Hirasei Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Laurel

We decided to take a break from Filipino food while in Tagaytay, and Hirasei seemed like one of the better Japanese spots to try.

The Good Stuff:

Ambiance: The interiors are cute and give off a cozy, Japanese vibe. It’s a nice place to sit and enjoy a meal.

Clean Facilities: Their toilets and washroom are well-maintained, which is always appreciated.

Friendly Staff: The team was cheerful and welcoming, though it would’ve been nice if they asked first before offering to take our picture.

The Not-So-Great:

Cucumber Juice: This was disappointing. It wasn’t fresh and came colored, which felt off.

Service Time: Some dishes took longer than expected to arrive.

Missing Grocery: The Japanese grocery next door is closed, which is a bummer if you’re hoping to check it out.

Overall, the food was okay—not amazing but decent. If you’re craving Japanese in Tagaytay, this place is worth a visit, but don’t go in with sky-high...

We had a dinner at Hirasei Japanese Restaurant 3 days ago. One of the food-service staff was coughing and didn't have a face mask on. She wore a mask under her chin that exposed her mouth when coughing. We called her attention and told her to put on a mask, which she dutifully did. Few minutes later, we saw her removed her mask and began coughing again. During our stay, she has been coughing constantly without a face mask on while chatting with other employees. Despite our instructions, the employee continues to remove her face mask when coughing, which is upsetting. We're nearly 2 years into pandemic and there are still people who do not understand that indoors are the most high risk areas. Restaurant owners and managers must educate their employees about COVID compliance and take...

Dined yesterday here. I liked the food and the overall ambiance of the place.

Things that need to be improved and checked fast to make this place a compelling place to visit:

1. Music - the background music being played last night doesn't add up to the Japanese vibe. Their music was the one you hear in those midnight buses, and a bit on the loud side. My suggestion is to put a bit toned down music that complements the Japanese vibe.

2. Pillows - The pillows were we dined stinks. It needs washing already.

3. Room Temperature - The place was on the warm side. I think a good 22C-23C temperature would make it a great temp to complement the cool...