Say hai to Dohtonbori
Our goal is 30 stores by 2020,” said Dohtonbori president Kimberly Cruz as she gleefully entertained guests at the recent opening of their MOA branch. Having opened their first store (Greenhills) in November last year, then their second (SM North EDSA) in February, Cruz is happy with the success that Dohtonbori Philippines has been enjoying, making her optimistic about their “30 by 2020” goal.
Initially banking on the brand’s popularity in Japan (where it has over 300 stores), the continuous support that its local franchise has been receiving can now be attributed to customers enjoying the delicious fare and friendly service that Dohtonbori provides.
This is why it’s not surprising to find customers patiently lining up outside the store to get their Dohtonbori fix, which, according to Cruz, has extended far beyond their famous okonomiyaki, and is something that she’s very grateful for.
FIRST IN THE PHILIPPINES
For those who have yet to try okonomiyaki, this filling dish — best described as a savory pancake — is a staple in Japan, especially in Osaka. Having been around for more than 500 years, the dish was very popular in World War II when resources were scarce and the Japanese made do with whatever was available to them. From a mix of vegetables with flour paste, the humble okonomiyaki is now being enjoyed in a variety of ways. Just check Dohtonbori’s menu.
Since its launch late last year, Cruz shares that they have already added new okonomiyaki variants to their menu, giving customers more reasons to keep coming back. For first-timers, must-tries include the Four Cheese Okonomiyaki, Hiroshima Yaki, while for the more adventurous there’s the Mochi Cheese, Spicy Kalbi BBQ, Umigo, and Seoul Style — all good for sharing and reasonably priced at below P500 per dish.
For those who want a different take on okonomiyaki, Dohtonbori also offers different variants of the Monjayaki, which is more popular in Tokyo. What’s unique about this dish is its stickier texture once cooked. For those looking for something different, try Dohtonbori’s Mochi Mentaiko, Four Cheese Monja or Deluxe Monjayaki.
In addition to these, Cruz says that they also decided to offer yakiniku sets as their customers really enjoy their yakiniku items (choose from the likes of Chicken Shio, Tonteki, Garlic Angus, Gyu-tan, Kalbi Yakiniku, Pork Yakiniku, Stipoin Steak, and Kimchi & Pork). While Dohtonbori’s friendly servers are always eager to help customers out when they’re cooking on the teppan grill, yakiniku is something that everyone enjoys doing on their own.
Of course, ramen is also a favorite among Dohtonbori customers, so to cater to this, the restaurant serves heaping bowls of this Japanese staple ( Ramen Tonkotsu, Ramen Shoyu and the new variants, Ajitama Ramen and Chasu Ramen), as well as other Japanese noodle dishes with soba or udon.
Even with the inclusion of new menu items, Cruz says that all these passed through their Japanese partners and are consistent with Dohtonbori’s international standards.
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE EACH TIME
Another thing that Cruz is conscious of is their store’s ambiance. While each Dohtonbori store in the Philippines maintains the look of an old Japanese store, Cruz says that they always try to add a new attraction to each branch to give customers a different experience. For their biggest branch at MOA, Cruz had a model of Fushimi Inari temple put up. Aside from completing the overall ambiance, it’s also perfect for photo ops.
“Per Dohtonbori branch, we want to have a new concept, even with the new branch that we’ll be opening in UP Town Center, we’ll also have a new concept for that. We want each store to have something special to offer, not just the food that they’ll be experiencing,” adds Cruz.
Cruz and her team are also working on their fourth branch, which should be operational by February.
Always hard at work in maintaining Dohtonbori’s standards of excellence with each new branch, what drives Cruz and her team is the satisfaction they are able to provide their customers with a great experience, “So when they leave the store, their stomachs and hearts are both full.”
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Dohtonbori branches are located on the second floor, Entertainment Bldg., SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; 8 Missouri St., North East Greenhills, San Juan; and Upper Ground Floor, SM North EDSA.