Just in time for Holy Week is this gem of a Japanese restaurant along one of Manila’s most distinctive eating streets. – Lori
It’s an underlying truth that Pinoys now have many choices when it comes to Japanese food. Some friends had suggested that I try out Hanako in Maginhawa, an area of Quezon City considered a foodie paradise. We decided to go there on a Sunday, just as they were ready for the lunch crowd. Given how busy Maginhawa can get, a Sunday daytime excursion would allow us more elbow room and ambiance to enjoy Hanako at its finest.
Hanako is a Japanese name for girls, and has many levels of meaning. The most direct is that it means “flower girl.” However, it can also denote a certain richness or theatricality. I kept that in mind as we walked towards Hanako on Maginhawa.
The First Wave

We started off with drinks and appetizers. The strawberry flavored iced tea was a bit too sweet, but at Php 39, it’s a more than adequate pick-me-up, particularly for those who have a sweet tooth. Since we wanted to start with something light, we ordered the Kani Salad (Php 139), and the Sukiyaki Soup (Php 149). The salad’s generous mix of cucumber and crabstick is a theme we would find repeated in our other orders.

The Cooked

Although the Gyoza is technically an appetizer, we treated it as the first course of our main meal – and with a choice between four pieces (Php129) and two (Php69), I would say that it makes a fine side di...