The 5th Taste

Jaime Marcelino

4.0

Together with the Tamayaki food trip, we were brought to another website experience in the same place. On the 2nd floor of Tamayki, you have The 5th taste. We were given dishes from start to finish in a different taste. The rundown of the meal: Deconstructed Miso soup- which had a different taste because of the PORK FLOSS. The soup in itself was bold and strong which I enjoyed. The floss gave it texture which complimented the taste well. Tofu Steak- this was really good as I am a fan of tofu. It was not oily. It was quite big and the sauce was light and not overpowering. Kani Pizza- healthy and oh so sinful at the same time. What was the 5th taste? Cheese! There was cheese and it was oh so good.Sushi- Smoked Macarel and California. Yummmyness overload. Tonkatsu- the unique aspect was the it was infused! It had great flavors especially the sauce. 5th taste lasagna- this was my happy during the website meet up. It was so different that it had nori flakes in the lasagna. It was a different taste altogether. A must order! A happy dinner indeed. And may I add that their plating is also photo friendly. They really place a lot of art into it :)

Merve

4.0

Note: If I am in EDIT mode, I cannot add more nor cannot upload pictures.My website adventure when I was transferred work in the metro would be the busy area - Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas and sometimes Manila.When I was invited to try a new location like San Juan, it would be an effort to really explore restaurants around that would move in my usual comfort zone.  What is a challenge anyway if I will not do it which make a website like me to enjoy it especially if we are talking Japanese cuisine which is my fave meal always.Interior: The earthly interior is simple, open and inviting combining local and Japanese influences that give a vibe of contemporary look - a nice balance of warm atmosphere and formal space at the same time.Food: Fifth (5th) Taste which is along P. Guevarra St.  did not disappointed me.  My dining experice gave me a fusion yet an authentic twist on the traditional Japnese serving.  Best of all, once tasted, you know that they pick carefully those ingredients that is fresh and natural to provide a healthier and nutritious food one can enjoy.  Recommended dishes are Deconstructed Miso Soup, Tofu Steak, Kani Salad Pizza and Smoked Mackerel Maki.Staff: The owner and staffs are knowlegeable in the menu as they suggest their bestsellers.  They are also attentive, friendly and timely service.When I started to share my website experience in social media accounts, people like family and loved ones told me when can I bring them. I told them soon as I like to go back to taste their other Japanese cuisine like ramen, chicken and some desserts.

Yns_kaya9

3.0

I am not quite adventurous that time when I drop by this place to try their food all i want is something hot so I ordered Seafood Ramen -taste so good, tried also crispy chicken salad its amazingly good.

Angelique Balmes

3.0

The 5th Taste is a casual Japanese restaurant on the second level of Tamayaki in San Juan. They are known for serving affordable Japanese dishes with a twist such as the Deconstructed Miso Soup (P98)- silken tofu, leeks and pork floss in a glass cup with the miso broth served separately pour-over style. Plus points for creativity and presentation!The Kani Salad Pizza (P225) is their version of the classic Japanese salad on a pizza. The crust was crispy thin and the toppings go well together. We also tried their Smoked Mackerel Maki (P150), Mussels Tempura (P150), Crispy Chicken Curry (P220) and The 5th Taste Cheesesteak Sandwich (P200), but it was their Jalapeño Cream Cheese Onion Tonkatsu (P325) that caught our interest. It looked like a regular pork tonkatsu but wait until you get inside the jalapeño cream cheese and onion filling.

