Turning Japanese: Sakura (aka Haiku) 4 October 2005
Was supposed to go eat at Bollywood in Greenbelt 3 last weekend, but realized we had bought a bunch of pappads and authentic Indian spices in Rustan’s supermarket new section (we were thrilled, to say the least).
We had also stopped by Sakura, a Japanese grocery in Glorietta, for our regular supply of sencha (green tea). All of a sudden a hankering for Japanese, but it was early and we wanted to wander a bit more. Kept Japanese in mind until evening.
And lo and behold, there was Sakura reinvented and upclassed in Greenbelt 3 as Haiku. What luck! No need to go all the way back to Glorietta!
Menu, please
We had the Haiku salad (a house specialty), their assorted platter of sushi/sashimi, and a huge steaming bowl of tempura soba. More than enough for three people. Everything was better than expected, with large servings to boot. You could literally drown your sorrows in that bowl of soba!
The salad was a humungous concoction of green and red romaine topped with fried noodles. Its vinaigrette had just the right tang and was obviously splashed generously with sesame oil. Very oriental tasting, not your usual salad greens.
Dui just loved the sushi/sashimi – devouring about six pieces (crabsticks, salmon, crab roe, etc.) Who says kids don’t like Japanese! All fresh, and not at all sloppily made. Yeng, meanwhile happily obliged with the sea urchin (not my cuppa tea).
Capped the meal off with hot Japanese tea, but was a little disappointed that the lovely teapot contained a teabag. Would really have preferred our good ol’ brewed sencha.
Was on the verge of ordering the green tea ice cream (in a towering glass), but was just too full to manage it.
Same great food expected of Sakura, just nicer presentation, and a welcoming ambience. Though the decor seemed a little cluttered (very un-Zen) for a Japanese resto.
Tons of Japanese and a good sprinkling of expats.
Spent a little under 900 pesos for a filling meal for three.
Haiku
Greenbelt 3, Makati
Sakura
Branches in Glorietta or Pasong Tamo, Makati
wow! hindi ko pa na-try dito ah. ma-try nga…
do you think they have okonomiyaki? so far, i’ve only had okonomiyaki sa zaifu dito sa pilipinas. it was not that close to the ones they have in osaka (kahit turo-turo lang na okonomiyaki) pero okay na rin. 
where’s Zaifu?
not sure if Haiku has okonomiyaki … why dont you go try? then tell me about it!
diane! i found something i know you’ll like. okonomiyaki, di ba? dali, look up this link: http://twistedtwinset.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/2005/08/diy_iokonomiyak.html
mas ok pa siguro ito sa panturo-turo …
My wife and I walked around greenbelt and wanted to try Haiku restaurant. The salad, sashimi, teriyaki beef and salmon were great. It was a nice meal for two costing 1k. Though slightly pricy, it was tasty. The bad things were my wife and I had stomach cramps 5-7 hours after the meal. Lucky her she had to go before sleep. Me, I had to wake up 3 in the morning for 2 diarrhea sessions!!!
oh my goodness! i hope you ae doing ok now. Did you guys link it up to the meal? maybe the fish wasn’t fresh anymore? maybe you should at least tell haiku about it.