Category Archives: Travel

Whenever in Subic with Dad and Mom, Sakura is a definite stop.   They have good japanese food and an extensive menu. They have a branch in Araneta Coliseum near Starbucks but it is called Sachi.   (Taken from the website of Araneta Coliseum):    

Sachiko Hirano’s Sakura Restaurant at Times Square in Subic, has a good following despite its distance from Metro Manila. It attracts people who seek authentic Japanese cuisine at its finest. Recognizing this, Hirano decided to put up a branch at the heart of Quezon City, Araneta Center. “Same quality, same management”, Hirano says. Like its Subic counterpart, Sachi at the Coliseum Circle offers excellent wasyoku or traditional Japanese cuisine, like sushi, sashimi, tempura, gohanmono (rice with topping), noodles, agemono (deep-fried items), yakimono (grilled foods), nimono (simmered dishes), teppanyaki (dishes grilled on hot iron plate), nabermono (one pot dishes like sukiyaki and shabu-shabu), Japanese style steaks, desserts and other house specials prepared by executive chef Tadashi Noda and his staff. 

Sakura Restaurant in Times Square, Subic 

They were stopping me from taking photos but I had finished taking everything already.  I hope the owner will realize that the photos I took will be for a good cause

SAKURA JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Sta Rita Road, corner Rizal Highway
Open 11:00 am to 11:00 pm (Daily)
Tel No:(63-47) 252-2666
[email_link]

In 1992, during the height of duty free shopping in Subic,  Meat Plus was selling only frozen steaks.    In 1994, they added toys to their line up.  Then in 1996, Tita Apples had the idea of grilling the steaks for the customers.  She started off with just a home griller and a rice cooker.  They charged $ 1.00 as a cooking charge.  In the year 2000, they opened TENDER BOBS in Manila which is also a steak place but a bit more upscale.  They now have 3 locations.  In 2008, they are still in Subic and doing very well!  They must be doing something right.  

We always pass by Meat plus but never get to eat there because it is always full.  I guess it is full because it is good food at a very reasonable price.  Value for money.  But this trip, we decided to use our connections and make a reservation with one of the owners, Tita Apples.  And Thanks to Tito Paquito and Tita Pinky ( owners also ) who were there that day for watching over us and for making sure we had their yummy dessert. We enjoyed our lunch!  

Notice how full the place is.  Even the take out counter has long lines! Tito Paquito said that during weekends it is always full but they are noticing now that even weekdays, it is also getting full.  Steaks are really the “in” thing now but at MEAT PLUS, it started many years ago.

You can buy your steak and have it cooked.

This was the rib eye. Very good!!

We asked the waiter for a recommendation and he said that the MEAT PLUS Burger was the bestseller.  So almost everyone ordered this.  It was a very simple looking burger but it was really good.  And for the price of P 110.00  ONLY!  It is a double burger with cheese in the middle! YUMMY!!!  You can just line up and take this out if you prefer to take it home.   It also has a meal which comes with drinks and french fries for P 160.00.   The desserts were really good!!!!!!!! Make sure to order it ala mode. The ice cream was so good, I forgot to ask what it was.  The Mango caramel!!!! Yum! and the Apple pie ala mode!  

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A Tavola is one of the restaurants we go to when in Subic.  They have good Italian food especially their wood fire over pizzas.  So do try it when in Subic.   

A Tavola Italian Fine Dining RestaurantArgonaut HighwayPure Gold, Royal Duty-Free Shopping Center Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines 

Phone 1: (047)-252-6556 

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