Tambai Yakitori Snackhouse — Restaurant in Makati

I recently visited Tambai Yakitori House in Poblacion, and it turned out to be an exceptional dining experience that I just had to share.

First off, the food at Tambai Yakitori House is simply fantastic. Their yakitori skewers are grilled to perfection, with a wonderful char that brings out the flavors of the meat. I tried a variety of skewers, including chicken, pork, and beef, each of which was juicy and well-seasoned. The chicken skin skewers were particularly delicious, crispy on the outside and tender inside. They also offer a great selection of Japanese street food favorites like gyoza and takoyaki, which were both delightful. The food is reasonably priced, making it a great spot for casual dining without breaking the bank.

The ambiance of Tambai is another highlight. The setting is casual and laid-back, with a rustic, open-air design that gives it a relaxed vibe. Wooden tables and benches, along with warm lighting, create an inviting atmosphere perfect for unwinding after a long day. The open kitchen lets you see the chefs in action, adding to the overall experience.

Service at Tambai is friendly and efficient. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, always ready to recommend their favorites or suggest new things to try. Despite being busy, they manage to keep things running smoothly, ensuring that everyone has a good time.

The crowd at Tambai is diverse and vibrant, ranging from groups of friends out for a good time to couples on a casual date. It’s a popular spot among locals and expats alike, and you can feel the lively energy of Poblacion in the air. The place tends to get busy, especially in the evenings, so it’s a good idea to arrive early or be prepared to wait a bit for a table.

Music at Tambai complements the atmosphere perfectly. They play a mix of upbeat tunes that add to the lively and energetic vibe of the place. The music is not too loud, allowing for easy conversation, yet it keeps the mood light and fun.

A notable mention is their buy 1 take 1 cocktail deal for just P250. It’s a fantastic offer that makes enjoying a drink or two with friends even more appealing. The cocktails are well-crafted and delicious, providing great value for money.

Overall, Tambai Yakitori House in Poblacion is a fantastic spot for great food, a chill ambiance, excellent service, and a lively crowd. It’s the perfect place to hang out with friends, enjoy delicious Japanese street food, and soak in the vibrant Poblacion nightlife. Highly...

This Yakitori joint opened as a street-side dining that is eventually renovated with a sleek 2nd level. Tambai proved its worth for being a hip “tambayan” (hangout place). This hole-in-the-wall place sprawls along Poblacion’s adding night crowd to the neighbourhood. They serve grilled skewers using the freshest meat.

Top options include: US pork (P45) Quail egg in bacon (P60), japanese sausage (P50) and zucchini (P45) or try everything with the sampler : Yaki-todo priced at P455.

Get a bigger cut with Lakitori priced at 120 per stick, options include the US Pork, US Chicken Leg, US Chicken Isaw, US Beef Rib Finger. You can have your yakitori fried with a stick of Kushikatsu. Plain rice is at P50 and P70 for the Kimchi rice.

Yakitori are best paired with local beers (P50) and craft beers. Tambai is a good spot to chill after gruelling with all-day work or just to end the week with a bottle or two.

The menu is reasonably priced. Finding a parking around poblacion can be a...

We got whiskey sours, daiquiris, chicken karaage, (not pictured) pork yakitori, and spicy chili cheese sticks.

Over all; the food is delicious. The chicken karaage was the right amount of salty for me, and the pork yakitori was a juicy and tender stick of meat. The chili cheese sticks were like a Russian roulette of sorts, we got one order of four sticks and two still had the seeds while the other two had all the seeds taken out—you either choke or you don’t.

The alcohol was also fairly priced; ₱250 for two daiquiris, and ₱250 for two whiskey sours.

The space is also super cozy, there were couches and stools to choose from. However, it can get really packed on a Friday night so there was a lot of waiting for better seats to open up.

The servers are also attentive (or as much as they can be in a loud environment) and were friendly and helpful.

I would recommend this place for a cozy hangout with a...