Watami Shangri-La Plaza — Restaurant in Mandaluyong

What is Japanese Casual Food? Their menu has the "classics" you'd expect of Japanese food. Sashimi (few options), Tempura (Ebi and veggies), some rice bowls that feature Gyudon, Katsudon, and other variants, plus some ramen variants and a few choices of yakitori. They also have some appetizers which feel more "western" than Japanese.

The Mozzarella Balls were a surpirse. The size alone assured of a generous helping of mozzarella coated in a relatively golden brown batter. Eat while hot as the stringy mozzarella becomes lumpy once they cool down.

The sashimi was extremely uneventful. Honestly, the sashimi from vendo machines in the Nagoya airport have better quality sashimi. The fish part was obviously not a quality cut - with lots of grains that remind you of tuna flakes. If fell apart easily, which is not normally a good sign, had a rubbery texture and general lack of flavor. The wasabi provided was awful. Grainy and hardly any flavor. I'd give this dish a 1-star if individual dish ratings could be provided.

The yakitori we tried were pedestrian. Not bad, but nothing that will blow your socks off. To a degree, the bacon wrapped enoki was underseasoned and could use a tad more salt.

The ramen broth was the highlight of the night. Rich, flavorful, and extremely aromatic, I can say that this dish alone gave them an extra star in my overall rating.

The beef pepper clay pot was ok. Just ok. For the price, you're better off ordering the same from Pepper Lunch. But then again, the clay pot experience was unique.

Overall, I've eaten at other Japanese restaurants that are more to my liking. However, that's a personal preference. I suggest you try it yourself, and...

We ordered the 1.5k bundle and ordered an additional ramen (so we can try the 2 variants they have) and tempura. So total of 2 rices bowls & 2 ramen bowls ++ for 1 male & 2 females 😅

The shrimp tempura arrived first so it became the appetizer 😅.

At approximately 100 pesos per piece, the tempura was thankfully not your eat-all-you-can variety that is mostly batter/breading with a sliver of shrimp.

You can really feel and taste the shrimp with their shrimp tempura.

The spicy ramen variant has a strong herb taste and mildly spicy for those who like spicy food. Flavor was quite mild but might have been due to not mixing it up well before consuming.

The non-spicy ramen had mild flavors too. The pork pieces on both variants were flavorful and tasted fresh.

The chicken rice was good. I liked the texture of the rice. Just the right level of stickyness 😅. The chicken was tender and tasty w/o being too salty.

The beef rice was ok too. Tasty bits of beef can be more tender but not the 'bubblegum' type of beef that you chew forever 😅. Somehow, the texture of the rice in this one is not as good as the one with the chicken rice 🤔.

The skewers were a good sampler set. Liver, chicken, pork. I like...

The entire staff at this restaurant is exceptionally welcoming, with Jona and the manager, Angela, standing out for their outstanding hospitality. They consistently go above and beyond to attend to their guests’ needs, always maintaining a friendly and attentive demeanor. I truly appreciate their warm approach; their genuine smiles and willingness to assist create a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere that makes dining here a delightful experience.

As a fan of Japanese cuisine, I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the food. The flavors were authentic, fresh, and well-prepared, making every bite worth the price. This has quickly become my favorite Japanese restaurant, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit. Next time, I plan to explore more dishes from their diverse menu.

I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys delicious food paired with exceptional service. I’ll definitely be sharing my positive experience with my...