Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Food Review

Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Artsy and tasty!
Disclaimer: This review is sponsored by Soru Izakaya. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are our own and not influenced by the restaurant, owner(s) and/or its affiliates, in any way.

I've received an invite from Trish of Zomato for a foodie meet-up, although it's not the first invite I've received from them, it was the first invite where the place is accessible to my location. It is also my first foodie meet-up so I'm quite nervous and at the same time excited because I am not used to blogging with many food bloggers/critics around, and though I'm uneasy, it'll be a great experience for me because I will be able to learn from other bloggers.
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC
It was a lovely afternoon when I arrived in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - It's not hard to spot as the restaurant is located in the rotunda plus there's a big sign outside of the restaurant. It was hot that afternoon and I am famished, excited, nervous, and ecstatic.

The interior vibe is elegant and somewhat upscale - it's a two-story restaurant and it was two bars for each floor. It is well ventilated, the lighting is somewhat dim, but it is well air-conditioned and spacious. There is also outside seating which is not bad as it is shaded and organize.
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC
We sat on the second floor and it was a busy afternoon back then.
I arrived a little bit late and the manager is already giving the rundown of the dishes - I missed the important part! It's my first time to finally meet Trish and she immediately gave me a seat. Lost and confused on what to do or expect, I started mingling with the other bloggers and they've taught me a very important attitude when food blogging, "take that mother-efin" picture! Like seriously, they are out of their seats and in front of the bar where the food is displayed. They are taking pictures here and there and I even saw two bloggers taking a couple of dishes and bringing them outside, followed them and I was surprised at what they do just to get those "perfect shot".
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Dishes were brought outside and the table was set
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC
My very first flat lay shot with me actually standing on a chair
I saw some of them standing on chairs, pointing their devices down and I was really surprised at what they are doing. They are taking photo-ops outside the restaurant not caring about what other people would say, my kind of attitude. So without hesitation, I waited for them clear out and took my very first flat lay shot with me actually standing on a chair, amazing. The things I can do when I'm surrounded by like-minded people.

