Great food and excellent customer service. I'm excited to try the other unique dishes on the menu. I'll definitely come back and bring my family and friends. I love, love, love...Maisen. �
Loves the Tonkatsu Loin! The breading was made carefully and finely and complimented the pork. I must try the curry next time. �
Great and excellent customer service. Love all their dish and drinks.
To the kuyang server in Greenbelt branch who honestly returned my 500 yesterday (medyu tangang nakahulog), THANK YOU. You're the best! :)
Michelle P. Crisostomo
+5
I love the food... The staff at North Edsa branch was very accommodating.. We'll surely be back...
Loved the Kurobota Tenderloin!
Visited their Greenbelt Branch twice. The food was really good and may available wall outlet pa to charge your devices. Two thumbs up.
Maisen is better compared to Yabu IMO.
Although they both serve basically the same menu, I still find Maisen has better food, service, ambience, atmosphere, better overall.
Very accommodating staff. The only down side in this restaurant was the space. It was a really small space and the tables are so close to each other that it's almost suffocating.
I had a date with one of my good friends from college. We had late lunch at this branch remembering how I loved their Katsu Doria when I attended the launch of this new product (together two more) at the BGC branch months back.
With Katsu Doria, we also had Chicken Katsu and Dashimaki Tamago. We liked what we ordered but it was too much for 52 year-old tummies. Yes, way too much.
But honestly, the Katsu Doria was not as flavorful and as beautifully presented as when I had the first time. Maybe, it was a launch with a handful of bloggers were invited to review. Maybe and maybe not. One thing is for sure, I still enjoyed i
Not really many menu variation, most of it are katsu, but the specialty katsu i ordered was so good, with broth u can pour n mixed to the rice. Taste really good, also the salad dressing is tasty.. love it. 😀
Good Japanese food. They mostly have fried food items and rice bowl meals. The serving portions are quite reasonable too. Service is adequate.
We booked the teppanyaki private room and had their most expensive set menu. We had salmon sashimi, sushi, a variety of teppanyaki (fish, beef and chicken), fried rice, and coffee jelly dessert. The food was above-average but nothing special. If you would like a nice private dinner with an equally nice price tag, this is the place for you.
Enjoyed my katsumabushi set. Pork was soft and flavorful. Wish the set meal also included miso soup. Ambience was very Japanese and wasn’t crowded on a weekday lunch. 😊
The restaurant has a Japanese minimalist atmosphere.
The Tenderloin Katsu set is best for beginners and it is soooo good. It offers four different sauces that really compliments all sets that they offer.
You don’t have to go to Japan to try this much-loved katsu restaurant as Maisen offers it.
One of the many katsu places, I found that this is one where they serve more variety and styles than just different cuts and different meats.
My go to here is the Katsumabushi Set, if only for its eating experience. It's served like a Katsudon but with the sauce separated on the side. You can then scoop your portion from the bowl to your plate and drizzle it with the sauce they provide to your liking. There are other condiments they provide too like sesame seeds. Taste wise, it's like a milder version of katsudon.
Service is great though the place seems a bit small, especially in Greenbelt which is almost always busy. Price is on par with other katsu places.
I haven't tried their Katsu sets yet since I always order the Katsumabushi, but I'd still recommend this if you want to go for something different!
Katsumabushi Set: 4/5 - Enjoyed the experience of eating this set because it gives the right mood. It’s not the best in the market, but it’s definitely up there on the list. Will definitely come back to try their other items.
At first, we were sweating from the hot weather and it was reinforced by the weak ventilation in the restaurant upon our arrival. When we were getting settled and fanning ourselves while checking the menu, they proactively cooled up the interior. I love it when restaurants give attention to such things!
I ordered the #Chicken #Katsu Set and the crunch was superb! The coating was thick yet light and sounded like chewing on thin potato chips. White meat was soft and overall flavor was enhanced by the sauces from the condiments.
One of the sauces had a thick, defined texture that looked like radish and it was interestingly sweet, a good alternative to the usual katsu partner.
Service time was consistently quick from the time they got our order to the paying of the bills. We were also greeted on our way out. I can only throw in the suggestion of including some eye contact so it won't look so mechanical.
I thought this place would be pricier given its location in Greenbelt, but they're priced competitively like most katsu joints. Same taste and quality of food, but less crowded with a slightly more upscale ambiance. If you want to skip the wait at places like Yabu, this is a great alternative.
Most of the wanted Katsu in Greenbelt!
I usually ordered the chicken Katsu in here, they provide unlimited rice, fruits and cabbage.
The place is quite small inside, almost like squeezing. Service is perfect!
Food / Quality - 4.5 out of 5
Service - 4.5 out of 5
Place - 4.5 out of 5
Value for Money / Price - 4 out of 5
Tenderloin katsu set. But what we really want here is the unli cabbage and miso soup :)
There are lot of restau with the same concept with Maisen and now I dont know which is better coz I like them all. Haha
Ordered their Katsudon set. It was great
for the price. Portion was big. Only thing
I didn't like was it had quite some amount
of fat on it. I love pork fat however on a
Katsudon I didn't expect it. Maybe it's their
style.
Visited their Greenbelt and Megamall branch. I like the ambiance as well as the food. Since their Kurobota is sooooo good, I may comeback soon and try their other offer.
