Matsuri - Japanese BBQ and Yakiniku

Kelvina Wibowo

3.0

Japanese restaurants in BF Homes are a dime a dozen, so for one to flourish, it needs to dish out something special. Matsuri, just next door its more famous sister shop, seeks to offer an exquisite yakiniku experience.Despite marketing itself as a yakiniku shop, it is a full menu Jap joint, not just limited to your favorite grill items. The place though is rather small and can get rowdy, and of course smokey once the grilling commences. Highs:1. Spicy tuna roll: One of the better spicy tuna variants I have ever tried. The tuna mix is creamy and tangy, tickling the tongue with its zest and briny freshness of raw tuna. We ordered a second round. It's that good. 2. Butabara: A favorite in most yakitori shops. The pork was tender with good fat to meat ratio. Lightly salted, it was smokey and savory. A little dash of dipping sauce also enhances the goodness of the meat. 3. Premium Yakiniku Set: A merry mix of meaty matter, all USDA grade. Consisting of cuts of sirloin, tenderloin cubes, short ribs, and rib eye, the meat was exquisitely tender once grilled to a smokey perfection. The dipping sauce is quite unnecessary, as the meat itself is sweet and savory. Best paired with rice, no doubt. Truly the night's highlight. 4. Chicken teriyaki: Now that Little Tokyo (Rio) is gone permanently, Matsuri's version now is one of the better and crispier chicken teriyaki I have had. The skin is crisp while the meat itself is soft and juicy. The sauce is light and not overwhelmingly salty. Lows:1. Chicken Skin: Just average, and inconsistently grilled. Lacks flavor and that added crisp.2. Kimchi: Subpar compared to the korean versions. Too sour for my liking, although it was spicier than most I've tried. 3. Chocolate chip Ice Cream Sandwich: looks can be deceiving. The cookie was too hard, as if it was also frozen. Would have preferred a softer dough, like Tus' halfbaked cookie. Matsuri's strongest point is of course the yakiniku, with the meat undoubtedly of good quality. The tuna roll was a pleasant surprise, considering it was not their main offering. The yakitori items can be inconsistent at times though. Your best bet here is still the barbecue beef items, although pricey, but worth every penny. Matsuri is a good choice for that once a month splurge, a reward for one's self.

Sinem Zor Sakarya

4.0

Having just moved to Paranaque after 8 years in Makati, I am still attempting to get used to the lay of the land. After eating lunch or dinner every weekend in Makati's Little Tokyo, I was really looking to getting out for some wagyu or sushi and a couple of beers on Friday night after a grueling week of dealing with clients.Just outside our subdivision is a Japanese yakiniku (Japanese for grilled meat) restaurant, Matsuri (Japanese for holiday or festival).Best of the menu (so far):-Tamago soup - dashi/chicken stock with a good mix of veggies and egg drops. Nice to start.-Buta Bara - Pork yakisoba. very nice grilled texture, sweet flavor with grilled leeks. Michelle doesn't like leeks, so I ate hers.-Yakiniku original karubi - Good beef with just a bit of gristle, which I think they could have trimmed, but very nice and full flavor. Grilled a little bloody or well done, however you like it, it was very flavorful and tender.-Stella Artois - My favorite beer.All in all, very good. Maybe not quite what I'd come to expect in Makati, but I'll be back and try the sushi lunch. And after dinner, walk next door to Tito Chef and get a slice of their great cake to go. I understand, from the staff, that the two owners are brothers.