Japanese budget buster

by Abby F. Castelo on September 15, 2011

Photo by Abram P. Barrameda

Nestled between BonChon and Brother’s Burger, Moshi Moshi (which roughly translates for hello in Japanese) stands out for its sleek green and white exteriors. Though loud on the aesthetic exteriors, this modern Japanese restaurant has become a quieter alternative to its prominent neighbors.

If you’re going there with your barkada, the back area is the best choice with its casual dining interiors of rectangular white tables and spacious green chairs. Otherwise, the front area is for those who want more of an intimate setting – light wooden flooring and small brown polygonal tables that are lined up like in a mini café.

The impressiveness, however, of Moshi Moshi ends there. The service takes longer than usual for the orders to arrive, including a request for a bowl of rice which should only take a few minutes.

The prices are student-friendly and relatively cheaper compared to those in the other neighboring restaurants. For these prices though, the servings are small. The bowl of Gyudon (P110) is the same size as the rice bowl meals one can get at Sumo Boy or Cannan in Ateneo. Although the beef itself is cooked similar to Yoshinoya’s light version of a sukiyaki beef meal, the serving size doesn’t quite match the price.

The Gyoza (P65) is served with three gyoza dumplings that are smaller than ¼ of an average hand’s palm, in spite of its size though, each one is packed with enough flavor. The Okonomiyaki (P175), a Japanese savory pancake made of vegetables and squid, has a good balance that meshes well with one another. While good for two, it’s enough for a single meal.

The big upset here is the Kani salad (P99). It turns out to be a bunch of lettuce, very sour mango cubes and hardly enough kani. Although they use real Japanese mayonnaise (as opposed to other Japanese restaurants which use regular mayonnaise), the lack of kani (isn’t that what you’re paying for in the first place?) doesn’t justify the meal.

Despite of their small servings and slow service, Moshi Moshi gets plus points for their courteous staff. They never fail to greet their customers upon entrance. The manager is also efficient when it comes to attending the needs or complaints of customers.

Moshi Moshi is known for selling Japanese Kit-Kat (in cherry blossom, green tea, and soya bean flavors) for P100 a box. Be warned though, there are only two packets in each.

Our verdict: drop by Moshi-Moshi for the imported Kit-Kat if you want a taste of Japanese quirkiness and a (somewhat) relatively cheap bowl of Gyudon, but if not, get your money’s worth somewhere else.

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