Washoku Musashi-Maru – A friend told us that there is a Japanese restaurant they tried in Glorietta 2 that’s good. So, when we went there over the weekend, decided to see for ourselves, and knew that we would surely be back again soon.
Washoku meaning in Japanese
Gogonihon describes washoku as traditional Japanese cuisine. Wa (和) means harmony, while shoku (食) means to eat or food. Besides washoku, nihonshoku (meaning Japanese food) or nihonryori (meaning Japanese cuisine) are used to describe a Japanese dish.
The Japanese call their food washoku to symbolize the harmonious relationship between the freshest ingredients with staple seasonings that make up most Japanese food.
Authentic Japanese Restaurant Manila
The sky was still so bright when we decided to have dinner at Washoku Musashi-Maru. It was a good choice because when we left an hour and a half later, there was a long queue outside.
A server immediately greeted us as we were nearing the entrance. He led us to a couch with a cloth curtain, that looks so much like the ones in Japan. The other parts also had that Japanese vibe.
A Japanese saying was hanging on the wall, which reminded me of the ones you can see in Japan. Different kinds of sauces were available on the table alongside small plates and saucers.
From left to right, the sauces are onion sauce, tonkatsu sauce, and sesame dressing. I forgot to try the onion sauce, but the tonkatsu sauce and sesame dressing were the usual ones you can try at other Japanese restaurants.
We checked out the Washoku Musashi-Maru menu when the server left them on the table. Since there was a lot on the menu, we had a hard time choosing what to eat.
Of course, the first thing that we had to consider was what our son would like to eat. So we ordered a 110 grams of Tonkatsu and Tori Karaage for him. We also ordered a 5-piece Ebi Tempura because our toddler kept pointing to the tempura on the menu.
Then I checked out the ramen menu and asked the server which is the bestseller. She said that most customers order Tonkotsu Shio Ramen and Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen. However, when asked what she liked best, she said she prefers Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen.
We went with what the server recommended. Then, we added Teppan Cheese Hamburger Steak and an add-on of Mini udon set. When the order taker left, another server came and left a wet towel for three.
It was the same experience we had in Japan. Some restaurants offer wet towels, also known as “oshibori,” for customers to wipe their hands before eating. However, do take note that the wet towel is not to wipe your face, as this is considered bad etiquette.
Washoku Musashi-Maru has that one unique characteristic of other Japanese restaurants here we have dined at. Each table is equipped with a push button for calling out servers. Someone would come a few seconds after you pushed the button.
Since we ordered tonkatsu, we received a bowl with sesame seeds and a pestle to grind the seeds. The nutty essence of freshly ground sesame seeds blends perfectly with tonkatsu slices, making you want more.
Another set of condiments arrived to compliment the ramen we ordered. The set contained ground white and black pepper, sesame seeds with a grinder, chili oil, and chili flakes.
Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen
The Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen came first, so we taste-tested it even before taking a photo. The smell of the shoyu ramen was enough to make any person’s stomach growl. Before adding any condiments, I tried out the ramen first.
Savory (due to the “shoyu” or soy sauce) and hearty, the ramen soup was great to warm a hungry tummy. Next, I tried the soft and greasy noodles before they went soggy. After that, I took a bite of the thin charred tonkatsu slice.
We split the ramen bowl into half, and in an instant, hubby’s bowl immediately went down to his tummy. On the other hand, I was still busy trying out which condiments worked well with my ramen.
The chili oil was not spicy at all, so I added a bit of the chili powder, and it had the spiciness I had been looking for. I also added ground sesame seeds because I oh so love that nutty taste!
A ramen would not be complete without the ajitsuke tamago (ramen egg). Creamy and silky, the ramen egg included in my bowl made me enjoy my ramen more. Not only that, but it also made me feel full!
What I also liked about the ramen was that it had crunchy bean sprouts, fresh onion, and chives. Other than that, it also had black fungus to ensure you will feel the restaurant’s authenticity.
Teppan Cheese Hamburger Steak
Sizzling its way to our table, the Teppan Cheese Hamburger Steak and its add-ons came next. The melted cheese on top of the juicy hamburger steak surrounded by tomato sauce added flavor to the hot and sticky plain rice.
The burger also works so well with the runny egg yolk and a bit of sauce. I liked that the beans were not overcooked and you will feel the crunch with every bite. If I was not that full from our orders, I would have finished the fried potato wedges on the side.
I took a sip of the clear udon soup, and I felt so refreshed because of the tasty bonito flavor. And when I ate the chewy udon noodles, it reminded me of the large udon soup bowl we had in Tokyo. Of course, I did not miss the pickles that were included and was surprised they weren’t sour but salty and sweet.
Ebi Tempura
We usually order Ebi Tempura whenever dining at a Japanese restaurant. And Washoku Musashi-Maru was not an exemption. We always want to check if the restaurant uses prawns for their tempura, and yes, we got what we wanted that night!
A chunk of ground daikon (radish) was included on the plate of Ebi Tempura. Make sure to put them to your tempura sauce for that added light and sweet flavor as a complement.
Tori Karaage
When the Tori Karaage was served, my son begged his dad to get him a piece (since he sat beside his dad that night). It was expected because besides looking delish, the crunchy fried chicken was so succulent!
Squeeze a little lemon juice and dip the chicken into the mayo to get that tanginess fighting with the creamy sauce. A soy sauce with ginger came with the tori karaage, but the sauce seemed to not fit the fried chicken.
Tonkatsu
I was always a fan of Tonkatsu since the Tokyo Tokyo days. But that changed when I had a bad encounter with the fast food chain’s tonkatsu many years back. After having been disappointed with the last time I ate tonkatsu, I was glad that the one we ordered at Washoku Musashi-Maru revived my liking for the breaded pork loin.
Coated with panko bread crumbs, the pork loin is deep-fried and placed on a metal grill to let the oil drip. Washoku Musashi-Maru Tonkatsu is one that I would gladly reorder when we return.
Another thing that swayed me was the shredded cabbage I enjoy with a little sesame dressing. As I have said earlier, I love the nutty flavor of sesame, so the cabbage salad Japanese enjoys makes me want to be like them.
Conclusion
Words are not enough to describe how satisfied we were with Washoku Musashi-Maru. While I did my best to tell you how much we enjoyed every bit of our orders, the best way for you to tell if I am speaking the truth is by trying the Japanese restaurant yourself.
So why don’t you bring your date tonight for a Japanese night? Or why don’t you bring your family so they can have a taste of what it is like to dine in at an authentic Japanese restaurant without having to fly to Japan?
I hope you have enjoyed this restaurant review, and hope you can share this post with your families and friends!
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