Restaurant Reviews

[zhequia]

Kameyaki Okonomiyaki



Almost 4 months ago, I received a personal invite to visit the only okonomiyaki place in Cebu when I find time. I finally did! I decided to visit them and check them out. I have always been a fan of Japanese food and this would be a first for me.


Okonomi means favorite and yaki means grilled. That means, you get all your favorite items on your batter or pancake. I checked their Facebook page and their menu is making me droll. So I headed to Talamban and boy was my tummy totally grumbling. We left the house fast and hoping against hope that we do not faint in between transit.


Almost an hour of travel we finally arrived at Piazza Elisia.


Situated in front of Rose Pharmacy, this small spot just below the stairs is truly hard to miss. Opened last March of this year, they have been on the business for almost a steady 3 months now.

We arrived just minutes after they opened and they were still prepping. The waitstaff were really charming! They even greeted us in Japanese which was sort of cute. They had chairs by the counter and a few tables on the sides. The air was fresher at this side of town and you can just eat al fresco like a boss.

We decided not to take things slow as our tummies were already protesting. Ordered the Squid Okonomiyaki with runny egg and bonito flakes while my companion had the Spicy Yakisoba.



Multitasking skills at work.

I watched as they prepared my meal. What I noticed was they had portions of their serving already made in advanced and was kept on a plastic sealable container. The cabbage was really fresh as I could see that there has been no sign of those icky dark spots it gets from a being un-used for some time. They had almost every container for each ingredients like the squid. Seeing them prepare the dish with much care and love gave me a sense of happiness and truly created this trust that I will get the best quality food without sacrificing anything! Great job on this part!


There goes my ika or squid.

Aside from the assurance that they provide the best quality ingredients, the waitstaff are hilarious! They do build rapport to each customer and that really is something other places should try to do. I sure felt at ease the second we got there. I didn't know a thing about the menu and they all assisted us with smiles! They are truly attentive to your needs and they seemed to like their job! You know there are those food staff that do not look in any way happy about what they are doing? But the lovely ladies in the counter were fun and vivacious to provide you excellent service and they also are sanitary. A huge plus to any food industry.


Golden Brown goodness.

I await in anticipation as they were busy finishing up the Yakisoba. What sets their version apart from the others is that they have this creamy, sauce that somehow is enough for the dish. You ask if there were veggies? Well for non-veggie eaters, you will like this one. This only has cabbage, noodles, pork and then a sprinkling of nori bits with a drizzle of sweet mayonnaise! Looking at it makes me want to eat it off the screen! XD


Pork Yakisoba sold at Php90.


A customer wanted Pork Okonomiyaki so I took a photo of it. They add the meat on one side, wait for it to be golden brown and then wait for that magic moment.


A piece of heaven at only Php150!

Look at this lovely piece of heaven! Topped with bonito flakes or dried fish flakes and runny egg my Squid Okonomiyaki is ready! The staff drizzled nori bits and a generous amount of special sauce with mayonnaise. The taste: quite magneficent. It was filling to say the least. The pancake ingredients were really fresh, the cabbage crunch at every bite, the sauce was sweet and tangy, the bonito flakes were as you know fishy and the egg, boy was it like a dream.


The pancake was cut into four and I sliced the egg to make the yolk run. Took a piece with the disposable chopsticks they had and I dived into it like a pro! When it was served the bonito flakes danced around from the heat of the pancake. It was ethereal, it felt like I had magic powers or was it because I was totally starving? The wait was totally worth it. You get crunchy veggies, soft salty egg, a satisfying mix of everything sweet and the creamy sauce was a wonderful combination!


Iced Sunrise Juice at Php40 a glass.

Enjoyed it best with their Sunrise Juice! This concoction of pineapple, orange and mango would make you want seconds and thirds. The meal totaled to Php320. We left with our tummies happy and our body wanting to sleep. Pig syndrome was kicking in! :P


Watch out for their new product!

