TSUKIJI SUSHI-SEN AGAIN (JAPAN TRIP 2020)

When we decided to go to TSUKIJI MARKET during our Japan trip last year, our main goal was to eat sushi. LOTS OF IT.

Because really, why would you go to TSUKIJI MARKET if not to enjoy their ultra fresh seafood right???

The thought of eating sushi at the prime place in Japan all made us SO excited. And when we saw this hole in a wall restaurant, it just made us MORE excited-ER. Ha ha ha ha!

Heck, we didn't eat breakfast just for this!!!!

After our meal, we were all deliriously happy. There is truly something about having this Japanese delicacy at one of the best places in Tokyo!

After all, it is not called TSUKIJI FISH MARKET for nothing.

And we're so glad to make an acquaintance (again) with SUSHI SEN!!!

YIHIII!!! We're in SUSHI-SEN!!!!

MORIICHI REVOLVING SUSHI, TOKYO (JAPAN TRIP 2019)

Ever since we set food on JAPAN, we were all super excited for  this one thing:

TO HAVE SUSHI.

Of course, we're also very excited to have Ramen, to go to DISNEYLAND, and to do some cultural sight-seeing, but we cannot be in JAPAN and NOT have sushi right?

I mean it's just going to be appetizingly sacrilegious!!!!

So that we did and to be honest, we have the little Androse to be thankful for.

He has been bugging the whole family to have sushi and although we're really planning to schedule a mealtime for that, we faked indifference to having any sort of raw fish.

Yep. Because that's just how we are in the family. Ha ha ha ha! If you're pikon, super talo ka.

For one outing though, my Mommers was especially impressed at how Andrei helped her out (SEE HERE) that amidst our jokes how we didn't want to have to do ANYTHING with the popular Japanese delicacy, she declared that we will have sushi for our next meal.

Auughhh.... Mommy is such a party pooper!!!

So Andrei rejoiced and got very excited. When we asked my Kuya where we should go for some good old quality sushi, he only had one thing on his mind....

MORIICHI SUSHI!!!!

TORI TORI

My beautiful niece Rocio was the lead in her school's production of "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING" and my family all went to watch.  After the play, my brother treated us to one of their simple Japanese discoveries that was familiar but I haven't tried it out before.

TORI TORI!!!!

SANDAIME JAPANESE RESTAURANT - EASTWOOD

My eldest Mati will be having his prom soon for Junior High and he cannot be more than excited.

I know... I know.... How can an event that is causing so much anticipation to my first born is giving me the dreads? Don't get me wrong, I trust that he won't do any hanky panky but it's just that I find it hard to accept that my little boy with the biggest cheeks and super pink lips is in Junior High already and excited about his prom.

And to think, that he really insisted on attending his prom with a date!!!! Noooooh!!!

WHYYYYY???? Isn't he happy with me anymore????

At first I was volunteering myself to be his +one and I made these certain arguments to convince him:

-- I'll take loads of pictures of him with his friends.
-- I'll give him my share of the food (since I'm on a diet).
-- I'll put sapin on his back just in case he gets pawis.
-- I'll give him loads of I LOVE YOU'S!!! Much more than any other date could give him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm serious.

My son violently disagreed and insisted that he'll find his own date. "WHYYYYYYY???" I thought. "Didn't you promise that I'll be your number one girl forever???"

Of course, he was 3 years old back then, but still, it's only been 12 years. COME ON!!!!!!!!

Anyway, Master Mati got a date and we arranged for a formal family meet-up in Eastwood. We were all excited and looking forward to meeting dear Olga and her family. The fact that she agreed to be Mati's date for the prom makes me love her already. Add to that, even if we're all strangers the Mom allowed Olga to be my son's date made them my forever friends. He he he he he! And get this, both families will take Mati and Olga to the prom to take pictures, chat up, and eat while we wait!!!

See? It's a date made in heaven!!!

Olga and her family lived in Marikina so the Yub and I thought that it would be better to meet somewhere that would be near to them. When it was agreed that our venue would be in Eastwood, there was still the matter of which restaurant to go to for dinner.

"What's Olga's favorite food?" I asked.

The Mom didn't want to say it at first but after a lot of prodding, we learned that Olga's favorite is Japanese.

So perfect, I thought. I was craving for some mean old Japanese food too!!!!

With that, we have agreed on meeting up at SANDAIME. We haven't eaten there but it had high recommendations online so it's definitely worth a try.

