This Japanese Eatery in QC Is Focused on Sukiyaki, Kyoto-Style

Inari Sukiyaki
L/4 Public Eatery, Robinsons Magnolia, Aurora Boulevard, corner Doña Hemady Street, New Manila, Quezon City
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553268545986
Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Sunday

(SPOT.ph) The Japanese love their rice as much as we Pinoys do. They even have a God of Rice called Inari, no doubt the inspiration for this similarly named first sukiyaki bar in the Philippines. At Inari Sukiyaki, the dish comes as a steaming bowl of rice topped with tender beef and vegetables. Just like how they do it in Kyoto. 

Also read: Jump Into This New Japanese Spot in BGC for Temaki and a Fresh Mix of Flavors

Here's everything you need to know about Inari Sukiyaki:

When we think of sukiyaki, chances are what comes to mind is the kind popular in the Philippines where glass noodles, beef, veggies, tofu and other ingredients all simmer in a bowl of sweet, hot broth. The Kyoto-style version is just as hearty and comforting—but we'll get to that in a bit.

First, where to find it here in Manila: Inari Sukiyaki is located among the numerous food choices in the upscale food hall Public Eatery in Robinsons Magnolia. It's beside an escalator. The gold and blue lights will catch your eye and the aroma will confirm there's no other place you'd rather be.  

Albeit inside a food hall, where there’s usually a communal dining area for all customers, Inari Sukiyaki has its own sitting area for their guests. At the center is a rounded bar which allows diners to watch chefs prepare the meals. 

The restaurateur couple Rich and Maxine Sanz (Ginza Gyu, Hey BKK!) wanted to introduce a different style of sukiyaki to Manilenyos. This time around, the beef slices sit on top of the rice and there's no soup.

“The ones that we know of here are soupy-style, so we finally decided, you know what? It’s time to bring [Kyoto-style sukiyaki here],” Maxine tells Spot. “Personally, [with] our experiences with sukiyaki here, it’s just brought in a nice iron pot and served with rice. [But] in the Kyoto-style, they really prepare it in front of you.”

What to order at Inari Sukiyaki:

Inari Sukiyaki’s menu is quite simple. There are just a little less than 15 items. “We really wanted to focus on the sukiyaki bowl sets, but of course not everyone eats beef so we have a few non-beef options,” Maxine says. The beef options include the Angus Karubi, USDA Angus Misuji, and the USDA Angus Ribeye. They’re all served in sets. Each bowl is a mixture of beef, Japanese rice, glass noodles, tofu, fish cake, and vegetables. They also come with soft-boiled egg and miso soup on the side.

The early bestseller is the USDA Angus Misuji, a lean and very tender cut of beef with fine marbling and medium fattiness. It's also pretty friendly to the pocket at P495. The USDA Ribeye (P995) quickly melts in the mouth and will have you craving for more. Just a tip: there’s an option to double your order of beef (and we know you will). 

For the non-sukiyaki dishes, they have three signature rolls: the Crispy Kani Nori Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll with sukiyaki reduction, and the one we got to try, the Sizzling Inari Aburi Roll (served on a hot plate), which has salmon, prawn, cream cheese, sizzling Ebiko mayo, and Togarashi served on a hot plate. 

Another favorite is the Ebi Tempura (P380/four pieces). It's drizzled with tobiko, ebiko, a sukiyaki reduction, and Japanese mayonnaise. The plates are available in half portions—best for solo diners or those with not-so-big appetites.  

With all the restaurants in Manila dedicated to sushi, ramen, and so on, you'd think we've seen all there is to Japanese cuisine—but really, we've only scratched the surface. Enter Inari Sukiyaki. By spotlighting a relatively unfamiliar, regional style of a classic dish, they're also expanding our understanding of the food and culture of Japan.

Also read: 10 New Japanese Restaurants to Hit Up for Great Sushi, Ramen + More

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