I have always been a certified steak lover. Invite me to a steak dinner and I will wholeheartedly say yes. There are many elegant steakhouses in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Ortigas, but I don’t seem to know any new ones in the Quezon City area where I live. Thankfully, I just discovered a relatively new restaurant in the city that prides itself in offering Wagyu-Angus crossbred steaks that gives diners the best of both worlds. Welcome to Nanka Japanese Steakhouse!
Nanka Japanese Steakhouse is located in a quiet residential neighborhood at the corner of Mother Ignacia Street and Roces Avenue in Quezon City. This is where Moomba Bar used to be and I fondly remember that my first time to eat an ostrich dish was at that restaurant. This time, I’m coming here for none other than their premium imported steaks served in a very homey and inviting setting.
Nanka is open daily from 11:00am to 11:00pm and its spacious gallery can serve as many as 120 guests. My friends and I were invited to Nanka Japanese Steakhouse to be one of the first to try their newly revamped menu. The restaurant previously served Japanese Latin cuisine but now they have changed their focus to be one of the best new steakhouses in this area. I believe they are on the right track.
The relaxed and homey vibe is what makes the place very appealing, especially to those working or living in the Quezon City area. At night, Nanka also adds a little more spice and entertains guests with wonderful music and live acoustic performances featuring the city’s top bands.
At the helm of Nanka Japanese Steakhouse is Executive Chef Mike Santos, who used to work under multi-awarded Chef Cyrille Soenen at Brasserie Cicou in Greenhills. Chef Mike makes it a point to emphasize the clean authentic flavors of the steak and his other Japanese dishes, not putting too much other ingredients into the mix.
But before we went to our main event, Chef Mike had us sample some of the other interesting items on their menu. These Shimeji Fries (P215) serve as great nibblers on the table. Shimeji mushrooms are coated with batter and deep fried to create these crispy strips. They are so good that I found myself just getting bite after bite.
Another recommended starter is the Oyster Hollandaise (P365) with its succulent oysters baked with a creamy hollandaise sauce. You can also choose the Fried Oysters (P375) if you prefer to have your oysters crunchier.
The Grilled Ahi Tuna (P355) is a healthier starter with its grilled outer layer and raw sashimi-like center. Better yet, order the Tuna and Salmon Chirashi (P299) if you want your salmon and tuna sashimi slices served on a bed of Japanese rice. Nanka has their seafood flown straight from Japan twice a week so you are sure to get the freshest items every day.
I also recommend getting the Togarashi Shrimp (P495) with its plump shrimp cooked in Japanese togarashi spices.
For pasta lovers, the Prawn Garlic Noodles (P375) is great way to satisfy those cravings. This classic pasta is made even better as it is topped with huge pieces of juicy prawns cooked with garlic.
Things are looking really good as Chef Mike brought out their Garlic Crabs (market price - around P1350). These babies go so well with rice so ask for a cup or two so you can enjoy the garlicky flavors.
And now the star of the show has finally arrived! Presenting the superstar lineup of premium steaks at Nanka Japanese Restaurant! The Black Onyx is a highly marbled, 100% pure Angus beef that really packs the flavors.
But the specialty at Nanka is their crossbred Wagyu-Angus steaks. WX by Rangers Valley is a Wagyu cattle cross bred with the very best genetics to create something rare and exclusive. You get the best of both worlds with these steak combinations.
The WX Striploin 400g (P600 per 100g) has that unique marbling that you get from Wagyu, but at the same time, it packs that meaty punch that you get from Angus beef. It’s a great balance between the two best steak breeds in the world so it is really such a magnificent experience. Chimichurri and Japanese steak sauce are also served together with the steaks.
If you want even more exquisite flavors, go for the WX Ribeye 400g (P650 per 100g) which has layers of juicy fat to go along with the meaty steak. This was my favorite steak that afternoon because it was simply bursting with beefy goodness that you can only taste from premium imported steak.
For big groups or very hungry guests, the best way to satisfy your steak cravings would be the Black Onyx Tomahawk (P495 per 100g). This monster can go up to 1 kilo and will definitely be the centerpiece of any family gathering.
You can pair your steaks with a couple of sides like the Sautéed Wild Mushrooms (P365), Mashed Potato (P185), Roasted Assorted Vegetables (P315), or the Nanka Fries (P265). Whatever you choose, I’m sure everyone will be going home happy and full after this round.
For desserts, the Japanese Green Tea Mousse (P215) and the Chocolate Ganache Mountee (P245) are two colorful options to end your Japanese steakhouse experience on a high note. Nanka Japanese Restaurant is a delicious new option for steak lovers like me who aspire for something more than just the usual steak experience. There’s no need to go all the way to BGC for an exquisite steak lunch or dinner because Nanka Japanese Restaurant is now here in Quezon City.
Nanka Japanese Steakhouse
1810 Mother Ignacia Ave. corner Roces Ave., Quezon City