One weekend, we were looking for a place to chow down. We chose this place because it was right in front of the grocery store we were visiting right after. This is my review of Tok-yu Sushi Bar found inside Pioneer Center.
We entered the place and were surprised to see it empty. The only people there were the employees and they were all in the middle of their siesta. Understandable because it was late in the afternoon, but not something you’d expect to see when you enter a restaurant.
Still, we were hoping for a positive experience. We were handed the menu and I asked what their specialties were. Our server replied with “Whatever is highlighted with a picture,” (non-verbatim). So we glanced at the menu and ordered their Yakisoba, a plate of Ebi Tempura, and the Super Mix w/ Salmon; all based on their pictures. We also got an additional plate of Kakiage Tempura, Pork Misono, and Chicken Teriyaki.
While waiting for our food, I observed the surroundings. The place seemed ancient, but not in a bad way. It looked like an air-conditioned Filipino karinderya. A clean office canteen would be something I would liken it to.
The Japanese touch was brought about by the hanging banners and lanterns. An empty sushi display freezer sat near the counter, a sad thing to see (probably brought about by the lack of visitors due to the pandemic, idk)
Less than 5 minutes after we ordered, the Super Mix w/ Salmon arrived. I was worried because this meant that the sushi was already prepared beforehand and might not be as fresh as we expected.
This dish is a bunch of different sushi and maki that came with 5 slices of Salmon sashimi. We initially ordered the regular Super Mix that came with just Tuna sashimi, but that was unavailable.
I picked up one of the Salmon slices and dipped it in the Kikkoman sauce. I put it in my mouth, hoping for the best.
It was so good! The taste of the salmon was spot on without being too fishy and the texture was the right amount of melt-in-your-mouth and chewy. My worries faded away. This was some delicious salmon and better than the ones I usually have at eat-all-you-can buffets.
The other sushi were also delicious. The California maki was juicy, with the salmon roe popping with every bite. The fake crabstick roll and sushi were also nice, especially when paired with a bit of wasabi. My favorite would be the tuna roll because of its simplicity. There was nothing bad to say with this order and it was my favorite from everything we had.
Up next was the Chicken Teriyaki. I had high hopes for this because I’m a big fan of both Chicken and Teriyaki sauce. Sadly, this dish was not up to my standards.
To put it bluntly, this dish was boiled chicken breast that was diced and slathered in a delicious Teriyaki sauce. Even if the sauce was very flavorful, I couldn’t forgive the cut of poultry that they used.
I don’t know why they would use chicken breast instead of thigh, but it was bland inside and made eating it a chore. The only saving grace was that the chicken pieces were very small so I was able to consume them with a lot of sauce and not have to chew as much.
There were other options aside from Chicken, such as Pork, Beef, Tuna, Salmon, and even Unagi. Maybe if we had chosen another meat it wouldn’t be this uncomfortable, but the chicken is a no for me.
We were looking forward to their Yakisoba, which had a picture on the menu and therefore was their specialty. Just like the previous dish, it was not what I expected.
I’ve never had Pinoy-style Yakisoba before, but if I had, this would be how it would taste. There was no hint of Japanese umami that one might expect. Instead, it was very sweet and the flavor reminded me of those Pinoy-style tomato sauces. My partner and Mama said it reminded them of the sweet and spicy sauces like Jufran.
These are not the things that should come to mind after a mouthful of Yakisoba. Unlike the chicken teriyaki, this dish was not objectively bad. If I was very hungry, I could happily eat a whole plate of this. But it’s not what I look for when I order at a Japanese restaurant.
My partner ordered the Pork Misono because it came with a cup of rice. I enjoy Tokyo Tokyo’s Beef Misono on a regular basis so I have a general idea of how it should taste. Fortunately, this was very tasty. The vegetable mix served with the pork were flavorful and I couldn’t get enough of the sauce.
This dish was where I got my umami kick from. The savoriness of the sauce made me forgive the slight toughness of the meat. Despite it being my partner’s order, I think I ate more of this than she did.
Finally, the last dishes served were the tempura dishes. It was impossible not to freshly fry these and they arrived smoking hot and extremely crispy.
I usually refrain from ordering Ebi Tempura because it is commonly expensive, but Tok-yu offers 4 pieces at a decent price. Cheaper than most Japanese places I’ve seen for the same amount.
The shrimp was wonderfully cooked, plump and chewy. They missed the opportunity to season the batter though, because it was quite bland. A savory batter would have elevated this dish to another level. But considering the price, the tempura sauce and the shrimp had to work overtime and I didn’t have a big problem with it.
The vegetable kakiage however, was well seasoned. I would eat this dish again and again if given the chance. Not only is it healthy, but the crispy texture and the tempura sauce make all the plant flavors bearable for people like me who hate veggies.
No order of kakiage has failed me yet and I’m glad Tok-yu continues the streak.
For those craving a tempura dish but can’t rationalize spending so much for shrimp, the kakiage is a great substitute. It’s cheaper and the servings are almost often bigger, as is the case here.
We ordered six dishes to be shared by the three of us. We left the place full; the Yakisoba was the only thing we didn’t finish. When I saw the bill, it was on the cheap side, considering that it was Japanese cuisine (~P1,200 for 3 people).
It’s no surprise that the best dish in a Sushi Bar is the… sushi. The Super Mix is amazing value for the taste and variety. I could see myself ordering one just for me on a particularly hungry day.
The service was quick and the employees are friendly. Although, we did visit during their downtime. The place isn’t too big so I imagine it can get full quickly during peak hours.
Tok-yu Sushi Bar
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11:00AM – 10:00PM
Pioneer Center, Pioneer St.,
Kapitolyo, Pasig City
While doing research, I learned that they have another branch in Panay Avenue, Quezon City. The reviews were all good so I’m guessing that branch will also provide a different experience from this one.
We just tried this restaurant on a whim and it had its hits and misses. Considering that there are other Japanese restaurants in the same area, I hope they can improve more to stand out from the crowd.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly Japanese restaurant in Pioneer Center, then Tok-yu is a place you can try. I would avoid the dishes that we had some complaints about, and maybe you might discover a hidden gem in their menu!
Still searching for the best chicken teriyaki…
-jgzn
P.S. Thanks to my partner for always providing the photos. :)
