Traditional Japanese Restaurant Ogawa Traditional Japanese Restaurant is located on the second floor of Fort Entertainment Complex (Fort Strip) in BGC. Hosted by George N. Pua of No Limits Food, Inc. (the same group behind K Pub, Modern China, Modern Sichuan, Tony Roma’s, and Yummy Soy) and famous Japanese chef Kiyoshi Oagawa of Marufuku Japanese Restaurant and former EDSA Shangri-La Senju Restaurant. Ogawa promises to allow Filipino guests to experience a delicious adventure with quality Japanese cuisine based on freshness and excellence in Manila’s growing culinary scene.
George Pua said that, “It’s a dream come true for me.We want Filipinos to feel like they’re in Japan”. George spent 13 years working for a trading company in Japan.Shibuya, Tokyo’s bustling shopping and entertainment district, is where he usually ends up after his trip to Japan, visiting numerous delicious restaurants and bars. The beginning of George’s Japanese-inspired love story was a result of his exposure to the cuisine.
George Pua added that, “If it’s not a Japanese chef cooking in the kitchen, I wouldn’t dare open a Japanese restaurant, Sayang Lang if the food is not authentic! Like for Sichuan/Modern China, we got five Chinese chefs. For K-pub Korean restaurant, we have a Korean chef. As for Tony Roma’s, we don’t have an American chef, but 100 percent of our sauces are imported.”
By chance, George encountered Kiyoshi Ogawa, the renowned Japanese chef who was in charge of the Edsa Shangri-La Senju kitchen. Hotel. The two quickly formed a friendship over great meals and sake. Ogawa left Shang and worked with another company. George returned to Ogawa and now serves as the chef for his friend George Pua, who owns a restaurant called No Limits Food, Inc. named after him.
“Our beef — Kobe, Ohmi, and Matsusaka (probably the most expensive beef in the world) — is flown in from Japan,”
Artistic dining awaits at the sushi station. The area spans approximately 300 square meters and includes exclusive chambers for hosting meetings and intimate gatherings with delicious Japanese cuisine. In total, the restaurant can accommodate 100-110 customers.
The Ryo Goku Gozen (P550) is a bentome dish that offers everything. Top with triple sashimi (salmon, tuna and Hamachi), tamago, futomaki, karaage, beef cubes and vegetables. Below is tempura and rice (flower shaped!). Hearty miso soup and a bowl of chawanmushi are served as side dishes.
Tempura (P290/three pieces, P580/six pieces) consists of meaty shrimp sticks dipped in batter; they are fried until they get a little crunch. Interestingly, the prawns are firm and robust, excelling over the batter. Dip it in their tempura sauce for added flavor. Slices of Sashimi Mori (P770) is a delicious treat. Every bite is delicious, so all you need is a little soy sauce and wasabi to kick it up a notch. Three different types of sashimi (Hamachi, always imported from Japan) make up the order and you will definitely order another round!
The star part of the show is their heavenly gindara (P750): two cod from Japan marinated in sweet and spicy teriyaki sauce and cucumber slices. The light wrinkle of the skin mixed with the tender fish melts gracefully in the mouth, leaving a wonderful taste on the palate.If you’re looking for a delicious bowl of ramen, there are varieties: Miso Chashu Ramen (P380), Tonkotsu Ramen (P380), Tantanmen (P420), and Nagasaki Chanpon Men (P380). Ogawa is more than just a restaurant serving quality Japanese food. This is Japan. Right in the middle of Manila.