Okonomiyaki Madness

Damn! I haven't updated my blog for AGES now.. I've been too busy with school and videogames so it's safe to say that my life revolves around those two aspects.

Anyway, I'm still the same old Paw who's still obsessing over milktea.. but this time, I want to make a review on one of my favorite foods: Okonomiyaki.

Okonomiyaki is basically a Japanese type of pizza, wherein a diner mixes ingredients of their choice to form a healthy and satisfying snack (or meal, lol). Vegetables, seafood, and pork are usually used for toppings/fillings, but some also incorporate non-traditional items such cheese. 

As a Japanese food fanatic, I find it quite stressful as to where I could find the best okonomiyaki here in Manila. I presumed it to be a rare find and might prove to be impossible.. but I was dead wrong. In fact, it was closer to me that I ever would've guessed.

Little Tokyo in the Pasong Tamo area of Makati is chuck full of surprises, and many months ago (yes, this post is extremely late) I happened to chance upon the best place for this treat: Kagura Okonomiyaki restaurant. My favorite among the many available choices are the ones labelled as "Modern", which are topped with noodles. I find them tastier than the plain okonomiyaki variants.

                                  Modern Squid Okonomiyaki, topped with noodles

                                 Yakisoba fried in Okonomiyaki sauce= a bit "bitin"

I urge most, if not all of you Japanese food fans out there to give this place a try. After finding this goldmine of awesome authentic okonomiyaki, I've been eating it about thrice every 2 weeks or so. It's just THAT good. :) It's perfect to be washed down with some refreshing mugi cha, which is cold pure tea (without the heavy sugar taste found in iced teas).

                                  Ika Yaki (grilled squid) in Butter.. DELICIOUS!

My friends and I have seriously been raving over their okonomiyaki dishes.. and it's about time that you do as well :D

Kagura is located in Little Tokyo, Pasong Tamo (beside Makati Square). Closed on Mondays. Their store hours are at 11:30pm-3:00pm, then 6:00pm-10:00pm. 200+php per okonomiyaki :)

REVIEW: Chatime [Landmark Makati]

Disclaimer: I have to be honest here, this review is WAYYYYY too late for my own good. XD 

My order: Roasted Pearl Milk Tea, and Mina's regular Pearl Milk


Chatime is one of the newest milk tea joints that hit the Metro Manila scene last April-May, with its first branch being located in Pioneer Center, Mandaluyong. I first came across Chatime a few weeks ago during one of my usual Glorietta hangouts with friends. We passed by Landmark on our way to Greenbelt when I saw this curious stall being set up in the bridge-way area. I waited for it to open.. and poof. XD 

Milk tea fans getting their fill




If there's one thing you have to notice about Chatime, then it's the fact that the lines here can get really long. Don't get too impatient, however, as the wait is well worth it. :)  Chatime's menu is very extensive and the drinks are reasonably priced which in turn makes for more drinking adventures. You can also see your orders being freshly prepared by the staff at the counter. The areas are very bright and clean, and you're sure to know what's being put in your milk tea.

Chatime's extensive menu: SUPER LIKE.

Chatime counter area: supaaa squeaky clean >3<


I've tried their Roasted Milk Tea and their Taro Milk Tea but I have yet to try one of their bestsellers, the Red Bean Milk Tea variant. I loved the the Roasted Milk Tea since tasted nuttier than most pearl milk teas. The Taro Milk Tea, on the other hand, was a bit of a letdown for me since the texture was too mushy for my taste. ^^;;

 My sister/close friend Mina holding the buzzer. It lights up when your order is done. SHOO COOL XD


All in all, Chatime is a highly recommended milk tea shop. Their drinks have plentiful servings and they don't scrimp on their toppings. The menu itself is enough to make you come back for more! :) Just don't let the long lines turn you off--it really is worth the wait. ヽ(^▽^)ノ


Chatime branches are located at Pioneer Center Mandaluyong, Landmark Makati, Robinson's Galleria, SM MOA, and One Archer's Place-DLSU Taft (ANIMO!<3)

SPECIAL REVIEW: Final Fantasy XIII Elixir Drink

Final Fantasy XIII Elixir: Complete Collection w/ Chalice- SO. DAMN. BEAUTIFUL.


