102 Izakaya — Restaurant in Makati

This place brings shame to the fact that it's Japanese. Which are known to provide excellent and quality service.

I was in a rush and was looking for a place that served good California Maki, Spicy Tuna Roll or something similar. Most of the restaurants in Tokyo town either had a specialty of Ramen or Japanese Curry. So, I thought I'd give this place a chance. Given the place looks nice too.

Upon sitting down, I was pretty much sure what I was getting right when I looked into the menu, my Dad however was having a hard time picking which to get, obviously this was a perfect time for a good waiter/waitress to show some suggestions or at the very least show a bit of willingness to assist.

The waitress just stared at both of us in silence as we browsed their menu (should we try this one? What about this one?) no recommendations and when asked, it was like she wasn't even getting paid to be there. It really ruined our appetite.

And to make things worse, they don't serve service water. Bottled only. I asked "what about house tea? do you serve house tea?" they responded "yes sir". Which, to surprise us yet again, they gave us only 1. When there's 2 of us. I asked politely "pwede pa humingi ng isa?" the bartender responded, yes sir pwede naman po.

I'm not really the type of person who loves to complain, but see for yourself, I recently ate at their neighboring businesses such as Ramen Nagi and on the 2nd floor Sukiya. And those businesses have wayyyyyy better customer service and very accommodating staff.

The food is okay. But sometimes, no matter how good your food is, when a person feels unwelcome, the food...

Whenever I try a Japanese restaurant for the first time, I always order katsudon. It’s my way of checking if the chef really knows what they’re doing—this simple dish should be done right.

Just to be clear: Tonkatsu and katsudon are not the same. Tonkatsu is a crispy, deep-fried pork cutlet usually served with shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce. Katsudon, on the other hand, is tonkatsu simmered in a savory broth with onions and egg, then served over rice.

So I ordered katsudon, but what they brought out was just tonkatsu placed on top of rice. I asked if there was a mistake, and they told me they had added one egg. I explained that it’s not about the number of eggs—it’s about how the dish is prepared. Katsudon has a specific cooking method, and this wasn’t it. They tried to explain, but I simply pointed out: katsudon and tonkatsu are served differently, period.

They offered to redo it, but even then, they still got it wrong. The rice was soaked in egg and sauce, with parts of the egg white still raw. The rice isn’t supposed to be cooked in the egg like that—it ended up tasting like soggy risotto.

Honestly, if the restaurant can’t prepare a basic katsudon properly, they should review their menu. If they can’t get it right, it might be better to take it...

A Cozy Dinner at 102 Izakaya: Weathering the Storm with Good Food

Our recent visit to 102 Izakaya at the Top of the Glo in Glorietta Makati offered a pleasant escape from the stormy weather outside. With fewer customers due to the inclement conditions, the restaurant provided a quiet and intimate setting for our family dinner.

I opted for the Buta Kakuni, and it certainly did not disappoint. The pork belly was delightfully tender, and the balance of sweetness with a distinct, yet not overpowering, ginger flavor was exceptional. I'd easily rate it a 4.5 out of 5. The accompanying mashed potato was also a delicious complement, smooth and well-seasoned.

My wife chose the Katsudon, which she found to be "okay" in taste. We both decided to upgrade our meals to a set, adding rice and drinks, which made for a more complete dining experience. Our daughter had the Rib Eye Solo, and she also found the taste to be "okay."

Overall, the pricing at 102 Izakaya seemed fair, offering good value for the quality of food and the comfortable ambiance. While some dishes were more memorable than others, the Buta Kakuni was a definite highlight. Despite the storm outside, 102 Izakaya provided a warm and satisfying refuge for our...