Hanako Caps the Year on a High Note with Holiday Platters and a New Branch at Greenhills Promenade

Accessible and authentic Japanese cuisine that's affordable and easy on the pocket, Hanako's concept of quality and value continues to bloom with their latest offering of sumptuous Holiday Platters. And a new branch adding to its network of locations around the metro...

With branches up north and down south, Hanako finally makes the move to bolster its presence at the heart of the metro with its newest branch at Greenhills Promenade. Now with seven branches including Better Living, Moonwalk, SM Center Pasig, Robinsons Townville Regalado, The Rock Quezon City and Estancia Mall, the new Greenhills location adds to a growing network of restaurants in an aggressive expansion program to cap another year on a high note. True to its name, Hanako continues to bloom driven by its hearty take on Japanese cuisine like sushi, tempura, donburi and gyoza without busting your wallet.

The name of the restaurant is inspired by the Japanese word for "flower girls," and this is highlighted by the brand's colorful logo. Long known to southies as the spot for classic yet affordable Japanese dishes, Hanako offers a wide range of popular Japanese specialties guaranteed to satisfy any craving. And the best part? All without breaking your budget. It's this delicate balance of value and quality that makes Hanako a hands down choice, and it's a winning formula that's worked for the brand.

My first encounter with the brand was at the height of the quarantine experience last year with their Hot Trays Party Platters (for more on Hanako, see my previous posts, ECQ Eats: Hot Eats with the New Hot Trays Party Platters by Hanako PH on their sumptuous trays for take-out and delivery from 2021) with many businesses pivoting to delivery and take-out to stay relevant in a challenging new normal. Since then, Hanako remained high on my list for comforting Japanese dishes that's affordable without compromising on quality (see more on their selection of Platters on my post, #CraveHanako: Party on a Platter with the Party Platters of Hanako on their platter offerings from January early this year).

 

Clearly, Hanako has a winning concept with the opening of new branches and franchisees (see my post, Craving Tempura? #CraveHanako with the Tempura All-You-Can at Hanako...on their successful promotions from early this year and branch opening at Estancia Mall). And with exciting promotions like their Tempura All-You-Can and BOGO Weekends, Hanako is just starting...

This year, Hanako continues the tradition with its sumptuous Holiday Platters...

...like the Spicy Combo Sushi Platter (P 949 good for 4-6) with their specialty Ultimate Dynamite Rolls, Spicy Tuna Teriyaki Roll, Spicy Tuna Crunch and Tamago Sushi for a set that's hard to beat. Each platter is freshly prepared so allow at least 30 minutes to an hour (for large platters) when you order.

The Spicy Tuna Crunch with tuna strips, tanuki, egg and togarashi brings a delectable blend of both flavor and texture with each bite followed by a subtle soothing heat. The Ultimate Dynamite Roll combines tuna and salmon with kani crab sticks, tanuki and nori in a flavorful combo delivering the fresh, clean and briny sweetness of the seafood along with the other ingredients in one bite. The Spicy Tuna Teriyaki Roll with tuna, tanuki, togarashi and spring onions sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds is another inventive play on flavors and textures rounded out by the lingering yet subtle heat of the spices and the salty sweetness of the teriyaki sauce. The Tamago Sushi completes the platter with its own distinctive and rich notes to temper the spicy sushi selection. 

The Spicy Combo Sushi Platter is just one of many tempting options, and you can also select from the twelve other sushi varieties at Hanako like their Torched Cheese and Salmon (P 329), Five Star Roll (P 314), Philadelphia Roll (P 279), Takai Aburi Roll (P 279), American Dream (P 279) and the classic California Maki (P 224). 

Quality and freshness are critical elements in Japanese cuisine, and Hanako combines the use of premium ingredients with masterful execution for authentic flavors.

No Japanese feast at home is complete without Tempura...

...and Hanako has the tray to complete your holiday feast. The Tempura Tray (P 1,219) with twenty pieces of crisp and succulent Ebi Tempura with homemade Tentsuyu dipping sauce adds to your festive holiday dining experience at home conveniently delivered by Hanako.

