Isaribi: Japanese Food That Isn’t Just Sushi

It has always been a dream to be able to visit Japan and sample their vast culinary offerings: from the hearty ramen, fresh sashimi, sushi rolls, among other favorites. But until that happens, I am in a constant quest for delicious Japanese food in the metro.

Ever since I started to write about food around two years ago, my foodie reviews evidently showed my love for the Japanese cuisine. My friends and family are coincidentally Japanese food lovers too, so it wasn’t hard for me to drag them along whenever I am craving for it. Early last month, I met up with some of my best buddies from college, and we stumbled upon Isaribi, one of the relatively new Japanese restaurants in the Tomas Morato area. This one is not located along the main road, but has seen plenty of patrons nonetheless. Here’s what we got for our lunch:

SALMON SASHIMI (Php 430) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have always loved salmon sashimi, and while we appreciated how thick the cuts were and how fresh and sweet these lovelies tasted, what blew us away was how it was served. The staff brought in a sushi boat that has dry ice underneath, so when it was placed on the lowered portion of our table, the fog soon filled the space. It looked awesome!!! A+ for the experience. (Note: The sushi boat in the photo contains two orders of the salmin sashimi, one of which we got for free because of Zomato Gold).

LAS VEGAS MAKI (Php 420 – 8 pcs) – ⭐⭐⭐
This was just so-so for me. Since this maki had so many different components: avocado, salmon, Japanese mayonnaise, and parmesan cheese, each bite was so overwhelming. The avocado and salmon weren’t evidently tasted in the maki, since there were mostly overpowered by the cheese and mayo combo.

DASHIMAKI TAMAGO (Php 220) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I am not a big fan of tamago, since I usually find it a bit too sweet for my liking. I’ve read before that the sweetness is usually appreciated as it serves as a bridge between the savory and sweet dishes people are about to consume. Isaribi’s version pleasantly surprised me, as it leaned towards the savory side: flavorful, slightly juicy, and had spring onions for an extra boost in flavor. I’d get this again next time!

ZARU SOBA (Php 260) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was only recently when I came to appreciate cold soba noodles, and I loved how they are usually firmer that the hot versions. Their version of the dipping sauce is a mixture of sweet and salty, and I actually liked how we can add crushed raddish (similar to what we add in tempura sauces) in the dipping sauce. Yum!

We’re glad that the service was really good, and their staff were patient enough to share with us what their bestsellers are. One of Isaribi’s forte which we didn’t get to try was their grilled meats. They have a wide selection of meats both for those on a budget and those willing to splurge (read: Wagyu) which you can grill on your own! They also have hotpot / shabu shabu options that looks scrumptious, too!

If you’re planning to visit this place, make sure to note that they have a “broken time” schedule, and only operates from 11 am to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 1 am.

Itadakimasu!

This branch of Isaribi is located at 113 Belfranlt Parking Building, Scout Lozano St., Laging Handa, Quezon City. All meals are paid for by Eat Drink Splurge and her friends during this visit. 

To know more about Isaribi and their food offerings, click on the link below to read what other foodies have to say: