This place might be located in a mall, but Tamaruya proves that Isetan is still a very solid spot to head to for Japanese food, a fact backed up by the Japanese crowd grilling their Australian wagyu beef at this particular venue. The décor serves up your typical Japanese vibe, but what’s less typical are the nice city views given that Japanese barbeques often favor grotto-like atmospheres. Also, the place is very clean: grills arrive impeccably brushed and the ventilation system is excellent so you don’t incur the wrath of your fellow moviegoers if your next stop is SF Cinema. The restaurant’s main focus is beef, but they also offer some other dishes such as a few rice rolls and liver sashimi for those who want to get more adventurous. (That kind of stuff is also why we’re obsessive about cleanliness in a yakiniku restaurant.) One small detail that particularly enthralls us is that the wasabi is freshly grated, so be sure to ask for it. It’s not as piquant as the mass-produced variety and it really does wonders to bring out the beef’s umami flavors. It works just as well on the tofu soup (B150), which comes with clams and little fish. Unfortunately, the fish tastes too strong, the broth too weak. But most other wasabi-friendly dishes like the wasabi yukke (B220), which is raw beef topped with wasabi and egg, are a hit. It sees quality meat topped with just the right amount of marinated wasabi, creating an optimal balance between zesty, spicy and fatty. Beef prices range from B180-B650, such as the recommended marinated sirloin (B250) and rosu (tenderloin) cubes (B260). Not that the place is cheap in the end: portions are on the small side and they charge for vegetables (starting from B80, although they do claim they’re organic). Even a side of khao pad gratiem (stir-fried rice with garlic) is B150. Still, Tamaruya Honten’s good beef proves that when you’re hungry at CentralWorld, your best bet is always to step into Isetan.
