Yu-Fu-In Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant: The Very First Authentic Japanese Restaurant In Angeles, Pampanga

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The next stop on our Pampanga restaurant tour while attending the 20th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon is Yu-Fu-In Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant. The restauramt is located at First Street, Balibago in Angeles, Pampanga. It took us a while in locating the place since Google map could not exactly pinpoint its location online but we found it after a few minutes of roaming around the area near the SM Clark mall.

The team just came from an interview with Chef Clause Tayag at his Downtown 1956 Cafe by Bale Dutung restaurant located at Nepo Center, and a quick stop back at the Holiday Inn Clark hotel for a meeting with their management, before proceeding to this Japanese restaurant. Thanks to our 12-seater Higer Executive van from Froehlich Tours, it was very convenient for us to travel around Pampanga.

According to their Facebook page, the company’s restaurant business started way back 1995 having the name of Yakiniku Tombo Japanese Restaurant. It was the very first restaurant in Angeles City that served authentic Japanese cuisine.

But with the growing needs of the market, The company decided to move to a better and bigger place  because of the growing needs of the market. At the new location, they then changed their name to YU∙FU∙IN Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant.

Having a 3-storey building with different concepts for every floor, YU∙FU∙IN Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant is probably the biggest authentic Japanese restaurant in Pampanga. It is indeed the perfect place for family occasions, business meetings and simple after-work get-togethers. 

 
The ground floor is an Izakaya or Bar for sake lovers and alike, the second floor exudes an All-Yakiniku theme perfect for families and group gatherings and the third floor (still in the works) is for our nature-loving guests who enjoys dining with fresh air and natural sceneries. A unique resto-bar that serves authentic Japanese dishes and first class customer service, you will feel like you are in the old town of Yufuin in Japan.

Mr. Otsuru, the owner of the restaurant, is a Japanese citizen and he proudly named the restaurant after his hometown hometown in Oita, Japan. Her daughter, Mitch Otsuru-Park, is currently managing the restaurant and she openly welcomed us at the restaurant.

Aside from the great food and great service, Yufuin is also proud of its very wide-selection of Japanese books (mangas) and magazines wherein 3 big bookshelves are filled for the convenience of its customers.

Look at all the books they have! It's available for reading as you dine on their mouth-watering curry, ramen, yakiniku, sushi, tempura and other gastronomic delights.

The Wazzup Pilipinas team had lots of selfies and photo ops at the restaurant and very soon, our videographer and director friend would come out with a special video feature of every restaurant stop we made including Downtown 1956 Cafe by Bale Dutung where Chef Claude Tayag personally entertained us and Koko Buri, where we met with Dana Zamora, aside from the special feature about the 20th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and our stay at the Holiday Inn Clark. There's also 1st Draft Manila Clothing who provided our official t-shirts and Froehlich Tours which was our official transport service provider. Very soon, we will also be coming out with a hardbound picture book from Picturebooks.

Yufuin's specialty is yakiniku meaning "meat grilling" where the customers get to cook their own food at their tables. As mentioned earlier, the second floor is where all the Yakiniku action takes place. It was unfortunate that we never had the opportunity to try it since we came at a time when it was too early for Yakiniku.

However, we still had lots of fun trying out the other specialties of Yu-Fu-In Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant. Below are the dishes we had that night for dinner.

Califonia Maki and Rainbow Maki

The Califonia Maki and Rainbow Maki will always hit the spot as an all-time favorite. They are often what we see being served in Japanese restaurants but still remains among what we usually consume every time we crave for something Japanese.

Gyu Sara Set

The Gyu Sara Set is a filling Japanese meal set with gyu-don style simmered wagyu beef . I could say this is enough to feed my hunger but there's plenty more authentic Japanese cuisine on Yu-Fu-In's menu that everyone should crave for.

Mixed Tempura set

Tempura has always been a very popular Japanese dish that I could not do without. I would always have one at every Japanese restaurant visit. We were served with the Mixed Tempura Set that was totally true to Japanese taste.

Sukiyaki Set

Sukiyaki is prepared and served in the nabemono style and consists of slowly cooked or simmered meat with steaming, flavorful broth made with dashi, mirin, and soy sauce alongside vegetables and other ingredients. The Sukiyaki Set will satisfy even the most critical of guests.

Yu-Fu-In Ramen

The Yu-Fu-In Ramen is so flavorful that you would definitely dig in until the bowl is empty. It's filling already to dine on this special culinary concoction that you should not miss ordering one at every visit.

Beef Stamina Set

They call this the Beef Stamina Set because this tasty dish is believed to make you genki (full of stamina).  It's made out of high quality and high-grade Yamagata beef from cows grown in Yamagata Prefecture's beautiful countryside.

Yu-Fu-In Deluxe Bento

The Yu-Fu-In Deluxe Bento is almost a taste everything that's truly Japanese.  A traditional bento holds rice, fish or meat, with pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. You should pair these with one of their soup-based dishes like the Yu-Fu-In Ramen.

Mitch Otsuru-Park of Yu-Fu-In Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant

Arigatou gozaimasu to Mitch Otsuru-Park for a great dinner at Yu-Fu-In Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant. We would love to return whenever possible.

The Wazzup Pilipinas team in Pampanga with Mitch Otsuru-Park

Yu-Fu-In Yakiniku and Japanese Restaurant is highly recommended as a great destination for your Japanese food craving. I can truly say that they exceeded our expectations. They truly serve authentic Japanese cuisine as the chef and owner himself is a natural Japanese. So when in Pampanga, be sure to drop by this restaurant to get a taste of authentic Japanese Cuisine,

You can check them out at their official Facebook page

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