Izakaya Sensu - Taguig

We had dinner here with friends last week. They have a small private room which can seat 8-10 people. Food was nothing great though I have to admit, the presentation was nice. Service was ok and they have nice sake but all in all, the food was not to my liking. It will be a while before I go back, if I do go back.

Walking along Net Plaza you won't miss Izakaya Sensu. It has great interiors and a wonderful atmosphere. The music is hip and menu looks very well laid out. As far as nice things though it ends there. My son ordered the Kurobuta Curry Udon, the stock soup it came with was too sweet that I would describe it as inedible. I understand why he hardly touched it. I ordered the Shake Saikyou-yaki. It came out thick and dehydrated. I really tried to eat it because I was hungry but no sense in saving what is lost. Most of the items on the menu were unavailable (tempura, wagyu, uni) The tea served was like warm. The air conditioning seems under powered considering we came at night, maybe something was broken. I really wanted this restaurant to work and thought that this might just be an off-night for them but it's so terrible that it was enough for me to swear not to come back. Our table was filled with leftovers that we didn't even consider to take it home... can't remember doing that for a long long time.

This was my first visit to this restaurant and I was initially impressed by the nice presentation. The menu looked fantastic based on the pictures. However, the taste was disappointing. The sushi rice did not taste like traditional sushi rice and the Wagyu tataki did not taste like Wagyu at all, more like a lower quality beef cut. I believe I can find better value and quality at other places for the price I paid. The management needs to improve their game to match the high level of presentation.

My wife and I were passing through the area when we stumbled upon Isakaya Sensu. Despite there being several other eateries nearby, we decided to give it a try. I opted for the Chicken Kara-Age Bento, which was fried chicken coated with sesame seeds. Unfortunately, the seeds were overcooked, affecting the taste. My wife ordered the Buta Saikyo-Yaki Bento, which consisted of pork belly boiled in miso soup. We both preferred this dish over the fried chicken. We were seated near the entrance and close to the bar, with the dining area next to us being a bit noisier. The restaurant was very clean, and the staff were extremely courteous and attentive.

The food was decent but nothing extraordinary. The bento boxes are a good deal, but they are too big and a table of 2 or 3 people will not have enough space. The SAKE list is extensive, but the small carafe is inconvenient as the ice used to keep it cold ends up melting and spilling out. With stiff competition in Manila's Japanese food scene, this restaurant may struggle unless it addresses the table space issue and improves its slow service. The menu should offer some more affordable options with exciting new dishes.