They now extended their services via catering! Contact them at the number below for more information. We paid for the bill and decided to walk it off and check out the other places Piazza Elisia. We will definitely come back! The place is quite far from where I live yet I would go over the mountains to have my taste of Okonomiyaki again! I also recieved an e-mail that they will be launching a new product soon. I hope I get invited! As it turns out that the day was Japanese themed, we headed to Ayala after and had Shabu-Shabu for dinner. Will blog about it next.


Kameyaki Okonomiyaki
Piazza Elisia, Talamban
Cebu City
Business Hours: Daily 2:00PM -10:00PM
Contact Number: 0917-309-0949 or landline at (032) 406-0722

The Verdict:

8/5 Food
7/5 Ambiance
10/5 Service

From my original post.

[lestat1116]

ka kita ko ana dha pagadto namo sa buddies. kinda nindot but wala ko sure lami. i dont know with the price pud. not sure mahal ba or barato.

[digitalsuperman]

Do we have any malaysian restos di? Ganahan ko ug roti and curry..

Spiced Fusion at BTC or SM. if you are craving for Roti Prata, they have it there. but they are not a specific malay resto SouthEast Asian Cuisine ilaha. they also have curry dishes.

i found one Malaysian Resto in Asilo before I'm not sure if its still there.

[ericson1129]

Yup. The grand opening of Marshall's Irish Pub was celebrated last Friday. Although it's the second Irish Pub in Cebu but surely the better one. And based on my observation unlike to other restaurants, the pub itself is really different. There's something with the place that you can't explain. A place like home is what I've been looking for. Not just a home atmosphere but an Irish style as well. The food is great. They serve Irish Delicacies and Pinoy favorites. Finding a restaurants in Cebu is easy but finding the best one is not as easy

[mycherrycoke123]

Spiced Fusion at BTC or SM. if you are craving for Roti Prata, they have it there. but they are not a specific malay resto SouthEast Asian Cuisine ilaha. they also have curry dishes.

i found one Malaysian Resto in Asilo before I'm not sure if its still there.

Thank you! I WILL try Spiced Fusion! I never got to try that yet. Roti Prata here I come! They are similar man.. Asilo? Where's that?

[zhequia]

I have read about Buddies from Facebook and several blog sites like the famous Mustachio. I also saw their establishment when we trekked Talamban for some Okonomiyaki.



My companion wanted burger and I wanted to try the takoyaki across, it was a win-win decision. It was a long travel in my case and thank God, it wasn't that hot when we left. With all the good grub Talamban has to offer, it got me thinking of moving here instead! The place offers anything from Japanese, Irish, Italian and good old home cooked meals.



Going back on track, we entered the minimalistic interiors of BUDDIES. They only had the typical white and red color palate, a common for diner-type establishments.

Just in case you are not aware yet, there are what Psychology refers to as hot colors. Colors under this category includes red, yellow and orange. These colors speed up the metabolism, causing a rise in blood pressure and thus increases appetite. So yes, you may not realize that you order more food, you eat fast and leave the restaurant quicker due to the subliminal effect of these colors. Yes, McDonald's have 2 of these colors and I can name more and that is a different story.

There was quite a growing crowd when we came in. We then fell in line to order. I decided to get the Philly Cheese steak and my hungry and utterly excited friend wanted the Double Buddy Burger. Since we have our drinks from Frappe Bliss, we opted to skip getting sodas.


My epic fail attempt at a panoramic shot of the menu board. Click to see menu.


While we waited, I noticed that there was a contender on the corner table. Someone will want to conquer the Ultimate Burger Challenge! Some faced defeat holding their head up high and others made it to the top!

The space was wide and the area can accommodate up to 60 guests with a few chairs to spare.

Burger Warrior

While he was busy eating the four patty burger, our order is finally ready! It was ready in about 10 minutes! Was that fast! Yay! Finally, the moment of truth! I have had tons of burger in my life and I must say that my expectations are quite high considering the fact that I have had good ones before.



Yes, fresh slices of local tomatoes, white onions, two thick burger patties and a piece of iceberg lettuce. On to the taste: crunchy fresh vegetables, juicy patty and thick burger bun to top it off. Your hands will get truly glazed from all the succulence this burger exudes. By the way, if you were wondering if Burger Warrior made it to the list, he wasn't able to finish all his fries. Tsk. Next time.


