KAI Revisited

We celebrated my Mom's birthday last September and decided to try out an old favorite. Kai recently transferred to the new Greenbelt 5 beside Myron's with a classy intimidating look. Kai is the japanese word for "gathering" and specializes on Japanese fusion cuisine. It was started by four (4) young filipino chefs Ricky Estrellado, Gilbert Panilinan, Rex Soriano and Pierre Angeli Dee who had extensive experience with Chef Nobu Matshushita's Nobu Japanese-Peruvian Restaurant in New York.
KAI is known for interesting dishes with a surprising taste. Let me share with you the food that we thought were winners.

Miso Soup (P70+) Simple soup served in a flower shaped bowl. It was a bit cold and too salty. Too bad, it ruined our miso soup experience.

Wasabi Oysters Tempura with Balsamic Dynamite (P250+). I'm not fond of oysters but this one was interesting enough to try.

Age Dashi Tofu (P140+) Soft huge squares of tofu with just the right crunch on the outside with seaweeds as the topping to add flavor.

California Maki "Kani" (P120+). The maki was perfect and it is what you would expect from a good California Maki.

Dragon Roll (P240). The crunchy unagi in these rolls were gone in a jiff. Reminds me of my Omakaze experience.

KAI Neo Japanese Cuisine Menu
Special Sushi Rolls and Vegetarian Sushi Rolls
Cold Appetizers, Salad, Hot Appetizers
Hot Dishes Seafood
Meat, Beef Ishiyaki, Kushiyaki
Vegetarian, Soup, Rice and Noodle, Table Cooking on Paper
Sushi and Sashimi
Flavored Shake & Ice Tea, House Sake, Bottled Sake, and Flavored Sake
Beer, Coffee, Bottled Water, Soda
Liquer, Whisky, Cognac/Brandy, Rhum, Gin, Tequilla, Vodka
Dessert

Portobello Mushroom Confit Salad with Maple Ponzu Vinaigrette (P280+).
We love Kai's salads. The quality of the Portobello Mushroom and the Maple Ponzu Vinaigrette sauce mades this the bestseller in Kai.

Roasted Grapes and Tomato Salad with Sesame Dressing (P280+).
The simple combination of roasted grapes and juicy cherry tomato worked together with the thinly sliced of shitake mushroom.

10 hours Buta Kakuni "Braised Pork Belly" (P350+).

We can't resist ordering this and imagining how soft and tasty the pork belly is after 10 hours. It delivered its promise and we savored every slice and partnered it with additional cup of plump white rice.

Banana Nutella Harumaki (P180+) rolled in sesame fillo topped with caramel, chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream. "Kai's interpretation of banana split".

If you find yourself looking for a unique dessert to impress your date, order this at KAI and this should give you pogi points. I loved the crunchy sesame coating with a shot of ice cream.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar (P110) with glazed bananas and walnuts

This was a big disappointed but I guess if you like peanut butter so much, you might want to give this a try.

Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake (P220+) with green tea ice cream and vanilla sauce.

I liked the twist of the green tea ice cream on top of this all-time favorite Valrhona cake.

Happy Birthday Momsy! (with Aidan doing the honor of blowing the candle.)

KAI Neo Japanese Cuisine
Unit 1-112 Greenbelt 5
Ayala Center, Makati City
Telephone: +632 75705209 to 10
Email: kairestaurant@yahoo.com

Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. www.OurAwesomePlanet.com Copyright 2008.

Comments

[diana]

hello mr. anton

im diane, a regular reader of your blogs. i just wanna know where can i send you a personal message. i would like to ask you some questions. =) thank you. hope you'd email me.

ilovepopvintage@gmail.com

Diane

[Really Amazing]

Hi Anton!

Indeed, the restaurant's ambiance looks really classy. The prices are not so steep as I assumed it to be! Thanks for sharing this to us! I will definitely try this restaurant!

;-)

[Nina]

Hi Anton! I'm a regular reader of yours and your wife's blog. Thanks for sharing so much information with us. ;-)

Just a comment about Kai. I've eaten there and I agree, it's alright. But I don't think it's the best. Yuujin Restaurant along Wilson Street is way better. Love their crazy makis!

[mishi]

Place looks awesome. Food looks delicious. And in greenbelt 5. Therefore, I deduce that it is also terribly expensive? I'll probably pass by it, as you advice, and take a smell around. If the food is good, the smell must be as good too. :D

[sinch]

gotta love Kai! glad to know they're now in GB5..

[princes]

hello, anton...
meron bang cruise around the philippines lang... give me some information about this... May napanood ako sa Unang Hirit.. pero di ko nakita yung ibang details. Kung may alm k namn pls..... reply
thanks a lot!!!!!

[salen]

Hi, Anton: send my regards to the whole family and of course, belated happy birthday to Mama Emy.

[Didi]

Hello Anton! OMG! Where have I been?! I've not been to the GB5 area since it opened! Hahaha... :)

Will try this one when I happen to pass by.

Regards to Rache, Aidan and Josh

[Sexy Mom]

the prices seem to be reasonable, and the food seems to be yummy yummy yummy, i love japanese food.

[Will Go]

thanks for the info anton! i cant wait to visit kai this weekend! uve been a great help! keepup the good work! :-)

[Garando]

The interesting thing about all the japanese fusion restaurants in Manila is that you rarely see any Japanese locals eating there. I always wondered why, I guess they probably feel the same way if an American decided to do Filipino fusion cuisine... "Kare Kare burger" anyone?

But I still do love Japanese fusion restaurants. Kai's food looks good, prices seem reasonable, will surely check it out.