The only draw down was they don't have brown rice. Other than that, I'm one happy customer. ^_^
The pork was tender with real layers of fats (I ordered Rosu, btw). I find the Miso soup much yummier than other Katsu restaurants. It’s also cheaper but it doesn’t sacrifice the taste!
Haven't had the chance to review this place.
Must try:
Katsumabushi set - the experience of bite sized pieces of katsu with dashi and tamago is something you can only get in this place.
I love their katsu, probably one of the best because of the light panko breading and tender meat.
However, I do not recommend their Katsu Curry. That's what I tried earlier. I like the Katsu but the curry sauce is too watery. The consistency is not thick, and the sauce is not spicy but sour. I like spicy things so was turned off by this. I like the idea of setting aside the curry sauce because it makes the katsu crunchy, but the sauce itself is not good, in my opinion.
Still, go to place for Katsu. Just not the curry one.
Been this outlet five times in the past months, the most crunchy tonkatsu I had in Manila so far. I will prefer the chicken tonkatsu then the pork, the pork is a little bit dry for me. Don’t forget the free refil of vege, soup and rice here!
🔸Katsumabushi set: bowl had rice topped with lots of nori and katsu bites. I loved this so much! Each bite had lots of nori, katsu, rice and dashi stock
🔸Chicken katsudon: mom ordered this, tasted fine
🔸Sukiyaki set: dad liked the experience of cooking in a tiny boiling pot. Refill of stock is Php80 which I think is too expensive since the pot was so tiny
Ambiance, service, and food were all very good. 4.5 stars really. I would have given a 5 if the sukiyaki stock for refill wasn’t overpriced
Ambience is nice even though it’s a bit small inside, good thing they have alfresco seatings. Their tonkatsu is nice and what made them different with other Japanese tonkatsu restaurants is their sauce, I like its rich flavor without overwhelming the subtleties of the meat. The water melon served was pale though.
It was a Saturday night when we visited the place, it was jampacked so we were offered to stay in their al fresco dining area. At first, we were hesitant because it was quite hot that night, but the staff turned on their big industrial fans to make sure that we will be comfy during our stay - which it did :-) The staff were all courteous and attentive to our needs. We ordered prawn and loin katsu sets - very tasty and worth the price, the servings are big plus the cabbage and rice are both unli :-) They even have a small bar outside showcasing the food they offer. Overall, it was a great experience and the place is worth visiting.
Love the salmon and chicken teriyaki.. best thing is, food is so afforable.. paid 1100 for 4 meals.. so going back here..people are nice and friendly.. only waited for less than 15 mins for our order
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
A dear colleague hosted a late lunch for us here, one fine Friday afternoon, and it was a pleasant visit. We ordered a Cheese and Minced Pork Katsu Set, a Prawn Katsudon Set, and mine was a Mixed Katsu set since I couldn't decide what to pick. ☺️ The Mixed Katsu was composed of two miniature versions of their loin katsu, another two miniatures of potato croquette katsus, and one large prawn katsu. I love variety, and this serving portion just hits the spot. Every component of the meal, considering price point, was decent, and reasonable as they were refillable. I just wished they also offered brown rice, as a healthier option. I also got to try a piece of their Cheese and Minced Pork Katsu from my friend, and it was good. The cheese in the center was a pleasant surprise, creamy, and rich. The servers in attendance were all attentive, and quick on their feet, and the place, and decors altogether, breathes a certain kind of uniqueness, beauty, and appeal. That I mean, the logo, that looks like a massive relief from the wall, right smack in the middle of the dining area? Such a beauty!
I ordered one of their recommended items on the menu which was the katsumabushi set for 390 pesos. It says on the menu that you can enjoy this meal in three different ways - I won't elaborate much here but generally this was good. My mom ordered their mix seafood katsu set for 600 pesos and she was so happy and pleased with the food. She said it was so crunchy and flavorful. Glad she liked it.
This + Kimukatsu tops my list of the best katsu in the metro. I’ve never really cared for Yabu because it’s dry and gets umay after a while, but here, I think I could eat their tenderloin katsu all day. Their breading was a game-changer, and I love their sauce and the sesame salad dressing. I also appreciate that apart from the usual unli rice, cabbage, and miso soup, they also offer unli fruit (fresh pineapple and watermelon, both of which were very sweet). Their house tea was a bit weak though, and their service could use some work. It doesn’t help that the dining area is set apart from the kitchen/cashier/entrance area where the staff converge and thus wouldn’t see customers unless they were actually serving in the dining area. Ambiance was great, their location is great, and all in all, it was very worth it.
Karlo Maneja Dela Cruz
+4
I just got home from work and I'm pretty lazy to cook dinner. Good thing Maisen is still open until late hours and I'm craving for a Tonkatsu. I'm a pretty frequent with their BGC branch but it's my first time trying their Greenbelt branch even though I live In Makati. The service is amazing even though there are about to close. They still accommodated me. The quality of the food is still good. I'll definitely go back to this branch.
Better than Yabu!!!!the food is amazing, the service is superb plus, there are refills! Definitely a MUST! Though i would loove it if they would get a bigger spot, it’s always full!
