Kitsho is Happiness

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Bay area is going to be happily burping away with the opening of Kitsho, the Japanese restaurant and sake bar of Traders Hotel Manila.

The newest Japanese restaurant to hit Manila is located at the ground floor of Traders Hotel along Roxas Boulevard, and is, impressively, one of the most spacious out there.

The 90-seater dining room is more contemporary than anything else, and is brightly lit. Four private rooms with their collapsible walls welcome groups. Booths and lounge seats greet diners, while the show kitchen and giant aquarium vie for attention.

In the middle of all this, overseeing the day-to-day kitchen activities is Executive Chef Masahiro Mizumoto, who volunteers that the name Kitsho means happiness in Japan.

The restaurant’s philosophy is quite simple: “Guests come to Kitsho, eat here, and be happy.” To achieve this, Mizumoto insists on nothing but the freshest ingredients and the most eye-catching presentation. The latter, he says, is very important among the Japanese.

Four private rooms with their collapsible walls welcome groups to Kitsho.

The setting may be casual but Japanese food lovers are in for a real treat, say Mizumoto and Trader Hotel Manila general manager Gordon Aeria. Even though Kitsho is just a newly opened restaurant, it has quickly caught the eye — and taste buds of locals and foreigners alike.

“I think the encouraging reception for Kitsho will go the distance,” says Aeria. “We manage the restaurant ourselves and are able to control the quality. When we planned Kitsho, we knew that the Bay Area has a limited number of Japanese restaurants offering food quality and value-for-money authentic Japanese fare. Shangri-La, the management company, supported this plan. So here we are.”

He continues, “The Shangri-La brand is respected for its quality food and beverage. We would like to raise the standard of Japanese restaurants within the Bay Area. With Chef Hiro working very closely and developing a hands-on approach, we are optimistic that we will enjoy our own loyal following.”

Mizumoto’s long history of traditional Japanese cooking traces itself to his days growing up in Fukuoka, Japan. Through the years, he has perfected the recipés from the Fukuoka region, something which bodes well for Japanese foodies.

Must-try items on the menu include the Live Lapu-Lapu and Lobster Sashimi, Buta Kakuni (braised pork belly), Uni Tempura (sea urchin tempura), Salmon Tartaryaki (sautéed salmon with tartar sauce), Beef Tongue Misoyaki (grilled beef tongue in miso), and Kitsuba (red bean cake).

‘I think the encouraging reception for Kitsho will go the distance,’ says Traders Hotel Manila general manager Gordon Aeria, shown with Kitsho Executive Chef Masahiro Mizumoto.

Kitsho offers a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, tempura, and sake. “We have very good sake and shoju. A lot of our sake are not found or sold in other places,” Aeria adds.

All these prospects are too hard to resist, and if these are any indication, a lot of Japanese food lovers will be coming out of Kitsho in high spirits.

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Kitsho is located at the ground floor of Traders Hotel Manila, 3001 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. It is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, and dinner on Mondays. For inquiries or advance reservations, call (632) 523-7011 local 2912 or 2913.