Enough talk, let's get to business. Soru Izakaya is not your typical Japanese restaurant, aside from being meticulous in the quality of the dish they also make sure to pour out their passion thru the art they've included in every single dish. Their sushi bar is open if you want to get a glimpse of their action while doing some extravagant plating and sushi art. They have a unique contemporary take on their dishes while retaining its traditional taste.
Spicy Maguro Salad (PHP290) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Spicy Maguro Salad (PHP290)
The light Spicy Maguro Salad (PHP290) looks really ravishing and the taste is perfect. The tuna sashimi cubes are fresh and there's a generous amount of it which is not bad considering the price they are asking for a salad.
Spicy Maguro Salad (PHP290) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Spicy Maguro Salad (PHP290)
The tempura flakes along with the black tobiko make the tuna stand out as it added that salty, smoky and crunch to the dish. The spicy mayo and miso are a perfect touch for all those green salad just sitting on the plate as it gave them that lush umami flavor. The aftertaste is no difference as you can still get that smoke and savory taste with that spicy kick on the back of your tongue and it's just a total party in your mouth.
Poke Bowl (PHP290) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Poke Bowl (PHP290)
Moving on to yet another light meal, their version of the Poke Bowl (PHP290). Unlike the previous Spicy Maguro Salad, this dish is more vibrant and sweeter - it has a generous amount of fresh tuna and salmon cubes that literally melts in your mouth. The combination of mangoes, black tobiko and onions just make the dish more sultry and savory, as the lettuce and cucumber provided that neutral flavor just to refresh your palate. 
Poke Bowl (PHP290) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Poke Bowl (PHP290)
The star of that dish is the combination of Sriracha mayo and the mango sauce, it's like a yin and yang in your dish - a little spicy and peppery but sweet and tasty.
Cold Soba (PHP180) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Cold Soba (PHP180)
This is a first for me, Cold Soba (PHP180). At first, I don't have any idea on what to do, I've tasted the noodles and it's just tasteless, that's when I realized that I need to dip/submerge the soba in the light soba sauce that was provided. The noodles they've used are buckwheat noodles, it's fat and cholesterol-free, does not contain any gluten and is a good source of nutrients like manganese, lean protein, and carbohydrates. The Ebi tempura and enoki blend perfectly on every sip and slurp of the soba. The light soba sauce tastes like light broth with a stint saltiness on it - while the buckwheat noodles gave somewhat a nutty and earthy flavor to on each bite.
5 pcs of Nori Tempura (PHP360) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Nori Tempura (PHP360)
Their Nori Tempura (PHP360) is absolutely fantastic, aside from the fact that it's the first time I've ever tried one, the presentation is just amazing. They use tiger prawn for the core and they have added nori to add its flavor to the batter, the result is just spectacular. The tempura is crisp on the outside yet the prawns are cooked perfectly - you may dip it in a tempura sauce, but for me, the savory crust and the natural flavor of the prawn are enough. If you think 5 pieces (Nami) is too much you can go for their 3 pieces (Shou) for PHP240 and if you want more go for 8 pieces (Dai) for PHP520.
Udon Carbonara (PHP450) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Udon Carbonara (PHP450)
Moving to something heavy, their Udon Carbonara (PHP450) is just one of those dishes that you will proudly present to your friends and families. The udon noodles just perfectly matched the slight peppery wasabi cream sauce, the udon provided that smooth chewiness while the glorious creamy wasabi sauce just sends this dish to the higher level, top that with a generous amount of parmesan, it just makes the cream sauce very rich and elegant. Not to mention the perfectly cooked salmon cubes and shiitake mushrooms for that additional creamy, yet earthy taste to the dish. The uni is exceptional as it added that briny ocean taste that is backed up by ikura on top of the dish which added little savoriness and freshness every time you pop them in your mouth.
Wagyu Steak (PHP990) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Wagyu Steak (PHP990)
It's small, it's expensive, but it's tasty! The Foie gras of meat, Wagyu Steak (PHP990), these 200 grams of heaven sure is not for everyone. The price may raise some eyebrows, but hey, it's the quality that counts. It was perfectly seasoned and it reminded me of a fine-quality calf liver due to its tenderness. It may look small but it's full of flavor burst inside my mouth while the wagyu slowly melts away. I was out of words for a couple of seconds, and as I was trying to contemplate what just happened. Yes, it might be expensive for some, but that experience makes every penny worth it.
Lava Maki (PHP380) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Lava Maki (PHP380)
After dealing with the heavy stuff, it's time to try their crowning glory, Soru Izakaya's Maki. First off, their Lava Maki (PHP380) looks really nice as it gives that impression that there's a volcano on your plate and there's a dragon circling on it.
Lava Maki (PHP380) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Lava Maki (PHP380)
I'll give it 20/10 for the appearance, it's basically a pile of sushi that has tamago and crispy salmon skin inside, fresh salmon and tuna cubes drizzled with their signature spicy mayonnaise and teriyaki sauce just running down on its sides mimicking a volcano spewing out hot lava. Oh, and I forgot to mention, it's hot, like fiery hot!
Avocado Maki (PHP480) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Avocado Maki (PHP480)
From one fiery dragon, we'll go to there rooster-looking Avocado Maki (PHP480), Soru Izakaya's sushi artist are really stepping up to their game. Their unagi was deep-fried like giving it its needed crispiness and color. 
Avocado Maki (PHP480) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Avocado Maki (PHP480)
The combination of avocado and mangoes just strikes me because of the freshness and delightful sweetness when combined, topped it with cream cheese for added tang, it surely is a superstar meal.
Spider Maki (PHP380) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Spider Maki (PHP380)
This is one of my favorites - Spider Maki (PHP380), whilst the two previous maki's provided us with a fierce dragon and rooster, the design of this dish is very playful, vibrant and colorful.
Spider Maki (PHP380) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Spider Maki (PHP380)
Same goes for the flavor, the combination of the crab and mango is absolutely amazing as they complement each other, the nori provided that additional kick for a much-needed savor, the combination of black tobiko and ikura makes my mouth explode with a freshness which makes me feel like I'm on the beach and both the teriyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise gave the dish that citrusy yet piquant finish.
Aburi Moriawase (PHP480) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Aburi Moriawase (PHP480)
This is like the all-star team dish because if you don't know which aburi to try, just order a dish that has one of each! Their Aburi Moriawase (PHP480) is just perfect for those who want to have a flavor soirĂ©e in their mouths.
Tiramisu in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Tiramisu (PHP220)
Time to simmer down and enjoy some delightful desserts, first off, their version of Tiramisu (PHP220). It has 3 layers of coffee-flavored ladyfingers on top of which are frozen cream cheese and for the final layer, it is generously dusted with cocoa powder topped with frosting, blueberries in syrup, mint leaves which added that nice soothing mentholated aftertaste and more chocolates.
Tiramisu in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Tiramisu (PHP220)
The plate is also generously dusted with cocoa powder should you need to overload yourself with sweetness. It's one of my favorite desserts and Soru Izakaya did a great job!
Rising Sun Takoyaki (PHP180) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Rising Sun Takoyaki Desserts (PHP180)
Takoyaki is my wife's favorite and I was surprised when the staff presented it as a dessert. I never thought that you can make a dessert takoyaki, I'm sure my wife will love this! They call it the Rising Sun Takoyaki Desserts (PHP180), it's basically takoyaki with cream cheese, white and red velvet batter inside. Topped with a couple of peaches and strawberry, drizzled with ganache, some peanuts, and marshmallow, it's a complete party in your mouth. The takoyaki tastes like a sweet pancake and the batter inside serve as the topping, although I find the batter few and they should have at least put more in. Nevertheless, I hope we can come back soon with my wife and daughter, I'm sure they'll enjoy this.