I love dining at Maisen in Greenbelt since it's near me and the tonkatsu set is really nice. However, one of the things I hate most here are the servers. They always like being loud and it just destroys the dining experience.
FOOD:
We ordered chicken katsu. The chicken is juicy and flavourful. Big serving matched with unlimited rice , cabbage, miso soup and fruits.
SPACE:
Quite cramped.
SERVICE:
Not quite happy with their service since we have to help ourselves in finding our seats since the servers didn't even bother to entertain us.
Another comfort food on my books, Maisen, of the Ben Chan group, offers distinct and delectable Japanese food. It's specialty includes tonkatsu (tonkotsu). Their curry is also a must try.
Yummy!! Best katsu in town. The crispines and the juicy of the meat was perfect. I found this restaurant by accident. I didnt notice there is katsu restaurant in greenbelt 5
Ended the work week with sumptious Loin Set in Maisen in Greenbelt 5 last Friday.
Place: interiors are half classic and modern feels with its emblem as its main highlight. Air-conditioned dining is quite small (would fit around 25 pax, estimate). Alfresco is okay, but we prefer to dine inside last Friday.
Food: Me and my friend orded the Loin Set (P350, for 80 grams + 10% service charge). The set is served with rice, pickled set, miso soup, shredded cabbage, and fruits. The loin is perfect choice for me. Not so boring as the tenderloin, it has the "fats" hihi!.Maisen has powerful sauce, not that flavorful and thick.. just enough👌🏼
Service: extra attentive. We got refills of miso soup, cabbage and hot tea , quickly👌🏼
Price: reasonable pricing. Satisfied with the set
This will always be my second most favorite Tonkatsu place next to Yabu.
Try their curry Katsu set out! The flavor and the spice will surely leave a mark on your taste buds!
Had the Cream Dory Curry rice and switched out the assorted veggies for the cabbage salad. Cream dory was perfect. It's greatly paired with the Japanese rice and the curry sauce.
It's just a bit difficult to get the attention of servers when you're seated outside. Maybe they can have a ringer system or a signed card to put up.
I love the Katsumabushi Set here because it's a different katsu experience. Bite size katsu served on top of seasoned rice with a pot of dashi stock. Take some of the rice and katsu out and put it in your rice bowl. Pour some dashi and add some seasoning - sesame seeds, wasabi, chives. 👍🏼
Their katsu set is also very filling. Always happy with the refillable miso soup!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
So yeah, there's a lot of Japanese restaurants right now and katsu can be everywhere. I went here last sunday after mass with my beau and my heavy eater younger brother. We passed by Maisen, saw the displays in their take out counter and my brother was sold. I was quite hesitant at first because eating katsu for me was quite predictive. But we were so hungry to walk already so we just settled here.
Unfortunately, we were told that they're full and we'll be waitlisted. That was a hot day and I'm already considering to find another place when the waitress brought us glasses of cold water. ❤️ Then I asked if we can order in advance and she politely obliged. So we waited around ten minutes until we're finally seated. It was quite small inside, but not uncomfortable small. I like the vibe of the place and the open kitchen.
I ordered Katsumabushi set. The set comes with soup, pickles and some egg appetizer, fruits and some condiments (onion leeks?, sesame seeds and wasabi). The katsu was very good just like Yabu. We all loved our dish. But I think the star here was the unlimited rice, soup and salad plus the amazing service. I loved how everyone was so polite and attentive. You don't have to be shy asking for more sides because they will be the one to ask you.
Tip: They have bottle of kew pie with nuts dressing that goes amazing with salads and cucumbers. So order the katsu with coleslaw or salad! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Albeit a small restaurant, Maisen is a must try for everyone who loves katsu. We both ordered the Tenderloin Katsu Set (120 grams). It seemed a bit small for our appetite but was well compensated by the salad, which seems to be a staple at all katsu restaurants in the metro. Speaking of the salad, Julio was looking for a wasabi mayo dressing, like in Yabu, which they didn't have. The cutlet was fried to perfection and the breading was superb. If we had something that we didn't like about the place is that it can get pretty loud since it was such a small space, considering there was only one table with four (very loud) occupants. It was so unfortunate that the child with them was well behaved and the adults were very loud, as if they wanted everyone to hear their conversation. Overall, the food was good, service was fast, and they also honored the senior discount of someone with us who only had her license to prove her birth date.
Theresa Gutierrez-Palado
+5
For our katsu fix, Maisen is the place to be. The katsu sets specially the seafood katsu paired with their potato salad are just one of my favorites. The staff are so nice and very accommodating as well.
Maisen is a place you’d go to when Yabu’s really full. Similar vibe, similar taste and almost similar when it comes to price. I do get the hype on katsu meals, they are not cheap but they will satisfy even the deepest part of your soul.
I would love to give Maisen a 4 but their service is slow. Also, some of the dishes are bland and some are nakakaumay. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the food we ate and the experience we got.
