Print 
PDFI haven’t been traveling lately and won’t be traveling anytime soon. I’m at my wit’s end, counting down the months until the next trip. The self-imposed travel ban was due to me trying my hand at being responsible, putting my money into grown up expenses like insurance, business registrations and an accountant, instead of squandering it on impulsively planned booked trips. The farthest I’ve been traveling lately is to Makati, where I get to experience the closest I’ll probably ever get to Japan: Little Tokyo.
Amazing map by the designer/photographer/calligrapher extraordinaire, Cla
(Click on the image to see the bigger version)
Little Tokyo is actually a compound where you can eat the best and most authentic Japanese meals in Manila. Many of these restaurants are own by Japanese, with a Japanese chef manning the kitchen, preparing and cooking ingredients imported from Japan and served to Japanese nationals.
Though I’ve been hearing about this place for years, it wasn’t until 2007 that I finally tried eating there. Thanks to my dolly obsession, I’ve gotten to know and became great friends with a crazy bunch of people who are as passionate about food as they are about the toys they collect. Aside from the toys and food, we all have a common interest in Japan. And so Little Tokyo became our unofficial meeting place.
Since then, I’ve taken friends to this little slice of Japan in Makati, pointing out which restaurant serves the best value lunch sets, telling them about the special deals of each, and treating them to a medley of flavors. Now, it’s your turn to take the tour.
Hana’s mix fry bento
Here’s a run down of the restaurants and shops in Little Tokyo, with a short description and recommendations for each. I’ve enlisted the help of some friends who’ve tried more restaurants than I have and have more discerning tastes to share their favorites with you.
Hana
Our favorite restaurant in LT. Khursten describes Hana as having the best “Japanese comfort food.”
Specialties: Takoyaki
Order: Hana maki, pork senbei (BACON!), cubic steak, tofu steak
Average cost: Php 200
Related reads:
Hana: Authentic Takoyaki in the heart of Makati
Hana scores a homerun with their new menu options
Like Hana on Facebook
Kagura
If you’ve read Ranma 1/2 manga or watched the anime, you’ve probably wondered how okonomiyaki tastes like. Wonder no more and try this hearty Japanese pancake here.
Specialties: Okonomiyaki
Order: Modern-yaki with everything on it
Average cost: Php 250
Related read:
What to Eat Where: The Quick and Dirty Japanese Resto Guide for Manila
Okonomiyaki from Kagura
Seryna
A popular lunch place for employees and executives working in the area. Open for dinner too.
Specialties: Sushi, sashimi
Order: Kaizengozen (chirashi-don), kami nabe
Average cost: Php 350
Related reads:
A box of treasured from the sea
Little Tokyo’s Seryna: Best. Chirasizushi. Ever.
Kikufuji
Izakaya style dining
Specialties: Sushi and anything seafood
Order: Seafood salad, Salmon ikura bowl, maguro-don, shake ikura-don, nasu tempura
Related reads:
Unforgettable Sushi at Kikufuji
Discovering umami in Kikufuji
Kaizengozen from Seryna
Urameshiya
Love meat? Grill ‘em here!
Specialties: Yakiniku
Special: Gorge on all the meat and seafood you can grill and eat every Tuesday for Php 500.
Note: This is not like the other yakiniku places in Manila that feature smokeless grills. They use the traditional grills that leaves you smelling like meat. If you have pets, expect a very amorous welcome when you get home.
Yamazaki
A Japanese grocery with a small restaurant off the side
Order: Cha-han (fried rice)
Average cost (restaurant): Php 140
Chotto stop
Convenience store selling various Japanese food products for Php 80. Has a small restaurant serving bento on the side.
Average cost (bento): Php 250
Related read:
Co-op finds a new home
Shinjuku Ramen
A favorite among Filipinos
Specialties: Ramen
Grilling meat at Urameshiya
Sekitori
A small restaurant serving sumo-sized meals
Specialities: nabe (hotpot)
Order: Chanko nabe
Oishinbo
Filipino-owned Japanese restaurant
Riozen
Another Izakaya serving the usual Japanese favorites
Order: Tonkotsu ramen, ikura-don, yakitori
Nodasho
A Japanese chef mans their kitchen
Specialties: Sukiyaki and sushi
Bunchum
An old coffee shop that also doubles a bar and stays open until late.
Order: Crispy pata
There you go! I do hope you find it useful, and I hope I bump into you at Little Tokyo one of these days!
Little Tokyo
Chino Roces corner Fernando Street
Makati City, Philippines
View on Google Maps
YumYum! Went there two years ago. Kelangan nang bumalik! :P
Balik ka na Mica!
Hay, I have not been here and it sucks! Lapit lang sa old office ko… Pagbalik ko Pinas, will bring my mum (who’s a big Jap food fan) there.
I’m sure your mom will enjoy eating there! If you’re going there for lunch, try Seryna for the great value kaizengozen. For dinner, take your pick among the restaurants inside because the courtyard is lovely when it’s all lighted up
I love the map! Also, I miss Takoyaki Tuesdays *sniff*
And we miss you!
