I’ve always wanted to try Nobu Restaurant in Nobu Hotel City of Dreams Manila (click here to book your stay at the hotel) so when I was invited to try their buffet breakfast, I was game, of course. At first I wondered: They’re known for their signature fusion dishes and sushi, crafted by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and prepared for the Manila clientele by Executive Chef Zachary Hillberry, so why let us try the buffet breakfast?

Nobu Restaurant is a contemporary fine dining venue with 335 seats, which include two private dining rooms.

I understood when I saw the buffet spread: Like everything else in Nobu, their breakfast fare is out of the ordinary. Everything has a touch of modern Japanese, but besides the influences from Peru and Chef Nobu’s travels through North and South America, there’s also a touch of Filipino in some of the dishes, particularly the Breakfast Minis. These are included in the breakfast buffet package, with a maximum of three items per order, and the lineup changes everyday. It also includes a choice of brewed coffee, green tea, imperial earl grey tea, or black orchid tea.

Nobu Buffet Breakfast (if not free in your hotel stay) is P1,232 for adults and P616 for children, both inclusive of VAT but subject to local tax and service charge.

I was able to try only one item on the Breakfast Minis menu, and I went for the Nobu Style Tapsilog. One look at the menu and they had me at “miso braised Wagy cheek,” haha. I love it—make sure you order it when you get the chance to try breakfast at Nobu. The meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender, which is no surprise; it has great flavor to it, too, with a slight sweetness and heat at the back of your palate. I like that they sprinkled Nori strips on the sunny side up to add a savory flavor. It’s served with delicious garlic rice and papaya relish.

Nobu Style Tapsilog

My fellow bloggers were also exclaiming how delicious and unique the Champorado Nobu Style was. The chocolate rice porridge is apparently served with Bacon Furikake. I didn’t get the chance to try it, though. I got too busy [and full from] trying to sample as many of the unique items on the buffet spread as I can.

I first sampled the two items General Manager Marlon Hirsh recommended: their must-try Yuzu Soba Pancakes and French Toast. Their versions of the breakfast staples are definitely one-of-a-kind and nothing like you’ve ever tried before.

Yuzu Soba Pancakes

The pancake is made of buckwheat and reminded me of the taste of monggo somehow. The winner for me is their selection of unique toppings: Yuzu Whipped Cream, which had a light acidic taste; Blueberry Shiso Compote, which had a kick of acidity; Pecan Miso Butter; Mango-Ginger Compote; White and Dark Chocolate mini balls; fresh mangoes; and the usual maple syrup. I really liked the Pecan Miso Butter—delectable, decadent, delicious!

Pancake and French toast area, with selection of toppings on the foreground

The French toast, meanwhile, had a burst of flavors—there are savory and acidic tastes there, thanks in part to Yuzu Lemon Cream infused into it. I almost expect it to be spicy—it has that much flavor going on!—but it’s not. It’s definitely unconventional.

Nobu French Toast

View the gallery for other buffet breakfast items I got to sample. Click on the first thumbnail to enlarge the image and launch the photo gallery. Then read the rest of the blog post for more things you’d want to know about Nobu Restaurant and Nobu Hotel.

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Other Nobu Breakfast Specialties include Green Tea Waffles, Eggs Matsuhisa, Bagel and Lox, Breakfast Tobanyaki, and Salmon and Egg Donburi.

Bagel & Lox

Nobu Restaurant is a contemporary fine dining venue with 335 seats, which include two private dining rooms, a sushi bar, floating water cabanas, two Teppanyaki tables, and a Chef’s Table. If you want to try Nobu for dinner, a dinner for two would set you back anywhere from P4,000 to P7,000 (or maybe less) up to hundreds of thousands of pesos if you have their premium sake, according to their GM.

Nobu’s outdoor dining area and floating water cabanas

The Nobu Hotel at City of Dreams Manila marks the entry of Nobu Hospitality into Asia. Inspired by world-renowned Japanese culinary genius Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and championed by Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro and Hollywood producer Meir Teper, the 321-room boutique hotel promises to deliver a celebrity-inspired, ‘fun-luxury’ experience.

Thinking of having a staycation here? You can choose from a Deluxe Room (36sqm), a Premier or Corner room (42sqm), and Executive Room (46sqm). Or you can treat yourself to a Nobu Suite, with extra space at 68sqm.

Nobu Restaurant is located at the Level 1 Pool Deck of Nobu Hotel City of Dreams Manila. It’s open for breakfast from 6AM to 10AM on weekdays, until 11AM on weekends, and from 6PM to 11PM daily for dinner (bar opens at 5PM). To book your stay at Nobu Hotel via Agoda, click here.

Food photos by Trixie Reyna
Nobu restaurant and hotel photos courtesy of Nobu Hotel City of Dreams Manila