M Dimapilis

4.0

Various Japanese restaurants pepper Metro Manila. Despite the wide array of choices, some of these restaurants tend to get boring as they serve mostly the same dishes prepared in the same way. Hence, discovering a Japanese restaurant carrying a menu inspired by Japanese flavors yet executed in a new and modern way is extremely refreshing! FOOD 4/5:1) 5th Taste Lasagna! I love Lasagna! It's one of my comfort food. As such, I was very hesitant to try The 5th Taste Lasagna 'cause Teriyaki sauce in pasta does not really sound normal, and I don't want to taint my comfort food with any negative experience. However, one bite was all it took to change my mind. The Lasagna pasta was al dente, the Teriyaki Bechamel was creamy with the right hint of sweetness, and the nori in between layers provided both complexity and harmony of flavors to the dish. The only thing this dish can improve on is the cheese. I would like this dish more if the cheese used was mozzarella.2) Kani Furai PizzaWho would have thought that eating pizza can feel so light and refreshing? 5th Taste's Kani Furai Pizza is well-balanced dish composed of taco-like thin crust, shredded kani, carrots, cucumber, mozzarella aJapanese mayo. I actually don't eat cucumber, but this pizza is so good and well-balanced that I didn't mind eating cucumber. I highly recommend this dish!3) Chicken Furai PizzaCurry is another flavor I really like, hence, I was really excited to try 5th Taste's Chicken Furai Pizza which is composed of taco-like thin crust, crispy chicken bits, potatoes, bell peppers, mozzarella and curry sauce. It was savory and light at the same time. Very filling and satisfying!4) Chorizo and Mushroom Tonkatsu, and 5) Jalapeño Cream Cheese Onion TonkatsuTired of the same old plain tonkatsu? Why don't your try 5th Taste's tonkatsu with savory fillings? I do not eat pork, so I did not try this but my seatmate Sachie said that she liked both of these dishes. According to her, the tonkatsu was crispy and not oily. Moreover, she mentioned that the filling complimented the tender pork. If you are feeling adventurous with your tonkatsu, I suggest you try this. Both dishes are served with Japanese coleslaw.6) Bacon Prawn TempuraAgain, I don't eat pork but I imagine this will tickle the taste buds of bacon lovers. I tasted the batter of this dish and I liked that it was crispy and not oily. Again, Sachi liked this dish. I checked the prawn and it was cooked right. 7) California Maki Furai + Tempura RollI don't often eat fried sushi but I really enjoyed 5th Taste's California Maki Furai and Tempura Roll because the crispiness in contrast to the soft rice, kani, mango and shrimp is really nice. The ratio of rice to the filling is good. Most of all, as in all the other fried dishes, both are not oily. Highly recommended!LOCATION 2/5:Finding 5th Taste can be difficult as the signage is not that apparent. Also, the restaurant is located on the second floor, inside Tamayaki so it tends to go unnoticed considering the bright and perky Tamayaki signages. So if you are planning to visit, I suggest that you look for Tamayaki instead. Note that owner of both Tamayaki and 5th Taste is the same, so you can cross-order!  AMBIANCE 5/5:5th Taste is very cozy, perfect for dates or hanging out with your friends. The place is also quite big and can serve as a venue for functions and events.SERVICE 5/5:Servers are very friendly and attentive.VALUE FOR MONEY 5/5:Generous servings + delicious food = great value for money!TOTAL SCORE: 21/25

Anthony Niño Sumera

5.0

*P.S* I can't upload some photos for some reason. I'm always receiving some errors :(I am not such a hard core fan of Japanese food. I eat them, but not something that I will raved for. But until the day when I got the chance to try 5th Taste. A modern Japanese cuisine that offers wide variety of Japanese Foods with fusion! :)❤️ THE PLACEThe place is small, can maxed out around 40-50 people. But the ambiance has the japanese and cozy vibe with wooden interiors.❤️ THE SERVICEThe service was good. The owners were kind enough to explained us the dishes that was served to us. But they are a bit shy. hehe❤️ THE FOOD and PRICEDeconstructed Miso Soup (98 pesos) - When they first served this dish to us, I was really happy to see that they are serving their food in a nice and unique way. You know that I loved it when the dishes are instagram worthy one. hehe! Believe me if I say that my bench mark of best tasting miso soup is from 5th Taste. The miso soup flavor can stand on its own. It's not the powdered one that you can easily buy in stores. What's so good with this miso soup that stood out from others is the pork floss and onion chives on it. It really does makes a huge difference! It's really good! California Maki Furai (185 pesos) - California rolls with a twist since this one was fried. It's like a hybrid of rolls and katsu in one. haha! But seriously, I quite like it! The fried rolls was filling and really nice when you scrape the rolls with the teriyaki and japanese mayo on the side! :)Tofu Steak (105 pesos) - Guess what? This was the majority's favorite, and definitely my personal top choice! A lightly fried soft tofu with honey-shoyu reduction and shoe string potatoes. The tofu inside was really soft like a custard, while the outer layer has this delicate crispy coating served on their light and savory mirin sauce. This dish exceeded my expectations big time! Make sure to order this one!Kani Salad Pizza (225 pesos) - If my personal favorite would be the previous one, then boyfie will raise his hands for this. Again, you know it, boyfie is not even a fan of veggies, and it's really weird and surprising to me! But I won't wonder why since this dish is actually good and refreshing! Crispy thin crust with layers of generous amount of melted cheese, shredded carrots, cucumber, and kani then drizzled off with Japanese mayo. You may opt to put chilli powder or nori on top on your pizza. 5th Taste Lasagna (225 pesos) - Lasagna? On a Japanese restaurant? Why not! Layers of pasta, bolognese sauce, cheese and teriyaki bechamel! Each layer has nori that makes this dish a unique and flavorful one!Mirin Chicken Ala Pobre (150 pesos) - Garlic-mirin infused chicken served in a sizzling plate. Make sure to ask for extra sauce on this! They told us that 5th taste loves to give extras! hehe! :)Jalapeno Cream Cheese Onion Tonkatsu (325 pesos) - Fried tonkatsu served with Japanese slaw and special tonkatsu sauce. This is my least favorite from the rest. I'm not saying it's not good, but I guess I find it ordinary. I also can't barely taste the Jalapeno flavor since I'm really a fan of Jalapenos.Sansrival - Have you tried Beard Papa's sansrival? Yup, this one is the same because they have the same owner, but ofcourse they served it prettier here! :P  ❤️ THE VERDICTI'm not a fan of Japanese food, but with this? I'll surely come back! :)

