Playing with Fire: Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki at Yurakuen

It's good to see the teppan grills at Yurakuen again, and I'm all fired up for a sumptuous eat-all-you-can Teppanyaki feast...

Manila Diamond Hotel brings back the popular Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki at Yurakuen with a lavish selection of vegetables, seafood, pork and premium beef masterfully prepared by their skilled chefs on the searing hot teppan grill.  There's nothing quite like enjoying a meal prepared right in front you and fresh off the grill, it's a show like no other and an experience in itself. And at Yurakuen, you get the best seats in the house. Time to play with fire once again at Yurakuen...

From my very first time so many years ago, Yurakuen remains top-of-mind when it comes to authentic Japanese cuisine this side of the metro (for more on Yurakuen, see my previous posts, A Japanese Feast at Yurakuen from five years back and Paradise Found: A Culinary Haven for Japanese Cuisine at Yurakuen from last year).

I've tried Yurakuen's Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki before (see my post, Indulge: All-You-Can-Eat Teppanyaki at Manila Diamond Hotel's Yurakuen), and was totally impressed. That experience needed a repeat performance.

Once settled at one of Yurakuen's private glass-walled teppan rooms, your tasty starters are served including Tuna and Salmon Sashimi, Tamago Yaki and California Maki. Diners can choose from a wide variety of side dishes which included Yurakuen's signature sashimi, sushi, makizushi, temaki sushi, and soup.

Yurakuen's Crab Stick Salad is another must-try dish with its fresh and clean notes before the mains. Rich and creamy with just a whisper of briny sweetness from the fresh crab sticks capped by the crisp garden fresh greens, the refreshing salad opens up your palate before the main teppanyaki feast.

You can also order a la carte for your favorite dishes, like Yurakuen's Gindara or grilled cod fish. When you're at Yurakuen, you might as well go all-out for a memorable dining experience.

Then, Yurakuen's chefs presented our teppan courses for the evening, starting with the Assorted Vegetable Platter...

...and the Assorted Seafood Platter including US Scallops, Squid, Tiger Shrimps, and Salmon. You can also opt for Mackerel, Tuna and Red Snapper for even more tasty options.

Yurakuen's masters of teppan then take the stage for another thrilling performance on the tableside grill...

The teppanyaki performance is pretty much like a light and sound show, a sensory experience that just elevates the dining experience at Yurakuen. And the teppan chefs at Yurakuen are truly masters of the flame, luring it out for a fiery dance. With the teppan grill properly prepped with the ceremonial flame, the game was on...

First, the vegetables (L) are delicately seasoned and grilled, then neatly arranged and stacked before serving. Then, the US Scallops (R) hit the teppan grill accompanied by a furious sizzle. It just takes a few minutes before the scallops are perfectly seared, sealing in the rich and briny flavors... 

The US Scallops are then topped with spring onions and finished off with salt and pepper and set aside. Like building blocks, the teppan chefs gradually construct our teppan seafood and vegetable plate, one fresh ingredient at a time...

Next, the tender fillet of Salmon are placed on the hot teppan grill, and after a few minutes, flipped over and seasoned with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of salt and pepper. Each move is like a perfectly choreographed dance, engaging all your senses in anticipation for a sumptuous teppan dinner.

The salmon is then topped with spring onions and set aside for the next seafood dish...

The teppan grill sizzles once more as the fresh Squid is seared and topped with fresh leeks and a dash of pepper. And with a blur of swift moves on the grill, the teppan chef sets the dish aside for the next course...

The Tiger Shrimps are grilled and transformed in seconds from pale grey to vibrant orange and red. A dab of butter releases a fragrant aroma, and it's done...

The teppan chefs then arrange each component on the individual plates, each one fresh from the teppan grill...

...and it's time to dig in. The grilled vegetables retains a subtle crisp texture, releasing rich buttery notes, the perfect side to the fresh seafood. Start with the delicate squid with its soft and tender yet firm texture, followed by the plump and succulent tiger shrimps with a fresh snap accompanying each bite. The butter-like texture of the salmon comes through, coating your palate with a briny richness. But it's the US Scallops that cap this impressive vegetable and seafood teppan dish. Soft with that almost melt-in-your-mouth feel delivering a vibrant burst of flavor, you'll want another set. And why not. It's Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki at Yurakuen.

After the vegetable and seafood courses, Yurakuen's teppan masters refire the teppan grill for the savory beef dishes. The teppan chefs masterfully lures out the flame for another dance, making yet another dramatic appearance to the delight of the diners. It's what makes dining at Yurakuen different, better and special.

And here's the beef. The teppan chefs bring out the US Beef Tenderloin for yet another sizzling encounter with the grill...

Seared on both sides, the teppan chefs then slice up the US Beef tenderloin in a series of rapid motions. Blink, and you'll miss the moves.

The sliced US Beef Tenderloin is served to your preferred doneness and topped with thinly-sliced crispy garlic chips. Perfectly grilled to medium with a juicy pink center, each bite delivers bold, beefy and savory notes guaranteed to satisfy any craving for beef. 

But there's more. The teppan chefs then presented the US Beef Short Ribs for our second beef course, and the grills are fired up yet again...

There's nothing quite like the sound of premium beef as it comes in contact with the fiery hot grill disappearing in a thin veil of smoke releasing a fragrant aroma and served. Other options at Yurakuen include US Beef Top Sirloin, Grilled Beef Shabu-Shabu, Baby Lamb Chops, Pork Tenderloin and Chicken Thighs.

For dessert, cap your teppan feast with Yurakuen's signature Green Tea, Salted Caramel and Cheesecake Ice Cream (L) with a side of sweet and fresh apples (R). From starters to mains and dessert, plus the entertaining fire show at the teppan grill, Yurakuen's Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki is one dining experience for the books.

Yurakuen's Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki is available on Weekdays (Monday to Thursday) for P 2,800 nett per person and Weekends (Friday to Sunday and Holidays) for P 2,980 nett per person. All fired up for a teppanyaki meal? Book your table for the best seats in the house at Yurakuen's Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki, and expect a fiery and sizzling dining experience at Manila Diamond Hotel.

Yurakuen is located at Diamond Hotel Philippines, Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila or call 528-3000 extension 1121 for inquiries and reservations.

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