New surprises from Kimpura

xYou remember those lunches with the entire clan—grandparents, uncles, aunts, Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, cousins—at the first Kimpura in front of the Intercon, in what was then quaintly called the Makati Commercial Center. The Glorietta of that period was a large open space surrounded by shops and restaurants. Many of those restaurants are gone and most of them forgotten, but you have abundant memories of everyone you love gathered around a table, dining on tempura and teppanyaki.

On a roll: At Kimpura the super California roll is one of the all-time favorites of diners.

It would seem that Kimpura has been around forever. It has, in a way; most of the people reading this can’t remember anything that happened before 1970 (and those who do prefer to be quiet). Today Japanese dishes—sushi, sashimi, sukiyaki, teriyaki, ramen—are staples of the Filipino diet, and there’s a Japanese restaurant on every other street. But when Kimpura opened its doors on October 10, 1970, Japanese cuisine—Raw fish!—was still an exotic concept in the Philippines. If you wanted Japanese food, you went to the little restaurants in Ermita-Malate run by Japanese nationals catering to expats. The mainstreaming of Japanese cuisine in the Philippines may have begun with Kimpura.

That first restaurant was so successful that an extension had to be opened in what is now the SM Annex. Kimpura stayed in that spot until the 90s, when it transferred to Glorietta. Meanwhile, two more Kimpura branches opened in Greenhills in 1988, then in TriNoma in 2009.

Last year, on December 17, Kimpura formally opened at its current site on the fourth level of Greenbelt 5, next to its sister restaurant Peking Garden. Apart from its new location Kimpura is exactly the same restaurant where you’ve been dining with the family for decades. The composition of the clan gatherings may be different—there are new members of the family, some members are sorely missed, and without your noticing you have become one of the grown-ups. But the tempura is as crispy and delicious as it tastes in your childhood memories, the teppanyaki as delightful, the sashimi as fresh. In a highly changeable world, you can count on Kimpura to maintain the same taste and quality. That’s the most basic definition of “comfort food”.

Only the freshest: Salmon sashimi

“The secret is consistency,” says Kimpura manager Lulu Palileo. “Our customers will attest that the quality and taste of our food hasn’t changed. We have been serving four generations of customers, and we’ve maintained our high standard of service. The family of Henry Ng, who started the restaurant with his partners Luis Yulo and Gilbert Teodoro Sr., still sees to the day-to-day operations of the restaurant.”

You think that because you’ve been eating at Kimpura since early childhood you know everything there is to know about Kimpura’s menu. You don’t—because it’s not on the menu. The next time you visit Kimpura, try the Unago Kyomaki: omelette with marinated eel. And the Shiitake Tsutsumi Age: mushroom stuffed with shrimp.

Lulu Palileo, Kimpura Greenbelt 5 branch manager; Bea Teh Tan, Credit Payment Products Director and Joy Ng, Kimpura business development manager

Citibank cardholders can avail of a special treat at Kimpura: for every single receipt of P4,000, you get a free Beef Yakiniku. Mouth-watering thinly-sliced U.S. beef grilled with garlic sauce, free with your order. This offer is good until October 31.

Then there’s the Citibank Crazy Weekday Offer. For a minimum purchase of P2,500, you get a special platter of Gyoza (steamed pork and cabbage dumplings), Tori Karaage (chicken lollipops), and Ebi Ko (prawn) rolls, free. This platter would cost P550 if you order it, but if you use your Citibank Credit card it’s free. The Crazy Weekday Offer is available from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, and from Feb. 7 to 11. That’s reason enough to have your business lunches at Kimpura.

If you prefer a taste of everything, or if the thought of poring over the extensive menu is too daunting, you have a choice of Bento sets starting at a very affordable P375. Try the Yuri Bento: Oysters Teppanyaki or Bacon Roll, Prawns Teppanyaki, Sukiyaki Steak, Miso Soup, mixed fried rice and dessert, all for P565.

On your next visit to Kimpura, invite your office mates and colleagues to savor all your old favorites: the Super California Roll, Salmon Sashimi, the spicy Dynamite Roll, the ever-popular Shrimp Tempura, and Sukiyaki. Add the Sake Batayaki—salmon cooked in butter and Japanese wine. Then impress them by ordering the Unago Kyomaki while casually mentioning that it’s not on the menu. Then really bowl them over by announcing that when you use your Citibank Credit card at Kimpura, you get the Beef Yakiniku or the Crazy Weekday special for free. Start the new year by creating new memories with a comfortable old friend.