Named after “Komoro,” a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Komoro Soba Japanese Dining serves Japanese food at affordable prices. This restaurant was established in the Philippines on the same year my sister was born: 1992. Yet, it was only two Sundays ago when we took our chance to dine in as we incidentally had an appetite for some Japanese food, after pampering our nails at Nails in Style in SM San Lazaro.
Note: Komoro Japanese Dining’s first branch is in SM Megamall.
Review of Komoro Japanese Dining (SM San Lazaro, Manila)
Ambiance: β β β β β
Decked out in earthy tones and illuminated by ambient lights, Komoro Soba Japanese Dining has a cozy setting with an attempt to give a “Japanese” feel as seen through the minimalist decors on the walls. Furnishings consisting of regular and cushioned chairs provided comfort. The side interior featured an understated backdrop for the open kitchen where we saw how the food were being prepared. So at any point in time, guests could be entertained with some action and activity while waiting for orders.
Service: β β β β β
Komoro Soba Japanese Dining worked mostly as a fastfood restaurant. Diners have to order and pay upfront at the counter, while taking food references from the menu behind the cashier. Our orders were served fast and the servers were alert enough to keep their eyes on the tables. They took initiatives on their duty roster (e.g. taking away done dishes and refilling water to our glasses) even when no one else offerred.
Food: β β β ββ
The Tentoji Don (PhP 125)Β consisted of an assortment of a piece of deep-fried prawn tempura, okura and seaweed tempura. The tempuras, considering that they were freshly served from the kitchen, failed to please. They were not crunchy and flavorful enough. Objectively, the batter was not light, flaky, and fluffy as it should be. Dipped in soy sauce, the okura wound up being a nest of deep fried veggies stuck together.
The Gyu Don (PhP 99) was also not up to the standard. The meat in the beef bowl was not of good grade; most of the flavor depended just on the sauce that provided a right degree of fragrance.
The broth in Niku Udon (PhP 128) was light and clean, and the thin beef slices went well with the udon. It was good that the noodles were not overcooked but kept its elasticity and firmness. There was a subtle taste of the miso on the soup which didn’t create a lasting impression.
Price for Value: β β β ββ
Komoro’s food prices reminded me of Don Don, the Japanese restaurant we used to frequent in EGI Taft Tower (now closed) when we were still in college. Food here are really affordable and okay even for a student’s budget. However, one can’t expect much out of it. Komoro Japanese Dining has satisfied our hungry stomachs, but overall tastes of the dishesβat least of what we hadβwere not all that great.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
I think they also have a branch at sm megamall. Okay naman daw quality hehe. Fave ko kasi don don nung nasa dlsu pa ako. that and the cheap japaanese sa 2nd floor ng animo canteen. =)
Yes, they have a branch in SM Megamall which we had always tend to overlook. π Fave din namin Don Don. Yung Japanese stall sa Animo canteen once lang namin natry kasi nagiba na agad pag balik namin haha.
I like Gyu Don and Niku Udon, makes me feel good. I think it’s affordable but delicious. I’ll try these food tomorrow at Megamall. It’s Komoro…
Go for it! It’s like typical fastfood that’s not really elevated in any way. What’s commendable is that orders are set out fast. Plus, food are decently priced.
Honestly, I don’t like Japanese food. But base on the place, I personally think it is a tight place but they have a cool ambiance. π
Yeah, the ambiance is so agreeable, a pretty convenient place to stay away from the crowd. well, we dined in too early for the peak of dinner so that might be the reason why there were not so many people.
I’ve never tried Japanese food before. I think my fiance would love this restaurant.
You should try Japanese food with her. Take her to a casual date her and maybe watch a good movie afterwards. π
The only Japanese food I have ever had was at Epcot in Disney and it was fantastic.
I’m assuming that those food in Disney were high quality and really expensive. π If you’re craving for simple and fair Japanese fast food, Komoro is the way to go.
A very honest review. you rate the foods 3-Star but the price is reasonable naman for such rate. The Niku Udon seems a good try.
That’s right. Niku Udon is great if you want something warm. It’s quite filling and worth the price.
Hello. :)) I really love Japanese food! More power to you and your blog!
Oh if you’re in the area, then please stop by and try Komoro Japanese Dining’s best recommended dishes. Their staff will help you choose which ones to order in a very professional and friendly manner.
It doesn’t look too bad! Especially for the price–I don’t think they have this in my area but I always love trying new things.
Yeah actually the prices of the food were what initially got us here haha. I was so hooked and interested on how good the dishes will be considering the budget. π It turned out I wasn’t too pleased with the food but it wasn’t so bad because they didn’t dent my wallet.
Thanks for an honest review! I haven’t had much Japanese food, but always willing to try something new!
These food are quite bland without the sauces but I think they’ll be fine if you have a growling stomach. We had a good experience in terms of ambiance and customer service so this place isn’t so bad after all. It’s worth a try. π
Not sure if I have ever eaten authentic Japanese food before but this was very interesting! Thanks for the info.
