Kodawari (Salcedo Village, Makati City): The Japanese Restaurant with An Untraditional Take on Gyudon and Other Japanese Food
Kodawari is a Japanese restaurant that’s famous for their gyudon or Japanese beef and rice bowl. Interestingly, they have an untraditional take on it (for example is putting crispy talbos ng kamote or sweet potato tops on it) and their other menu items. It started out as a delivery service during the COVID-19 pandemic and has finally opened a physical store in March 2023.
Kodawari
I’ve been wanting to visit Kodawari for the longest time, but there’s always a long queue and our bellies don’t have the patience for it. So we waited for the hype to fade and finally went on a Sunday evening. Thankfully, we got seated right away.
Inside Kodawari
Even in spite of its tight space, Kodawari, for me, has a cozy interior. There are even Japanese-inspired modern artworks posted on its walls.
The Artworks in Kodawari
Let’s talk about the food. Of course, we first ordered their Gyudon, which has (as with all their rice bowls) a 63-degree egg, crispy talbos ng kamote, and Japanese rice.
Gyudon (PHP385)
Its slices of beef are sweet but I wish it’s more tender. The kamote tops are crisp and has a slightly bitter taste, though I also wish that it’s less oily. The egg add creaminess to every bite.
We also ordered the Chashu, which has huge chunks of pork belly. It’s sweet and tender, with a nice layer of fat. I would say that I like this more than the gyudon.
Chashu (PHP390)
Kodawari has a couple of noodle items on their menu. We got the bestselling one, which is Chilimansi (a combination of chili and calamansi or Philippine lime). I suspect that this is popular because it’s an upgraded take on the popular instant noodles with the same flavor. This is a favorite childhood snack for many people so it brings nostalgia!
Chilimansi (PHP355)
The noodle dish is composed with fresh ramen noodles, which are thick and chewy. The flavor profile is spicy and creamy. The dish may be simple but it’s yummy! This is easily my favorite in Kodawari! (By the way, the Chilimansi noodles have shrimp in it. But since we’re allergic, we had it removed.)
We also tried a couple of their small plates. First is the Crispy Potato, which are marble potatoes served Lemon Mayo Kewpie. The potatoes are crisp but need more salt. But the Kewpie dip is amazing and makes up for the lack of seasoning.
Crispy Potato (PHP285)
The second small plate is Karaage (crispy chicken thighs). It’s crisp, tender, gingery, and a bit salty. I think it’s perfect with Lemon Mayo Kewpie of the Crispy Potato; try it!
Karaage (PHP295)
Kodawari has good food and a nice ambiance. Although they’re known for their Gyudon, my favorites here are the Chashu, Chilimansi noodles, and Karaage. As long as there is no long queue, I would come back for it. I highly recommend it to you!
What items above have you tried or would like to try? Comment below!
Address: Adamson Centre, 121 L.P. Leviste St., Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines | Operating Hours: Daily, 11AM-11PM | Contact No.: 0906-3519120 | Facebook | Instagram