Why Inagiku may be the best Japanese resto in Makati

If you’re looking for an authentic Japanese experience without having to travel all the way to Japan, well, INAGIKU at Makati Shangri-la Hotel might just be for you. The Baby Barangay was recently invited to dine here, and wow–it is hard to put into words just how good the food is here. Each dish that was served was fresh, delightful, tasty without overpowering, and just amazingly good. The gang and I enjoyed our dinner here, which had us raving about our meal for weeks to come.

Now, I have to say, I absolutely love Japanese food. I really try to seek the best restaurants in the metro because I constantly crave for it and when I want it, I want the best. Through the years, I’ve learned to distinguish the fresh and authentic from the not-so, and the bottomline is: this restaurant serves delicious Japanese food. From what I was told, the ingredients are flown all the way from Japan, which explains why it tastes amazingly authentic. It literally felt like the best of Japan was served to us that evening, and it tasted incredible.

So, okay, we each ordered our own dish, but ended up putting everything in the middle so we can try everything. That was the best idea, ever, because wow, the flavors were just bursting in our mouths, and we got to taste as many dishes as we could that evening. Let me share what we ordered:

Tokujo Sushi (assorted premium sushi) – P2,600. This was super fresh, and each sushi tasted amazingly sweet. 2-3 persons can actually share this. It is pretty big.

Maguro Sashimi (fresh big eye tuna) – P560. My measure of a good Japanese restaurant is based on how fresh their sashimi is. I have to say, this was absolutely amazing. It was melt-in-your-mouth good!

Tekka Maki (6 slices) – P250. My favorite. I always order this when I dine in a Japanese restaurant. These were extraordinarily good.

Shake (salmon) Sashimi – P390. This was Carlos’s order. This was also very fresh and sweet.

Agedashi Tofu (deep fried bean curd with tempura sauce) – P390. A must-order when at Inagiku! This was so flavorful–crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside–we ordered two of these. So good!

Gindara Shiogama Yaki (grilled silver cod in salt block) – P1,570. The presentation of this was just amazing. We eagerly awaited the big reveal of the fish, which was so delicate and tender. Amazing flavors!

Tokujo Chirashi Sushi (assorted premium seafood topped on sushi rice) – P3,200. This was Raoul’s order and it was huge! Props to him though, because he finished everything. It was that good.

Usuyaki Steak (thinly sliced beef with mushroom and garlic) – P3,140. This was so soft and tasty! The mushroom and garlic went perfectly well with the steak. I love that they are presented in a roll–perfect with fried rice!