It is as eccentric as it is artistic. Japanese cuisine has received much rave from foodies the world over and the craze has all but exploded in the local dining scene. One aspect of oriental culinary arts that has eluded local gourmands, however, is the bustling experience of a Japanese market.

That sensation and much more are now here in the Philippines as Ichiba: Japanese Market, the first of its kind in the country, sets up shop at Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) Newport Mall.

Inspired by the wholesale market in Tsukiji, the gastronome in Kuromon, and the seafood diversity in Kyushu and Hokkaido, Ichiba hosts an immersive atmosphere by creating a community around authentic oriental food.

“We wanted people to enter the restaurant and feel as if they stepped through a portal to the market alleys of Osaka or Kyoto,” says President and CEO Bryan Tiu. “Like these Japanese markets, we wanted the restaurant to be bursting with colors, from market signs to lanterns.”

The restaurant cradles an interactive space where diners can freely explore the intricacies of Japanese cuisine. From a live seafood section, a fresh market display, busy food stations, and a beer and beverage bar, Ichiba offers slices of Japanese life by recreating a true oriental ambiance with sections that specialize in different disciplines.

“Everything here is about authenticity and we make sure we deliver that,” shares Tiu.

Another thing that will attract diners is the restaurant’s menu. Delivering on its promise of capturing the essence of a Japanese market, Ichiba serves up a smorgasbord of Japanese cuisine. “The market concept is all about diversity. Of course we have the usual Japanese comfort food such as crunchy tempuras, juicy gyozas, char-grilled yakitoris, slurp-worthy ramen, and even savory takoyakis reminiscent of Osaka,”

Tiu explains.

Apart from having fresh and authentic ingredients, the restaurant maintains the high quality of its dishes by keeping all hands well-versed in the Japanese culinary arts. From the market stalls all the way to the back kitchen, Ichiba chefs have been expertly trained by Japanese chef Nobuyoshi Onishi, a former sushi master from the renowned Midori Sushi in Japan.

Despite the premium being put in the dining offerings and the ambiance, Ichiba’s keeps its menu choices friendly with a wide price range. Diners looking for something light can come in and spend around Php100 for snacks, shell-out more for a heavier meal, or go all-out and indulge in a superb set.

“We try to make sure that our prices are accommodating. That is part of the whole idea of the market experience, that you don’t have to break the bank whenever you want to eat,” Tiu explains.

What makes Ichiba unique from other Japanese restaurants is the addition of a live aquarium, the first of its kind here in the country. Going to great lengths to ensure that this feature of the restaurant is kept in ship-shape, Ichiba went as far as hiring an expert from Japan to maintain the quality of the tanks, from the cleanliness all the way to the salinity of the water.

Capable of sustaining up to 600kilograms of live seafood including lobsters, crabs, fishes, and shellfish, the aquarium allows guests to pick which delicacy they want and have it cooked in a variety of ways. “This experience puts a whole new meaning to the market to table concept,” Tiu says.

Ichiba offers a little something for everyone. It has a fishing pond where diners can cast their fishing lines and try to catch their food, function rooms for guests who opt to enjoy their experience in a more private setting, and the first ever Asahi Bar in the Philippines where friends can enjoy platters of yakitori with a rounds of imported Asahi Beer.

“Resorts World Manila is all about experiences, and I think Ichiba provides exactly that, from the food, the interiors, and the music. At Ichiba, you experience the market, you experience Japan.”

Visit Ichiba: Japanese Market at the 2^nd level of Resorts World Manila’s Newport Mall.

For more information on other dining outlets at RWM visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (02) 908-8833.

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