This is only Php150 for a double patty!

This was a truly delectable burger and very affordable! Imagine how much get with that! It is a bit of a trek but it never hurts to tread uncharted food waters.


This is the Philly Cheese Steak! This would be my second attempt in finding the best one in town. I had my first from Sprockets Coffee + Milk Tea Cafe. What sets them apart is that they had cheese on the sandwich!


Slices of tender beef: Check
Crunchy sauteed onions: Check
Cheese: Check. Check. Check.
Bun: Check.

All is good. The sauteed onions were crunchy and tasty as well. I forgot the taste of the cheese and it does resemble the likes of the cheese spread Cheez Whiz. I was so engrossed with the onions that I neglected the cheese. All I tasted were onions, the beef were tender and juicy. I wanted more spice. I wanted something that will provide a more powerful kick! I think it would have been better with more pepper to it. It was still good as it is.


A cross section of the Double Buddy Burger.


A cross section of the Philly Cheese Steak

Our almost an hour travel did not falter our spirits and we left with our tummy full and happy. Might be back to try their milkshakes.

BUDDIES BURGERS + TACOS + HOTDOGS + BURRITOS
Piazza Elisea, Talamban, Cebu
Business Hours: Weekdays: 10:30AM - 2:30PM 5:00PM - 10PM
Weekends: 10:30AM - 2:30PM 5:00PM - 11:00PM

The Verdict:
Food: 5/5
Ambiance 5/5

Taken from my personal food review.

[zhequia]

Takoyaki at Kameyaki

Since I promised to come back to try their new product: takoyaki. I came here with a heavy tummy. Took quite a big meal at BUDDIES which by the way is just across!



Takoyaki literally means grilled octopus! This is a ball-shaped Japanese snack which is made of a batter which can be wheat-flour based or made from an egg-rich type of batter. Usually filled with minced or slices of octopus, pickled ginger and green onion. Once cooked, it is drizzled with takoyaki sauce which looks like Worcestershire sauce and mayonnaise! Shavings of bonito flakes or nori bits are then sprinkled on top.



This is cooked in a cast iron takoyaki mold which is only half spherical. The talent lies in the cook who will use a pick to turn the batter to the side and add more to then form a ball. It was amazing to watch!


New products posted on the wall!

The next few photos are a succession of how a takoyaki is formed.






Cool huh? I say AWESOME! :P



We had it to go since I was already full. Will save it for my early dinner prior to logging in for work. It was placed on a paper box with a hefty drizzle of sauce and mayo and nori bits! Wooot.


Sorry if the balls look crinkled, it took awhile until I reached the office. And due to the heat and travel, they sort of look unappetizing. Don't let the wrinkles bug you! They remained warm and the sauce seeped in which was a treat! They tasted really savory. The sauce was a wonderful blend of sweet from the mayonnaise, tangy and salty from the takoyaki sauce. The squid is a wonderful surprise! It was a steal at Php90 for 6! If you plan to have authentic Japanese themed snack or heck a Japanese day, head out to Talamban and get yourselves some Yakisoba and my favorite Okonomiyaki! They never fail to deliver! The waitstaff even remembered us when we came by and was hoping to come back soon if not soonest. I sure will!

Kameyaki Okonomiyaki
Piazza Elisia, Talamban
Cebu City
Business Hours: Daily 2:00PM -10:00PM
Contact Number: 0917-309-0949 or landline at (032) 406-0722

The Verdict:

Food: 7/5
Ambiance: 7/5

Taken from my personal blog.

[lestat1116]

nice review. zhequia. any good italian,spanish or japanese resto that u can suggest? not those uber expensive kind

[KE-25]

Interesting Stuff , thanks for posting folks , keep em coming

[zhequia]

nice review. zhequia. any good italian,spanish or japanese resto that u can suggest? not those uber expensive kind

Italian - I would have to say Spaghetti Factory, Sbarro's and TOSH.
Haven't been to any Spanish restaurants lately.
For Japanese - If you are looking for authentic and not so expensive meals I would go for Kameyaki and Tempura Grill in SM. They sell good sushi and california maki and cheap at that.