FAVORITES 🔥
Tenderloin Katsu Set, Mixed Katsu Set, Water
If you love tonkatsu and anything Yabu-like food , Maisen is also a go-to restaurant. Food was okay. The thickness of the sauces are a little different than others . The crispiness of the tonkatsu is good and is also flavorful. They also have different japanse food sets not only tonkatsu sets. They offer reffill except for the tonkatsu. Overall , i like Saboten more tho it is much expensive than maisen. My ranking for the tonkatsu houses that i've tried would be:
1. Saboten
2. Yabu
3. Maisen
4. Tonkatsu by Terazzawa
In addition to that , i like the ambience of Maisen in Greenbelt as long as it is not too crowded in there. But , based on experience , it is always crowded in there during lunch and mostly at dinner time. :)
Maisen:
Pork Sukiyaki Set - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Katsumabushi Set - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Shrimp Katsu Sandwich - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
#ilovetoeatph 😃❤ #TonkatsuMaisen
Ordered the Chicken Karaage set and it was delicious! Perfectly seasoned and crispy yet tender and moist when you take a bite.
They also offer complimentary refills. Their sesame dressing tastes good too.
Maisen surely serves one of the best Karaage in Manila.
They have sandwiches for take away. Fyi.
We ate dinner here for Valentine's day. The place can get too crowded. Considering the price for their katsu sets with unlimited everything except for the katsu, I think it's fairly priced. Their katsu is tender and flavorful. It's overall, a good visit.
I'd give this place 5 out of 5!
Pros:
Service was great! The servers were soft-spoken, well-mannered, and very attentive. (Given that we were seated in the corner.)
The place was spotless, which is a +++++ point for me especially in corner booths.
Food was good too. I ordered the 80g tenderloin pork katsu. It was really tender and I think the portion was just right for me. :)
Price wise it was on point. Given the quality of the food.
Cons:
Couldn't think of any. :)
Kudos to the staff!
They serve good, tasty, and filling food. I have been here twice and I ordered their sets. I love their food but the japanese mayo dressing is quite diluted than Kewpie that it has lost much of its flavor. The food is quite expensive too compared to Yabu, which serves good japanese food too. Overall tho, if you are willing to pay a bit more and queue less, then the resto is the place to go.
Went here on a weekday evening and we just got seating outside.
We went straight for the mains. Chicken Katsu Don was very good with crispy chicken strips, topped with egg. Cream Dory Katsu Curry was good and non-oily in a typically Japanese curry. Cheese Minced Pork Katsu Set was also good. Stir-Fry Pork with Ginger Set was very good. All sets came with rice, cabbage, pickles and fruit
My mom asked me to drop her at the airport and instead of heading home I decided to meet one of my close friends at Maisen. It's been a while since I've been to Greenblet 5 so I had a little difficulty finding the place. To anyone who will read my review: Maisen is just beside Lorenzo's Way.
We arrived past 12 pm. Luckily, there were no lines and the last table was given to us. I ordered the tenderloin set which comes with 120 grams of breaded pork, a cup of rice, fruits, cabbage strips and miso soup.
It's been ages since I've been to Yabu and Saboten so I can't really say which one is better. What I know is I enjoyed my experience at Maisen. The service was fast and the tenderloin katsu was awesome. Savory, crunchy and the meat was tender. The sauce suited my palate.
I paid 430 pesos for everything.
#Backlog
The food here is really great. It is worth the price you pay for. It was my first time eating here today and I can say, it is now one of my fave Japanese restaurants. It is really worth eating here!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
After deciding between Korean and Japanese food, the latter won. Yey!
Then we had to choose whether it's good to go with where I usually eat (though Ate Kat has never been to Tonkatsu by Terazawa yet) or if we're going to try another Japanese resto. We then agreed to have a taste of Maisen.
One of the few things I always observe is the overall feel of the place - its ambience. Following the interior of most Greenbelt restos, Maisen has high-ceilings, eye-pleasing lighting and the minimalistic air of a modern Japanese establishment.
The staff are all polite. However, they should be keen in catering to the needs of their customers - even if there's no verbal expression of need (i.e. water and tea refill, tissue, extra cabbage, etc.). Don't get me wrong, the servers are great; however, there were a couple of instances when we had difficulty calling their attention because they were crowded at another part of the resto.
I ordered the 120g Tenderloin Katsu Set while Ate Kat ordered the Stir-Fry Pork Set. Each order came with tea, misu soup, pickled veggies, and (unlimited) cabbage. I loved my katsu, although the portions were not too generous. However, after eating, I felt like my tummy was about to burst like a balloon. I was that full. Prolly because of the non-stop refill of cabbage (and I felt like I was the one who finished their bottle of sesame dressing).
We also ordered siomai. I was honestly disappointed with this. First, it was so expensive (P200.00 for 4pcs - I felt like I was robbed of P150.00) and the taste didn't compensate for the price. So, I'd suggest that you skip the siomai. Not worth anyone's money.
But I'll still come back for sure. It's so good, I'm willing to forget the siomai matter.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
The presence of Katsu has always been part of a traditional Japanese restaurant and is normally served separately or mixed with egg in a rice bowl, Katsudon style. In the last five years here in the Philippines, it has created a separate segment and has gained much clamor from the public. This is despite being fried and unhealthy.
Yabu remains the strongest player with other establishments not far behind as they open new branches. I believe this fascination will continue and would likely stay in the food scene. Maisen, an origin from its native country has four and will likely build more stores in the near future.
