Musashi-Maru Authentic Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Makati

Dang, I love this place!

I've been hearing about Japan Town in Top of the Glo at Glorietta 2 for quite some time now, but because of the pandemic I didn't plan to go there just yet. Luckily, last Sunday, I and my wife did finally decide to check the place out since we were craving for some good Japanese food and Metro Manila was already in a safe Alert Level 1 mode.

We had a little difficulty looking for Japan Town as we haven't been to Glorietta in ages. Even before the pandemic, it has been quite some time since the last time we visited this mall.

Japan Town is located in Top of the Glo, the roofdeck of Glorietta 2, which you could access via an escalator. It's actually the 4th floor of Glorietta 2.

Japan Town is amazing as it is located on the roofdeck and it has an open area in the middle with several chain restaurants from Japan surrounding it. There are decorations that make you feel like you are in Japan. The Glico Running Man that you see in Osaka is replicated here.

There are several chain restaurants here from Japan, and we had to choose which one we would like to try first as all of them seemed to offer really good food. We decided to try Musashi-Maru that night as they had a good selection of Japanese food and I saw that they had draft beer. The draft beer was the clincher for me. I remember the great times in Tokyo and Osaka when I had cold mugs of draft beer to accompany my meals.

The place is a little pricey compared to the Japanese restaurants that have been around Metro Manila for years now, but this restaurant is authentic from Japan. If you've been to Japan, you would immediately feel that you travelled to Japan when you enter the restaurant.

The decor, the design and layout of the place, the plates and utensils, the menu, and a delightful surprise - even the service, is authentic Japanese. Like I said, it's like one is transported to Japan when you dine in this restaurant.

I ordered the katsu don with mini udon for P500 because I have been hankering for some pork cutlet for days. I also wanted to order ramen but I felt like it would be too much food already. Maybe next time I visit again. I also ordered some gyoza, just to try it out. Of course, I ordered a mug of cold draft beer. It was P90 an order.

The food was terrific! I have nothing else to say. It didn't disappoint. The serving was big enough to satisfy me. I do not regret paying P500 for the katsu don and mini udon combination. I'd order it again when I feel like having some pork cutlet again. It would be a treat I would gladly give myself if I had the budget.

The draft beer was refreshing. I felt like I was in Tokyo once more. I'd come back next time with a buddy and down a couple or three of this bad boy. Very relaxing to have draft beer with a delicious meal.

Try this place out if you like good, authentic...

My family really like coming back to this restaurant. You can have various Japanese dishes here without breaking the bank. They do have items that are pricier (think in the range of 2000 pesos) if you want to indulge. But most of the items on their menu are reasonably priced.

9 pcs Assorted Nigiri Sushi - we love this, especially the salmon roe sushi.

Aburi Shimesaba (mackerel marinated in vinegar) - we love this too and always order it every time we dine here. When served, the staff will torch it in front of you to your liking (almost raw to well done). We always have ours “almost well done” nowadays because if it’s in the raw side it tastes too fishy for us; on the orher hand, if it’s “too well done”, it loses some of its juiciness.

Fujisan Katsu Curry - of course, the curries at CoCo Ichibanya are superior, as curry is their specialty, but Musashi-Maru can hold its own. It’s still a high quality curry, with pork that is not fatty at all.

Maguro & Negitoro Don w/Tonjiru - I also love this sashimi rice bowl. Naturally, it won’t match the awesomeness of the sashimi rice bowls in Japan, especially those you can have in Hokkaido and Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, but Musashi-Maru’s is more than good enough around the Metro.

My daughter also ordered their tamago sushi. It’s as perfect as it could be as far as tamago is concerned.

The service is also top notch. We didn’t need to ask for a refill of our service cold tea and service water because the wait staff were very attentive to refill them. The staff are so polite, that at the end of every interaction, they’ll bow and say “arigato”, so you’ll find yourself doing the same. I’ve lost count how many time I bowed back and said “thank you”...

As soon as we sat at the table, cold tea and wet towel were given to us. Then our orders came one by one.

First came the Miso Tonkotsu Ramen, the broth was thick, rich, not at all salty as I expected. It was good enough for 1 person but 2 people can still share it. It was very delicious 🤤, I would have finished the broth if we did not order other foods. 😅

Next came the Gyoza, it was also good. The skin was thin and the filling was good.

We also ordered the Ton-Katsu Don Zaru Soba Set, we expected it was a portion for 1 person. But the set was also good for 2 persons. 😂🤣 It was my first time tasting cold noodles, so I was surprised that I liked it. The Katsu Don was also good, the Katsu was thick and the rice portion was enough to make a person full.

Our next order was the Fillet Katsu Nabe it was delicious, the Katsu were thick and juicy and has 3 fillets 😅, noodles had already absorbed the sauce before I got to the food. 😅😅 I think this menu item good for 3-4 persons, ganun kalaki.

The last order we had was the 2 pcs of Unagi, it was really good and the meat soft and meylts in your mouth, I just wish it was not smothered in so much sauce. I felt like the sauce was too much.

For context each of us had ordered for ourseleves and the Fillet Katsu and Gyoza were for sharing. So everyone was full after eating our own foods. 🤣😂 Wasn't able to take a photo of the foods cause we were already hungry. 😁

I would also like to note or suggest if a customer pays with card, maybe the service staff could bring the machine to the table, like other establishments. 😊

Overall, we had an enjoyable time here and would gladly be back to taste...