I just tried Hana once and the takoyaki was really awesome! Nice map by the way. This can really help first timers on what to get when they visit the place.
Lovin’ the map, very informative.
Only tried Kagura, Hana and Kikufuji. Can’t wait to try the rest.
Ako rin! Ang dami ko pang di na-try!
just looking at the map made me hungry :/
I know we just ate there last week, but I want to go baaaaack!
would cheerfully eat there two or three times a week, budget permitting of course~
Nakakagutom naman yan. Everyday ako nadaan pero haven’t tried it yet. Thanks Ms. Nina.
Thanks for sharing this, Nina. I’ve never been to Little Tokyo, I want to take my fiance there because he absolutely loves Japanese food. I’m sure that if I show him this post, mag-aaya yun na pumunta kami ASAP. :-)
Go go go!
Medyo expensive lang ang restaurants dun, but sulit siya, specially sa Hana, Kagura and Seryna
Hi Nina. I’m Irish and i’m from PEX. I love reading your blog. Super helpful. Like this entry, super timely ’cause my friends and I are currently hunting for the best Japanese food in Metro Manila. We so love Japanese food. I’ve never heard of Little Tokyo, dito lang sa blog mo. Kaya thanks for sharing this.
Hi Irish! Thanks naman! I hope you enjoy the food there as much as we do
Wow! Such an informative post! Thanks for all the links and that awesome map! KAYO NA.
Thanks Chris! Si Cla ang star dito!
i was right!
ikaw na talaga ang tourguide sa little tokyo!
Oh, I haven’t been to Little Tokyo! Everything looks so tasty! Haaay hopefully will be able to go there and try all those goodies!
Give it a try! It’s really different from the Japanese restaurants elsewhere in Manila
awt! that’s what I’ve been missing ever since I moved to the south walang maxadong makainan na kakaiba or maski shopping, our choices here are limited kaya minsan or rather madalas pag my meet up w/ friends or PTB d ko alam o-ordiren ko kase d ako familiar sa menu. haha I should go to Makati more often. Like you, wala din ako travels, nag-iipon din, idol kita eh. hehe
thanks for sharing this Nina. Very helpful esp sa mga bihirang naluwas ng Maynila tulad ko. =))
hows the food? it looks nice from the picture.
Very good! This is the place for authentic Japanese food in Manila
thanks Nina, now I know where to get another bite of Japan when I go to Manila.
I have always wanted to go here!Thank you so much for the map and directions!
wah may ganyan pala sa may makati?
punta rin ako minsan =)
Hindi siya ka-pansin pansin, specially from, the outside, but it’s the best place talaga if you want great Japanese food
hi nina! do you know if there’s an equivalent Korean square or Ktown in Metro Manila?
I don’t know of any
parang gusto ko pumunta dito.. nakakatakam yung japanese food! kaya lang mukhang pang-mayaman.. haha.. wala pa ako pera. hehe
It’s expensive, yes, but it’s really good and authentic Japanese food
there’s also a Japanese mini-mart/resto that can be found facing the mall there. The foods pretty good here too.. and very affordable. I guess authentic too – lots of Japanese nationals there eating and reading the newspaper.
Wow… those dishes are to die for. BTW, are there parking lots nearby? That’s the only thing hindering me from going to LT again.
There is a small parking lot outside Little Tokyo fronting Chino Roces and you can also park along the street in Fernando and in the lot beside the Little Tokyo compound. If you want more security, you can park underneath Makati Cinema Square.
Thanks for this.
I usually make a beeline for Hana, Chotto Stop and Yamazaki because it’s the places that I know. I’ve tried Urameshiya once and though my friends & I ended up smelling like our dinner, we had fun.
It was also Ranma 1/2 that made me curious for okonomiyaki. Now I know where to get one.
Just watch out for pandas, panty thiefs and busty red-haired girls!
I haven’t some of the restaurants here. Now I’m putting those on my list to food scout.
Love this post Nina!
Looking forward to your Little Tokyo posts Jill!
Pingback: Map of Little Tokyo | clarissa ines
Im planning to bring my half-jap bf in little tokyo. he said he wants to taste some real green tea. its been years since he last had one… any idea?
Where in Makati is this?
It’s along Chino Roces/Pasong Tamo, across Makati Cinema Square
Planning to go there this coming valentines! ayeee thank you so much sa post! natutuwa ako kasi may price kang nilagay. makakapag-budget na kame. congrats din pala sa pagkakapanalo mo sa nuffnang awards! Pinoy pride!
I never knew there’s Little Tokyo in Makati! All this time, I come there for the Korean restos! Geez. Thanks for this article.
Kailangan ko makapunta dito.
Magbubuhay Hana Kimi at Gokusen ako 
Pingback: Minori-Tei Japanese Restaurant in Batangas | justwandering.org
trying this for the firt time, nina! sana magenjoy ang mga officemates ko!