Turning Japanese All-Day Long at Motto Motto All-Day Japanese

Fun, playful, quirky and different. And you'll want more...

Loosely translated to mean "more," to go further or deeper, Motto Motto All-Day Japanese is Raintree Restaurants' newest dining concept offering all-day, everyday Japanese comfort food. The extensive menu, from All-Day Brunch to Teishoku Sets, Sashimi and Sushi, Salads and Small Plates, Agemono and Tempura, Sizzling Specials, Yakitori and Shabu-Shabu, Donburi, Udon and Soba, Fried Rice, Sizzling Rice, Curry Rice and Omurice, Teppan, Desserts and refreshing Beverages and Cocktails clearly tells you there's just so much more at Motto Motto. Redefining "more" with their wide menu selections, Motto Motto will have you turning Japanese all-day long...

The menu is just impressive, any way you look at it. Raintree Restaurants' new Motto Motto is not your usual Japanese restaurant, adding a fresh and modern vibe to the BGC food scene with a more relaxed style than their more traditional and formal Japanese concepts (check out Raintree Restaurants'Chotto Matte and Izakaya Sensu from my earlier post, Sushi and Highballs at Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte). Vibrant with a bright and youthful character, Motto Motto is the perfect spot for a casual and leisurely breakfast, hearty lunch, quick snack or dinner with friends and family. It's playful Japanese, and you'll want more...

Executive Chef Kalel Chan of Raintree Restaurants weaves his creative culinary style in the impressive menu of Motto Motto. I've known Executive Chef Kalel Chan since the early days of my blog and he continues to amaze and surprise (more on Chef Kalel on my post, The Sunday Boutique Brunch at M Cafe). As the culinary landscape continues to evolve, Chef Kalel adapts and responds to the changing palate and preferences of the metro's diners. Motto Motto is Chef Kalel's latest and newest culinary canvas, bringing variety and value to the table with an inventive and comforting Japanese spin. All that along with the masterful and typically Japanese way with soft and creamy scrambled eggs, potato salads, souffle pancakes, pastries and more are just some of the tasty surprises you can expect at Motto Motto.

And Raintree Restaurants knows comfort food well, honest flavors with that rustic touch evident in many of their dining concepts (for more on Raintree Restaurants, see my posts on their previous and current concepts, Weekend Afternoons & Good Vibes, Ube Champorado & Birthday Spaghetti...at Friends & Family on Chef Kalel Chan's inspired take on nostalgic local favorites, The Great Eatscape at SM Aura Premier: A Return to Comforting Classics at Providore and their hearty American and Filipino homestyle cuisine, and a three-part series of blog posts from a whole day culinary tour of Raintree Restaurants' different brands five years back at  The Makati Food Tour 2014 Part 1: Breakfast at Museum Cafe, The Makati Food Tour 2014 Part 2: Meeting at Terraz Bistro & Meetings and The Makati Food Tour 2014 Part 3: Good Food Simplified at Simple Lang showcasing their diverse portfolio of restaurants). That day, we sampled some of Motto Motto's unique cuisine as well as exciting new dishes...

Our sampling of Motto Motto's signature dishes began with a duo of light and tasty deep-fried starters from the Agemono selection...

...starting with the Ebiashe Age (P 75), delicately deep-fried shrimp "socks" for a light and delectable crispness...

...bursting with bold briny notes with every crunchy bite. Once you start, you'll be on a roll with these crunchy and tasty bites. When even the simplest ingredient is transformed reflects both creativity and inventiveness, a sure sign of even more good things to come. And that's just some of the surprises Executive Chef Kalel Chan has in store for you at Motto Motto.

Executive Chef Kalel Chan then pulls another tasty surprise with his novel Kani Kama Fries (P 150), succulent strips of kani lightly battered and deep-fried. The subtle briny sweetness of the kani comes through with its fresh and clean notes followed by a light crispness. Different and innovative, these Kani Kama Fries will have you going for more. This one's a favorite.

Diners can also choose other deep-fried specialties from their Tempura selection, including Kuruma Ebi (P 320-3 pcs/P 520-5 pcs), Chef's Tempura Moriawase (P 375), Yasai Tempura Moriawase (P 175), Chikuwa (P 350), Kisu (P 175) and Hanjuku Tamago (P 120), all deep-fried with that lightly crisp batter.

