I first saw Bubble Tea when they opened their first branch in SM Megamall in Ortigas. Through the years, Bubble Tea proved to maintain its quality amid competition using authentic, natural, and freshly shaken premium milk tea in contrast to powder-based fads. Eventually, other branches came about in SM North Edsa and Timog. And later this month, they will be opening their newest branch with a function room along Wilson St. in Greenhills.
Bubble Tea's Black Sesame Milkshake
It was only recently that I began to appreciate their other servings of Tokyo-inspired Japanese dishes and some Japanese-Western fusion including pasta, burgers, and sandwiches.
In line with new discoveries, I ventured out from my usual Bubble Tea favorites such as the Royal Milk Tea and Taro Milkshake when I visited their branch in Timog with some foodie friends.
Egg Pudding Add-on for Bubble Tea Milkshakes
I initially got to sample a small serving of the Azuki Red Bean Milk Shake and was extremely satisfied. For a change, the red bean flavor was different, to say the least. It was a welcome respite from the usual sweet milkshakes. Moreover, it provided a unique texture to taste because of the red beans.
I also saw a new flavor in their table menu – the Honey Dew Melon with mango bits available in both milk tea or shake. But I ordered the Black Sesame Milkshake for curiosity’s sake. It was my first to try this one and similarly, it was not too sweet and of course, had the black sesame flavor. It was a good choice.
Milkshakes are priced at P135 for medium size and P145 for large. Milk Tea are at P115 (medium) and P125 (large). Hot milk tea is at P80. Other flavors include Japanese Green Tea, Almond, Coconut, Double Chocolate, Mocha, and Jasmin (I’d like to try this next). For an additional P20, you can have add-ons which include extra-bubbles (big/small/combi), vanilla ice cream, and the egg-pudding which you goy to try out. I really love chewing on their soft firm bubbles (sago/tapioca), I go for the big bubble add-ons. 🙂
Bubble Tea Japanese Food
Now for the dishes. It was a fiesta of comfort foods in Bubble Tea. With servings big enough to share, it seems like the photos came right out of the Japanese menu and landed in our tables where no empty space were left.
Okonomiyaki Japanese Pizza
Japanese Ceasar Salad
Tonkaktsu Omurice Bubble Tea
Beef Stew Curry
The dishes we tried out include Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza – P125), Japanese Ceasar Salad (Ceasar salad with Fried Chicken – P195), Tonkaktsu Omurice (Breaded Pork & Omelette – P265), Beef Stew Curry (Jap style sliced beef stew w/ sweet and mild spicy curry, rice, & egg – P265), and Takoyaki (P175).
Takoyaki : grilled octopus-filled balls made of pancake batter, topped with mayonnaise, katsuobushi and sweet soy sauce.
Pasta
Tori Pesto Spaghetti
Spicy Mix Seafood Tomato Spaghetti
We got to try out two pasta dishes. The first is Spicy Mix Seafood & Tomato Spaghetti ( P295) which has salmon, tuna, squid, prawn, clam and mussel.
The second is Tori Pesto Spaghetti (P265) which is pan-fried Chicken w/ pesto cream sauce.
Maki Sushi
Nippon Ebi
It flooded with maki and sushi such as Nippon Ebi (P285), Unagi Lover (P295), and Vancouver (P285). The latter is made with breaded prawn and spicy tuna in teriyaki sauce.
Another home-developed sushi is Bubble Salad Sushi (P165) which is a mini mixed salad topped with sushi rice. On the rightmost of the four photos is the Spicy Tuna (P195).
They have combination platters in case you want to have a try of each.
Bubble Tea Maki Sushi
Recommendations
But among the myriad of choices, there were five which greatly satisfied my tastebuds (in reverse order of preference).
Salmon Foil Yaki (P345)
Salmon Foil Yaki
The tender fish meat of the steamed salmon fillet gave it away with its freshness retained by the wrapping in foil. Surprisingly, it also had a mildly sweet twist.
Chicken Teriyaki Doria (P245)
Chicken Teriyaki Doria
It’s baked casserole rice covered with melted cheese. Topped with grilled boneless chicken and teriyaki sauce, this dish is sure to fill you up.
Aspara Bacon Yaki (P185)
Asparagus Bacon Yaki
It’s a skewer of grilled asparagus wrapped with bacon and cheese on top. Bacon and Cheese is love; no need for further explanation. 🙂 The asparagus is the healthy angle to reduce your guilt in exchange for this pleasure.
Japanese Fried Chicken
Tofu Steak (P165) [Top Photo]
Light, fresh, and soft. Those are the three adjectives befitting this small simple dish called Tofu Steak.
Lightly breaded and mixed with sweet sauce and vegetables, this soft, melt-in-your-mouth and warmly served tofu is my perfect appetizer.
Japanese Fried Chicken in a Basket (P385)
Actually, I am surprised as much as you are that a common friend chicken dish ended up on top of my recommended list.
I did not expect much when I took a bite of the leg portion. But the taste and crispiness, albeit with almost nil bread crumbs, was fantastic.
Aside from the quality of the chicken itself, I would say the cook have a certain style in cooking this thin-skinned fried chicken to maintain such level of crispiness and juiciness in the white meat.
Perhaps more than just deep-frying it to perfection.
With only four pieces, it may also be dismissed as expensive at P385. But this juicy Japanese fried chicken served with noi ginger sauce and japanese potato salad sidings is very much worth it.
Bubble Tea Experience
This is what you call a Bubble Tea fiesta in this humble Tokyo milk tea place started by Reagan Tan who developed most of Bubble Tea’s menu and is also its CEO.
Check them out online at http://www.facebook.com/tokyobubbletea or email them at tokyobubbletea@gmail.com
Join their current contest called “Pichur Pichur” and get to win a Nikon Coolpix S230 camera with touchscreen LCD and Bubble Tea gift certificates.
Bubble Tea Branches:
Tomas Morato – #220 Tomas Morato Avenue, QC (4123573)
SM North Edsa – LGF SM North Edsa, The Block, QC (4410097)
SM Megamall – LGF SM Megamall, Mandaluyong (6387479)
Greenhills – Unit 3 #229 Wilson Street, West Greenhills, San Juan City
Delivery Option: www.citydelivery.ph or 87878
Bubble Tea : Tokyo Milk Tea Place