Whenever I feel like having beef I usually have something Japanese, my problem usually is which Japanese restaurant to dine coz let`s be honest there are more of them out there, and honestly I have yet to try half of them.
This is why I was happy to receive an invitation for a Zomato Foodie Meet-up at one of the newer Malls in Quezon City. Fisher Mall.
Sandaya Fisher Mall, is located at the 3rd level, you can`t miss it since it is near the escalators. I arrived found the venue impressive with their elegant dining set up. It was a large restaurant that could probably accommodate a large group of people or become a venue for a special occasion like a birthday party or corporate affair.
Sandaya Yakiniku- Fisher Mall opened November 2014 and is barely a year old but has made a name for itself as one of top Yakiniku restaurants in the city.
Sandy Fisher Mall looks intimidating at first glance because of the elegant and formal atmosphere. For Alvin Ong, Vice President and COO of Sandaya Yakiniku-Fisher Mall, Sandaya Fisher Mall is a family owned business and they consider it a family friendly restaurant.
Before we started dining we were given Oshibori, or hot towels. An o-shibori or hot towel in English is a wet hand towel offered to customers in places such as restaurants or bars in China and Japan and in some Chinese and many Japanese restaurants worldwide. O-shibori are used to clean one’s hands before eating, and have long been a common sight in China and Japan.
I only experienced this once while attending a friend`s wedding. And this for me is a sign of consideration for the diners.
Wanna know what we dined on? Read on…
Alvin Ong made it a point to explain each and every dish they prepared for us foodies, and since we were special guest of Sandaya Fisher Mall we get to dine the specialty of the house which is Yakiniku but before all that we had some favorite Japanese appetizers.
Japanese Style Beef Stew or Mutsini was first served. Savory, flavorful soup with very tender ox tripe. Look at those large chunks of beef. It was a great start to our meal.
Kani Salad, look at the generous crab sticks and Tobiko (orange-colored flying fish roe)! Not your the average Kani Salad. The vegetables were fresh and crunchy.
Spicy Tuna Maki I had misgivings before trying these. I had Spicy Tuna Maki before at another restaurant and I was not happy. But with this, full sized Spicy Tuna Maki, larger than most really. I found it very tasty, the spiciness just right and with a slight dip with wasabi perfect for a starter to any meal.
Salmon Sashimi this is one of the sashimi that I have never tried out before. Since I have always ordered Tuna. But I find this very refreshing. when seasoned with a bit of soy sauce and kalamasi.
Shirimp Tempura, I liked these tempura a lot. Mainly because they were actual ship in it and not just batter extenders.
Yakimeshi Rice was fragrant and they used sticky rice and a lot of chopped vegetables personally this is a meal unto itself.
And now for the main event which is Sandaya Yakiniku Platter
When you say Yakiniku, it actually means grilled meat, in a yakiniku restaurant, diners order several types of prepared raw ingredients (either individually or as a set) which are brought to the table. The ingredients are cooked by the diners on a grill built into the table throughout the duration of the meal, several pieces at a time. The ingredients are then dipped in sauces known as tare before being eaten.
Japanese Wagyu Premium Sirloin
Japanese Wagyu Inside Skirt or Harami
US Boneless Short Ribs Prime
US Chuck Tender
US Hanging Tender
US Short Plate
The meat are pre-cut and served with greens, we can opt to eat the grilled meat as is or wrapped in vegetables Korean style.
I loved that they have a smokeless girll at Sandaya Fisher Mall. The smokey smell won`t get on my clothes after I dine.
Japanese Kurobuta Sausage (Black Pork Sausage) The meat comes from those special Black Pigs, where the fat composition is soft, white and flavourful and the meat has a fine, rich texture that is tender and juicy. Many people describe Kurobuta as the Kobe Beef of pork production. This is treat for me because it the first time I have ever tasted this kind of pork sausage. It has this unique gamey flavor that I can`t place.
US Beef Special Marbled Tongue they had this meat specially picked up and hand carried by a staff of Sandaya Yakiniku Fisher Mall, limited. When I tried it, Really liked it, coz it just melts in your mouth.
The meat was cooked at our table and we were taught how to cook the meat properly, so we can enjoy the meat to the fullest. It was an eye opener for me, because I usually try to over cook my meat whenever I grill it but this the WRONG way.
How to properly enjoy Yakiniku:
*** All yakiniku meat is different from steak in that it is thin. Taking your eyes off the meat even for a second while grilling can result to turning it dark and unappetizing . We really don`t want that such a waste of perfectly good quality meat.
*** It is best to moderate, a little bit of meat at the grill at a time. Roast it lightly, enjoy the difference in the taste, softness and texture of the ingredients
*** Don`t pat or press the meat on the grill. It will not help the meat`s flavor since you are pressing all the juices out of the meat while doing so.
Uni or Sea Urchin, That day they also have Sea Urchin and we also got the chance to try out their grilled sea urchin. We were told this can be eaten as is, like sashimi or grilled depending on the client`s preference. I liked mine grilled and it had the unique taste of the sea.
I enjoyed my dining experience at Sandaya Yakinuku Fisher Mall. The ambiance, the music in the background and the classy elegance of the venue, the cheerful and well mannered servers and the deliciously prepared food make up the whole package of an awesome dining experience. So if you are in the Northern part of Metro and your inner carnivore is hankering for the best meats try Sandaya Yakinuku Fisher Mall.
Until next time!
Muah!