And yup, as expected, it was a super fun night! I didn't know what I was nervous about -- Olga and her family were just lovely that it felt like meeting up with old friends.

Soon to be family kaya???

Naaaaah.... Bawal daw.... Ha ha ha ha haha!!!!

SANDAIME!!!!!!!

YAKUMI (SOLAIRE)

The Yub and I don't go to Solaire often because it's far from where we live. I have been there for some of their shows (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, etc) but we only stayed within the theatre area.

One time my officemate invited me and the family to eat lunch at YAKUMI in SOLAIRE because she had a special discount. She said it will be her advance birthday gift to me.

Game!!!!! I answered without any hesitation. I don't even know where it is in SOLAIRE but you know me, when it comes to Japanese I never think twice. Tapos birthday treat pa, so SUGOD MGA KAPATID! ha ha ha ha!

Another officemate was supposed to come with us but they cancelled the last minute. Now who to invite to come with us????

Mam Zeny said I could just invite whoever pa since sayang naman her very big discount. My Mom and Kuya Jon cannot go because they're looking after the business while Andrei naman is on his field trip.

So who else? Hmmmm... Decisions... Decisions.

With that I thought of my kumareng Gail!!!

We were just together last night for her birthday treat to me in DUCK AND BUVETTE. And what better way to say "thank you" by taking her with me to a Japanese extravaganza?

As expected, she said yes. YAYYYY!!! Japanese food here we come!!!

O, iyan na mare "treat" ko sa yo sa birthday mo in December ha?

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!! 

YAKUMI!!!!!!!!!!!

YUMI EXPRESS (UPTOWN PLACE MALL)

Japanese food is something I should ALWAYS get into my system. If I go on for so many days not having at least one of my favorites, something in my life seem to be lacking.

SERIOUSLY.

There is something about Japanese food that seems to be mildly addicting. It may be the freshness, the soy-based flavors, or just the overall sumptuousness of it all. But what I would like about their cuisine is that even if you ate a lot, everything seems so light that you wouldn't feel like a beluga whale afterwards.

Not that I don't already look like a beluga whale but, you know what I mean.

I love too how all Japanese dishes almost have an art and ceremony to it that you would be feel (and taste) the devotion of the chefs while preparing the food. Yup! And this just doesn't apply to the 5-star Michelin Japanese restaurants. Their concentration for perfection is also evident even in just the food stalls of Tsukiji Market!

Such is the case here in the Philippines in the new branch of YUMI EXPRESS in Uptown Place Mall in BGC. Like any normal person would, you might have doubts eating raw food in a food court setting. But, really, not here.

YUMI EXPRESS is the more pocket-friendly branch of the popular YUMI in Promenade, Greenhills. And like its original counterpart, it offers the same delicious food that is lovingly prepared by the YUMI EXPRESS Chef and staff members. Yup! You would really taste the difference in the quality of their dishes! You would get the same ingredients, the same freshness, and the same seasonings at a more affordable price. The difference is just the portioning of the food, which I feel, is still more than enough. I bet you would enjoy it so much that you'd even forget you were in a foodcourt.

Now this is great news for the Japanese OCD's (Obsessive Cuisine Dependents... he he he he!) who are always in dire need of their favorite sushi, sashimi, tempura, topped rice, ramen, etc. At least with YUMI EXPRESS, you could have the same delicious experience, in an instant, at a more practical price!

Check out our recent lunch at YUMI EXPRESS and get a preview of what you could have when you troop over to the foodcourt of Uptown Place Mall. Don't hate me if you always have deep hankerings for Japanese food because believe me, you WILL.

Now welcome to my world!

:)

YUMI EXPRESS!

YUMI EXPRESS is located at left side of the escalator just "on top" of Kidzoona!

This is actually the second branch of YUMI EXPRESS (the other one is in Quezon City) and so far it is doing well with families and BGC employees who want to have delicious and affordable Japanese grub.

KOGI BULGOGI

Even if THE YAPPY BUNCH doesn't have a Kpop drama in our downloaded list and even if we haven't been to the country yet, we always have a craving for Korean food. At first it was just me and the master Mati. But as time went on, even the Chinese Dimpol and little Andrei learned to love the exciting flavors that Korean cuisine would always bring.

One time I was really yearning for some Jajangmyeon, or the Korean black bean noodles that I often see on Youtube. After a few clicks on the internet, I found out that only a handful of restaurants serve this Korean specialty -- and one of them is KOGI BULGOGI.

I guess you guys know what happened next! 

KOGI BULGOGI!!!

Yup!

