Yummy Date Night

Date # 57: Sambo Kojin

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  Sambo Kojin is a new Japanese/Korean eat-all-you-can buffet restaurant. It presently has two branches, one in EDSA and another in Eastwood City, Libis. We tried the one in Eastwood Citywalk for this visit. It’s located behind Something Fishy and across Club Manor.

  The moment you step in, you’ll be greeted by a receptionist who will tell you how long you’ll have to wait to be seated. Good thing that they have a waiting area inside the restaurant so you can just opt to stay there.

  The prices are as follows:

  Monday to Friday Lunch (P495); Monday to Sunday Dinner (P595); Saturday to Sunday Lunch (P595); Children’s Price (P295). Not bad, I should say. Do remember that these prices do not include the drinks yet.

The Spread:

 The sushi bar

Salad

Entrees

Raw meat for grilling

Fried breaded meat

Dessert

On the Table:

  Customary for all Korean restaurants, they served an array of Korean appetizers before your meal. 

  These are my sushi and sashimi choices. Basically, if you’ve been to Saisaki, expect the same things to pop up in Sambo Kojin’s sushi bar, since the two restaurants are owned by the same group.

  The choices for the sushi/sashimi were actually quite limited as compared to the in Yakimix.

  Douglas’ sushi choices. The sushi rolls (vs. the nigiri sushi) were lighter because they have less rice.

  Standard Tempura fare. The prawns were of sufficient size and were seasoned perfectly. The batter for both the kani and ebi tempura was nicely crunchy. I’m glad the waiters are attentive in replenishing the supply since these babies are forever in demand.

 The sukiyaki wasn’t too sweet. It was alright for me, but Douglas said he would have preferred it if it were sweeter.

  I know getting a kettle of Kamameshi Rice is not the best idea in an eat-all-you-can buffet setting, but this one just hits the spot. It goes really well with the grilled meat, because of its fragrance and sweetness. It also used Japanese rice.

  A tray of sauces for the grilled meat conveniently sits atop every table.

  The meat was marinated well. It wasn’t repetitive since the different choices of meat had varying tastes and textures. The meat was also sliced thinly for easier cooking (it helps you judge the “done-ness” of the meat more clearly). I really enjoyed this part of the buffet, even more than how much I liked the smokeless grill experience in Yakimix.

  *Sizzle* *Sizzle* The process, is simple, just gently place the meat on the griller using a pair of tongs and roll them over to cook both sides. They’re ready to eat after a minute or so. Be attentive, okay?

   The gyoza wrapper didn’t hold out too well, as you can see on the picture.

  We ended with a plate of specialties—noodles, tonkatsu, beef stew, etc. They’re okay, but I’m not sure if they’re worth the tummy space. We should have gotten dessert instead.

Overall Verdict: Sambo Kojin has had a strong start since it opened, and it’s clear why. Sambo Kojin offers an enjoyable dining experience, good for anyone who’s hankering for an average-priced eat-all-you-can buffet. 

Sambo Kojin
02-4210145 to 46
Eastwood Citywalk, Quezon City

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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