Curiosity Satisfied: Yabu, The House of Katsu

Ever since Yabu: The House of Katsu first opened its doors to customers at SM Megamall back in late 2011, I have always been curious to try out this place. Reviews by both people I know and by other bloggers have always been generally positive, and the lines at all Yabu branches I've seen are usually long.  However, our attempts to dine here have been thwarted by the crazy lines, and we would usually end up eating at other restaurants instead. This has left me wondering: "Is the food at Yabu really that good that so many people are willing to line up and wait so long to get a table?".

Fortunately, this question would eventually be answered as I finally had the chance to dine here with my family, at the SM Megamall branch. Read on and see my verdict.

The restaurant's facade

As expected, we had to wait quite a while to get a table at their SM Megamall branch. People would just keep coming in and the waiting list would just keep getting longer and longer. I'm amazed at how the staff was able to handle things quite well. The restaurant never really seems to be devoid of hungry customers, and yet the staff would still be able to carry out their tasks efficiently.

The Yabu menu cover

While we were waiting to get a table, we were able to browse through their menu. True to their name, their dishes consist mainly of Tonkatsu, (which consists of a breaded, deep-fried pork or chicken cutlet) served in a variety of ways. Priced normally between P300-P600, each order would be good for one person. 

The Yabu difference

The anatomy of Yabu Katsu explained on their menu.

After several minutes of waiting, we were finally escorted to our table. The restaurant was indeed quite crowded, given that it was a Saturday and it was dinner time, too. Yabu's SM Megamall branch was actually smaller when it first opened in late-2011. However, not too long after they opened, they had to close down  again for a few days to expand into the empty space right next to them as there were just simply too many customers coming in (I guess they never really expected their restaurant to be so popular). This expansion doubled the restaurant's seating capacity, and the "division" between the original section and the new section is quite obvious. 

Aesthetics-wise, the restaurant maintains a typical Japanese restaurant feel to it with wooden tables and panels on the walls and ceiling. The walls were also adorned with manga (comic) strips telling the story of Yabu and explaining the very precise way of preparing their food, like how the meat is cut in an exact way (with specific measurements and all) and when the meat should be lifted from the bubbling oil when it is being cooked. Hmm...interesting.

One half of the restaurant

Japanese-style comic strip explaining the precise way their food is prepared

Anyway, as we were settling down, around two or three waiters came to help us, either to arrange the chairs or replenish the condiments at our table. Throughout our stay at the restaurant, the waiters would always be around, ready to assist us or other customers. Their waiters also seemed more cheerful, unlike in some other restaurants where their waiters would give you the impression that they'd rather be somewhere else than at work. 

Not too long after ordering, our food arrived. At Yabu, if your food is not served within 20 minutes, then it would be free of charge. Considering how large the servings are (which I will explain more in a bit), it's great how they are able to bring the food to the customers' tables in such a short period. 

Moving on to our orders, my uncle and I decided to go for the Yabu Special Katusdon Set, which, as described in their website, is "Yabu katsu, drizzled with a light and sweet miso-based sauce, accompanied by nori, bonito flakes and a fried egg on top. A hint of shiso, or Japanese basil, is also found in the dish adding an unexpected freshness." At P330, it comes with a serving of miso soup, as well as some pickled vegetables, cabbage salad (which is unlimited, by the way), and a small bowl of pineapples and watermelon for dessert. I guess it's best to come to Yabu when you're really, really hungry--the servings are HUGE!

My Yabu Special Katsudon Set (Php330). This photo does not give justice to the humongous servings

My cabbage salad with Goma dressing

Miso soup

A small bowl of pineapples and watermelon to cap off the meal

My parents, as well as the other members of the family, meanwhile, went for the Rosu & Hire Set served with premium Japanese kohishikari white rice as well as the other side dishes I mentioned earlier. Again, the servings were huge, and the rice was unlimited. You can never be bitin while you're at Yabu!

Rosu & Hire Set (around Php500-Php575--I don't remember)

My Verdict

Overwhelming--that would definitely be the best word to describe my first Yabu experience. The servings are just so huge that I wasn't even able to finish everything on my tray, not even the cabbage salad considering how much of a veggie lover I am and how good the Goma dressing was. I now definitely consider myself a fan of their Tonkatsu, as it is very soft, unlike in some other restaurants I've tried where the Tonkatsu can be a bit tough and difficult to chew. Their Tonkatsu even has that "melts in your mouth" feel to it, unlike any other that I've tried. Also, who would've thought that shredding the cabbage very thinly for the cabbage salad would make it much more appetizing? When you add their special Goma (sesame) dressing, it just becomes even more delicious. The fruit platter, too, consisted of very fresh fruit. The pineapple wasn't really sour, and the watermelon's seeds were conveniently removed. 

One thing I didn't like, however, was the bonito flakes (also known as katsuobushi or okaka), which I honestly felt the Katsudon Set could have done well without. It just tasted a bit...weird for me. My uncle didn't really like the flakes either. Oh well, maybe they put the flakes to make the dish more Japanese than it already is? I don't know.

Overall, though, I was very pleased with my first Yabu experience. It definitely lives up to the hype, and their food was really worth the wait. I wouldn't hesitate to wait in line again--but maybe with an even emptier stomach the next time around.

Yabu: The House of Katsu

2/F Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City (631-1192)
Other branches: Robinsons Magnolia, SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall
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