The Long Awaited Senju Lunch

When you finally find the time to have that long overdue lunch with your friend, it's bound to be one very fun and fulfilling meal.

My friend Lesley and I were able to snag a few hours from our busy schedules to sit down and grab a quiet lunch at the EDSA Shangri-La's famed Japanese restaurant, Senju. While waiting for her, I took the chance to walk around and get a feel of the place. The interiors had a very natural feel with bamboo decors adding accents in corners and wooden dividers enclosing what seemed like small semi-private rooms. It felt like a stroll in a indoor Japanese wood garden with the fine-crafted wooden chairs and tables all-over.

Shortly after Lesley arrived, she asked what I wanted to order. I told her to do the honors and to let me taste some of the best that Senju has to offer. As the director for communications of the hotel, I knew that Lesley will not fail to impress.

We started off with an Edamame or the boiled soybeans in pods sprinkled with salt.

Next was the Sahimi Goshu Mori, or the five kinds sashimi plate, with a variety of salmon, tuna, hamachi, scallop, and mackerel with a generous serving of wasabi on the corner of the plate.

I've heard great reviews about the Dragon Roll of Senju and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it. The presentation looked scrumptious and appealing that I wanted to just stare at it for a few more minutes. But I couldn't wait to immediately get my share. (pardon my manners)

Each piece is filled with shrimp and lobster sahimi with tamago, mango, and cucumber rolled inside Japanese rice. Each piece was topped with unagi and tobiko or Japanese caviar. The mix of flavors was divine and overall, I was impressed. It tasted as great as how it looked.

I am a self-confessed noodle and soup lover so when the Tempura Udon was served, I felt that my lunch was more than complete. The soup was neither salty nor bland and the udon was not at all soggy. The tempura was still a little crunchy and the combination of tastes blended well.

I specifically requested if we could have something a little bit more unique for desserts. We ended up having the Mochi Ice Cream and the Coffee Jelly.The green tea mochi enveloping the vanilla ice cream was slightly chewy and somehow melts in the mouth. I wasn't so sure how the pairing of the red bean ice cream and coffee jelly was going to be but it was an interesting treat. Both is a must-try but I loved the Mochi Ice Cream a lot more. :)

 

 

It was an amazing, long overdue lunch that I totally would want to do again. My interesting Japanese experience was sublime and I'm sure to go back to Senju with maybe my mom or friends for a casual lunch.

Special thanks to Lesley Tan, director of communications for EDSA Shangri-La. Until our next!

Senju, EDSA Shangri-La

633-8888 ext. 2952