Not sure if it was because we went there late at night, but I didn't feel that we got the best experience at Yabu. Aside from the waitress not tending to us timely after being seated, the food was not appealing or tasty as I believe they could have been. Daughter ordered the pork katsu and although crispy, it lacked seasoning. I had the oriental chicken salad but it was way overdressed for the amount of greens on the plate. On top of that, a customer slipped and fell while on her way back from the restroom. Restaurant can take a lot more care in food preparation and customer safety. read more

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Good food overall, gets a bit busy on peak hours. Service is so so, will go back and taste other items on the menu read more

Yabu - Special katsudon chicken - Japanese Near Me - Taguig, NCR

Agedashi Tofu It's basically tofu with the famous, crunchy panko coating. This was deliciously expensive! Chicken Katsu It's a slightly healthier and more affordable option than pork (hire or rosu) but the pork does taste amazing with a little bit of fat. Lychee and Peach Iced Tea I like that the refillable glass was thin enough to control my pacing. The beverage was pretty good but made me stick to one rice only. Menchi Katsu Liking this dish attracts different feedback. It's good but some don't want their cheese mixed with meat. Some do, such as myself, but it turned out to be pretty heavy. Yet, even that characteristic can be super for some... such as myself. Mozzarella Katsu Sticks These were super! The cheese put up a fight after every bite, not letting go of the katsu like it had a life that depended on it, if that makes any sense. I truly enjoyed their flavor since they weren't too salty. Service Thanks to JM for getting all our orders right! She also did well with the refills. Tips For set meals, white rice also comes in brown, which is healthier but just as heavy IMO. If you get Katsu Curry, you might not need to crush your sesame seeds and mix with Tonkatsu Sauce anymore. But if you're adventurous, ignore me completely! The sauce container for the cabbage is pretty difficult since it serves you by the drop. I sometimes take the cover off to hasten the sloth but it can get messy and increase wastage. Get only what you need and wipe it up a bit after closing it again. Or ignore me completely because the management might not like this practice. read more

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This is my go to place in the PI. I love their chicken katsu curry. To simplify: 5 for atmosphere 5 for food flavor and selection 5 for customer service We come here so often, these guys know us like their family. Definitely a must try for any Philippines goers. read more

Yabu - What is this sorcery!!! So goood! - Japanese Near Me - Taguig, NCR

Drop what you're doing, and go to Yabu - right now. My boo and I spend about P600 (total), for a very satiating dinner. They're consistent every time we go. Environment: - Weekends are ALWAYS packed. Come during an off-hour like 2PM or 4PM if you want to be seated right away - Clean bathrooms WITH toilet paper (I know!) Food: - BOMB.com - my personal favorite: Chicken Special Katsudon (spend the extra P40 on the layu sauce, treat cho'self). It has a sweet flavor that mixes well with the chicken. - chicken curry: don't try to get too confident with the level of spice! you will be lit for the entire night. - Unlimited cabbage, soup and hot green tea! This meal is very #sulit. Service: - LOVE LOVE LOVE the staff here! They are awesome. They remember our name, our orders, always greet us with a smile, and are very attentive. Huge reason why we keep coming back. - The manager, Andrew always makes sure we're well taken care of! read more

Yabu - EVERY BITE. - Japanese Near Me - Taguig, NCR

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I had a Yabu phase, whenever my parents or a friend would ask me where I wanted to eat, I'd say Yabu without thinking, and I'm still not sick of it. Manila had a katsu obsession a couple of years back and hundreds of local and international chains sprouted everywhere, but I think Yabu's tenderloin or loin is still the reigning champion. The first time I tried it I couldn't get over how tender the meat was. Even though I ordered the loin (which was layered with a beautiful strip of fat) it was so tender and crunchy, I think I cried a little. Although it gets quite annoyingly full during peak meal times, a trip to yabu is always worth the noise and crowds. So if you're up for a cheat-day or you're just always into pigging out (like I am), Yabu is always the best place to go for their unlimited rice, soup, salads, fruits and of course, katsu. read more

