AICA

In the spirit of empowering its students to fight for their goals and achieve their dreams, the ACADEMY FOR INTERNATIONAL CULINARY ARTS (AICA) is giving away a scholarship to aspiring chefs who would want to take up INTERNATIONAL CULINARY ARTS & PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN MANAGEMENT. All you need to do is fill up the information provided for here, and you may stand a chance to enroll in their diploma course for free! Hurry! A valid entry will be selected on 3 February 2010, to begin classes on the 8th of the same month.

ZENSHO

4 out of 5 stars

Zensho is a decade year old, opened in 1999 and owned by Alan Acosta who used to be a regular customer of Kimpura. Wanting to put up his own restaurant, he hired some of the regular cooks from that establishment to put up Zensho. I guess one of the things that have made Zensho so popular is their unique “Eat-all-you-can” promos where customers order their dishes a la carte, but still have unlimited Japanese food for only 595 PhP. It’s cheaper during lunch where it’s only 495 PhP. So far, this is the only restaurant I know within the whole of Metro Manila that does “eat-all-you-can a la carte style” rather than an "eat-all-you-can" buffet.

Their “Eat-all-you-can” menu is practically complete, divided into: Appetizers, Zensho’s house specialties, Soup, Robotayaki, Teppanyaki, Salad, Tempura, Menrui (Noodles), Nabemono (Shabu-Shabu), Sashimi, Sushi and Yakimeshi. Make sure you don’t eat more than you can chew, as any leftovers would be double the charge.

Interiors

We ordered all the dishes a Pinoy would usually get in a Japanese restaurant: sashimi, sushi, tempura, kakaige, oyster motoyake (baked oysters), cuttlefish teppanyaki, tofu steak teppanyaki. mixed fried rice, steak teppanyaki, lamb chops teppanyaki, yakiniku (Beef barbecue) and yakitori (Chicken barbecue). Whew! To think we were only two! ☺

Assorted Sushi and Sashimi

Steak Teppanyaki (front) and Lamb Chops Teppanyaki (back)

Mixed Fried Rice and Miso Shirin Soup

Oyster Motoyaki

Ebi Tempura and Kakiage

Yakiniku (Beef Robatayaki)

Yakitori (Chicken Robatayaki)

Tofu Steak Teppanyaki

We wolfed down everything, and were very satisfied with what we got: The steak, even if it was local, was succulent and tender; the lamb was also cut into cubes and tasted just as great; the yakitori barbecue literally melted into your mouth once you bite into the skewered meat slathered in sweet teriyaki sauce; and the baked oysters stood true to its house specialty category, as it was fresh and loaded with cream and butter, perfect for slurping the sauce off its shell. I even loved the four season shake where the fruits were fresh and not concentrate.

yummy Four Seasons from fresh fruits

The tempura and kakaige were pretty average. The tofu steak was a little too sweet for our taste, and the cuttlefish somewhat fishy. But this was just a minor glitch to the well-oiled machine that this restaurant is, as everything else were exceptional, especially the service and promptness of our orders. For instance, the staff were kind enough to charge my laptop in the most convenient outlet, and they were very enthusiastic with our inquiries. They were also considerate to keep the teppanyaki griddle heated so that the dishes that laid there remain heated while we were eating. Our entire order came within a span of ten minutes, and we never had to ask the waiter to refill our water glasses when it emptied out. Finally, this place is also a blessing for smokers who can do so inside, as they keep all of the exhaust of the griddles open so that it would not annoy non-smokers.

Allan cooking fried rice at the teppanyaki griddle...
great service!

This “eat-all-you-can a la carte style” has remained unchanged for over six years and has remained popular for the simple reason that it’s the best bang for your buck in terms of its category, a mile away from Saisaki or its other contemporaries. I’ve eaten here more than a handful of times, and each of my visits here never disappoint. The ingredients are fresh, including the sashimi, the service is beyond reproach and the place is clean and comfortable. Apart from the 4 teppanyaki tables, there are also 3 private teppanyaki rooms perfect for meetings or get-togethers. So if you’re looking for a safe bet to take your family, barkada or a hungry loved one (like in my case, haha!) to dine in, Zensho’s the place to be where as they say, “We’ll cook it fresh as you order.”

Menu of the "Eat-all-you-can a la carte" below. Click to magnify.













Zensho
168 Tomas Morato Ave., South Triangle
Quezon City, Metro Manila

(02) 929-1069
Su, M, T, W, Th, F, Sa: 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Su, M, T, W, Th, F, Sa: 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm