manila with the goal of bringing Japanese food and culture closer to the hearts of the Filipino. They have an extensive menu from appetizers to desserts which can appeal from Japanese cuisine lovers of all ages.
Their new branch in Katipunan has all that fast-casual colorful feel complete with posters on the wall and neon signs and loads of modern light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. I personally liked the couch that spans from wall to wall and that communal table at the center. It’s modern, hip and perfect for the crowd that would visit this place which are mostly from Ateneo, UP and Miriam College.
During my visit with some girl friends, a truly Japanese feast by Hanako was served to us. And that included the following:
Kani Salad – delicious Japanese seafood salad with Kani (crab stick strips), mango, and mixture of veggies
Gyoza – steamed and then lightly fried dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables and wrapped in a thin dough
California Gunkan – kani, fried salmon skin, tamago, mango, cucumber, ebiko
Katsu Curry – breaded deep-fried pork cutlet with Japanese curry sauce.
Fish Katsu – white fish meat that is breaded with panko and then fried
Beef Omurice – classic Japanese omelet stuffed with savory beef fried rice, drizzled with Japanese mayonnaise and homemade sweet umami sauce
Salmon Tartare – small chunks of salmon mixed with Japanese mayonnaise, togarashi, tempura flakes and chopped scallion
Spicy Tuna Crunch – tuna, togarashi, tempura flakes
Philadelphia Roll – salmon, kani, cream cheese, tamago, cucumber, takwan, ebiko
Five Star Roll – an ultimate sushi experience as it captures the perfect harmony of sweetness, bitterness, sourness and umami by combining ingredients such as salmon, kani, mango, salmon skin, teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds
Ebi Tempura – 5 pieces of succulent tiger prawns coated in a thin batter and fried until lightly crisp
Chicken Yakitori – grilled chicken skewers perfectly seasoned with salty, pepper and teriyaki sauce served with steamed rice
Grilled Salmon Head – lightly seasoned salmon head served with a homemade sweet citrusy dipping sauce
Katsudon - bowl of rice topped with a deep-fried pork cutlet, fresh egg, vegetables, and condiments
Gyudon - bowl of rice topped with fresh egg beef and onion simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavored with dashi, soy sauce and mirin
Miso Soup – traditional Japanese soup consisting of a stock called "dashi" into which softened miso paste is mixed with Japanese tofu, wakame seaweed and chopped scallions
Chahan – umami packed and deeply satiating Japanese fried rice with vegetables, scrambled egg and meat
Meiji Madness – chocolate lava cake/moist brownie with vanilla ice cream scoop and chocolate shavings
Like I said, I love Japanese food; so, every dish that you see here I seriously enjoyed so much. But of course, I have my favorites which stood out among all the dishes that were served to us. The one that takes the number one spot is their Beef Omurice! I can’t remember if I’ve already tried Omurice from other Japanese restos. I guess this my first time to try it, I only see it on social media and that viral Buzfeed Worth it video. Hanako’s Omurice didn’t disappoint! All of us loved it! Although it wasn’t warm anymore that taste and quality remained. Two of my friends even bought omurices to take home. Now that I just said that, I regret that I didn’t take one out, I was too full already so probably the thought didn’t cross my mind.
I loved all their sushi rolls! The California Gunkan, Spicy Tuna Crunch, Philadelphia Roll and Five Star Roll were all amazing. But the Five Star Roll gained every one’s thumbs up! There’s just so many flavors and textures in them that they were such a treat to eat. Other dishes that stood out for me were the Salmon Tartare, Katsudon, Beef Gyudon and the Chahan. I just love salmon and it as a Japanese dish is just heaven for me. They didn’t scrimp on the salmon too which was great. When it comes to Japanese food, besides sushi rolls, the Japanese rice bowls are always on top of my list that’s why I truly enjoyed Hanako’s Katsudon, Beef Gyudon and the Chahan.