That very night I called the Chinese Dimpol and asked him to fetch me with the kids because we're having Korean for dinner!

MORITA JAPANESE RESTAURANT (FISHER MALL)

I must say that the Chinese Adonis and I are already getting addicted to going out with my TAPE INC friends that when Tita Florie asked if we wanted to try out MORITA, I said "GAME" without even thinking what it was.

It's a good thing she did not mean if I was interested in going out with a guy named MORITA (tee hee) but instead, she was referring to a Japanese restaurant that had DI's (Dance Instructors) and ballroom dancing.

HUWEEEEEYTAMINITKAPENG MAINIT!!!! I'm sorry but how matrona could I get now?

No it's fun!!! Tita Flory insisted. So even if I initially had concerns that I'd look like this groovy lola shaking her "pwit" while her long pearl necklace swayed along, I said yes. Besides, there's no harm in trying out something new. The big point here anyways is going out with my dear workmates whom I already consider as family on a Friday night. I'm sure wherever we go, it's still going to be fun.

And yes, with the "help" of MORITA, it certainly was a night to remember.

With matching "pwit" jiggling for the win!!!!!

He he he he he!

MORITA JAPANESE RESTAURANT!

MORITA is the Japanese restaurant in Fisher Mall in Quezon City. 

SUSHI SEN (TSUKIJI MARKET)

I was reviewing our Japan trip last year, oohing and aaahing at some of the pictures when I realized that I totally skipped the sushi restaurant we ate near Tsukiji Market.

SACRILEGE!!!!!!!!! That is like going to Universal Studios and forgetting to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!!!!

And as they say in social media, "Pics or it didn't happen!"

Now I'm not really a pushover at proving myself (since nobody believes me anyway), but the foodie in me would be really sorry if I don't mark down this sushi lunch we had in the place where we should have it.

So here's our unforgettable meal at SUSHI SEN near TSUKIJI MARKET. Definitely a must-visit when you're in Japan!!!

The glorious sushi at SUSHI SEN!

When we were in TSUKIJI MARKET, JAPAN last year, we really planned to eat sushi there.

UMU JAPANESE RESTAURANT (DUSIT THANI HOTEL MANILA)

If you're one of my ultra close friends (Oh poor you), you should know by now that you shouldn't really take me seriously. Since I love making people happy, I would usually joke about anything and everything that it has become as normal to me as breathing. Yu-uh! Even at my own expense! Add to that my experience in theatre (Yes. 1 workshop in Trumpets already counts as "experience"), I could totally do a VERY convincing joke that would make any doubting Thomas believe in an instant!

So really. When I say "Treat me now!" Don't take me seriously. I'm just making a joke or wanting to watch you click the "unfriend button". But hey, if you still choose to go for the red pill and believe my sweet words...

Then I love you.

Yep. More than my stingy "close" friends.

Har de har har!!!! Kidding!!!!

This is somehow what happened with my dear friend from High School, Hershey. It was my birthday last February and she greeted me. As usual, I responded with "Awwww! Thank you! Treat mo ko!!!!" To which she gave a sincere "Sure!!!"

Really??? WOHOOO!!!!

Now I'm not really a popular person but when I was checking my weekends, my schedule was already full for the months of February and March!! Que horror! Will our date still push through??? I was really not expecting anything since my available Saturday was too far off. But when I said "April 9", dear Hershey said "GAME!!!".

FINALLY!!! So my long overdue meet up with an old friend was set.

AND, it was still a birthday treat, from a close friend, because I teased her.

MAN. I love it when the trifecta of getogethers join forces!

UMU Japanese Restaurant!

I was really up for anything just to meet up with dear mareng Hershey. When she recommended her favorite Japanese restaurant in DUSIT THANI MANILA, I became doubly excited!

GENKI SUSHI AGAIN!!!!!!!!

I think I have mentioned many times before how GENKI SUSHI has become one of our family favorites. Though the quality of the dishes is not as exquisite as the other more popular Japanese restaurants out there, we love how GENKI SUSHI is very affordable but still presented a lot of fun for the diners. Case in point, the automated serving system that gets the kids busy while the adults chomped on their delicious food.

So it's no wonder that whenever we have a sushi craving with the little lords, GENKI SUSHI would immediately come to mind. We cannot count already the MILLIONS of times we ate in our beloved restaurant because it's everyone's favorite (well not much the Chinese Adonis but he still loves seeing us happy... he he he he hee). That is why we would always suggest it when people ask where to eat in Fort. Just like this one time when my Mom and some Seniors in the family were asking where to go for dinner, I immediately recommended GENKI SUSHI. We were really planning to go tonight but we thought of "sharing" our favorite with them...

