Kiwami, a Japanese word meaning “Masters,” has finally opened its second branch in Alabang Town Center. It features the best of the best in Japanese cuisine, including: Ippudo’s award-winning ramen, Yabu’s signature tonkatsu, Hannosuke’s tempura tendon, and Hachibei’s mouth-watering yakitori. The first Kiwami branch in Bonifacio High Street was a huge success, and we’re sure the Alabang branch will be just as popular.
This Japanese food hall features four Japanese masters:
🇯🇵 Shinya Kaneko of Hannosuke Tempura, Tokyo’s Iconic Tempura Tendon Chef
🇯🇵 Katusonri Yashima of Yakitori Hachibei, Internationally-renowned Yakitori Innovator
🇯🇵 Shigemi Kawahara of Ippudo Ramen, Dubbed Japan’s Ramen King, and
🇯🇵 Kazuya Takeda of Yabu Katsu, Michelin Bib Gourmand-Starred Katsu Chef
It can be quite intimidating to eat here, but here is a guide to the best of Kiwami:
KIWAMI ALABANG
Four Masters, One Space: Ramen, Tendon, Yakitori, and Tonkatsu
📍Ground Floor, Corte de las Palmas, Alabang Town Center (near Mary Grace)
♾️ Instagram: @kiwami.ph
♾️ Facebook: Kiwami, Concept by @standardgroup.ph
🕐 Operating Hours: 11:00am to 9:00pm
Related Blog Post: Kiwami Japanese Food Hall: The Best of Japan!
🇯🇵 Shigemi Kawahara • Ippudo Ramen
Dubbed Japan’s Ramen King
Ippudo Menu:
KIWAMI Starters & Extras Menu
Shiromaru Motoaji, Akamaru Shinaji, Karaka-Men, Yokohama Shoyu, Special Ramen
Kuro Ramen (Limited Edition)
🍜 Kuro Ramen Special (₱520)
Served with two torched pork belly slices, shio tamago, and nori sheets
Make sure to try the limited-edition Kurobuta Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen! It has a mild spiciness from the black pepper and black garlic oil, but it’s not too spicy for even those who don’t like spicy food. The smoky pork belly slices add a nice flavor, and the tamago and nori sheets help to cut through the oiliness.
🍜 Kizami Tantanmen (₱510)
Pork and chicken broth with tantan spicy miso and thick noodles.
Tantanmen is one of our favorite ramens in Ippudo. The Kizami is a blend of pork and chicken broth, ground beef, and a nice, spicy sesame paste. The noodles are thick and chewy, and they absorb the sauces perfectly. The broth is silky smooth and flavorful, and it is best to eat it while it’s hot and slurp the noodles off the ramen bowl. Yum!
🐔 Ippudo Nanban Karaage (₱355)
We ordered the karaage for Yugi-boy as an appetizer, but we ended up eating it all ourselves! The chicken was still juicy and full of flavor inside, with a crispy skin that was perfectly seasoned. It was the perfect combination of crispy and tender, and it went really well with the egg mayo sauce.
🇯🇵 Katusonri Yashima • Yakitori Hachibei
Internationally-renowned Yakitori Innovator
Yakitori Hachibei Menu:
Signature Yakitori Platters
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Seafood, Vegetable, Hachibei Bento
🦪 Hokkaido Oyster – Fresh or Grilled (1 piece – ₱525, 3 pieces – ₱1,475)
Jumbo oysters from Hokkaido, Served with Ponzu sauce and daikon oroshi.
Served fresh or grilled over binchotan
The Hokkaido oysters at Kiwami are a literal treat – they are big, juicy, and milky. I love them just grilled with a bit of lemon, ponzu sauce, and oyster jus. Kiwami also has a special oyster baked with miso butter, which is also delicious.
🍢 Sukiyaki Spinach Enoki (₱270)
This is our favorite yakitori at Kiwami! It is made with spinach and enoki mushrooms wrapped in premium beef, coated in yakitori sauce, and dipped in a cured egg yolk for additional umami. It is a mouthful, but it is so delicious that you will want to eat it all in 2-3 bites.
🍢 Signature Yakitori Chef’s Choice A (₱670)
– Buta Bara Tare
– Uzura Tamago Buța Bara Roll
– Tsukune Tare
– Tebasake Ship
– Tori Momo Mentaiko
Good pulutan to pair with sake or highball. Each piece is tasty and each skewer can be shared.
