Restaurant Story

Kazu Café opened in 2024, taking notes from its older sibling Kazunori, a celebrated Japanese restaurant that opened in 2017. The café is owned by Ryan Cruz, CEO of Nippon Hasha Inc.

Nippon Hasha Inc. is the group behind the popular ramen bar concepts Mendokoro Ramenba, Ramen Yushoken, and Marudori, which have become endeared to the local and foreign communities in Metro Manila.

Kazu Café is a more whimsical take on the restaurants that Nippon Hasha operates, taking on a casual yet elevated experience that is influenced by Tokyo’s café culture.

“Japanese cafés often embrace flavors and dishes from around the world. At Kazu Café, we are bringing a global twist to our offerings while maintaining the precision and discipline of Japanese cuisine that the Kazunori brand has been known for all these years,” said Ryan Cruz in a press release.

Vibe and Venue

Nestled in the lush and relaxing scenery of the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Kazu Café stands out for its youthful charm and playful take on what is quintessentially Japanese. While keeping to its traditional Japanese roots through its menu, Kazu Café is casual, hip, and whimsical.

Its interiors were designed by Liza Crespo of Ecotecture Design Studio, featuring sculptural lights and denim-upholstered seating as a nod to the Japanese denim industry. Its branding and identity, created by Singapore-based ACRE Design is described as “bold and artistic, yet approachable” by TY Zheng, co-founder and creative director of ACRE Design, which can be seen through its clay-like logo that can be seen throughout the café.

The café is a calm respite in the midst of a bustling city, with spaces fit for every kind of party, for any occasion.

The Menu

Kazu Café offers an elevated take on beloved Japanese comfort classics with the high-level culinary techniques utilized by Nippon Hasha’s restaurants. The menu offers a wide-range of options — from salads, soup, sandwiches, to teishoku, pasta, donburi, pizza, curry — including Japanese café bites and breakfast platters for the morning.

Chef Kuramochi Kazunori, the head chef at the café’s sister restaurant Kazunori, created the menu that Kazu Café is now known for. Some of his creations are the Hitachi Wagyu Burger, Yaki Tonkotsu, Kazu Oyakodon, and Hanetsuki Gyoza.

Their dessert menu is also not one to miss, especially with offers like the Musk Melon Kakigori, Yuzu Tiramisu, and Matchagato giving diners a glimpse into the fashionably trendy café culture in Japan.

Kazu Café recently added new items to their menu, which perfectly fit the bill if you’re looking out to try something new!

The Cost

Kazu Café is quite affordable, especially since you’re paying for high-quality ingredients, generous servings, and an inviting space. Prices are friendly for everyone, with Kazu Café’s starters ranging from P220 to P460, with the exception for the Hitachi Wagyu Burger costing P1,400.

The prices for the mains range from P380 to P550, and Kazu Café’s set meals, or the Teishoku, are priced at P450. These set meals include rice, a small salad, miso soup, and the main dish.

The café pastries are much cheaper, ranging from P180 to P300, and the breakfast set offerings are priced from P390 to P880.

For their drink menu, their coffee offerings range from P150 to P250, which are common among all cafés in the area. Some of their more premium offers, such as their matcha, range from P200 to 260.

Kazu Café’s new cocktail menu is priced from P280 to P520, and their new bar menu ranges from P295 to P550.

What We Tried

Kazu Café gave The Beat Manila the opportunity to try out their newest bar menu, which were the Yakiniku Pizza, Crispy Chicken Sando, Gyoza, and Nikomigyuu Niku Bolognese.

Itadakimasu! 

We started our meal with the Gyoza, which was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. These pork dumplings were first steamed and then fried to get that crisp exterior and juicy filling, and the overall experience of biting into it was incredibly pleasing.

Next, we had the Yakiniku Pizza, which was surprisingly sweet and definitely not a usual pick. The teriyaki-flavor gives it a unique umami kick and it’s best paired with coffee or matcha. It’s also a great pick if you’re looking for a heavy snack!

The Crispy Chicken Sando was an absolute delight; the chicken thigh was cooked to perfection — crunchy on the outside, juicy in the inside. The garlic mayo was a perfect pairing to the dish, too. It’s subtle, and didn’t overpower the dish.

We had the Nikomigyuu Niku Bolognese for last, which is a must-try for pasta lovers if you’re not a purist. The sauce was rich and beefy, and it soaked perfectly into the linguine pasta. It’s cozy, satisfying, and worth your money for sure.

The Beat Manila was also able to try Kazu Café’s newest cocktail menu, which are cocktail classics reinvented with Japanese flavors that were creatively concocted by renowned mixologist Arcadius Rybak.

Every drink had their own personalities and mood — here’s how we’d describe them.

Althea: Light, floral and sweet, but the bitterness creeps in once you’re a few sips in. Made with Rinomatto Bianco, elderflower, yuzu sake, soda water, and a bit of prosecco, it’s sweet and refreshing, but the bitter aftertaste rounds it up and brings you back.

Gabriel: If you’re not much into drinking alcohol, then this drink isn’t the one for you. It’s made with Mancino Secco, Widges Gin, wasabi, kiwi, and lemon, and can be quite intense. The lemon and kiwi offers a sweetness to the spice, but beware, the gin kick is real, and it lingers.

Rossi: This drink is fruity, sweet and cute, but don’t underestimate it. It blends Ratafia Rossi, red wine, guava, lemon, and shiso for a Japanese version of sangria. It may not be too strong at first glance, but then you realize you’re tipsy after a few glasses.

Edo Sour: The green tea in the drink got us raising our eyebrows. It’s bold, unexpected, and quite bitter, made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, green tea, passion fruit, and egg white. The result? A bittersweet and complex drinking experience.

Kurogane: This drink was blended with Arette Bianco Tequila, Derrumbes Mezcal, yuzu juice, and yuzukosho, making it a wonderfully smoky flavor trip. It’s both smoky and zesty, with a hint of citrus to give it a different body. Not our usual pick, but it’s one to try.

Hide: The drink was both intense and refreshing — something that feels quite opposite from one another. This drink blends in Aperol, basil, guava, and soda water, giving it a citrusy-spicy taste. The guava leaf also gave it an herbal twist to the drink, and it’s perfect for chill sessions with friends.

Amayuzu: It may just look like water, but don’t let that fool you. Made with Grass Vodka, Derrumbes Mezcal, almond, yuzu, and tonic water, it’s quite strong with a citrus edge and a bitter aftertaste. But its taste is perfectly balanced and if you’re one that prefers your drinks clean and packs a punch, then this one’s for you.

Kusama: Sweet, light, and effortlessly cool — mixing sake, Pisco Fernet Hunter, lychee, and muscat grapes into an elevated fruit juice-like drink. It’s got that elegant vibe, and it wouldn’t look like you’re drinking alcohol in the first place.

Gochisousama Deshita!

Follow Kazu Café on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on their F&B offerings!

Location: Kazu Café, Unit 05-06, Ground Level, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City

Opening Hours: 8 AM to 10 PM, Daily

Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous Delish Eats reviews here .