Botejyu SM City Sto. Tomas — Restaurant in Santo Tomas

Botejyu SM Santo Tomas: Great Ambiance, Hit-or-Miss Dishes

I recently tried Botejyu at SM Santo Tomas and had a mixed experience. The place has a modern Japanese vibe, and the ambiance is clean and comfortable—great for casual dining or catching up with friends.

We ordered their Okonomiyaki, Chicken Karaage, and Pork Tonkotsu Ramen. The okonomiyaki was the clear winner—savory, flavorful, and cooked just right. The karaage was crispy and juicy, though it came with a small serving. Unfortunately, the ramen didn’t live up to expectations. The broth lacked depth, and the noodles were a bit too soft for my taste.

Service was okay, but a bit slow. We had to follow up on our drinks and rice a couple of times. Prices are on the higher side, especially for the portions, so I recommend dining here when there’s a credit card promo or discount.

👍 What I liked:

Cozy interior and good location inside the mall

Okonomiyaki and takoyaki are worth trying

Attentive, polite staff despite the wait

👎 What could be better:

Some dishes are bland or underwhelming for the price

Slow service during peak hours

Ramen not as flavorful as expected

📌 Verdict:

Botejyu is a decent option if you're craving Japanese food in Santo Tomas, especially their grilled dishes and small bites. Just manage your expectations, skip the ramen, and watch out for bank promos to get better...

I am not recommend this restaurant and waste of money.

I am writing my review here to express my dissatisfaction with the service. Despite the high service charge included in the bill, the staff were notably unaccommodating and unhelpful.

Secondly, despite the premium prices on your menu, the quality of the food was far below expectations.

Given the high prices, I anticipated a much better culinary experience. Unfortunately, the food did not meet even basic standards of taste...

We tried dining in at Botejyu SM Sto. Tomas branch and we’re quite satisfied with the experience. Serving was just right and worth with its price. Rice bowls were big enough and can be shared by 2 while ramen bowls were served hot as expected. I just wish that bento boxes will automatically include rice and miso soup instead of ordering it separately. They do have a wide variety of food choices which means you will surely come back to try other dishes. Overall, we have a...