Motto Motto also served their new salad dish, the Mount Fuji Salad (P 150 Sharing/P 85 Solo) with fresh and crisp finely shredded cabbage, red and spring onions drizzled with a sweet sesame vinaigrette. Served in a heaping mound inspired by the iconic Mount Fuji, the refreshing notes of the salad pairs well with many of Motto Motto's savory mains (try it with the classic Hamburg Steak). The subtle sharpness of the red and spring onions adds contrasting notes to the mildly sweet cabbage and special sesame vinaigrette. Other refreshing salad options include Kani and Tobiko Salad, Silky Tofu and Kaisou Salad, Caesar Salad and Ton Shabu Salad.

The Spicy Tuna (P 195) topped with crisp tempura flakes and creamy Japanese mayonnaise packs a subtle and soothing heat contrasting with the sweet and briny tuna. Served with Nori, simply wrap your own roll for a play on textures and flavors.

Motto Motto's Sushi selections come in all shapes and colors, like the Dragon Roll (P 220) with unagi, avocado, cucumber, tempura flakes and unagi sauce elegantly served on a wooden board.

The various components deliver distinct flavors and textures, coming together in a balanced and seamless blend.  

The Salmon Tempura Aburi (P 395) brings complex yet refreshingly clean and rich flavors with prawn tempura, salmon, salmon roe, asparagus, spicy mayonnaise and unagi sauce...

...for another tasty find at Motto Motto. With over thirty (probably more) varieties of sushi, maki and nigiri on their menu, each one delicately and freshly prepared using the freshest seafood, choosing a few can be challenging with so many choices. And that's what makes each visit to Motto Motto so much more exciting.

For that big bite of flavor, the Sakura Blossom (P 295) with salmon, bluefin tuna, white fish, cucumber, yellow radish and denbu should do the trick. Best enjoyed in one bite to savor each flavorful ingredient, a light dip in soy completes the flavors. The bright colors are a visual cue to the rich flavors. 

Since it opened, Motto Motto's sumptuous Donburi offerings were quick favorites among diners with tasty bowls of Special Gyudon Wagyu (P 650), Special Gyudon US Beef (P 350), Aburi Butadon (P 295), Spicy Dynamite Don (P 325), Salmon Sio Don (P 525), Chirashi Zushi Don (P 525), Shake Yukhoe Don (P 275), Umbrella Don (P 595) and the Oyako Don (P 295) with sweet soy chicken, onions and egg. The rich yet delicate notes of the sweet soy chicken, onion and egg come together perfectly for a hearty meal.

You can make it a real meal by making it a Set by adding P 50 which includes Miso Soup, Japanese pickles and mini dessert for an even better deal. Or go for the new Superstar Lunch Sets served everyday from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm for a value-packed and satisfying meal served with Miso Soup, Cabbage Salad and Iced Tea.

Perfect for that quick lunch break, the new Superstar LunchSets offer both variety and value starting at only P 195 to P 325. With seven variants to choose from, diners can enjoy a range of flavors in a complete set meal. The Mapo Tofu with Pork (P 265) is a nutty and savory dish with minced pork and tofu on rice...

...delivering bold and vibrant flavors. The pork and tofu combination draped in a rich sauce deliver comforting flavors for a satisfying lunch at Motto Motto.

The Nasu Miso Pork (P 225) is another equally satisfying option with Motto Motto's Superstar Lunch Sets topped with minced pork and eggplant in a savory sauce.

A balanced meal with miso soup, salad and a beverage, your lunch time options just got easier with Motto Motto's Superstar Lunch Sets. Other tasty choices with the Superstar Lunch Sets include the US Beef Belly Gyudon (P 195), Kakiage Tempura (P 195), Spicy Dynamite Chicken Karaage (P 250), Chasu Pork on Chasu Fried Rice (P 250) and Seafood Tempura Don (P 325).

Wash it all down with a wide selection of unique and refreshing beverages, from crafted blends to fresh-squeezed fruit juices, soothing fruit cream sodas, housemade fruit milk and floats. The Suntory Kakubin (P 250) with Suntory Whisky, lemon and soda or the sweet Tiramisu Coffee Jelly (P 225) are highly recommended.

The wide array of beverages alone make Motto Motto a must-try, from their Strawberry Guava Yakult (P 150) to The Andres (P 150), a local highball with dark rum, calamansi and soda. And there's more. From the Sizzling selections, Motto Motto's new Fish Foil Yaki (P 395) is a classic take on the elegant French dish, Fish en Papillote...

...with tender and flaky white fish and prawns steamed in garlic butter and mushrooms topped with fresh spring onions. The flavors of the white fish and prawns are delicate, followed by a layer of richness from the garlic butter and earthy, nutty notes from the mushrooms. Served on a sizzling hot cast iron plate, the dish remains warm protected by the foil with the seafood at its flavorful peak. 

