If you love Japanese food and sake, this is one event you shouldn’t miss. 🍶
Sake Manila 2026 is one of my favorite food experiences in Manila, happening at Okada Manila, where guests can enjoy some of Japan’s finest sake paired with authentic Japanese cuisine, all while experiencing vibrant Japanese cultural showcases. This third edition promises even more exciting discoveries—from premium cheese pairings and a wider selection of nama sake to premium hot sake and a surprise showcase from Okada Manila.
Save the date: May 22, 2026 (Friday) , and don’t miss the highlights of sakemanila.ph:
related blog post: SAKE Manila: Survival Guide!
BATTLE OF SPARKLING SAKE
The sparkling sake is the best gateway sake for foodies and an easy way to kick off your sake tasting.
Sorah is one of the best sparkling sakes, made using the same traditional method as Champagne—giving it that elegant fizz and refined finish.
Mio is our original favorite, specializing in sparkling sake with different expressions—try them all.
Dassai is quite popular in Manila—start with the sparkling sake, then explore the rest of the lineup.
SUSHI & CHEESES
The salmon sashimi is the best—we often start with it and pair it with sparkling sake. The tuna sashimi is fresh, and you can really taste that it’s freshly cut during the event.
We love the different premium cheeses, and they pair very well with the premium sakes. Start with this.
HORIZONTAL SAKE TASTING
The first thing you will learn about sake is the different rice polishing levels, from Junmai (polished 70% below) to Junmai Ginjo (60% below) and Junmai Daiginjo (50% below). Then you go deeper into understanding premium rice varieties used for sake, like Yamada Nishiki (“King of Sake Rice”).
This is our favorite Junmai Daiginjo from Hakushika pairs well with the meats. Check out all their sakes.
Tatsukiri Dragon Sake offers exciting expressions, and it’s best to do a horizontal tasting to discover.
We got attracted to their limited-edition Genesis sake, and it’s best to try the different polishing levels.
Make sure to try the award winning sakes from Kitakata Terroir.
TASTE OF JAPANESE CULTURE
The tuna parade and slice-cutting ceremony are awesome to experience, and get to taste its freshness.
Exotic Japanese instruments serenade you as you do your sake tasting and food pairing.
And the Japanese beauty represented by Miss Sake Japan.
Japanese DJs end the night with a party mood when everybody is ready to loosen up and mingle.
JAPANESE CRAVINGS
There are roast beef carvings, and the plan is to introduce other roasts like Peking duck or lechon.
Beef curry and tonkatsu are featured in the hot stations and are best paired with unli Japanese rice.
We enjoyed the yakitori throughout, paired with sake so you don’t get full easily.
Best of all, we love the Japanese pork sausages—snappy, yummy, and full of umami, dipped in mustard.
SAKE EXPRESSIONS
Check out the Aged Sakes like this Koshu aged for 10 years giving a different sake sweet expression.
The cloudy, unfiltered sakes are also interesting to experience, bringing out the umami in the food.
Check out nama (unpasteurized) sakes, and the plan is to feature premium hot sakes this time around.
DESSERT
Bite-sized dessert cleanses the palate from the Japanese flavors, sauces and the taste of sake.
FINAL THOUGHTS
One of the best things about sake is you don’t get as drunk easily, and there’s no hangover the next day. Unlike other alcohol events like Whisky Live or Gin Fest, Sake Manila pairs it with food. Okada Manila serves some of the best Japanese food in Manila—literally eat-all-you-can, with refills until 12 midnight.
The entertainment throughout is classy, featuring Japanese arts and music. The event space is wide and comfortable, with premium breathing room, and attendance is capped at around 1,000–1,200 guests so the ballroom never feels crowded.
Congratulations to Philippine Wine Merchants, Ralph’s, and Okada Manila for creating this awesome Sake Manila event, stronger than ever in its third edition!
See you on May 22 for Sake Manila 2026 at Okada Manila! Book your tickets at sakemanila.ph
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by a human—reflecting my own biases, opinions, and insights—with grammar and clarity checked using AI assistance. Our Awesome Planet is a media partner of Sake Manila.
P.S. We had an awesome time experiencing Sake Manila with Aidan last year – galing!