Not only because we want them to experience the fun...
Not only because we want them to have affordable but delicious sushi...
Not only because we want to be together on a Sunday, yadah yadah....

But ALSO because we want to get treated to our sushi favorite!

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha (evil laugh)!

:P

GENKI SUSHI!

As usual the restaurant was packed and we were listed for a table.

NANBANTEI OF TOKYO

So once again ERICJAZ FOODIES is out with our favorite two little lords in the world..... 

And once again, ERICJAZ FOODIES will meet up with BGP Marian and Manong Fred (I swear, they are almost like the silent partners of this silly little foodie blog)....

But this time, we will be trying out something new....

And that is..... (drumroll with ting at the end)....

NANBANTEI OF TOKYO!!!!

Well only because VILLAGE TAVERN is full, but you could say that this was meant to be. He he he he he he! 

NANBANTEI OF TOKYO!!!!!

NIU BY VIKINGS

Last Sunday, THE YAPPY BUNCH went to NIU BY VIKINGS to have our weekend family dinner. Would you believe that it's our first time to eat at NIU even after it has been raved so much about by foodies? I don't know why but of course, we've been meaning to go there several times with my family or with friends, but somehow it wouldn't push through. But that day was finally the day. I guess you could also say that it was such a great coincidence how our first dinner there also fell on Anniversary month of NIU BY VIKINGS.  So yes, it was really meant to be.

You might even say it was "Ang Tamang Panahon."

Tee hee!!!

Sorry, can't help but mention the the current rage of Aldub right now. He he he he he he he!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY NIU BY VIKINGS!

(Pabebe wave).

NIU!!!!

I have heard many great things about NIU as the affordable restaurant that is another level compared to the competition. 

Besides constant great reviews from my fellow KTG bloggers, I have a foodie friend (itago natin sa pangalan na Albert) who swears on the enjoyment quotient of NIU over some of the famous hotel buffets!

GENKI SUSHI PHILIPPINES

It may not be obvious but in THE YAPPY BUNCH, I am the only lady.

Yeah... yeah... You thought I was a guy again, but promise, I'm the only rose among the thorns. I don't really mind because even if I am outnumbered with 3 guys in my silly little family, we all share the same loves.

But as usual, boys being boys, I get left out when they all LOVE to talk about cars, basketball, boxing, videogames, tires... blech... things that I am so uninterested in.

However, when it comes to food, the boys and I share a deep LOVE for Sushi and Sashimi as opposed to the Chinese Adonis who does not touch the stuff....

"Sushi??? Hindi ka kumakain ng Sushi Yub????!"

That is why when we heard of the opening of GENKI SUSHI in the Philippines, the little lords and I lost no time in scheduling a family dinner there. We just cannot get enough of sushi and sashimi, so this would probably be like Disneyland for us.

Now you might wonder that for someone who detest these raw stuff, the Chinese Adonis was very willing to treat us to GENKI SUSHI.

Why?

Because that is how much he LOVES us even if he is the minority in this food decision! Naks!

10 pogi points to Gryffindor!!!!!

:) 

GENKI SUSHI!

GENKI SUSHI is this famous franchise from Japan where the food plates are not conveyor belts. The dishes are actually brought to each table by an automated train!!!

I guess this is one of the main reasons why there is a line to get a table at GENKI SUSHI!

OF SNOW WHITE, JOHN AND YOKO!

Every year, my son's school would schedule a family day where we watch a musical feature by Repertory Philippines. Others might find it wearisome or obligatory, but for THE YAPPY BUNCH, we always look forward to it! We love musical plays! And as much as we enjoy the usual day out in the mall or play time in the park, the theater is something educational, and entertaining on a somewhat sophisticated level for the kids!  I always tell them that it never hurts to add a little culture in their system which was filled with gross jokes, naughty fantasies, and Minecraft! He he he he he he!
At first it was Wizard of Oz, then Alice in Wonderland (where Andrei had a crush on the leading lady), and Pinocchio. 

             

This year it's going to be SNOW WHITE and the SEVEN DWARFS!

Our ticket!

To be honest, I was not that excited with SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS because it's my least favorite in the roster of Disney cartoons!

But nevertheless, we already got the tickets and we all plan to enjoy it!