Maisen offers more sauces and add ons than its rivals. They have Amakuchi Sauce (sweet and sour best on Tonkatsu), Karakuchi ( Worcestershire based best on seafood), Kurobota (Karakuchi with other Japanese spices and fresh apples), Sesame Dressing (fits well the unlimited cabbage), Ponzu (citrus based soy sauce), Spice Salt (salt and other spices) and Japanese Mustard.
We had the Chicken Katsudon. The meat was tender and juicy without being too oily. It worked better with additional egg I requested to blend in for an additional Php 28. The portions were plenty and the rice was definitely at least 2 cups. My friend had Shio Katsudon Set. It's basically their Porkloin in a bed of cabbage rice. I found this lacking seasoning and could use the line of sauces to bring out its flavor.
I was with my parents when we ate at Maisen, and we ordered Tenderloin Katsu 120g, mixed katsu set and loin katsudon. The katsu sets were good, and the katsudon was filling. Service was efficient, we were given complementary drinks even before placing our orders. Keep it up Maisen!!
I tried maisen out of curiousity (bec Yabu is my favorite) and because it is practically nearer in our office. The place is technically bigger than Yabu at Glorietta 5 but it has two parts: inside and outside. Obviously, the inside part is the airconditioned one while the outside is the one in the walkway of Greenbelt 5. The inside part is very small and can only serve like 5 or 6 tables, unlike Yabu which has a very expansive airconditioned part. Same as others, the cabbage and rice are unlimited. I didnt enjoy my experience at Maisen. The katsu is dry for me and the crew are annoying since the place is very small so they are basically always there standing near you. What i like here is the dressing. Better than Yabu's 😊
It was a friend's birthday when I got to try a Tenderloin set from Maisen. They've always talked about how it is so much better than the katsu I've tried (and at the time, Yabu/Crazy Katsu was probably what I consider 'best'), and they were absolutely right. For the price, the whole set was really enjoyable. The meat is tender and the cabbage dressing is really tasty (I think we finished two bottles just because of how good it was). Definitely would come back here if I have cravings for good Katsu.
Dennis Carlson Lim | TFC
+4.5
The first time I have tried this was at their branch in SM North EDSA. I am not a fan of breaded stuffs because most of the time, they are too sharp and would hurt my uvula. Second, is that they are too pricey for me. I was invited to try by my previous employee who now works there. I was full and satisfied afterwards. I then invited my parents-in-law who are picky with food, and they liked it. So this time, my parents wanted to go to Greenbelt and asked me where is the best place to dine. Of course, I would choose a place that I haven't reviewed yet (hehehe!) but also somewhere delicious that I have tried. I chose Maisen but also a bit worried because both my parents are "health-conscious" and are not fond of eating deep-fried foods.
Considering the price, we planned on sharing the food at first, but ended up ordering a set meal for each. We had:
- Mixed Katsu Set - comes with 2 pcs of mini tenderloin katsu, 1 prawn katsu, and 2 croquettes. The set comes with unlimited rice, cabbage, and miso soup, plus fruits. My dad was surprised at the size of the prawn because it was value for money being that big. I love the croquettes because there are still diced potatoes in it, and not those mashed version. The tenderloin is tender and the tartar sauce it comes with was perfect for the fried food.
- Ebi Katsu Sandwich Set - comes with a side salad and fruits, this siopao-look-alike has generous prawns in its katsu because it can be tasted. The sunny side up egg inside it with its yolk oozing out adds moist and flavor to the dish. It is great for light snacks.
- Stir-fried Ginger Pork - my mom who really doesn't like fried foods found something not-fried in the restaurant. The ginger pork has a sweet-salty taste and is very tender. With 5 pieces, it was enough to fill her up and satisfy her. I was surprised she ordered for another bowl of rice.
- Pork Sukiyaki Set - not being able to eat beef, I was happy that they had a pork version of this. The pork is very tender like ones from hotpots. The sauce/soup it dips in is sweet and light. It is a meal fit for a king.
Overall, my parents were very satisfied with what we ate. Comparing to other tonkatsu restaurants, price is cheaper, but the quality is there. Service is also exceptional as the servers are very attentive and accommodating. My dad said this is one resto he is willing to come back again. Mission Accomplished!
So far this is the best katsu restaurant I've tried. The miso soup was perfect for my palate; not too salty nor bland. I ordered 120g loin katsu set and the price is surely on the spot with the unlimited cabbage,rice,soup and fruits. They also have different sauces to complement the dish. They also serve japanase brown rice tea which was really great in my liking.The only thing that I disliked on this place was that there's no toilet so you still need to go inside the mall which was quite a hassle.
We always passed by this resto and have always been intrigued the yellow logo. Finally, we got to try their food!
The condiments/sauces were perfectly complementing their dishes!
Tenderloin Katsu Set (120g) - this is for one really hungry person like my company tonight 😋 Given the unlimited serving of rice, cabbage, and miso soup, I can't imagine how to finish this. Their miso soup was outstanding by the way. I appreciate that the quality of flavor of their miso soup doesn't deteriorate even for the refills. Anyway, the meat was also flavorful and tender which goes perfectly with their Tonkatsu sauce.
Tenderloin Katsu Curry Set - the meat that comes with this set is similar to the above but comes with curry sauce and mixed vegetables.
