Dinner at Tsumura

My friend Deb can’t believe I haven’t eaten at Tsumura. I can’t believe it either.

I didn’t know we were eating out that night and I didn’t bring my camera so pardon these pictures taken with my iPhone.

Tsumura is located on the 2nd floor of an office building in Makati so it’s not really a restaurant you will stumble on to. Only those who know where to find excellent sashimi and authentic Japanese food go straight to Tsumura.

If you don’t mind sitting in the smoking room you can watch sashimi master and owner Mr. Tsumura do his magic behind the counter.

It was fried and cold but very tender and yummy.

fried octopus appetizer

The salad was a refreshing mix of crunch from the cucumber and radish and sweet from the crab meat. It was lightly dressed with Japanese mayonnaise.

Tsumura salad P300

If you’ve been reading my blog you know I don’t eat sashimi. I just don’t know how to enjoy it. I gave it a try and I liked the mackerel only to be told it was cooked. No wonder! I tried one of the red fish and didn’t like it. Baby steps. I do love uni (sea urchin) though.

mixed sashimi ume P890

If I wasn’t suffering from acid reflux I would have finished this entire order of spicy salmon sashimi. Any raw fish covered in spicy dressing I will eat. Strange huh?

spicy salmon sashimi P550

spicy tuna sashimi P340

I tried the sashimi in it’s natural state and I finally realized the difference between good and mediocre  salmon. All my previous trials were nowhere near as good as these. Fresh, buttery and utterly delicious.

salmon sashimi P450

Deb’s two teenage sons were with us and they know what they want and I was very impressed. The younger one ordered this cold noodle dish which I yet have to try.

cha soba P330

The older one ordered gyudon which is one of my favorite things to order. Thin slices of beef over rice. He assured me it was good.

gyudon P440

Isn’t this a gorgeous plate of marbled beef? It’s for the sukiyaki.

We were surprised that the Japanese manager personally cooked the sukiyaki right beside our table.

U.S. beef sukiyaki P1.750

This had to be the best sukiyaki I’ve ever eaten. The broth wasn’t too sweet, there was vermicelli (sotanghon) and udon and the beef was so tender and substantial. Not pictured is my second bowl filled to the brim with beef.

cold barley tea

I’ve never tried sake before so Deb ordered her favorite one.

Hakutsuru (White Crane) Sayuri Nigori Sake P3,880

I liked the pot with a separate container for ice so the sake will be chilled but not diluted. Boy was this sake strong!

The chef and owner, Mr. Tsumura graced our table with his presence.

Mr. Tsumura

Without the sake it wasn’t really that expensive considering the quality of the food. I can’t wait to go back!!!

Tsumura
2nd Level, 88 Corporate Plaza
88 Sedeno St. cor. Valero St., Salcedo Village
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
telephone: 887-4848 to 50, 812-1393