Hotel Okura Manila’s Thai Food Festival features Chef Phuvadol Chanasenee, Executive Sous Chef of The Okura Prestige Bangkok, for a special three-day Thai and Japanese buffet at Yawaragi. I’ve always loved dining at Yawaragi—not just for the consistently excellent food, but also because it brings back fond memories of our unforgettable meal there with Rache. Their collaborations, especially with The Okura Prestige Bangkok, never disappoint.
Here’s what we loved about the Thai Food Festival—and why you should catch it next time:
THAI – JAPANESE FAVORITES
The Beef Cheek Green Curry was an absolute standout — ang sarap! The sauce was silky and creamy, the beef cheek tender yet meaty—perfect with steaming jasmine rice.
This is the best Khao Soi Gai I’ve had in Manila—bold, flavorful, and unapologetically spicy. It’s a Northern-style curried noodle soup with chicken, soft noodles, and a crispy noodle topping for the perfect finish.
The Tom Kha Gai—a chicken coconut soup with mushrooms—is far better than the Tom Yum Goong. It’s comforting, rich in umami, and lifts your spirits while exciting your palate.
The Pad Thai, Chef Chanasenee’s signature dish, was beautifully balanced—and even better when you add extra spices to kick up the flavor.
I thought I was over Chicken Pandan—until this one. These bite-sized, flavor-packed chicken balls are wrapped in pandan leaves you get to unwrap yourself. Sarap nga!
I love the Liquid Smoke and Karachi Herbed Roasted Australian Wagyu MB4-5 Chuck Eye Roll.
Unlike typical buffet beef carvings, this one was bursting with flavor—sliced and seared to medium perfection.
Tempura at Yawaragi is always a win—the batter is light and crisp, the shrimp are plump and fresh, and the oyster tempura is a standout favorite.
Salmon sashimi here is always top-notch—fresh, silky, and with perfect texture in every bite.
The herbed salt-baked salmon jaw was beautifully cooked, with a perfect char that kept the meat tender and juicy.
The Thai vs. Japanese Kakigori was a fun and interactive treat to enjoy.
My favorite was the Japanese version, topped with red bean, matcha sauce, and chewy mochi.
The mangoes are sweet and tangy—so sarap! You can even ask for a whole mango sliced to enjoy with Ta Ko or sticky rice.
The ice cream flavors are amazing—Wasabi, Matcha, and Durian!
Congratulations to Hotel Okura Manila for a successful Thai Food Festival!
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by 100% human, with my own biases, opinions, and insights. We were invited by our friends from Hotel Okura Manila.
P.S. I also loved the Thai-inspired drinks, especially the Mai Tai cocktail, Thai coffee, and tea.
