Royal Sakura is one of those Manila restaurants that feels like a real find. Tucked along 534 Remedios Street in Malate, the restaurant serves authentic Japanese food in a more intimate, low-key setting, making it the kind of place you’d want to gatekeep once you discover it. Its official pages describe it as a Japanese restaurant in Malate, with lunch and dinner service and a menu that spans sushi, sashimi, shabu-shabu, grilled dishes, and party trays.
The reason to go right now? Ootoro and chutoro sushi for only ₱690. For anyone who loves tuna, that price is honestly wild. Ootoro is the fattiest, most luxurious part of the tuna belly, known for its buttery texture and melt-in-your-mouth richness. Chutoro sits between ootoro and akami, giving you that perfect balance of fat, flavor, and clean tuna taste. Royal Sakura’s own posts have highlighted fresh hon-maguro availability, including ootoro, chutoro, and akami, which makes the promo feel even more special when tuna season is on.
What makes the offer stand out is that Royal Sakura is not just a random promo spot. The restaurant has long leaned into more traditional Japanese dining, with sushi and seafood as part of its identity. Past features from Philippine Primer describe Royal Sakura as a Malate restaurant serving Japanese flavors prepared by an expert Japanese chef, while its holiday menus have included sushi sets with tuna, eel, uni, scallops, anago, and even ootoro in its larger party trays.
The appeal here is really in the contrast: you’re getting premium sushi energy, but in a place that still feels relaxed and under-the-radar. It’s not overly flashy or mall-polished. It feels more like a proper neighborhood Japanese restaurant where the focus is on the fish, the rice, and the quality of each bite.
For the full experience, start with the ootoro and chutoro sushi, then build around it with sashimi, rolls, or something warm like shabu-shabu or grilled items. But honestly, the tuna alone is enough reason to go. At ₱690, getting both ootoro and chutoro feels like the kind of deal you don’t overthink — you just order it while it’s still available.
Royal Sakura is a hidden gem in Manila because it delivers that rare mix: authentic Japanese food, serious sushi options, and a limited-time tuna offer that feels almost too good for the price.