The light batter is delicately crisp allowing you to enjoy the fresh and clean briny notes of the plump and succulent ebi. Just like the Spicy Combo Sushi Platter, the Tempura Platter brings full and unrestrained flavors to the palate with a delectable textural finish. 

That fresh snap and crunch holds up well during delivery, and best enjoyed immediately. We stored some leftovers in the freezer and reheated it the next day, and the crunch and flavor was still there. Quality ingredients brings the flavors, and Hanako's skilled execution lets you enjoy the classic tempura at home to fix your Japanese cravings.

The quality and execution components in the winning formula of Hanako is highlighted in their specialty dishes like the Tempura...

...and combined with the Spicy Combo Sushi Platter, you can enjoy classic Japanese flavors at home for the holidays. Or anytime that unexpected craving for Japanese food strikes. 

And the success story of Hanako continues with the recent opening of their newest location in Greenhills Promenade. Still on soft opening, the kitchen is all fired up for those craving for fresh flavors at their latest addition to a growing network of branches in the metro. 

The bright interiors with its pale wood tones and light gray concrete finish exude a sleek and modern vibe... 

...with playfully creative neon signages highlighting the brand's youthful character and image. 

Beyond the clean lines of its contemporary design, the real magic at Hanako is revealed...

...through a circular glass window for a peek at the busy kitchen. That day, Hanako served up a lavish feast from their extensive menu...

Start with a refreshing drink like the Red Iced Tea (P 74) and House Blend Iced Tea (P 74) to open up the palate...

...for the extensive selection of classic Japanese dishes at Hanako. Some fresh sashimi and sushi to start?

Freshness is flavor, and you can experience it with the Tuna Sashimi (P 259-5 pcs/P 309-8 pcs) of Hanako to start your Japanese feast...

...along with the equally popular Salmon Sashimi (P 299-5 pcs/P 349-8 pcs). Fresh, clean and uncluttered, each melt-in-your-mouth bite from the tuna and salmon delivers a flavorful burst that lingers on the palate. Like so many Japanese dishes, the emphasis on freshness and flavor becomes evident from the very first bite. Sashimi offers fresh and clean flavors in its purest form, and Hanako's uncompromising commitment to quality is your guarantee for real flavors. 

The Torched Cheese and Salmon (P 329) with cream cheese, Japanese mayo and teriyaki sauce brings lusciously rich flavors with just a hint of smoky hints complementing the fresh and natural briny sweetness of the salmon. The creamy Japanese mayo and teriyaki sauce rounds out the flavors.

The Ultimate Dynamite Roll (P 309) topped with crisp and crunchy tempura batter bits will have you going for another bite...

...with its delectable play on textural contrasts and fresh flavors. From sashimi to its inventive sushi creations, Hanako offers a myriad of tasty possibilities for a special Japanese dining experience at reasonable prices. 

The California Gunkan (P 239) with kani crab sticks, cucumber, tamago, ebiko, sweet mangoes and crisp salmon skin is one more surprising treat from Hanako's arsenal of Japanese specialties. The sweetness of the mangoes and crab sticks weave seamlessly with the textural and flavorful notes of the tamago, cucumber, crunchy salmon skin and ebiko perfectly finished by a dab of wasabi.

Dining with family or your group of friends? The Hanako's Best (P 1,419) with California Maki, Spicy Tuna Crunch, Philadelphia Roll, Salmon Sashimi and Tuna Sashimi is the perfect choice. 

Fresh tuna and sashimi along with the specialty sushi creations in one platter, the Hanako's Best is ideal for sharing for festive feasts. 

Before the mains, enjoy a soothing bowl of Miso Soup (P 74) to warm the palate with its rich and savory mildly salty notes...

An all-time favorite, you can't go wrong with Hanako's Mixed Tempura (P 179) with shrimps, kani crab sticks and a medley of vegetables draped in a light and crunchy batter and served with tempura sauce...

...or go all-out with the Ebi Tempura (P 219) with succulent shrimps in a light batter that's good all the way to the crunchy tail.  

