Oedo is a great Japanese restaurant find in this part of Quezon City (Sto. Domingo area, which is fairly near Sampaloc, Tondo, Caloocan, and also the likes of QC's own Morato, Quezon Ave, Banawe & Del Monte). It's a converted house, and it's HUGE, with outdoor tables, indoor tables, teppanyaki / misono tables, & function rooms. The Japanese feel is certainly apparent. Well done! It's like a less props-heavy version of Haru in Kapitolyo, plus it reminds me of how the Japanese restos of old--- Kamameshi House's old branches and the now-closed Takayama on Wilson spring to mind.
Oedo ratings, at a Glance:
> Food & Beverage: 🌟🌟🌟1/2
> Service (Dine-In): 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
> Kitchen Service: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 ordered two donburi's (rice bowl) and one special maki (fusion maki or maki mono or creative maki)
> Ambience: 🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2 (I love the look of the place; it's not intimidating like high end but feels nicely done; it's cozy, but not cluttered like some of the Little Tokyo places)
> Value for Money: 🌟🌟🌟1/2 their Maki can stand to be cheaper relative to Omakase price (which is my peg for maki awesomeness)
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Worth a try : Yes (especially if you are a big group and are willing to try a new Japanese resto relatively in this area)
Worth a return: Sure, but I've got my regulars already in BGC and Makati & Greenhills, so no need to travel all the way here. If I'm back in QC, then sure, count me in!
TIPS:
Parking is easy in front of the resto along Sto. Domingo or on the side street. They're on Waze so it's easy. I didn't need to reserve on a Sunday evening though we were only 2.
VERDICT: 🌟🌟🌟1/2
Oedo is a perfectly good Japanese restaurant in Quezon City, well decorated, with an extensive menu of traditional and relatively modern stuff, friendly and efficient staff, inside a cozy converted house. Oedo is a great choice for families and barkada's looking for good (not blow-your-mind) Japanese food. I'm likely going to give their creative maki's another try next time I've reason to be in this area. Though Omakase's still closer at 25 minutes away, if I really want my fave, Oedo's got other stuff that Omakase doesn't have, like A5 Wagyu (didn't try it) for one.
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Added write up:
Oedo seems to be like Haru in Kapitolyo in its SM-like pursuit of providing a very extensive menu, like sashimi, sushi, maki sushi, special sushi, chirashi sushi, donburi, curry, Tempura, agemono (fried), udon, soba, ramen, kushiyaki (yakitori or skewers), etc.! In this age of more restos specializing, this goes against the grain.
We ordered the following:
Oedo Maki P300 - crabstick, cucumber and unagi (eel), which is one of their best sellers. With unagi as base, it should be great. But it was okay only for me. I think they should have added some tempura flakes for added texture. That crunch would have added the oomph to the look. Otherwise, it was just good for me. Rating: 3/5
Gyu Don - Beef rice bowl. P280. Good priced, lots of beef, decent flavor. I wasn't wowed by it, but the things they can improve: make the beef more sukiyaki thin like Yoshinoya. Some pieces were a tad thick. At least making it sukiyaki cut would lessen the toughness. I've tasted better flavors. This is one of their best sellers so expectations were higher. 3/5
Sake-Uni Don P580 - (salmon & sea urchin bowl). My wife ordered this. The salmon was decent, the local uni, surprisingly very good. Happy with this order, but I'd be happier if I ordered it for myself instead. 😂 I'd say expensive at 580 but seeing the amount, I get it. I'd be more impressed if the salmon was of a fresher or better quality. Otherwise I'd give this a solid 4/5.
Complimentary rice tea was good! Service as mentioned above was very good, save for the delay in issuing an OR.
Great Japanese option for this Quezon City neighborhood. Worth a visit if you're in the 10 to 20km radius of the area.
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