Baguio City Restaurants: Turning Japanese With Chaya

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If you are craving for Japanese food while you are in Baguio City, you will have several restaurants to choose from. In this article, we review one of these Japanese restaurants, Chaya, to give you an idea what to expect when it comes to food quality, ambiance and value for money. Based on our dining experience, the review will also give you tips before going to this restaurant.

Chaya – Authentic Japanese Cuisine, Homey Ambiance

I have heard and read a lot of reviews about the restaurant so I wanted to try it out for myself. I was joined by the rest of the editorial team of Pilipinas Popcorn. We were a group of eight, so our editor made sure to reserve a table ahead of time. The restaurant is housed in a homey cottage renovated in order to accommodate five dining tables on the inside. Outdoor dining is also available.

Upon entering, one of the staff immediately asked if we had a reservation which thankfully we did, as the place was full. They led us to a big round table and after being seated, provided us with menus. As some of my companions have been to Chaya before, they knew what to order. I took my time but eventually settled on the Gyoza and Kani Salad. For drinks, I decided to try their fresh mint tea, which I shared with two others.

Satisfying Japanese Food

I love dumplings and Gyoza is no exception. What I loved about their gyoza is that it was cooked perfectly – steamed well but with a slightly charred bottom. The Kani Salad was more than enough for one person, with a heap of thinly sliced kani and cucumber, topped with nori, on a generous bed of lettuce. The dressing was not the usual Japanese mayo but was a tangy sesame dressing. The Salmon Sashimi Salad was also a satisfying salad, which not only had fresh salmon but also shrimp and squid on a bed of lettuce with olives and cherry tomatoes.

One of my companions ordered the small Sashimi Variety plate, which included different types of sashimi such as tuna, salmon, squid and by special request, uni or sea urchin. The sashimi was fresh and rightly so. According to one review, their tuna is sourced from General Santos City. My friend who ordered the uni loved it so much she did not want to share it with anyone else. The other appetizers our group ordered included Kani Sashimi and California Roll (half order only).

The main dishes the others ordered were Chicken Teriyaki Plate, Nabeyaki Udon, Tempura Soba and Beef Yakiniku Plate. Judging my friend’s comments, most of them were satisfied with their orders.

Not to be missed at Chaya is dessert. For tonight, it was green tea (macha) ice cream, which was not too sweet and had a subtle green tea flavor. It was a fitting end to a great meal.

Tips When Dining at Chaya

With Chaya’s prices however, I cannot afford to come here on a regular basis. However, I will choose to come back here again for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or even the holiday. You can rely on the freshness of the food and the authentic Japanese taste. For a party of eight persons, we spent around a little less than PhP 4,000 for everything we ordered, including a 10% service charge.

I would recommend this restaurant for date night or for very special occasions. Tables are limited so it is best you reserve a table especially if you are a large group. Expect to spend around PhP 600 to 800 per person, especially if you are ordering drinks and dessert.

Chaya is located at 72 Legarda Street, Baguio City. For menu details and reservations, check their Facebook page @ChayaLegarda.

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