🇯🇵 Shinya Kaneko • Hannosuke Tempura
Tokyo’s Iconic Tempura Tendon Chef
Hannosuke Menu:
Tempura Meshi Sets, Tendon Set, Tempura Platter
🍤 Deluxe Tendon Set (₱650)
Two ebi, kisu (white fish), squid and scallop kakiage, himeji mushroom, onsen tamale, eggplant and nori.
The tendon set is a whole meal in itself and is perfect for those who love tempura bowls. It is often overlooked compared to the other concepts at Kiwami, but it is a great option for lunch or a seafood meal.
🇯🇵 Kazuya Takeda | Yabu Katsu
Michelin Bib Gourmand-Starred Katsu Chef
Yabu Menu:
Premium Kurobuta Katsu Sets, Katsu Sets, Seafood Katsu Sets
Katsudon, Curry Sets, Oyakodon, A La Carte
🍛 Roșu Kurobuta Katsu (₱690)
Yabu was the hands-down winner of the Katsu Craze in Manila. Their Rosu Kurobuta Katsu is a must-try! The pork is tender and juicy because of the layer of fat that makes it more flavorful. The katsu breading is thin and crispy, and it is not too oily. The shredded cabbage and mayo sauce are the perfect accompaniments to the katsu. Good to share.
🍛 Rosu Kasuya Curry Katsu (₱425)
The curry katsu was okay, but it wasn’t the type of curry that is addicting. The katsu was also a bit bland so you need to mix it with the curry for flavor.
🍣 Salmon Katsu (₱585)
For something healthier, try the salmon katsu. It is made with salmon fillets that are cooked to medium well and then breaded and fried until crisp golden brown.
HOKKAIDO Soft Serve
Dessert Menu: Soft Serve Ice Cream, Pastries, Fruit Shakes, Beverages, Beers
Soft Serve Ice Cream
🍦 Hokkaido Soft Serve in a Cup with Kuromitsu Boba (₱160)
🍦 Hokkaido Soft Serve in Lengua de Gato Cone (₱135)
🍦 Hokkaido Soft Serve in a Cup with Lengua de Gato (₱160)
Pastries
🧁 Nutella Cheesecake (₱300)
🧁 Lava Cake with Hokkaido Soft Serve (₱300)
Honestly, I was craving for their soft serve ice cream, and it was a fitting finale to the epic meal. The soft serve is creamy but a bit heavy, and it melts so fast. I like it with the boba, but the kids like it with the lengua de gato.
The lava cake was quite good, but it did not ooze out when we broke it open. The Nutella cheesecake is the best-selling dessert in Elephant Grounds, but it was too rich for me.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, Kiwami is the best place to satisfy everyone’s craving for good Japanese food. Most of the food is best eaten while it’s hot, so it’s best to order the dishes one at a time and not all at the same time. The ambiance of Kiwami transports you to Japan, but it can be tight and noisy during peak hours.
Make sure to know what you want to order, as the restaurant can get quite busy and the orders can take some time to come out. The service is helpful with how to best enjoy the food, including recommendations for condiments. Kids love it here, so it’s a great place to bring the family.
We recommend the Tantanmen Ramen from Ippudo, the Rosu Kurobuta Katsu from Yabu, the Sukiyaki Spinach Enoki Yakitori and the Hokkaido Oysters from Hachibei. For dessert, we recommend the Soft Serve Ice Cream. Budget about ₱900/head.
Congrats to Standard Group for successfully opening Kiwami in Alabang!
KIWAMI ALABANG
Four Masters, One Space: Ramen, Tendon, Yakitori, and Tonkatsu
📍Ground Floor, Corte de las Palmas, Alabang Town Center (near Mary Grace)
♾️ Instagram: @kiwami.ph
♾️ Facebook: Kiwami, Concept by @standardgroup.ph
🕐 Operating Hours: 11:00am to 9:00pm
Related Blog Post: Kiwami Japanese Food Hall: The Best of Japan!
ve an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Thanks to Chef Ina for inviting us during the kitchen testing period of Kiwami Alabang. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. Check out the Kiwami Bar for your happy hour and inuman sessions.
Kiwami Bar Menu:
Highballs, Cocktails, Shochu, Sake, Spirits
Red Wines, Beers, Fruit Shakes, Sodas, Beverages
