If you love Japanese cuisine, chances are you have been to Yurakuen, Diamond Hotel Philippines’ award-winning specialty restaurant. Serving traditional Japanese fare, Yurakuen was once awarded as the most authentic Japanese establishment in Manila—and once you get to taste their freshly made and traditionally prepared offerings, you will instantly understand why. From mouthwatering sushi and sashimi to cooking styles like teppanyaki and yakiniku, Yurakuen has got you covered.
Teppanyaki, the art of grilling food on an iron surface, is perhaps the flashiest Japanese style of cooking. Diners are always thrilled to watch trained chefs prepare their meals with impressive technique and a bit of showmanship. At Yurakuen, not only are the chefs highly skilled, the ingredients used are also of premium quality, ensuring an incredible dining experience every time.
We recently paid Yurakuen a visit to try their Teppanyaki Eat-All-You-Can offering (PhP2,800/head), and although I have been trying to eat “clean” and been avoiding buffets recently, I couldn’t say no to the idea of a Japanese feast. Once I sat down on one of their beautiful teppan rooms and had my first plate of plump and amazing scallops, I knew that it was a decision I would never regret.
Yurakuen’s main dining hall is dream-like: glass cherry blossom trees shoot out from between table set ups, and all around the room are floor-to-ceiling windows giving guests a lovely view of the rock garden outside. Minimalist table settings complete the whole ambience. It’s romantic, elegant, and whimsical.
The teppanyaki rooms are in a separate area. Each room can probably accommodate 6 to 8 persons, complete with a marble table, a teppan (iron griddle), and a small prep section of the chef. Foliage outside conceals the view of the city, making you completely forget that in you’re in the metro. For the atmosphere alone, Yurakuen is already a winner.
Then the chef came in, asking us what we would like to start with. This all-you-can-eat offering includes raw-fish delicacies, so you can order some of them along with some Japanese starters if you wish, or go straight to the teppanyaki. I highly recommend that you sample even a small selection of sashimi—the salmon, tuna, and uni are divine! I can’t get over the uni especially!
For the teppanyaki, expect fresh and high-quality meats and seafood like beef short ribs, chicken, lamb, salmon, gindara, squid, prawns, and scallops. It’s hard to decide which one to try first but I was most in love with the scallops, lamb, and salmon. The scallops were juicy and sweetish—they can remove everything off the menu and I would still be happy. But that would be a shame because everything else was still incredible!
Those who want something light may order vegetables as well. Pair them with the seafood and I think you’ll be good to go. You can also order noodles and rice—but I would advise against doing so because obviously, these take up space, space that could’ve been reserved instead for more scallops, LOL.
Finish off with light but indulgent treats, like a scoop of Diamond Hotel’s artisanal ice cream. Although they have one in matcha flavor, I highly recommend trying the gula Melaka (Malaysian palm sugar), which is only mildly sweet—a quality I always look for in any dessert (aside from, ehem, the presence of lemon or dark chocolate).
What better place to enjoy a teppanyaki experience than in the restaurant dubbed as the "most authentic in Manila"? So If you're looking to satiate your Japanese cravings and get awed in between mouthfuls, hop over to Yurakuen and try their all-you-can-eat teppanyaki offering. Itadakimasu!
Follow Diamond Hotel's social media accounts below to get news on special promos and discounts.
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Yurakuen
G/F Diamond Hotel Philippines, Roxas Boulevard cor. Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila
+632.528-3000 or +632.305.3000
Budget: about PhP3,000/head
Have you dined Yurakuen? How was your experience?
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