You’re welcome! In most restaurants I visit, I care less on the authenticity of the food since since mixed/fusion/modern cuisines have been emerging and are rampant nowadays. What I focus more on is the taste and the quality of the food regardless of cuisine/cooking. π
The Niku Udon sounds especially tasty to me. I love miso noodles. I even like to use them at home.
Wow! We haven’t tried making our own miso noodles at home. You’re really a good cook, Liz!
I have never had these types of food but they do sound yummy and sure look yummy! Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome. Yup, they’re yummy but just not as spectacular as the really good Japanese dishes I’ve had in other restaurants. Feel free to dine in here to see if Komoro has the chance to be listed as one of your favorites. π The tastes may be favorable for you — you won’t know unless you try.
Sounds like a great restaurant!!! I love Japanese food!
You can have a humble bowl of udon here with flavors that are clean and deliberately distinct. π
I guess it’s ok as a tummy filler but does not really stand out for repeat eaters.
You got it. The food wasn’t super depressing but also don’t deserve to be applauded too much.
A Beautiful place with yummy food. Would just love to visit it one day.
I see you get a good impression of the spot. Find your way to a seat and maybe try the bento meals. π You can count on Komoro for a convenient meal of goodness that’s inexpensive.
It actually look pretty good! But you know, fast food always has that fast food taste.
You’re right. I just appreciate that Komoro Japanese Dining has gone out of the way to offer a very good vibe in its laid-back and quiet ambiance. The interior design’s got taste, as compared to other fastfood chains! π
On second thought, I don’t think I have had Japanese food before. I totally would love it by the looks of your pics.
They’re good as fast food. Give them a shot. π
I’m half Japanese and I’m very picky about the Japanese restaurants I’ll visit. My mom and I walked out of a restaurant once after realizing that the sushi chef had no actual training in making sushi.
Haha there may be those who are not trained but they have acquired natural skills in making sushi. Different cases apply in every scenario. Preparing sushi should be done carefully and it’s not supposed to be easy.
What a lovely place and the food looks wonderful! ^_^
The pictures would have looked more wonderful if I had brought and used my DSLR. Thanks anyway. π
That looks like a great place to eat. The food looks really good.
Yup, they have good food. Get a load of different stuff and try a bit of everything. This is a Japanese restaurant that won’t put a dent on your bank account. π
I love love Japanese food. I would go and eat that tempura dish: mouthwatering
If you’re keen to order it, make sure that the rice bowl would be swimming in the sauce as the tempura actually was almost tasteless with no sauce.
Wow this looks so cool! LOVE it, I love good eats π
It’s a decent Japanese restaurant that you can frequent without hurting your budget.
What a great place! We have all kinds of food courts like that in NYC!
Nice! If you need to be in a similar restaurant and you’re in Manila, this is the place to go! The servers are friendly.
I’d love to check out this place and dine.
Sure! Check this out. Komoro Japanese Dining wouldn’t last for two decades in the food industry if their dishes aren’t good enough.
Japanese food is one of my favorites. I would love to visit this restaurant.
If you’re in a rush and are craving for Japanese food, this place can get you covered. Go for it!
I have not had much Japanese food but this looks very good. I need to go and seek put a local restaurant and open myself up to the Japanese food experience now.
Their bento boxes are quite a deal.
This sounds yummy! I’ve never tried Japanese food, I think I need to give it a try!
The food here is nothing close to sensational but still worth a try.
Thanks for sharing your review! I always enjoy your reviews, your pictures are great.
Thanks and you’re welcome Cindy! I appreciate your visit. π
I have never tried Japanese.
Oh wow you should know what you’ve been missing. Try the Japanese dishes here for a good intro on how Japanese food tastes like. But there’s more restaurant you’ve gotta go to heighten your experience and impression in this cuisine. I don’t know anyone among my circle of friends and even third-degree network who have not tried Jap food at least once.
I guess you can’t be really picky when it comes to cheap food. At least they had good service.
Yeah, that’s true. At least food were served well and we were provided with good accommodation throughout our stay.
The food looks so delicious. Thank you for sharing the place and food.
You’re welcome, Sandy. This Japanese restaurant is put in a modest location inside the mall. Try to visit it next time if you’re in the neighborhood.
That looks like a great place to eat. I love me some Japanese food.
My standards for Japanese food are admittedly quite high. This failed to meet the bar on many levels. Anyway, we had a good time with overall dining experience because of the good customer service and casual ambiance.
Guess I want myself some Japanese food tonight.
This joint is as good as it looks. The interior is actually very clean and looks quite fancy with ambient lighting. However, if you want a more traditional, higher quality dining experience, it would be safer to go elsewhere.
Oh my, this is my kind of restaurant. That food looks amazing.
It’s not the best but satisfactory.
I love Japanese food with a passion, I would love to go to Komoro one day!
With lots of different dishes, there’s something for everyone. I’m sure you’ll also find one you’ll like.
Sounds like a place I would visit any day.
Well, the good news is that because this restaurant is inside the mall. It’s open every day during mall operation hours. Schedule your visit! π
The food looks delicious though I do not believe I have ever tried japanese foods before I guess now is a good time as any
It’s surprising to me that many people had not tried Japanese food ever. This holiday season would be a good time for you to have your first taste of it.
