Located at bai Hotel on Ouano Ave. is Ume, which serves authentic Japanese cuisine. In a highly competitive market, Ume has carved out its spot as one of the go-to spots for traditional and high quality Japanese cravings such as sushi and yakitori dishes.
What’s more—things are looking up for Ume as it comes out of the pandemic bringing in an experienced Japanese chef with decades of experience, Chef Nobu.
While flipping through pages in law school, Chef Nobu discovered a burning passion for the culinary arts as a part-time cook in a restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo. Eventually, he fulfilled his dream of working abroad in the United States but later relocated to Makati, Manila where he met his eventual wife. He then worked at various hotels in the capital before bringing his talent to Cebu.
Alongside Chef Nobu in the conceptualization of Ume’s menu is Chef Ko. Beginning as a line cook in Jollibee, Chef Ko went through a long gastronomic journey around the world to perfect his craft. The talented chef has trained under renowned master chef Marco Pierre White and worked in Princess Cruises.
Now, the pair seeks to revitalize Ume as the traditional Japanese revamps its menu. The veteran chefs plan to introduce over 70 dishes this coming August.
Ume will still serve their signature dishes like the Nature Spring Roll, which is sushi topped with bonito flakes and oozing with cheese, their crunchy Chicken Karaage, and Shrimp Tempura which is thankfully more shrimp than batter.
The resident Japanese chef understands the Filipino taste buds: “Savory, spicy, and there has to be rice or noodles.” Chef Nobu said. His special Spicy Shrimp Tempura Roll encapsulates this perfectly.
But for an authentic taste of traditional Japanese dishes, go with the assorted sushi sashimi platter featuring Norwegian salmon, black tiger shrimps, unagi, and tuna from General Santos, one of the few producers of sashimi-grade tuna in the Philippines.
If you want to satisfy your Japanese cravings, Ume is located on the ground floor at bai Hotel on Ouano Ave. corner C.D. Seno St., Mandaue City, Cebu.