If you love Japanese food and are looking for something a little out of the ordinary, this new restaurant at the 3/F of the Mega Fashion Hall may just be the one for you.
Called Ohachi, it’s the newest homegrown venture of the Relish Group which brought Kumori and Wee Nam Kee to the Philippines, and introduced the local concept Birdhouse. Yes it has most of the traditional Japanese favorites loved by Pinoys but their Japan-trained Filipino chef, Chef Alfe, gave these staples a new twist so diners can shake up their Japanese restaurant experiences.
Miguel de Guzman, Relish’s assistant marketing manager, says the small changes in the dishes’ flavor profiles are their way of introducing new Japanese flavors to the market.
For instance, Ohachi has the crispy and juicy chicken karaage but this classic dish is served here with a savory soy garlic sauce that brings the dish closer to Korean fried chicken. The usually sedate gyoza, meanwhile, is bursting with different flavors at Ohachi—it’s got diced truffle mushrooms, truffle oil, scallions, nori sheets, white sesame seeds, and Parmesan cheese. This is finished with a drizzle of sweet balsamic glaze and has a surprise spicy kick to it.
Ramen is on the menu, too, of course. Ohachi offers the typical pork-based ramen or the chashu ramen but if you’re looking for something a little extra, order the karai beef ramen instead. Topped with beef slices, the dish is miso-based and has the perfect balance of savory and spicy.
Ohachi is named after a Japanese Rice Bowl so guests can expect an appetizing selection of donburi options. Most notable are the Miso Salmon Belly Donburi, which combines premium salmon with a flavorful miso glaze, and the Pork Chashu Donburi, which has a hint of barbecue flavor. Pair these with their freshly concocted beverages like fresh mango yakult, which has real mangos; citrus butterfly tea, which has calamansi and lemon; and Japanese milk tea, which is brewed in-house.
More and more diners are discovering this new Japanese-inspired dining spot. We dropped by Tuesday and it’s packed with families, office workers, and couples—and to think the restaurant only opened February this year. To celebrate their early success, Ohachi is offering a buy one, get one promo on their Tonkotsu (P365) and Chashu Ramen (P675) for a limited time.
Their brightly colored store can seat about 70 to 75 pax. But if you want to be on the safe side, you can also order food via their website https://relish-group.com, Food Panda, and Pickaroo.