I am not a fan of Japanese foods. I find them not appealing in taste although I must say that their presentation, say for instance sushi, is really amazing. But seeing your photos could mean a change of heart. Glad I stumbled upon your newest post.
Whaha okay, I hope you can also try their food and let me know what you think of it. π
This looks sounds like you get what you pay for from your review. The place looks nice and the food looks good though. Thanks for sharing.
Right. I’ve come to realize that I personally prefer eating at cheaper restaurants at times to have different experiences and so that I would have a better appreciation of high-quality Japanese food next time ’round. You’re welcome, Rebecca.
Hmmm, haven’t tried Komoro Resto. I like the review- very honest. Maybe I’ll try it one of this days, I’m craving for Japanese food these days…
If you have never tried Japanese food before, let the staff here make recommendations that will please you.
Sounds like a nice place to eat and a great menu selection too!
Nothing is so special or exotic here. You can try anything and leave feeling okay.
I’m sorry to hear it didn’t deliver flavor-wise. It’s def. win some, lose some with trying new places to eat.
That’s true. I haven’t read any reviews of this restaurant before and just based our decision to come in by the presentation of the food on the menu and the interior of the restaurant. It was a good try after all.
My husband loves Japanese food. I hope we get to check the place out when we visit the Philippines.
Sounds like a plan. What’s great about restaurants housed in malls is that you can go shopping afterwards to burn the calories down.
Sounds like a great restaurant! I tried Japanese food a few weeks ago and LOVE it!
That’s great to hear. Time will come when you’ll also regularly enjoy the freshness and light, succulent flavors that Japanese cuisine has to offer.
I have never tried Japanese food before. This looks like an interesting restaurant. I will have to try Japanese food sometime.
Definitely put it in your must-try list! π
I avoid fast food because they tend to use less than ideal ingredients. I’d much rather have a home cooked meal!
Oh yes, preparing and cooking Japanese food once in a while at home sounds great.
It’s bad when things that are supposed to be light and crispy turn out to be a mess with soy sauce. Still, though, the review was pretty good overall, so I think I would try the place out anyway.
Yeah it was saddening that the tempura was heavily battered and the pieces in the vegetable tempura stuck together. I also got the sense that the pieces were fried too long.
I love the Niku Udon, just right for the cold weather.
Yup, any hot soup would be great for the colder season.
Your picture of Gyu Don looks yummy but you said it does not pass your standard. π But since you said its affordable, we’ll try this too π
Yup. It was not super bad to the point that I didn’t want to continue eating it but it was also not as good as I expected.
I have actually never tried Japanese food, but everything that you featured in your post looks scrumptious. There’s a Japanese restaurant within my vicinity that’s quite popular. If I knew that they have vegetarian or vegan food, I will definitely try it! π
My dad is also vegetarian and almost vegan so we always request for the meat or seafood in sushi and other Japanese dishes to be taken away from the ingredients. I think you can also do the same.
All of your photos look delicious. I would love to try this place!
Yup, visit this once and decide if you’ll want a return trip. π
I’ve never tried Japenese food before. I have got to give it a try sometime.
OMG you should try it! There are many lovers of Japanese food as they’re believed to be healthy, have special flavors, and an endless amount of dishes.
Hello. :)) Is there a different branch of this restaurant because I live in Manila, and this is too far from my place. Japanese cuisine is my most favorite because it really is innovative!
This branch in SM San Lazaro is nearer to your place. The other branch is in SM Megamall.
I am such a huge fan of Japenese food! I’m sure I would be a huge fan of this place!
Come try it out with your family. π The place has enough room to actually host big groups.
I love Japanese food but hardly ever eat it. This place sounds good.
I think it’s comparable with Tokyo Tokyo so if you like food there, you’d also like it here.
Thanks for revealing the food here isn’t that great. I planned to try it pa naman but I’m more of after the taste than a low price. π
Ah yeah me too. I would rather pay for more as long as the taste can well justify the price. But it’s good to try cheap thrills like this one sometimes.
It’s really different eating out back when we still have a student’s budget, compared to eating out now. I can still remember Don Don, although I think it was open for just a year when I was a student in DLSU. ^^ Though the food there didn’t really impress me, pwede na for the price. Haha! I think that’s the case with Komoro too. You literally get what you pay for. ^^
Yeah I think it’s the same case with Komoro. Food is just fine and good for a hungry stomach. π
I have visited the restaurant last week after seeing your blog. I actually like the food very much and thought the food was very similar to the one I used to eat in same Komoro stores in Tokyo. I use to eat there when I was living in Tokyo for studying. I would recommend Katsudon(P105) or Gyudon(P99). My wife and I ate these two items during our visit and we were in love. Yeah I agree the service was very nice. Im glad you posted this blog since its very rare to find Soba or Udon restaurant in Manila. Looking forward to see your other blogs. π Im ganna try going to Saboten next.
Hi Maica! Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. Truly appreciated. Hope you also enjoy dining at Saboten as their dishes are incredibly good as well. π
i will try this tomorrow not expecting much for the budget….
You can go with anything. These are really affordable Japanese food. π