[OK na Food Trip] Yabu: House of Katsu

Konting Pasakalye:

Isang kaibigang OFW ang nag balik-bayan kaya bilang selebrasyon ng pagka-miss namin sa isa't isa, naisipan ng grupo na mag-hapunan sa much-hyped foodie place na ito sa Glorietta 5.

si O at si K at Yabu

Ang Chicha:

• Rosu Original Katsudon set
• Rosu Katsu set
• Mixed Seafood Katsu set
• Lemonade
• Iced Tea

About their katsu, the crust is flaky and thinly applied (that's a goodie as we hate it kapag sa breading ka mabubusog sa kapal). The pork piece is hefty, and there are options for bigger pieces (of course, with additional kachings involved). The meat is tender, konting nguya lang ang kailangan malulunok na agad. Mararamdaman naman na de kalidad ang ginamit na baboy. Sa katsudon, the egg is cooked just right, nasa stage ito na parang nagta-transition pa lang from the uhog-consistency to solid state. LOL.

Rosu Katsu

Parang sampler-type yung seafood katsu set. May iba't ibang seafood viand na served ala katsu (breaded and deep fried). Maliit yung serving ng prawn kaya nakaka-bitin (typical sa mga prawn dishes). Yung salmon ang nagustuhan ni Kat dahil walang kakaibang ek-ek, it's plain breaded salmon. Hindi namin type yung oyster at crab na served with this mayo concoction na hindi nakakatuwa ang lasa. Hindi bagay yung mix for us. We rather have those served like the salmon katsu. Plain.

Matabang ang lemonade. Parang pinalamig na tubig ng NAWASA, kaya may konting lasa.

Seafood Katsu

Katsudon

Ang Presyo:

The one thing we can't justify making Yabu a regular habit is the price. Mahal talaga regardless ng lasa or ambiance. Yup, malamang high end ang ingredients na ginagamit nila pero para sa mga regular Juan, I doubt if it will make a difference from say, ingredients right out of the local wet market lalo na if prepared well. It's just deep-fried pork after all.

Katsu sets range from P300 to P500, so burn moolah if you will.

Tipid Tip: Mag order ng isang katsu set. Pag-hatian, dahil malaki naman. Bumawi na lang sa unli cabbage. That should cost a couple just below the P500 line.

burn, baby, burn

Iba pang Hirit:

Service is great. A crew introduced us to the rituals of preparing the tonkatsu sauce, grinding the sesame seeds and all that. They also made sure that we are aware of the condiments available. Medyo nagmamadali lang siya sa pag-discuss but I can feel for her since jampacked ang customers that night. 

Nakakalito yung mga items sa menu. May mga offerings na hindi namin ma-distinguish ang diperensya from each other. Pero pwede naman mag tanong. Ika nga nila, "service is great". Although I personally like the other pieces of informative stuff in the menu na walang kinalaman para i-describe yung pagkain, tulad ng anong klaseng kanin ang gamit nila o kung paano sila mag prepare ng tonkatsu.

grinding lessons

The ambiance is good. Gusto ko yung mga manga comic strips along the walls.

Ang angas ng kubeta. Gusto ko yung concept na ginawa nila sa dingding neto, yung may mga testimonials ng mga konyo at celebrities na baliw na baliw sa pagkain nila. Para nga naman habang umiihi ka ang mga mababasa mo ay "They have the best Katsudon in the UNIVERSE!" or "I only eat two things: YABU or NOTHING!". Sino nga naman ang hindi maniniwala. 

Ang Buod:

The overall dining experience is good but the price tag makes it a luxury. It could be the same reason for the hype. Kasi alam na may pera kang masusunog kung dito kumakain ng madalas. It's a social status thing.

sauce and condiments

Rating:
5 out of 7



Addendum (5/12/14):

May ilang beses na kaming nakabalik ever since at meron na kaming nabuong teknik. See "Tipid Tip" sa "Ang Presyo" section.

[obi . January]