A short drive up north to get "tontekified" was in order that day...
After my initial experience at Tokyo Tonteki's Greenbelt 5 branch some weeks back, it was time for a second visit (see more here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/11/tontekified-at-tokyo-tonteki.html). Start your meal with some of Tokyo Tonteki's signature sides...
...like the refreshing Marinated Tomatoes (P 90), with tart and clean flavors that's just perfect to balance the richness of the mains...
...and the Potato Salad (P 160), soft chunks of potatoes with creamy butter and egg mixed with sliced carrots, cucumbers, and bacon on fresh Romaine lettuce topped with course black pepper. The creamy Japanese mayo dressing, enriched with the egg, was just a prelude to another tontekified dining experience at Tokyo Tonteki.
One other particular side dish I really enjoyed from my first time at Tokyo Tonteki was the Stir-Fried Japanese Mushrooms (P 250), a tasty blend of Eringi, Enoki, and Shimeji brown premium Japanese mushrooms sauteed in butter and Japanese seasonings topped with paper-thin Japanese katsuboshi or fish flakes. The distinct layers of rich butter, nutty mushroom notes and mildly briny fish flakes blend in a perfectly balanced dish.
The mains were then served, starting with the Ebi Fry (P 340), crisp panko breaded tail-on shrimp on shredded cabbage. The thicker katsu breading, unlike the light tempura-style breading, makes this a hefty meal. But the sweet and briny flavors of the plump shrimps still comes through all the way to the last bite. Other Katsu Sets include Salmon Fry (P 360) and Menchi Katsu (P 270).
Tokyo Tonteki's signature dish then arrived, the Large Tonteki Set (P 450), thick, tender, and juicy pork loin steak topped with toasted garlic chips and served with bean sprouts, shredded cabbage, pickled cucumber, steamed Japanese rice, and pork miso soup. Tokyo Tonteki begins with a thick slab of premium pork loin, with a perfect balance of meat and fat for rich flavors. The pork loin is then cooked at low temperature to keep it tender while locking in its juices. And finally, the pork steak is simmered in Tokyo Tonteki's original savory sweet onion steak sauce, a proprietary blend with Japanese spices and seasonings, aged fruits, and vegetables.
And the result of the three-step process is juicy, fork tender pork with the signature sauce complementing the delicate flavors of the pork steak with its sweet and mildly tart notes. Served on a hot cast iron pan, the heat is retained keeping your Tonteki Set warm. And you get unlimited refills of rice, shredded cabbage, and pork miso soup along with your Tonteki Set. Then, you're truly "tontekified." Get "tontekified" down south or up north at UP Town Center, at Tokyo Tonteki.
Tokyo Tonteki is located at the Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City or call 246-9069 Extension 243 for inquiries.
Dude for Food is now on Facebook, check out the FB Page for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB "Like" widget on the right sidebar.