Aburi: Opting for the Cheesier Route

Previously exclusively available down South, Aburi seems to know no bounds when it comes to flaunting its cheesy toppings as it goes beyond your typical salmon by also giving beef, unagi, and scallops the ‘Aburi’ treatment. This even extends to its chirashi bowls, as these can be layered with its gooey and cheesy torched topping for a minimal fee.

CHIRASHI DON – ABURI WAY (P465)

Its Chirashi Don comes in two ways, the classic way (P435), or the Aburi way (P465). A bowl features a fresh selection of salmon, tuna, tamago, ebi, kani, and unagi over some sushi rice and is lovingly served with a blanket of gooey melted torched cheese when the Aburi way is opted. The cheese was a delightful touch; however, it made the dish too heavy and a bit tiring to eat eventually.

SALMON ABURI (P210)

Aburi also serves its aburi favorites in a la carte servings of two pieces each. Its Salmon Aburi effortlessly mastered the art of melt-in-your-mouth goodness. No morsel of salmon or cheese is guaranteed to be left on your plate after this!

SCALLOP ABURI (P355) and KISU TEMPURA (P265)

The Scallop Aburi is another masterpiece as each aburi piece is topped with a sizable serving of scallop. It's definitely decadently delicious! The restaurant also served tempura so I opted for my go-to variant, the Kisu Tempura. I loved that the asuhos fillets came in a light crisp batter which gave each piece the perfect tempura bite.

WAGYU BEEF CUBES (P195)

Honestly, it’s a bit difficult to topple Kikufuji and Urameshi-ya when it comes to being top of mind in serving Wagyu Beef cubes; however, Aburi’s offering is still noteworthy. An order comes with a skewer of heavenly juicy wagyu cubes that are enough to put a smile on your face. Props to them as they can serve these wonder cubes faster than most joints.

BEEF ABURI BOWL (P375)

If you’re in the mood for something savory, its Beef Aburi Bowl is a perfect dish in itself. The beef strips were on the salty side but were well-balanced by the sweet teriyaki glaze drizzled over the bowl. The best component of this donburi would be the crispy caramelized onion strips dressed in sesame seeds as these add a quirky dimension to the classic beef teriyaki dish.

TEN CHA SOBA (P355)

Perfect for hot summer lunches, the Ten Cha Soba is the perfect choice for someone who wants to beat the heat; or for someone opting for a lighter meal option. Served alongside some Ebi Tempura, its perfectly firm noodles come served in a well-balanced and refreshingly light cold soba soy sauce.

Aburi

Citadines Milenium, #11 Ortigas Ave, Ortigas, Pasig City