Ginza Bairin

Late post!  Ever since Ginza Bairin opened in Glorietta, I've actually eaten there about 3 times to date.  And I seriously thought I've already written my review about it.  That is, until I saw my Ginza Bairin post on the drafts folder today!  Eeeks!  Bad, bad blogger!  Sorry!  But better late than never, right? 

I've actually tried Ginza Bairin both in Singapore and Hong Kong, and have been impressed by it on both countries.  So let's see if the local version is comparable to the other Asian branches.

Korokke

Nicely crunchy with creamy insides.  

Special Katsudon Set

My go-to order when in Ginza Bairin.  This is their "star" dish; the very one that made Ginza Bairin famous.  So it goes without saying that I order their Special Katsudon Set every single time I dine there.  It's my favorite!  So how was it compared to its Asian counterparts?  Well... I have my reservations.  The first and second time I dined in our local Ginza Bairin, it was good!  As good as the ones in Hong Kong and Singapore.  But I had my share of disappointment on the third time.  The pork was not as tender as before.  Could it be that on the first two times, it was fairly new, and I observed a foreign chef (Japanese, most likely) working on the kitchen, and on the third time, the foreign chef was nowhere to be found?  Hmmm...

Unagi Katsu

I've been a huge fan of the unagi ever since I can remember.  Seeing the unagi katsu on the menu, I can't resist not trying it.  First few bites will be heaven on your mouth.  But a few bites more, and I slowly notice that it's getting a bit too oily for my taste.  So in conclusion, this dish is better when shared!  No gluttons allowed or you stand to face the consequences! 

So how would I rate Ginza Bairin?  It would've gotten a 4 out of 5, but since the last experience was a downer, I'll give it a 3 out of 5 stars.  Not closing my doors on it though, maybe it was just an off day.  Will be trying it out again before giving my final conclusion :)

Ginza Bairin is at G/F Glorietta 2, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati

*Join my blog anniversary giveaway!  Click here for more details!