Before leaving you guys with my final thoughts, here are some more awesome photos to make you crave more!
Cold Soba (PHP180), Nori Tempura (PHP360) and Udon Carbonara (PHP450) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Cold Soba (PHP180), Nori Tempura (PHP360) and Udon Carbonara (PHP450)
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Maki madness featuring their Soru Lemonade (PHP85)
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Sushi art @ Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC
Aburi Moriawase (PHP480) in Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Aburi Moriawase (PHP480)
Final thoughts? Well, Soru Izakaya took that bold move to fuse contemporary with traditional and the results are just astounding. Every single dish looks eye-pleasing and very picture worthy and the taste is just as good as how it looks. It's exceptionally different and very lush, flavors are playing in your mouth, left and right. I came in famished and left the place in euphoria, what an experience. The only thing that I worry about is their price point as most of their dishes can somewhat be expensive for others, I just hope that they look into it and consider just stepping down a little bit on their pricing without losing the quality.

If you will visit Soru Izakaya, make sure to bring your "photographer" in you because you will enjoy taking pictures of every dish, and if in case there's a need to charge your device, they also got you as there are power banks on each table and they have cords included both for iOS and Android.
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
It's a smart move, longer battery life, more pictures!
  • Place 
    • I like its contemporary and spacious design. Although it's kinda dark for my taste, it brings out the elegance of the area. The open sushi bar is a good addition to the dining area as it adds something for the diners to look into in-case they are waiting for their food.
    • The seats outside are under shade so no need to worry in-case you would want a natural ambiance.
    • The clever addition of power banks on each table is just amazing.
  • Service 
    • Service is top-notch, the servers are prompt and will provide recommendations if they see you struggling on their menu.
    • The menu is very well written, it has a brief description for each item which gives the reader an insight on what to expect and/or what to avoid.
    • The guys over the sushi bar are just amazing, should you request a great picture pose from them (i.e. posing while blowtorching a maki) they'll happily let you take that Instagram shot.
  • Price 
    • I might be in a little grey area for this one, yes the foods were fantastic, the service is great but I just can't seem to make myself agree with their price. Yes, they are using high-quality ingredients but it still does not make me want to go back and try. Hopefully, they'll look into and do some action, at least, lower down a little bit?
Let's rate them, shall we?
Food: 5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money: 3.5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5

What does Zomato say?
Soru Izakaya Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
Soru Izakaya in Burgos Circle, BGC - WTF Review
Follow us on Instagram!
Location: Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Philippines
Operating Hours: 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Contact Number: +632 2469069 ext 875

No comments:

Post a Comment