Yabu - Japanese Near Me - Taguig, NCR

All my friends know that I don't eat pork, but with Yabu around, it's getting difficult not to. Whenever we have the chance, my mom and I usually choose to eat here. We usually order a chicken salad to start us off. And depending on how hungry we are, we either order just one to share or one each. For my main course, I usually get the 100 g Hire (Pork Tenderloin). But sometimes, I do feel a little adventurous and try other things. Their Katsudon set is a big serving but it's probably the best Katsudon I've ever tasted. Their Katsu curry tastes almost exactly like the ones in Japan. But make sure to have a lot of cabbage with you, the curry is quite a big serving that you'll need something to balance out that taste. Speaking of which, I love trying out their different sauces for the cabbage. It's very light and refreshing and pairs perfectly with any of their katsudons. read more

Yabu - Mmm. - Japanese Near Me - Taguig, NCR

I never really understood the general appreciation for katsu. There was nothing special about it for me. I had always likened it to bleh ole pork chop and dishes similar to it. A couple of years ago, when katsu first became a thing, I had been taken to a popular restaurant called Yabu, where I discovered that katsu is a meal that is part-food and part-experience. Yabu is a hustle and bustle kind of sit down place. Black cushions, tanned wood accents, servers all in black, and street style art in the bathrooms. It sounds a little rebellious now that I think about it, but it's really just a place to sink in your seat, mute out the noise, and enjoy your food. Prices are standard; servings are crazy big if you consider that you get an unlimited serving of soup, salad, and rice; the food is always worth the trip; and the servers are very nice and accommodating. It is because of Yabu that I've been made a katsu convert. read more

Yabu - Japanese Near Me - Taguig, NCR

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Fried food tastes good all the time, but this spot does it right. The flavor, texture, moist factor, and light feeling make the food so much more enjoyable even though it's fried! Hands down one of the best katsu spots to try and my #1 up to now. Hire Kurobuta is incredible. Try this if you are in Manila. #HaveAFoodOne read more

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This place was one of the first Japanese Restaurants I tried. There was a long que and we had to wait before we got to sit but the crew was very assisting and friendly. The experience was quite insightful for me. After we ordered our Katsu Meals, the waitress handed us small bowls that had black and white seeds in them. Along with the bowls, she also gave us small, short, and fat sticks. I was very confused and so I asked what they were for. I later found out that this was a Japanese thing. That we were supposed to grind the seeds with the stick on our own and put some special sauce into it. I liked the whole idea of 'make the customers make their sauce so they get to experience some Japanese stuff" because I learned something new about Japanese food. Their meals were good. They had a wonderful salad appetiser.The Katsu was fried pork, beef, chicken or fish. There was some japanese rice and refillable miso soup, sliced cabbage, fruits, and pickles. I found the meal really filling. In Filipino I'd say, "Grabe Ate as in nabusog ako at sulit na sulit iyong unli cabbage, soup at fruits". I'd say this is a place for hungry people who want Katsu. read more

The best katsu in Manila. Service and speed have declined from a few years ago. But the food is still top notch. Unlimited miso soup, salad and rice are served with every meal. The katsu Curry is especially great. Salmon katsu is usually cooked to a perfect medium rare. Nice booth seating. Sometimes the dining area can get a little warm. They've also been closing earlier lately. Other nearrby options include Saboten in Serendra, but Yabu is sightly better. I just wish they'd bring back the original pickles like they show in the menu photos! read more

Of all the different types of Japanese food out there, I could say katsu is one of those dishes I don't quite crave so much. But when I do crave for katsu in Manila, I go to Yabu for my quick fix. Don't get alarmed when you first read the menu - yes I know there are just too many different kinds of katsu to choose from. So if it is your first time to enter this restaurant, do make sure you try the most basic katsu set. You can't go wrong with that. While you're waiting for your order, you'll be given a bowl of sesame seeds to crush - make sure you add the special sauce after! The only way you can properly eat katsu is when it's hot so I suggest you eat your katsu quickly. To give a kick on your pork loin, you HAVE to put some mustard on every bite. Remember, a little goes a long way. read more