And last but not the least, the almond lychee dessert that comes with the set is perfect to cap off the night. Cheers!
Next time we'll try the Kurobata set!
Thumbs up for maisen! Good food. I was not able to finish it i had too much of their tea (wrong move on my part). Serving is not what i expected, it was too much for me, its worth the price. Great ambiance. So is their customer service 👍🏻 you should drop by here.
Jellybeans In The City
+3.5
My kids sure like their katsus! For lunch, we decided on plain pork and salmon katsu. The unlimited cabbage, miso soup and fruits are well-appreciated. The katsus are served hot and crunchy.
It's so rare to find restaurants that give off that feeling you're at home. I always felt so cozy when I come to this place. Their variety of tonkatsu dishes are always crispy on the outside and juicy inside. The katsumabushi set is a personal favorite, for only 390php and unlimited side dishes!
My boss invited me for lunch and recommended this place. We both got the chicken katsu and I must say that I liked it better than Saboten and Yabu (Lol, sorry guys). It was crisp yet moist on the inside. The servers were also attentive as they always check that all tables are handled well!
Their food is consistently good. I love the design of the place. Go for the Katsumabushi Set for a change. Great place to eat at when you're starving and craving for Japanese food.
The best Katsu I've ever tried so far! I always get the loin katsu and let me tell you that it definitely melts in your mouth. Their sauces are also great. I combine the thicker sauce (which is the sweeter one) with the thinner one (sour one) and use it as my dip.
Maisen is one of the finest and famous restaurant in Tokyo. Suyen Corporation brought the franchise here in Manila late last year.
Heard a lot of good reviews from my friends so this has been one of my to eat list this 2016. The interior has a japanese minimalist feel with their giant logo displayed. We ordered the Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu Set.
Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu Set - rice, cabbage, miso soup, pickles and fruits. Also served with a special kurobuta sweet style sauce. The cabbage, fruits and rice were all refillable. The pork itself is juicy and has a rich umami taste that is perfectly paired with their japanese rice (sticky and fluffy).
Overall, we enjoyed dining in the restaurant. The service crew were also accomodating. Will defintely be back next time but will order the cheapet tonkatsu instead.
High-end food which looks and tastes good. I tried their Maisen Specialty and it's great. It was a bit confusing at first because you had to do a bit of work to be able to enjoy the meal. Don't worry though, the staff there is willing to help and assist you. The people who work there are very accomodating and polite. I wish they could've worn kimonos. :)
The place is a bit small for a restaurant but nevertheless it was okay.
Tonkatsu Maisen is not your usual katsu place. This one is far better than the others. Forget the usual katsu and get the katsumabushi. It's not just about the food. It's the entire experience. Preparing the katsumabushi is very fun. Oh, and it's yummy too.
Place is relaxing, comfortable and service is good. Try their Dahimaki tamago, best Ive ever tasted. The katsu sets are okay, it's close to Yabu. I'd go back again. 👍
Maisen is the popular tonkotsu restaurant in Japan and I love their Katsu sand. I heard there is a branch in Greenbelt and tried here. Both Tonkatsu set menu and Katsudon are very good and remind me of Japan. Definitely one of the best Tonkatsu restaurants in Makati. I will try Katsu sand next time!
Top tonkatsu place! Amazing and attentive service crew, the place was tidy just abit crowded but overall had a great experience. Will definitely go back!
Maisen is a sophisticated place but not intimidating. Service is very good plus courteous staff. I love their dressings which taste unique.
It's only my second time to try it here at Maisen. Came back for the perfectly grilled salmon. For its price of P250 and you get a generous slice of salmon that's not dry, i think it's a good deal. What I like about this katsu place is they offer more variety compared to its competitors. But in my opinion, they do not offer the best katsu.
After living in Japan for 10 years, I can say that I am very familiar with the food. Firstly, I would say that the service was attentive and polite and that is always a good start. The portions and flavors were far better than I had experienced at other tonkatsu restaurants. Their pork cuts were not fatty and very tender. The ambience was very Japanese and pleasant. Would return in a month or so as to make sure it is constant.
The Greedy Appetite PH
+4
My boyfriend and I were craving for Tonkatsu so I suggested we try Maisen. I've learned about this Japanese resto through word of mouth from my colleagues.
Since I was cutting down my carb intake, I opted to try Veggie Tonkatsu. I've tasted many different Tonkatsus and I know how different they can be, but Maisen's Veggie Tonkatsu showed me a whole new flavor spectrum. Although it was different from all other Tonkatsus I've tried, it gave me all the delicious and healthy taste of fresh veggies covered with crunchy breading.
Every element was unique. From the aroma of the sauce to the texture and crunchiness of the Veggie Tonkatsu, it was just so perfect.
The amazing part - it doesn't even taste like vegetables at all!
As there are no more than a choice of 5 different Tonkatsu (Prawns, Creamy Dory, Salmon, Seafood and Pork Loin) it's logical that there's only a single vegetarian version of the famous Japanese-style porkchop.
Let's just say it was good enough to make me return to Maisen sooner rather than later.
Quite similar to all other katsu places.
The dressing was good though, I had around 5 refills of cabbage (hehe) The sets were sulit for their price, but was looking for something different, I guess given all the other similar katsu restaurants around the metro.