The flavorful fusion of east and west are highlighted in the Wasabi Cream Carbonara, a rich pasta dish with aonori infused with wasabi. The velvety smooth and satin-like creamy richness of the pasta dish is perfectly tempered by hints of sharp wasabi for balanced flavors. It's a comforting dish that's great any time of day.  One other must-try at Motto Motto is their line of Hamburg Steaks, classic Japanese style hamburger steaks served on sizzling plates with a variety of toppings and sauces like Demi Glace (P 350), Cheese (P 295), Avocado and Hollandaise (P 375), Oroshi Ponzu (P 250), Corn and Mayo (P 275) and Cheese and Curry (P 395).

Motto Motto also offers a variety of Yakitori. You can have a taste of all their specialties with the Omakase 7 (P 350) with Grilled Okra, Chicken Liver, Pork Belly with Onion, Chicken Meatball with Cheese and Mentaiko, Quail Eggs, Chicken Skin and Spring Onions wrapped in US Beef. And what's new for brunch?

Motto Motto adds a Japanese twist to Filipino breakfast favorites with three new dishes, the savory Beef Tapa (P 295)...

...the Horse Mackerel (P 295) for a light yet tasty seafood option with fried and breaded boneless mackerel...

...and the mildly sweet Chicken Tocino (P 295) with sweet and nutty sesame sprinkled cured chicken, all served with creamy Aonori scrambled eggs, garlic fried rice, and Japanese pickles from their All-Day Brunch menu. The All-Day Brunch menu includes their popular signature Souffle Pancakes, Eggs Benedict, Morning Ham and Eggs, Shake Chazuke and Breakfast Teishoku. The new Filipino Breakfast favorites add familiar flavors to the menu, and nobody does creamy scrambled eggs the way the Japanese do it. You'll find it here at Motto Motto.  

All aboard the Shinkasen for some tasty and savory treats! Motto Motto offers a special Kids Shinkansen Set (P 295) served on a playful replica of the iconic bullet train...

...loaded with portions of all-time childhood favorites like nostalgically sweet Spaghetti, crisp and juicy Chicken Karaage, savory Burger Patty draped in a thick sauce, Potato Salad, Rice and Dessert. It's a complete meal with a special selection made just for the kids.

The young ones can also select one toy with every order of the Kids Shinkansen Set, an added treat children will surely enjoy.

You can't pass on Motto Motto's signature Souffle Pancakes with matcha butter and maple syrup. For breakfast, brunch or even dessert after a savory meal, the Souffle Pancakes caps your feast on a high note. Now, Motto Motto has even more tempting offerings like their Orange Creme Brulee (P 295) with its distinctive torched surface for contrasting texture and decadent sweetness.

Tall, thick and dense yet pillow soft and light, the Orange Creme Brulee is elegantly plated to start your day right. The torched caramelized surface, zesty orange hints and fluffy texture of the souffle pancake simply elevates breakfast to a whole new level.

Motto Motto adds one more tempting variant to their Souffle Pancakes...

...the indulgent Strawberries and Cream (P 295) topped with almonds and served with strawberry compote and creme anglaise. Intricately stacked and draped in sweet and tart strawberry compote, the Strawberries and Cream brings a refreshing and sweet tartness capped by lavish cream. 

And you can have this any time, all day long at Motto Motto. True to its name, we've barely skimmed the menu with so much more to try and discover.

Executive Chef Kalel Chan joined us at the table, sharing insights behind the development of Motto Motto's menu. Since it opened in late December last year, Chef Kalel observed a spike in local diners in contrast with the predominantly expat customers from the previous Chelsea Kitchen. Filipinos definitely love Japanese.

After a sumptuous lunch, there's just nothing quite like a soothing cup of coffee. And Motto Motto offers an equally impressive selection of hot and cold coffee and tea to suit your mood. From the indulgent Motto Noisette (P 275) topped with a mound of cream, Cafe Affogato Special (P 195) and Cafe Viennoise (P 160)...

...to the soothing Flat White (P 140)...

...and Matcha Latte (P 175), Motto Motto has that perfect cup of coffee or tea to cap your dining experience.

Before heading out, you can also check out their fresh-baked offerings including croissants, rolls, cakes and pastries to cap your dining experience at Motto Motto. More variety, more value, more choices and options. It's a welcome and exciting addition to Serendra's dining options with its quirky and fun vibe. When "more" simply means more, experience it all with a playful Japanese twist at Motto Motto, all day and everyday...