Dytgulinaltun

3.0

I really love Japanese cuisine, so I was reluctant to try this Japanese modern fusion restaurant. I was surprised that the food was good. My initial impression is that the place is inspired from a Restaurant game app, with colorful walls and modern looking counters and furniture. There are limited seats but the place was not crowded when we ate there. The service was okay and the food was served quickly.We were really hungry and excited to try their food, so we ordered almost all of the favorites that was recommended based on the reviews. We ordered the following:Kani Salad Pizza - Don't be fooled by the "pizza" at the end of its name. It just looks like a pizza because the salad is placed on top of thin crunchy bread (taco) and sliced like a pie. Don't get me wrong it really taste so good. It really is a good appetizer and very flavorful but a bit pricey. It's served with chili powder and nori/seaweed powder on the side for you to trickle into the salad. Very delicious.Jalapeno Cream Cheese Onion Tonkatsu - I think we made a mistake of not ordering rice with this one, because I honestly think it will taste better with rice on the side. The meat was soft and tender and the Tonkatsu sauce was really creamy that it became heavy to eat but still very flavorful.5th Taste Lasagna - Sorry, but for me there is nothing really unique about this dish taste wise. Yes there's added flavor with the fusion but the creaminess of the Lasagna takes away the Japanese flavor. Again don't get me wrong, the Lasagna was really good and can be your only dish because it was heavy due to its creaminess.California Maki Furia & Tempura Roll - I was really disappointed with both of these dishes because I love Japanese Rolls. The rolls were fried, which I was okay for me, from which produced the same taste between the two rolls. It lacks flavor because the rice was filled thickly and the frying didn't help because the rolls were drenched in oil. All in all, we didn't try to finish the rolls.I think I will still go back here to try there uniquely made dishes. The food was really interesting and enticing so I wouldn't hesitate to come back.

Yagiz Izgül

4.0

I decided that the day I dropped by this place was going to be a pesto day. That's why when I got there I got the chicken teriyaki pesto and the four cheese pesto pizza. The reason I like pesto is because it is flavorful without being overwhelming. The former, I got overwhelmed by the teriyaki sauce so I hardly paid attention to the pesto. The latter was sublime. The cheeses and the pesto complemented each other to no end.

Robert Michael

4.0

Loving the twist of the Jap foods here! Go for the Miso Soup, then Kani Pizza! Fusion is all you'll see. You can even have a fix of your favorite pasta Japan-fied!

Hilda Piska Randini

4.0

My personal favorite are lasagna, kani salad pizza and fried california maki. I love that they make sure that in every dish they serve there is always a little bit of a twist but not too much just enough to excite tour taste buds. Ill definitely go back to take my friends here and try their ramen.