Suntory is one of the best-known brewery/distillery corporations in Japan, and they have collaborated with Square Enix many times to produce these popular Elixir drinks. Every Final Fantasy fan is all-too familiar with the use of these elixirs: they're rare in-game items which heal either your character or entire party's health and magic points. Since I'm a big Final Fantasy fan, I just couldn't miss out on this. >3< My (then) boyfriend bought me cans of FFXIII elixir from Japan around 2 summers ago when it was released. He got me the Fang, Vanille, Lightning, and Hope cans because they were the characters I liked the most in-game. Well then, let's go on with the review, shall we? :)

I opened my Hope can.. LIKE A BOSS. (well.. 2 years ago. XD)


I have to admit that I was pretty reluctant on opening even just one of these cans. The cans were printed with high-quality images of the characters and it seemed like a sin to even open one of them. It was thesis season back then so I gave it a shot anyway. The drink tasted like weak grapefruit soda with a lemon-lime twist, which was much like Sprite but only less sweeter. 


The after effects were surprising to me since I stayed wide awake for almost a day and a half so it helped me a lot in doing my work. However, you guys know what happens next when you drop dead after the caffeine burst. XD It isn't called elixir for nothing, after all~ I gave my Lightning can away to one of my friends and I kept the Fang and Vanille cans for collection purposes.

My FFXIII haul back then with the complete and unopened cans


I hope that Suntory will release more Elixir-themed drinks for SE's upcoming games such as FF13-2, FF13-Versus and even Type-0. If memory serves me right, they don't sell these anymore but the Dissidia 012 elixirs are still in stock. These elixirs are a wonderful addition to any Final Fantasy fanatic's collection! Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ

REVIEW: Kirin Afternoon Milk Tea

Any Japanese snack food lover should be familiar with this product by now~ XD 


[NOTE: Kirin is one of the pioneer beverage companies in Japan.. much like San Miguel here in the Philippines. Aside from milk tea, they also make a variety of drinks such as beer, softdrinks, and juices.]


I first came across Kirin Milk Tea during my trip to Tokyo,Japan last April 2000. I was quite hesitant to try this murky-looking drink because it seemed so...alien to me. XD Anyway, I considered it as one of the best decisions in my life. The creaminess of the milk blends smoothly and perfectly with the tea, and the sweetness level is just right. 


A few years later, I came across it again right here in Manila (you can imagine how delighted I was XD). Standard 500 ml bottles are sold for around 80pesos, while the 1.5L bottles are sold for around 170pesos. The price may be hefty as you might be better off with a bottle of Coke or two, but trust me, it's all worth it. Stockpile on these if you need to satisfy your urge for milk tea or if you're just plain lazy to line up in other milk tea joints. (Disclaimer: NO PEARLS ADDED XD)


Kirin Milk Teas are available at Chotto Stop and Yamazaki in Japan Town, Pasong Tamo. (infront of Makati Cinema Square). I bought mine at Landmark Supermarket Makati but I'm not sure if they still sell it there. :)


It's so damn good, heck, even my moogles love it. ＼(＾▽＾*)

FIRST!

Metro Manila has seen many food trends over the past few years, and there seems to be no end in sight as the public's demand for newer trends increases. Some of these are coffee shops, frozen yogurt stalls, sizzling steak joints and food markets, to name a few. :)


Milk Tea joints have sprouted like mushrooms over the past few months, and I feel compelled to make reviews about each and every mt shop there is all over the Metro. 


So with that, I  welcome you to my blog, Milk Tea no Jikan: Milk Tea Time! I decided to make this blog so I can share my love for milk tea to fellow aficionados and fans XD 


I'll be posting reviews, pictures, price information and more details as I go along :) Please do visit often! 


-PawＯ(≧∇≦)Ｏ