SumoSam: 26th Branch Opens at SM Manila

If you've been a reader for a while, you've probably known of my serious infatuation with Japanese cuisine. Whether it's authentic Japanese, Japanese-Western fusion, or localized Japanese fare, I'll always be game to try it out. So when I was invited for a tasting at one of SumoSam's newest branches, I just had to give in and say yes.

Last March, along with a group of bloggers, as well as one of SumoSam's owners -- celebrity chef and Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 awardee Marvin Agustin, I dined at the 26th branch of SumoSam which is conveniently located in SM Manila's 4th floor, and just a few steps (or rather, tumbling) away from the cinemas.

For some history and background, SumoSam was started by Marvin Agustin along with fellow young entrepreneurs Raymund Magdaluyo and Ricky Laudico way back in 2005. Their first branch was in Shangri-la Plaza, and until now, their brand is still growing.

The first item on our table was this serving of Salmon Sashimi (P229). While I know a lot of people who veer away from eating raw slices of fish, I'm one of those who actually prefers raw fish than cooked ones. And being a salmon sashimi lover, I didn't waste any time and enjoyed my share. Thanks too to my seatmates for giving me the extra slices!

Next, we had the Pinoy-favorite California Roll (P218), a makizushi with kani slices, mangoes and cucumbers rolled in nori and roe-covered sushi rice, then drizzled with Japanese mayo. Although California rolls aren't really my thing, I found it okay especially since it had lettuce which gave it an added texture. Love the extra kani shreds too.

We also had the Las Vegas Roll (P248) which has almost the same fillings as the California ones but comes rolled in nori and aonori-ko and chili powder-covered sushi rice, then topped with dried scallops and semi-melted cheese. Compared to the California rolls, I think I like this better. I wish it came spicier though for that extra kick.

Among the makizushi, I like the Dynamite Roll (P278) best. It's a plate of spicy salmon sashimi roll topped with crispy salmon skin and chili powder, then drenched in a spicy dressing and served with a sweet and savory nikihana sauce (inspired by Chef Nikki Nicolas). This roll successfully whetted my palate and left me craving for more.

We also got to try the Bacon Dory (P279) which is a serving of dory fish fillets wrapped in bacon, then grilled and served with teriyaki sauce. Although I still love my bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms, I have to admit that these babies are quite good. They were cooked nicely and were flavorful as expected from a bacon and teriyaki sauce combo.

To further whet the appetite, we had SumoSam’s Pride Salad (P399) -- an ensemble of lettuce, tomatoes, grilled prawns, mango slices and walnuts in SumoSam's house dressing. As a salad eater, I actually liked this serving. The medley of fresh, sweet and savory flavors is perfect for the hot summer season. I guess my only qualm is the price.

We also had the Spicy Tuna Salad (P268) -- a bowl of 3 kinds of lettuce leaves and fresh tuna slices with spicy dressing, then topped with tenkasu (tempura bits). Although I'm not big on spicy tuna sashimi, I liked this salad a lot. The spicy tuna was very appetizing, and the tenkasu gave off an enjoyable crunch. This is more fairly-priced too.

Since we've already tapped the tenkasu, let's move on to the Ebi Tempura (P398) which is the default crowd-pleaser. As expected, the tempura batter was crispy, while the prawns were cooked nicely. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed dipping their share in the tempura sauce and savoring bite after bite. Again, my only qualm is the price tag.

For some carbs, we had the Japanese Fried Rice (P278) with assorted meat and seafood. I find this serving okay taste-wise, but feel like this is expensive portion-wise.

We had a serving of Chicken Teriyaki (P268) for our entrée which I surprisingly liked. More often than not, I avoid chicken teriyaki dishes as I'm not much of a sweet sauce fan. However, this order had a nice balance of sweet and savory which also went really well with our Japanese fried rice. The chicken fillet itself was very tender and succulent too.

We also had an order of Beef Teppan (P378) which had sautéed beef tenderloin pieces served with mixed vegetables and comes with 3 kinds of sauces (which I forgot to take note of). I liked how savory and tender the beef pieces were despite being lean cuts. And even without any sauce, I enjoyed just eating the beef with some veggies. However, for the price, it would be better if there were more beef tenderloin pieces to savor.

After the hearty meal, we enjoyed some SumoSam Ice Popsicles (P88) which come in 5 different flavors -- Black Sesame, Choco Banana, Green Tea, Pistachio and Red Bean. I wanted to try the red bean flavor, but since it wasn't available that day, I settled for the next unusual variant, the black sesame. I enjoyed this refreshing treat since it wasn't too sweet nor too creamy, and really had the black sesame taste to it.

THE VERDICT

I enjoyed my visit to SumoSam's 26th branch. However, I have mixed feelings for the brand. While I liked a few items among the dishes we got to try, I found some of them pretty expensive for either their portion size or for what they are. Nevertheless though, I think it'll all boil down to value and preference from a customer's viewpoint. But putting that aside, I liked the laid back yet comfortable ambiance at SumoSam's SM Manila branch. The servers were courteous and alert too even before Marvin Agustin came in.

Taste - 3.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 3.5/5

SumoSam, SM City Manila
4/F SM City Manila, Concepcion cor. Arroceros
Ermita, Manila, Philippines
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