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Coconuts Hot Spot – Given the hype surrounding its entry to the Philippines, Maisen’s first restaurant at the ground floor of Greenbelt 5 in Makati almost feels tiny.
It only has a seating capacity of 50, which already includes the al fresco area. There are only 28 seats inside the narrow, warmly-lit air-conditioned space.
It has a very zen-minimalist aesthetic with lots of wood, accentuated only with an imposing Maisen logo at the end of the eating corridor, and the open kitchen where the magic happens.
Its interiors should clue you in on the healthy balance of big and small of Maisen’s food, especially of its famed tonkatsu.
Maisen’s tonkatsu became famous because it is so tender. The creator’s vision is for children to be able to cut it by only using chopsticks. Fifty years into the business, and the Maisen has been able to keep the standard. Covered in delicate breadcrumbs, Maisen’s tender tonkatsu is almost…delicate. A funny way to describe pork chops but that’s how it is, at least initially.
Then you get to the heart of the matter – its size, its taste, the sauces – and you get large part of the picture. Of course, Maisen boasts of its Kurobota set (PHP630), the speciality of the house, but really, the ‘regular’ loin set (PHP350) is already satisfying.
While there are a few things in Maisen’s menu that you can get in other, older katsu joints in the city, there are a few more things in Maisen’s menu that will set this newcomer apart.
Check out the Katsumbashi set (PHP390) which already has its tonkatsu cut into bite-sized portions floating on a bed of rice, served in a large bowl, along with a myriad of side dishes and a dashi stock. Order this when you’re feeling like having fun and not very stressed because essentially, you’ll assemble a rice soup.
Scoop the katsu along with rice onto your bowl, add your condiments, and then pour the stock according to how you like it. It can get pretty messy or stressful so you’re already highly strung, best to get this some other time, when you’re actually back to your fun self.
Another: The pocket sandwiches (starts PHP150) which, again, look petite but are quite hefty. An order comes at one piece; a flattened white bread acting as a soft shell that wraps around the meat and and a sunny side up. We recommend the tenderloin pocket sandwich.
And another: Maisen is actually part of the Suntory group. Uh huh, as in ‘for-relaxing-times-make-it-Suntory-times’ fame. So don’t forget to order liquer, its high ball (PHP250), to be specific. That will make your Maisen experience a fun one.
Still another: Maisen has a take-out counter outside, where pocket sandwiches and regular sandwiches could be bought. A really cool treat, if you ask us because a 50 seater is just a tad too tight for our taste. It’s good to know we can take home, or take out the Maisen goodness, thank you very much!
In any case, the second Maisen location in SM Mega Fashion Hall should be up in running in two weeks or so.
Maisen, G/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati. 11am-11pm. +63 2 2390390
Check out Maisen’s interiors. Hard to miss that imposing Maisen logo.
The famous tonkatsu set, which includes rice, miso soup, pickles, and a mound of cabbage.
The Tenderloin pocket sandwich (PHP150) is yum.
And these are the tenderloin sandwiches (PHP125/3 pieces) that you can take home. They also come in 6-pieces, which we feel is best for sharing already.