Lightly battered with a delicate crispness, Hanako hits all the right notes with their specialty tempura. And it gets better. Be sure to check their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/HanakoPH/ for updates on their Tempura All-You-Can offers.

In between bites, add even more fresh flavors to the table with the Kani Salad (P 269) with its blend of kani crab sticks, cucumber, sweet mangoes, ebiko and nori strips tossed in rich and creamy Japanese mayo. Contrasting textures teases the palate followed by the subtle sweetness of the crab sticks and fresh vegetables perfectly finished by the Japanese mayo.  

Craving for rice? The Beef Omurice (P 229), a fluffy omelette filled with tender beef strips and rice drizzled with Japanese mayo and sweet sauce should do the trick. 

Hanako also offers an extensive selection of thirteen tasty donburi variants, like the Pork Belly Don (P 229) with pork belly strips and pickled radish on rice topped with egg and drizzled with Gyudon sauce. The unctuous flavors of the pork belly is perfectly tempered by the pickled radish and sharp sweet notes of the sauce while the egg adds one more layer of richness to your bowl.  

The Chicken Teriyaki Don (P 309) with tender and juicy chicken breast slathered in sweet and mildly salty teriyaki sauce on rice sprinkled with sesame seeds delivers comfortingly familiar and classic Japanese flavors to the palate...

...while the Salmon Teriyaki Don (P 334) offers a refreshing yet indulgent savory richness with a slab of salmon on rice. Other donburi specialties include the Katsudon (P 309), Gyudon (P 329), Tendon (P 219), Beef Yakiniku (P 319), Tori Katsudon (P 319), Oyakodon (P 249), Tofu Steak Don (P 199), Yakitori (P 199), Kosho Chicken (P 199) and Kosho Beef (P 199). 

The Ebi Fry (P 204-3 pcs/P 304-5 pcs) with succulent shrimps in a thicker breading served with rice, a side salad and sauces is a solid solo feast you wouldn't want to share. The richly seasoned breading delivers a flavorful burst complementing the delicate flavors of the shrimps for another delectable play on contrasting flavors and textures. You can also opt for the traditional Tonkatsu (P 299), Katsu Curry (P 319), Tori Katsu (P 304), Tori Katsu Curry (P 324), Menchi Katsu (P 229), Fish Katsu (P 229) and Crispy Fish Teriyaki (P 204).

Meanwhile, indulge in the crunchy and juicy Chicken Karaage (P 284) served with a creamy mayo dip on the side...

...but don't forget to add their specialty dumplings to the sumptuous mix with the Gyoza Sampler (P 199) featuring all variants with two savory pieces each of the Classic, Beef and Chicken. In case you're still craving for more tasty bites, other tasty appetizers at Hanako include the Salmon Tartare (P 309), Tuna Tartare (P 249), Tofu Steak A La Carte (P 189), Agedashi Tofu (P 124) and Yasai Itame (P 179). 

One of my personal picks at Hanako is the hearty and comforting Beef Sukiyaki (P 274) with fork-tender beef, sotanghon noodles, carrots, onions and cabbage topped with egg and drizzled with Donburi sauce. A meal in itself, the rich flavors of the savory broth ties everything together in a balanced blend. 

A solid menu bringing all the classic Japanese dishes you love and then some...

...it's easy to see why Hanako is top-of-mind when it comes to quality ingredients and masterful execution of classic all-time Japanese favorites with value for money to complete a successful and winning equation. For Caloy Sycip, serving the best at prices well within reach remains at the core of Hanako's strategy and vision. Sushi, tempura, donburi, gyoza and more, you'll find it all here at Hanako. 

Bring your appetite, Caloy Sycip and his team at Hanako will be ready and waiting for you at Greenhills Promenade.

The kitchen is all fired up to serve all your Japanese food cravings with reasonable prices that won't cramp your style. Or your appetite. At Hanako, now on soft opening at Greenhills Promenade...

Hanako is located at the Ground Floor of Greenhills Promenade, Annapolis Street corner Missouri Street, San Juan, Metro Manila. You can also visit their website at https://cravehanako.ph/, FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/HanakoPH/ and IG Feed at https://www.instagram.com/hanako.ph/ for more updates.

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