Try This Midweek Pairing of 'Cosmic' Japanese Food and Premium Sake in Poblacion

Kosumosu is "cosmos" or "universe" in Nihongo and it’s also the name of a nondescript izakaya in Poblacion, Makati. Opened earlier this year, the Japanese-themed restaurant and bar is located in a small two-story space in the UNWND flats along General Luna. 

Kosumosu in Poblacion, Makati City

Photo by Kosumosu.

Led by Chef Christian Navarro, Kosumosu wouldn’t look out of place if it were suddenly transported to the neon-bathed urban centers of the land of the rising sun. Red walls, pink neon lights, and more pops of color from abstract artwork hanging on the walls lend the space a funky, futuristic vibe. The outré aesthetic extends to the dishes: don’t expect “traditional” food as the izakaya serves inventive, modern takes on Japanese favorites.

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On regular evenings, visitors can try things like the miso apple salad, pink and purple gyoza, chicken baos with hints of ube, and a really out-of-this-world take on chicken teriyaki. But for a limited time this October, Kosumosu’s explorers in the kitchen are presenting a special one-off menu best-paired with premium sake imported from Japan by Philippine Wine Merchants. Nihon Nights is the closest you can get to a night out in Ginza, Roppongi or Shinjuku in Tokyo without booking a flight.

A selection of amuse bouche for Nihon Nights

Photo by PJ Cana.

Kosumosu's take on Chicken Teriyaki

Photo by Kosumosu.

Start with twin amuse bouches of Korroke, which is ground pork, potatoes, black garlic togarashi aioli and pickled red onions; and a play on Devlied Egg with pani puri, eggplant, black garlic, caramel toyo, and sesame oil in nori.

The house specialty apple miso salad (grilled miso apples, seasonal greens, house made sesame dressing, candied walnuts, smoked kesong puti) makes an appearance, followed by a potato gnocchi with chicken karaage, in yuzu butter sauce, parmigiano, and nori. If all that sounds confusing, wait till you sink your teeth in—it’ll all make sense.

Apple Miso Salad

Photo by PJ Cana.

Potato Gnocchi with Chicken Karaage

Photo by PJ Cana.

The showstopper is the chicken teriyaki: it’s a chicken roll with shiitake duxelle filling with charred corn and leeks, shishito peppers, charred scallion oil in teriyaki sauce. You’ll never look at chicken teriyaki the same way again. 

For dessert, there’s either chocolate mousse with truffle barley ice cream, brown butter almond polvoron, bitter bark, and white chocolate; or a yuzu bar with yuzu curd, blueberry gastrique, matcha pistachio polvoron, and merengue.

Photo by Kosumosu.

All the courses are paired with specially curated sake served in wine glasses, because you can’t go wrong with sake sips following tasty food down your throat.

Nihon Nights happens on October 10 and 11 at Kosumosu at UNWND Flats, General Luna