Speaking of Japaenese rice bowls, Hanako has an ongoing promo where you can level up your favorite rice bowl to a winning meal. Save as much as P50 when you upgrade your bowl with a drink, miso soup, and gyoza. Upgrading has never been this filling! Check out the poster below for more details:
Quality and affordability wise, I am surely to recommend Hanako to everyone. They have modern and classic Japanese dishes that you’ll enjoy. I hope they open a branch near where I live or work so that I can enjoy their offerings more often! *crosses fingers*
HANAKO
2F, Regis Center, Katipunan Avenue,
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Their new branch in Katipunan has all that fast-casual colorful feel complete with posters on the wall and neon signs and loads of modern light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. I personally liked the couch that spans from wall to wall and that communal table at the center. It’s modern, hip and perfect for the crowd that would visit this place which are mostly from Ateneo, UP and Miriam College.
During my visit with some girl friends, a truly Japanese feast by Hanako was served to us. And that included the following:
Kani Salad – delicious Japanese seafood salad with Kani (crab stick strips), mango, and mixture of veggies
Gyoza – steamed and then lightly fried dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables and wrapped in a thin dough
Katsu Curry – breaded deep-fried pork cutlet with Japanese curry sauce.
Fish Katsu – white fish meat that is breaded with panko and then fried
Beef Omurice – classic Japanese omelet stuffed with savory beef fried rice, drizzled with Japanese mayonnaise and homemade sweet umami sauce
Salmon Tartare – small chunks of salmon mixed with Japanese mayonnaise, togarashi, tempura flakes and chopped scallion
Spicy Tuna Crunch – tuna, togarashi, tempura flakes
Philadelphia Roll – salmon, kani, cream cheese, tamago, cucumber, takwan, ebiko
Ebi Tempura – 5 pieces of succulent tiger prawns coated in a thin batter and fried until lightly crisp
Chicken Yakitori – grilled chicken skewers perfectly seasoned with salty, pepper and teriyaki sauce served with steamed rice
Grilled Salmon Head – lightly seasoned salmon head served with a homemade sweet citrusy dipping sauce
Katsudon - bowl of rice topped with a deep-fried pork cutlet, fresh egg, vegetables, and condiments
Gyudon - bowl of rice topped with fresh egg beef and onion simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavored with dashi, soy sauce and mirin
Chahan – umami packed and deeply satiating Japanese fried rice with vegetables, scrambled egg and meat
Meiji Madness – chocolate lava cake/moist brownie with vanilla ice cream scoop and chocolate shavings
I loved all their sushi rolls! The California Gunkan, Spicy Tuna Crunch, Philadelphia Roll and Five Star Roll were all amazing. But the Five Star Roll gained every one’s thumbs up! There’s just so many flavors and textures in them that they were such a treat to eat. Other dishes that stood out for me were the Salmon Tartare, Katsudon, Beef Gyudon and the Chahan. I just love salmon and it as a Japanese dish is just heaven for me. They didn’t scrimp on the salmon too which was great. When it comes to Japanese food, besides sushi rolls, the Japanese rice bowls are always on top of my list that’s why I truly enjoyed Hanako’s Katsudon, Beef Gyudon and the Chahan.
Speaking of Japaenese rice bowls, Hanako has an ongoing promo where you can level up your favorite rice bowl to a winning meal. Save as much as P50 when you upgrade your bowl with a drink, miso soup, and gyoza. Upgrading has never been this filling! Check out the poster below for more details:
Quality and affordability wise, I am surely to recommend Hanako to everyone. They have modern and classic Japanese dishes that you’ll enjoy. I hope they open a branch near where I live or work so that I can enjoy their offerings more often! *crosses fingers*
HANAKO
2F, Regis Center, Katipunan Avenue,
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Contact Nos: +63 9074879346
Facebook: facebook.com/HanakoPH
Instagram: instagram.com/hanako.ph
For more information, complete menu and restaurant reviews, check out their Zomato profile:
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