Japanese cooking with a Pinoy twist at Manila Maki

MANILA, Philippines - Nestled in the cosmopolitan neighborhood of Salcedo Village is a quaint and cozy restaurant that whips up Japanese dishes.

Imagine a crunchy tuna maki, drizzled with taba ng talangka. Another must-try is their Philadelphia Roll, an impressive salmon maki, with kesong puti and crispy bacon bits. Their signature maki is the Manila Maki, which has fresh tuna, nilasing na hipon, and crunchy garlic. Their version of the gyoza is also interesting, since they add Cabanatuan longganiza to the filling. The combinations are truly unique and refreshing. The concept of their food is to use Filipino flavors, and prepare them using Japanese techniques in cooking. Other variants of their fusion concepts include their teriyaki, which is infused with inasal spices, and their rice bowls, which are cooked like the traditional Japanese donburi way, but with Pinoy ingredients, like bistek and adobo.

From the same team behind Pinoydon Rice Bowls, Manila Maki was conceptualized to elevate the Filipino-Japanese experience that diners used to enjoy in Podium.

All-time fave: Manila Maki has fresh tuna, nilasing na hipon and crunchy garlic.

“Although Pinoydon was successful for several years, we felt the need to elevate or upgrade our concept,” said managing partner Alain Panlilio, hence the birth of Manila Maki. “Whereas Pinoydon was considered as a fast food type of establishment where one can grab a quick and satisfying meal, Manila Maki is a bit more sophisticated; it’s the type of place where one can hang out with friends, and have a cocktail or enjoy a cozy dinner with family and friends.”