TSUKIJI FISH MARKET (JAPAN TRIP 2015)

When we were in Japan, my siblings made it a point to go to places that have historical significance or where we could have major food-trippings.  Alas, in Tokyo, they were able to put those two ultimo supremos together. And that was in the usual foodie wonderland....

TSUKIJI MARKET!!

If you haven't heard about this, then food is not really a priority and you're just a faker!

UNLESS of course if your top priority is ALDEN RICHARDS, then that's ok.

He he he he he! (Pabebe wave) 

TSUKIJI FISH MARKET!

DAIKISUISAN REVOLVING SUSHI (JAPAN TRIP 2015)

When we started plotting our itinerary for our Japan trip 2015, I promised the little lords that by hook or by crook, we will eat at a revolving sushi restaurant. The last time we went to a restaurant of the same theme was in KULA in LA but that was so long ago. In the Philippines, there are not many popular revolving sushi restaurants around (pun not intended) that's why the little lords were so excited at the prospect of having it again, this time in its "mothership" in Japan. However, since my brothers and sisters were leading the pack and had a complete list on where we will be going, I was not so sure anymore if we will be able to indulge in that "revolving" wish.

Lo and behold! The food gods were with us in Japan during our trip that after our tiring day at UNIVERSAL STUDIOS we came upon this revolving sushi restaurant at the Universal Citywalk named DAIKISUISAN REVOLVING SUSHI. At first, I was hesitant because I got this idea that restaurants located at the Citywalk were expensive. But upon checking the menu, the dishes were quite affordable that it was like we were meant to have our dinner there.

And so, we happily did!!!!!!

DAIKISUISAN REVOLVING SUSHI!

We just finished our day in UNIVERSAL STUDIOS and were all deciding where to eat. 

Our initial plans were to go back to our hotel and look for a restaurant there. Looking around at Universal Citywalk, we had this preconceived notion that the restaurants there were not for the dedicated economist (read: stingy) that we just walked straight ahead.

While walking, we came upon DAIKISUISAN REVOLVING SUSHI!

Oh! Oh! A revolving sushi restaurant! FINALLY!

KIMPURA (MY 2015 BIRTHDAY)

Once again it is my birthday and once again, we will eat at KIMPURA for dinner! It has actually been a tradition for me already to have my birthday dinner at my favorite Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant. My family may already be getting tired of it and there are more exciting restaurants out there. But we are eating at my favorite KIMPURA and that is final.

On my birthday actually, I was so worried because Pnoy wonderfully declared that Edsa and some streets will be closed due to the People Power Anniversary. Bollocks! That meant traffic jams here and there! Such was the horrendous traffic that morning that instead of going to Church and having our usual GLORIA MARIS birthday breakfast, we ended up in CIBO in Power plant Mall because our car did not budge at all! Que horror I know!

Good thing that the foodie gods understood my need to have my favorite on my birthday because by 4:00pm, the streets cleared up and it was easy peasy for the cars to go anywhere. Hooray! There you go!

Just goes on to show that if you drool about it, your wishes with come true.

With that, I know that KIMPURA and I are meant to be. Forever. He he he he he!

It's my birthday and the family is in KIMPURA!

KIMPURA TEPPENYAKI (AGAIN FOR KUYA JON'S BDAY)

It's a Gatdula birthday celebration once more and guess where we went for dinner? KIMPURA of course! No matter what we suggested to the birthday boy, my elder brother Kuya Jon still chose our usual teppanyaki birthday dinner at KIMPURA since he felt it was already "tradition". I'm glad because not only am I all for "family sentiment" but the food at KIMPURA is timelessly delicious. Plus,  the twenty and more years that we have been eating here, we always have an enjoyable and tummy "full"filling meal EVERYTIME.

So why wouldn't we always include this in our "eat list"?

Oh and by the way. When I said "twenty and more years" that goes out to my brothers and sister. I'm like 2 decades younger than them.

:P

He he he!

KIMPURA!!!

YANAGI (MIDAS HOTEL)

We knew it was going to be another great weekend when we received an invite to be with our favorite foodie family, the KTG. The venue was going to be YANAGI restaurant in Midas Hotel (which was formerly Hyatt Regency Manila) and I felt it was a perfect jump start to my Saturday because I L-O-V-E Japanese cuisine!

KTG and a Japanese buffet.... now what could be more glorious than that?

Having it with Benedict Cumberbatch? Kidding! THAT is another story. Tee hee! 

MIDAS HOTEL

YANAGI is at the second floor of Midas Hotel and we were welcomed by cheerful smiles of their maitre d'!