A Taste of Japan in the Philippines: Little Tokyo

I have always wanted to go to Japan since I was a kid. It all started with my love for anime, and then I grew to admire the country for their discipline and humility. I’ll never get tired of Japanese restaurants, and this is why I was delighted when I learned of Little Tokyo.

Directions

It was near our office so I had no problems locating it. But for the benefit of Rizalenos, ride an Ayala FX and tell the driver to drop you at Ayala/PBCom (Php 45). Walk through the underpass toward VA Rufino Street. Tread that path for twenty minutes or so until you see Chino Roces Avenue (the ninth corner). Turn left and walk a bit more until you see Little Tokyo.

Place

I loved the vibe, that’s for sure—red lights, Japanese lanterns, narrow bricked pathways. Little Tokyo seems like a food park, only it is a compound consisting of Japanese restaurants.

There are many to choose from actually, but we finally opted to eat inside Oishinbou.

Food

Before you go here, make sure you have money in your pockets. I ordered my favorite California maki (Php 220) and tried Oishinbou’s tonkatsu ramen (Php 330). Heaven was I full!

Their maki was tasty (could anyone go wrong with sushis and sashimis?) It’s either that or I might just be another biased maki-eater. An 8.5/10.

I regretted ordering a cream-based tonkatsu ramen. I wished I ordered for soy-based. This one’s a 7/10.

Favorite Picture

Little Tokyo
11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
2277 Chino Roces Ave, Pasong Tamo Corner Amorsolo Street, Legazpi Village, Makati

For the Love of Red Neon Lights: Lazy Bastard

If you’re wondering where the “Long Live Bacon” sign on a brick wall is, it’s in a restaurant in Makati called Lazy Bastard.

Great name, right?

Directions

If you’re coming from the east (Antipolo, Cainta, etc.), ride an Ayala FX and tell the driver to drop you at Buendia. (If you’re from Cainta like me, that’s Php 45.00.) Walk backward until you see McDonalds. Turn right until you see a Mercury Drug then Jupiter Street. Walk along Jupiter Street and watch out for Galaxy Street. If you see a sign that says “Bacon & Burgers This Way,” that’s where Lazy Bastard is.

Place

Only three tables, a counter, and several stools are inside the “exposed” Lazy Bastard. The most Instagram-worthy here is the “Long Live Bacon” sign that gives the small place the red neon vibe.

However, there’s another room (seemingly hidden) where they serve drinks and all that. You have to go there if you want to go to the comfort room (they don’t have a bidet).

Food

I am not a huge fan of burgers and sandwiches, but I tried Lazy Bastard for something different. We ordered honey parmesan dog (Php 240.00) and bacon cheeseburger (Php 260.00).

For something that tastes ordinary (both a 7/10 for me), it’s pretty expensive. I really wanted to try Cheesus Crust just because of its witty name, but it’s worth Php 550.00, so maybe next time.

Favorite Picture

Lazy Bastard
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
22 Jupiter St. Corner Galaxy, Makati
https://lazybastard.ph/

Playing with Neon at Filling Station Bar Cafe

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (2)

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (1)

Filling Station Bar Cafe is located in Poblacion, Makati. Unfortunately, DSLRs aren’t allowed, but we were able to take one picture before we were reprimanded (I asked beforehand in their FB page if DSLRs were allowed, and they said yes as long as it was for personal use). But anyway, I was there for the experience anyway, so I didn’t mind taking pictures with my cell phone.

DSLR Pictures (outside the restaurant)

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (3)

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (4)

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (6)

DSLR Picture (inside the restaurant)

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (5)

Cell Phone Pictures

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (Cell Phone) (1)

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (Cell Phone) (4)

2017 10 07 Firestation Bar and Grill (Cell Phone) (2)

If you want to go to places reminiscent of the retro and vintage fifties, this is one of the places you should try. We went at around 7:00 PM, and luckily, the diner wasn’t full yet. Their food is gold though (we spent like 1,400 plus on the food), but you won’t go home unsatisfied.

We ordered Sinatra’s chicken alfredo, Mexican style burger (which had an American flag on it LOL), and the four-in-one starter that contained lumpia rolls, onion rings, calamares, potatoes, and chicken wings. We should have thought that this was an American-inspired diner, so they had huge servings. I even wanted to order strawberry parfait, but my stomach could not take it anymore.

Sadly, I wasn’t able to take too many pictures because I was so full that I wanted to sleep my fats away. And yes, “sleeping my fat away” meant that I had to take more pictures inside Lokal Hostel. LOL.