I saw some items in the menu that others don't have so I guess I'll go back a second time to try those out :)
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One thing noticeable is that I usually don't review restaurants that are part of a fad or craze. The main reasons are they are usually over-hyped (increasing my expectations which usually ends up in disappointment), uncomfortably crowded (rowdy places are my biggest pet peeves) and expensive (but not all). To be honest, I NEVER tried even one of these restaurants on my own will due to the circumstances above. The biggest food crazes erupted recently lean towards Japanese cuisine: tonkatsu and ramen. Out of curiosity, I FINALLY decided to give these fad restaurants a try if they are worth the hype. I will cover the former for this review (and the latter definitely soon).
The katsu craze started around the same time when ramen places sprouted like convenience stores around the city. As of writing, this trend continues to grow. Tonkatsu, in my perspective, is a glorified deep fried pork. Visions of of oily meat float in my head. So I thought, what the fuss is all about? But to taste is to believe. There are currently five chain restaurants that serve "premium" level tonkatsu: Yabu (by far the largest, at least a dozen branches), Saboten, Ginza Bairin, Terazawa and Maisen in addition to several other individual and more localized places (Katsu Sora). Of all five, Maisen is the newcomer in the katsu scene. After some research on which katsu place to try, I picked Maisen since their Asakusa, Tokyo original branch is the most well known and publicized one in Japan.
Their place in Greenbelt 5 is located to the dining strip outside and is rather small. The indoor dining area can only hold up to 30 seats and the rest mostly on the outside area. The place is very modern with a strong hint of Japanese architecture. A lot of Japanese diners, which is a very good sign for this place. Their head chef is Japanese too. Wanting to try a bit more on variety, I picked the Mixed katsu set which includes a prawn katsu, two mini rosu (pork tenderloin) katsu and two potato korokke (croquettes). This set comes with unlimited helpings of Japanese rice cabbage, miso soup, picked vegetables and fresh fruits. For 540 PHP (service charge included), Maisen leans on the pricey side, even among katsu restaurants. I was hoping that this will be a superb tonkatsu dining experience.
Tiger Prawn katsu - I was expecting this to be liked a small piece of prawn heavily battered, breaded and fried. But boy I was wrong! The prawn is humongous! I probably need at least four large bites to finish this piece. The prawn itself is very fresh, springy and tender and the breading goes well. And the better part is that the tartar sauce (unlimited helpings too) is sweet, full of onions and a hint of wasabi. This contrasts and adds flavor to the shrimp katsu. Probably the best piece of fried shrimp I had in recent memory.
Mini rosu katsu - The tenderloin cut of pork is very lean so I am probably expecting this piece to be a bit dry. But again, I was wrong. The meat is still very tender and juicy while the crispiness of the breading is maintained well.
Potato katsu - Essentially a croquette. This piece has a texture that I am not fond of since Japanese korokke contains dense potato mush with some pork. Maisen's version is the flaky variety which makes it difficult to dip or take a small bite on the whole thing since it falls apart easily. Taste-wise, it is still good, the korokke has a hint of milk giving it a nice, creamy texture.
Sauce - Unlike other katsu places where their sauce is made as an enjoyable activity for the customer, Maisen's sauce is pretty straightforward. The sauce components are on the table. I simply added a mixture of spicy and sweet sauce with some sesame oil and some pepper powder. The result is divine. Sweet but the spiciness is a bit lacking and I the sesame flavor is very strong. Two thumbs up.
Miso soup, Japanese Rice and cold rice tea - The miso soup is also great! Unlike other cheap Japanese places where their miso soup is like some dishwater added with packaged miso powder, Maisen's miso soup contains real miso, dashi and bits of silken tofu. As for Japanese rice, you can't go wrong with that. Fluffy and sticky, I probably had three or four servings of these. I simply love plain Japanese rice. The rice tea is also good. Grainy with a strong hint like coffee but very refreshing,
Sevrice - Highly attentive staff due to the smaller dining area. Nuff said.
Katsu Sandwich - Outside, their take out stall is similar to the one in their Asakusa, Tokyo branch. After trying some at home. The rosu katsu sandwich is still very good with the meat very tender but the crispiness is snuffed out by the sauce and white bread. Probably not in my faves list for the price of 200 PHP (six cuts).
Maisen does give me the impression that their katsu is worth every peso (and calorie) spent. Their katsu is unlike other mid-range and casual Japanese places with detail and quality is always focused. Great Job on the Maisen crew!
RECOMMENDED FOR: Families, casual diners (not too formal). fried stuff lovers, Japanese food lovers and business lunch diners (with their set meals being the main selling point).
RECOMMENDED AGAINST: Dieters (with all the fried food!) and people wanting to linger over their meal (the place is rather small); their elbow room is not the best.
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Its interiors are pretty straightforward and simple. Just enough for one to focus on their dishes yet still have a comfortable dining experience.
