Staff handed and explained the white & black sesame seeds that we had to pulverize
using the provided small ceramic mortar & wood pestle then pour in “that sauce” in my plate
which I had to taste first separately-to know what it’s a mix of.
Sniffed, tasted oohh it’s made of blah, blah, blah.
The beer is in stand-by for any eventuality like the piquant yellow mustard
that I believe was generously mixed with “wasabi”
(check the yellow thing below 2 o’clock of rice in bowl).
Whew, the heat went up to my head…but I loved it.

Pangs & I, whenever in the look-out for “real” food, never…as in never…will consider
any Japanese site. Why? We’re not fond of their dishes.
Another why? Here:
1. we manufacture high-end “Gyoza”, dimsum and dumpling thus supply some of them.
We see, smell, taste them day in-day out.
2. we do not go for raw meat like the different “sashimi” (do you call them so?)
3. had tried no less than 4 that served “RANCID katsus”
4. can’t control the temptation of eating a lot due to our ecstasy of using chopsticks.
But for heaven’s sake Cha, my daughter, imposed on us last Wednesday
that we dine at YABU-Glorietta 5 (Makati City) saying their “katsu” is the best.
Familiar name mention &  praises from friends, me anxious.
Eager to try if it will pass Pangs’ & my smell-taste-digest-smell-taste routine.
To scrutinize varieties, Pangs got Kurobuta Premium Set,
I had Chicken and Seafood Katsu Set,
Cha and fiance Anton ordered Katsu Curry Set.

My serving.
A-plenty, in seeming dis-array, but OMG never mind. It’s worth every space.
Finished my fave “miso soup” first then attacked the “never-ending” thinly sliced organic white cabbage.

Took this shot to remind me of the “encounter”
Findings:
1. never tasted any rancidity in the food served
which means that the oil used could be for that day’s production only.
2. “panko” (Japanese breadcrumbs) is perfect. It matches the kind of oil utilized.
3. Japanese rice was perfect.
4. well, I concocted my own dipping sauce combi.
5. I particularly love the cabbage.
5. I don’t know but the overall taste of food seemed “very very clean”
6. STAFF? Utmost courtesy. Accommodating. Alert. Swift.
7. PRICE? Of course, a bit high than the 2-3 star Jap houses but
WELL WORTH THE BUCKS.
Don’t entertain second thoughts…go visit your nearest branch.
Check YABU’s website here...choose what you’ll order before hand.
Line is long. Save time.
YABU the royalty of katsu.