Ohachi
3/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Ohachi.PH
Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Sunday)
(SPOT.ph) There is a true allure to Japanese food that makes it an always-reliable choice. Their love for umami speaks to the Filipino love for linamnam, and their use of great-quality ingredients makes for A+ results in dishes as simple as sashimi or as elaborate to prepare as ramen. When done right it need not rely on frills or novelty to stand out—and one new spot does the cuisine justice with their simple-but-done-well philosophy. Give a warm welcome to the recently opened Ohachi at SM Megamall!
Also read: 10 Best Japanese Food Spots on GrabFood + Foodpanda
This new Japanese restaurant in SM Megamall serves a mean salmon bowl and other classic eats:
Owned by the Relish Group (a.k.a. the folks that also brought us Wee Nam Kee Philippines and Birdhouse), Ohachi is located at the third level of Mega Fashion Hall, making it the perfect spot to stop over while you're out shopping or just browsing around the sizable mall. The look they go for is simple yet impactful, employing Japanese elements like wood and splotches of red amid shades of white and grey that in turn lend a modern feel.
Ohachi, the Relish Group shares, translates to "Japanese rice bowl" (or more literally, a vessel for cooked rice)—and they chose this moniker in that it points to their aim of serving up Japaese comfort classics. Definitely come armed with your best hankerings as the menu is diverse, spanning everything from ramen to savory ala-carte plates to sushi to teppanyaki and more.
The star of the show, in our book, has to be the Miso Salmon Belly Donburi (P325)—a real soul-warming, full meal in a bowl that delivers umami through and through. It stars succulent chunks of salmon that are served over sticky Japanese rice—and Ohachi pours over a miso glaze that's part-savory, part-sweet, and all parts lip-smacking. It's especially drool-worthy as sauce imbues the salmon, infusing it with its full-on funky flavor; while the rest seeps into the rice and gets absorbed into the grains.
Ramen, too, is executed with a detailed eye at Ohachi as they prepare their own broth by simmering pork bones for hours to coax out all its flavors. The result? A rich but not overly fatty, deeply savory soup base that melds beautifully with all the other elements in the bowl. In the Chashu Ramen (P675)—the most basic (but by no means boring!) of their ramen lineup—the broth is joined by noodles, their own savory-sweet chashu that's rightfully tender, spring onions, and a ramen egg with a bright-yellow, jammy yolk. As of writing, Ohachi's even got a buy-one, get-one deal on this noodle soup bowl, as well as on the Tonkotsu Ramen (P365)!
And if you love your Korean fried chicken, you'll know that the flavors of soy sauce and garlic plus the poultry are a match made in heaven. Ohachi takes the combo out for a Japanese-style spin in their Soy Garlic Chicken Karaage (P350), with real spunky results. It's juicy and flavorful on the inside but also comes coated in a good amount of soy-garlic glaze, which is rightfully umami and pungent with a fair amount of a spicy bite.
Fans of contemporary sushi rolls are in for a treat as they've got all sorts of colorful, flavor-packed variations. The Special California Maki (P349), for one, comes topped with sweet and juicy strips of mango that contrast beautifully with the umami of the crabsticks within. Spicy Tuna Sashimi (P369)? They've got that, too. On the more one-of-a-kind end of the maki spectrum are their Chicken Teriyaki Mango Roll (P360), Vegetarian Mushroom Roll (P279), and Okonomiyaki Roll (P320), all of which point to just how versatile the sushi-roll format can be. Can't choose? Save yourself from the decision fatigue by just going for The Ultimate Platter (P1,399)—a platter with the Ohachi Tempura Roll, Spicy Salmon Roll, and the Chicken Teriyaki Mango and Okonomiyaki rolls, good for sharing.
For more stick-to-your-ribs fare you can also go for their bigger, more meat- or carb-centric plates, some of which are the Yakisoba (P348) and Beef Sukiyaki (P345). It's also well worth ordering sides to keep you company in between bites of these mains; go for the Ohachi Salad (P230/small, P360/large) for a vibrant palate cleanser of sorts, or the Truffle Gyoza (P280/six pieces, P560/12 pieces) if you're open to trying the Japanese potstickers with an earthy, aromatic spin. Add to that a vivifying sip like the Signature Butterfly Pea Tea (P160), and sweet meal-ender like the Banana Tempura (P330), and you've got yourself a real hearty meal that'll knock those umami hankerings out of the park.
Can't head out? You'll be happy to know that you can also get their food delivered via the Relish Group's website. And yup, they deliver anywhere in Metro Manila.
Ohachi is at 3/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City. For delivery orders, visit the Ohachi section of the Relish Group's website. For more information, check out Ohachi's Facebook page.
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