The new Japanese restaurant presents traditional grilling techniques with succulent and flavorful robata-yaki, warayaki, and Omi Wagyu offerings.
Raw delicacies like nigiri and sushi may be popular highlights of Japanese cuisine, but its traditional grilling techniques also offer inimitable flavors worth talking about and tasting. What ties these culinary specialities together is a respect for quality ingredients and focused craftsmanship—the kind that takes nothing less than “excellent” for an answer. At the new Takumi Japanese Restaurant in Makati, this principle shines through time-honored cooking techniques and premium produce sourced from Japan, offering diners yet another transportative experience without the plane ticket.
Located on the lower ground floor of Windsor Square along Antonio Arnaiz Avenue, the restaurant presents a menu centered on traditional Japanese grilling and its surrounding spectacle, from robata-yaki to warayaki, alongside one of Japan’s most prestigious and oldest beef brands, Omi Wagyu.
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Offerings At The New Takumi In Makati
Among Takumi’s defining offerings is robata-yaki, the traditional Japanese method of grilling meats, seafood, and vegetables over glowing charcoal. The technique gently enhances the natural flavors of each ingredient through careful, precise cooking, allowing the quality of the produce to remain at the forefront.
Complementing this is warayaki, a distinctive straw-fire grilling technique that originated in Japan’s Tosa region. Used for Takumi’s signature tataki specialties, dried straw is burned at extremely high temperatures to quickly sear ingredients, locking in their natural flavors while imparting a rich, smoky aroma that can’t be replicated through conventional grilling. Think of it as the best of both worlds: you retain the prized, raw freshness of ingredients like duck, Wagyu, and fish while getting that slightly crisp crust from the grill.
These traditional Japanese grilling techniques take center stage in a live station showcasing the chefs at work, skewers of fish and other ingredients serving as tantalizing previews of what’s on the plate, paired with the theatricality of an open flame.
The restaurant also serves Omi Beef, one of Japan’s oldest and most prestigious Wagyu brands. It’s known for its exceptional marbling, buttery texture, and remarkable tenderness, and anchors Takumi’s premium dining experience—Lifestyle Asia had the chance to try it warayaki style, and can attest, it’s melt-in-your-mouth good with just the right amount of indulgence packed into thin slices.
And while you should stay for the grill, other offerings are up to par with dishes like the creamy Spicy Crab Roll, assorted sashimi, and Signature Caesar Salad (with just that light twist of Japanese citrus zest) adding variety to the meal.
Spaces For Private Dining
Designed to accommodate both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations, Takumi features six private dining rooms. Three larger VIP rooms can host eight to 10 guests (with a ₱6,000 consumable minimum per room), while three smaller rooms accommodate up to six diners (with a ₱3,000 consumable minimum), making the restaurant suitable for family occasions, business meetings, and private dinners.
Altogether, the restaurant seats up to 150 guests indoors, with an additional 12 seats available in its al fresco dining area. Guests can also enjoy limited complimentary parking at the restaurant’s basement parking area.
Takumi Japanese Restaurant is located at the Lower Ground Floor of Windsor Square, 1030 Antonio Arnaiz Avenue, San Lorenzo, Makati City. It’s open daily from 5 PM to 12 AM. Reservations may be made by calling 0917 505 4888 or via OpenTable. You can also email [email protected].
Photos courtesy of Takumi (unless specified)
Frequently Asked Questions
Takumi Japanese Restaurant is known for its traditional robata-yaki, a Japanese charcoal-grilling method that enhances the natural flavors of premium meats, seafood, and vegetables through precise cooking over glowing charcoal. The restaurant also serves Omi Beef, one of Japan’s oldest and most prestigious wagyu brands.
Robata-yaki is a traditional Japanese charcoal-grilling technique that uses glowing charcoal to cook premium meats, seafood, and vegetables. The method is designed to enhance the natural flavors of each ingredient through precise grilling.
Takumi serves Omi Beef, one of Japan’s oldest and most prestigious wagyu brands. It is renowned for its exceptional marbling, buttery texture, and remarkable tenderness, offering a luxurious dining experience.
Yes. Takumi offers six private dining rooms for intimate gatherings, family celebrations, and business meetings. Three larger VIP rooms accommodate 8 to 10 guests with a ₱6,000 consumable minimum per room, while three smaller VIP rooms seat up to 6 guests with a ₱3,000 consumable minimum.
Takumi Japanese Restaurant is located at the Lower Ground Floor of Windsor Square, 1030 Antonio Arnaiz Avenue, San Lorenzo, Makati City. The restaurant is open daily from 5 PM to 12 AM, with seating for up to 150 guests indoors and an additional 12 guests in its al fresco dining area. Reservations can be made through OpenTable or by contacting the restaurant directly.
