Zen stealers at Tempura Japanese Grill

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese food has become both a staple and a cliché with the proliferation of Japanese fast food and even instant /ready-to-eat food has made our palates weary of the same kind of food. This is why authentic Japanese restaurants seem to be a holy grail for Japanese food enthusiasts or those dying to expand their palates’ horizons.

Searching the streets of the metro with dozens of restaurants promising an “authentic Japanese dining experience” yields an array of mediocre to barely remarkable food establishments. But a select few deliver on their promise.

With its 10 branches around the country, Tempura Japanese Grill has been creating quite a stir with its preferred style of dining that has lured curious onlookers and just about anyone who is starving for an excellent Japanese meal. Established in 2001, Tempura Japanese Grill has been the go-to place for a different take on Japanese dining.

Combining both classic and modern elements, the interiors of Tempura Japanese Grill evoke an understated grandeur that can usually be gleaned in Japanese architecture. As a cross between a homey place to eat and a sophisticated dining area, the Japanese architectural elements give off a more streamlined feel that fits the atmosphere of the restaurant. It’s not exactly too posh to intimidate potential customers yet not too shabby and cheap.

The interiors don’t feel cramped and the tables and seats are wide enough to accommodate a family of five, an important element in your dining experience particularly because of the yakiniku style of eating.

Tempura Japanese Grill’s special halo-halo uses green tea and vanilla ice cream flavors.

Yakiniku is the Japanese word for grilled meat and in the Philippines, Tempura Japanese Grill pioneered the inclusion of yakiniku in the restaurant setting. The yakiniku platter includes bite-sized portions of tuna, chicken, squid and beef as well as corn, squash, onions (which taste even better when grilled to a golden brown), all of which you can grill to a whatever consistency you want.

The yakiniku style gives diners more control and creative freedom with the way their food is cooked. It also provides for a more exciting and entertaining dining experience, living it up the Japanese way. But if you’re scared of burning your food, Tempura Grill’s waiters are ready to assist you in cooking your food.

To cap off a sumptuous dinner, Tempura Japanese Grill now offers halo-halo done in a creamier way. Instead of using the usual condensed milk, Tempura Japanese Grill’s special halo-halo uses green tea and vanilla ice cream flavors. The mix of the two flavors swirls down perfectly in your palate, making the halo-halo blend more sweet and delectable.