Yabu - Basic katsu set - Japanese Near Me - Taguig, NCR

What!? Yelp! works in the Philippines? Finally! First place I wanted to leave a review for was Yabu. Late last year, on vacation, we were staying at Serendra across the street from Aura and were pleasantly surprised that there were some very good Japanese food offerings on the 5th floor. Having just returned from a stay in Tokyo a week earlier, I was still yearning for some good Japanese food. Since Yelp! wasn't availlable at the time I had to use Filipino Yelp! (looloo) to find Yabu the House of Katsu. The name is appropriate because the Tonkatsu was great! Once seated they placed some small bowls with sesame seeds in front of us. They explained that we needed to grind them and add oil to prepare our dipping sauce. First impression wasn't great because I'm not here to work just bring me my food AND PREPARED sauce--not this damn gimmick to make it appear "authentic." My wife wasn't having any of that so I ended up grinding her seed bowl for her--the always dutiful husband. I ordered the Katsu Curry Set with Kurobota Pork and the missus got the Chicken & Seafood Katsu Set. Both meals come with unlimited rice or cabbage, Miso Soup, and Tsukemono (pickles). The restaurant wasn't very busy when we arrived but service seemed a bit slow. With stomachs growling, our food arrives and the aroma sends our mouths drooling. As I begin to dig in my wife insists on a quick prayer and as she finishes up I toss in a "Itadakimasu" at the end. My Kurobota Pork was tender, juicy and very flavorful; the panko crust was light and crisp. The panko crust didn't separate from the pork as it tends to do when I have katsu at other, lesser places. The curry was very good although maybe a touch sweet and I really enjoyed the unlimited cabbage with their goma dressing. My wife enjoyed her Katsu Set especially the prawns. She gave me the oyster since she knows it's my fave and it was fresh, crisp and very yummy. A really great meal. Yabu was one of the better meals we enjoyed while in the Philippines. It was actually a very pleasant surprise for me because all the other "foreign" cuisine I've had in the Philippines during trips in the past have been VERY disappointing, to the point that when I'm in the Philippines I typically avoid "foreign" cuisine and stick to the native food restaurants. We will be back here and one of our first meals will be Yabu for sure! read more

Hands down the best katsu in the Philippines. Food comes out quickly and is always crispy and delicious. If you order the salmon, make sure to specify how you want it cooked. Usually they go a bit rare, but it can be inconsistent. All you can eat rice, salad, pickles & fruit round out a great meal at a great value. read more

I went here in 2017 and I'm still waiting for the day I can go back to the Philippines just to eat here again lol. I live in California and there is nothing like Yabu here read more

Best branch is in glorietta 5 branch. Staff are very attentive and very concerned with your needs. Bravo!

Whenever I'm craving for some katsu, I know where to go: Yabu. It just hits the spot! They have a variety of tonkatsu sets, which I honestly think are worth your money. The pork cutlets are served with unlimited Japanese white rice (Or brown, if you want a healthier option), miso soup, Japanese pickles, cabbage with your choice of dressing, and a bowl of fruit for dessert. When I first tried Yabu, I ordered the Menchi Katsu set, which consists of authentic Japanese minced meat paired with Yabu's spices and stuffed with cheese, and it's been a personal favorite ever since. The creaminess of the cheese just adds flavor to the tender pork cutlets. If you're more of a traditionalist, the original katsu sets are worth trying as well. I ordered the Hire Original Katsudon, and it's one of the best I've tried. The cutlets are dipped in egg, served over a bowl of steamed Japanese rice and topped with their mouthwatering katsudon sauce (and more egg, of course!). My friends constantly rave about their seafood katsu sets as well, so you should definitely give the salmon or jumbo oysters a try. Most of their dishes are consistently great, so go ahead and explore the menu! The happiness in your tummy will certainly outweigh the tiny dent in your wallet, most especially if you're a katsu lover. read more