Their complimentary rice tea which had a nice roasty feel to it. Good to cleanse one’s palateYou know how sometimes the photo on the menu really entices you to get it? And then you find out that the actual thing doesn’t match to it. Their Prawn Katsu Set was an exception. It looked very much like the one in the menu (and better too since it’s real. Haha). Got a taste of this and I must say, every bite was prawn-filled. It was just good. You really get your money’s worth on this. I was really expecting a bowl of soup when the Pork Sukiyaki Set was served. I was just used to this being as such (go figure why). But I soon found out that it’s actually a dish served in a hot pot. And boy was it yummy! The pork pieces were so tender and the base was very flavorful. It was served with a cute piece of tenderloin katsu.A must on everyone’s order when dining here is of course, getting one of their tonkatsu sets. For that night, something grand was a requirement. Having their Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu Set fit in perfectly. The pork was so tender and really had no fat in it. It really goes to show the high quality meat, which was Black Bershire from the U.S., was used for this dish. As for the sauce, it was paired with Kurobuta Sauce which was made from freshly grated apples. It had slight kicks of heat but it paired well with the natural sweetness of the fruit. I just wondered why it was served cold but I didn’t mind it in the end. All the additions on this set just worked perfectly. Yes, it is expensive but every bite was absolutely wonderful.
So how fine was this restaurant? From a rating of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest), it gets a 100! :D Hahaha. But seriously, we truly got to have our money’s worth here. Service was good. And of course, the dishes are just divine.
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I love a really good Katsu. We may have a lot of restaurants that serves katsu dishes, but of all the places i've been to, Yabu has always been my favorite, next is Saboten. I feel like their serving are really worth every penny, plus their katsu are juicy and really good. Now hearing that a katsu place had just opened in Greenbelt 5. Well, that surely got me all excited and decided to drop by right away.
I would usually go for a menchi katsu curry, i mean they have something similar to it on the menu, but i decided to opt for a different dish instead. I mean, i should try something different from the usual right?!My order was the KATSUMABUSHI SET, which had small bite size katsu, onsen tamago, dashi stock in a pot and 3 kinds of garnish. Technically, you scoop out some rice and put it in a small bowl, top it with katsu, pour in the slightly sweet dashi stock, then garnish it with finely chopped green onions, sesame seeds or wasabi. What i did was, i also added a little egg on the dish. it's quite good with a little yolk in it. You can also eat the egg alone, without mixing it with the katsu. Tasted really good too. Something different from the usual way i eat my eggs. Anyway, i got a little bit curious too, so i tried the other sauces they have on the table. I tell you, they're really good. i can taste the hint of Worcestershire in one of the sauces, so it was kind of sweet, sour and had a little hint of spice too. All in all, i loved how good my dish was. Katsu was cooked perfectly, juicy, had the right amount of crisp, seasoned well too. This actually is one of my favorite Katsu restaurants from now on. Hope you guys will enjoy it too.
By the way, i also had a taste of the Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu Set too and it tasted really good too. I would also order this dish on my next visit. They sure have really good katsu dishes, that wouldn't disappoint you.
I ordered the regular tenderloin katsu meal 80g. Even if the meat was not the much more expensive kurobota, it was already tender unlike in other katsu places. Also, despite it being the smaller serving (80g), the meal was so filling. I also like the sesame dressing for the cabbage siding. It was much more flavorful than the other similar dressing that I have tried. Overall, I liked the experience and I can go back to this place to have my katsu fix.
We initially thought that they are located inside the mall - gbelt 5. But when we ask the concierge personnel, we found out that they are located outside. The place is just small, only few can go inside but there are also tables outside the restaurant. It is difficult to stay outside especially when the sun is super up. Staff greets everyone who comes to the door and assist them to their tables. Ambience is great. Tables are a bit small even for couples who order the katsu sets. They have unlimited cabbage, fruits, pickled veggies (i think), miso soup, and rice. For the tonkatsu.. you have the option to choose between the imported or local meat.. with fats or without. Their imported meat has after taste.. their local meat is just plain local meat that you eat everyday. But.. their salmon katsu tastes soooo good!! Ala carte orders has the same size as their katsu sets. Next time we drop by, i'll make sure to order.
While I like eating in Yabu I find Maisen so much better when it comes to food quality and affordability.
Their pork loin is softer, miso much tastier and among their condiments is furikake or rice seasoning.
Their price is almost similar to the other shop but rice, cabbage, miso and fruits are all refillable.
Would definitely go back and will do it later.
Another katsu franchise brought here in the Philippines. This branch is quite small inside and most of the table are outside which are non-airconditioned 😑.
Their Katsu set is similar with other that comes with unli japanese rice, cabbage and miso soup. I'm really a sucker for miso soup. I think I was able to drink 4 cups of their hot and delicious miso soup. The cabbage is better with the sesame dressing. For the katsu I love their tender pork. I love the sweet spice sauce mixed on the katsu and sprinkle some salt spice on my rice. Perfect! 😆👌
Yay for this new challenger to the title "Best Katsu in Town"! hehehe..And seriously, with the quality of their tonkatsu, it looks like we have a strong contender here. Had their Katsumabushi Set, which was chopped tenderloin katsu with seaweeds on top of a rice bowl paired with a special broth (not sure what it was haha) and a soft boiled egg that allows you to enjoy your katsu in a different way. You can either pour the broth or the egg on it or both! And it was really good! I also wanted to try their tonkatsu sandwich but that's gluttony already 'cause I also had some side dishes, chicken karaage and potato croquettes! lol
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