Kiwami - BGC — Restaurant in Taguig

Nestled in the energetic concrete pulse of Bonifacio Global City, Kiwami doesn’t just serve Japanese food, it orchestrates a culinary performance. But fair warning: don’t show up fashionably late. This gem opens strictly during lunch and dinner hours, a bold move that not only teases anticipation but also ensures a consistent crowd that could rival a Taylor Swift concert. If you're allergic to busy spaces, take a deep breath as the food will make you stay.

The ambiance? A warm embrace of soft, glowing tones that make even a solo diner feel like they’re in a romantic relationship with their food. The colors soothe, even as the hum of the dining room reminds you this place is no secret. It’s not chaotic, it’s curated commotion.

Now, patience is a necessary virtue here as orders can take a while to arrive. But when they do? It’s umami heaven. The kind of meal that makes the wait feel like foreplay.

Let’s talk food. The grilled chicken thigh (tori momo) is a masterclass in restraint. Just salt? That’s it? Yes, and thank goodness. In an era of over-saucing and flavor maximalism, Kiwami lets the char and juicy meat speak fluent umami.

Enter the tornado omelette curry chicken, a dish that sounds like it should arrive with dramatic music. The omelette wraps around the rice like a warm silk hug, while the chicken delivers both tenderness and crunch, two textures that rarely swipe right on each other, yet here they are, happily married.

The karaka-men classic ramen is comfort in a bowl, though advertised as spicy, it plays more like a soft jazz than a death metal solo. Spice-seekers might crave more heat, but it compensates with the umami. I found it a bit salty although it was more likely because I was thirsty at the time.

And now, the sushi. Arguably Kiwami’s flex. It is easily one of the best sushi you’ll find not just in BGC, but anywhere in the Philippines. It was a balanced celebration of precision. That said, the one quirk: the pastry-plastic nori wrap which is quite popular here. A preservation tactic for crispiness, yes though it's tricky to remove.

Despite my general aversion to packed restaurants, Kiwami earns its crowd. This is a restaurant that deserves its buzz. The team knows exactly what they're doing, flavor-forward dishes, confident minimalism, and a dash of chaos.

Kiwami is not just a meal, it’s a sensory negotiation between serenity and sizzle. Go for the food, stay for the flavor, and...

I have dined here multiple times since it close to the office. My most recent visit was on October 25th; I had gone with colleagues for dinner. It's probably important to preface that this place is a collection of popular Japanese restaurants like Yabu and Ippudo, and it is situated in an area surrounded by offices and such.

We went at around 6:30 PM, so it was surpising that we were seated quickly. Since it is a rather large place that's often full of people, it's kind of expected that service might be a bit slow or unsatisfactory in that they might forget you asked for something so you end up asking for the same thing twice or thrice before finally getting it.

On that day they weren't able to serve water immediately, which isn't a good experience especially if you walked to the place from a block or two away, or if you waited outside for quite a bit. This got better later though since the staff became more attentive and checked often if we already had empty glasses to refill, maybe because we'd been asking multiple times or we've already been there too long—for reference, we stayed for about 2.5 hours if I am not mistaken. It was a thanksgiving dinner between two teams who were coming together for the first time, so please do forgive us.

But in that regard, this is great testament to the good atmosphere of the restaurant. It is perfect for small team gatherings, and I can tell from the times I've been there that people from neighbouring places really do flock here to get together.

I feel like everyone genuinely enjoys the time spent with others there as the restaurant's atmosphere and design makes it so that it doesn't feel cramped even if there's a constant flow of customers. It does get noisy at times, but somehow it is tolerable, and if you are in the company of good people, it is easy to drown out the noise and be the source of noise yourselves.

I should say though that the food can be a hit or miss sometimes 😅 particularly with the grilled meats, especially fish dishes. But I suppose that's the usual for fish 🥹 However, Ippudo, Yabu, and Hokkaido Soft Serve's quality stays rather consistent and divine! ESPECIALLY the Hokkaido Soft Serve. It is a wonderful treat from the ice cream to the top of the cone! One cannot go to Kiwami and leave without having this, unless you have no desire to gain even short-lived,...

DO NOT BUY THE "HOKKAIDO MILK" ICE CREAM HERE.

IT'S A SCAM.

I've had REAL Japanese milk ice cream in Japan (in Hokkaido and in Tokyo); in Singapore; in Thailand; in Taiwan; and even in Manila at the Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory (which has several branches around town, including BGC) and it is ALWAYS PRICEY and DELICIOUS, with a very unique, memorable, fresh milky flavor that is WORTH THE PRICE.

When I saw the sign for "Hokkaido Milk" ice cream here, I was excited, and the fact that it was in BGC, on High Street, in a "fancy" restaurant/food court, and priced appropriately (mahal) all led me to assume that I would find a similar taste and quality here.

But my initial reaction was "this tastes like Jollibee ice cream" and EXTREME disappointment. Even worse, they are charging 130php for "Hokkaido Milk" ice cream that tastes, as another friend of mine who tried it said, "worse than Cornetto".

I'm not exaggerating when I say this tastes like the cheapest soft-serve ice cream that you get from McDonald's, or as a third friend said "tastes like Lawson's". If it was 30php, I would have been disappointed at the false advertising but quickly have forgotten. But for 130php I was disappointed and then ANGRY at the deceptive label and ridiculous price, which motivated me to write this review.

There is nothing unique or memorable about this ice cream.

STAY AWAY. Save your money and go to any convenience store or fast food joint for the same quality at a much lower cost. Wendy's frosty is better than this.

Note: I can't comment on the food because I didn't eat here, but Ippudo is a solid ramen place - 4/5 stars at least (but Mendokoro is better) -and Yabu is a solid...