Pepeng Hapon has been very controversial for me. Filipino + Japanese fusion food sounds very dangerous but it was worth the try. I got attracted to the idea that one day I can eat bulalo in a ramen or sisig in a sushi. Well, I don’t have to wait no more as Pepeng Hapon is here to stay.
The Tennis Foodie visited Pepeng Hapon in the heart of Taft together with my good friend, Ella of Ellatopia. It was a rainy day but it won’t stop me from trying this hidden gem.
Pepeng Hapon got its name from “The Asiong Salonga Story.” Joko Diaz portrayed the character “Pepeng Hapon” so Chef Mark Marzan, founder of Pepeng Hapon Food Co. (PHFC), adopted the name after watching the movie. It was an embodiment of the two concepts the chef has in mind: Filipino and Japanese.
Initially, Pepeng Hapon started as a food delivery business last May 1, 2018 while still operating from the kitchen of Chef Mark Marzan home in Hulo, Mandaluyong City. Orders came from friends, family, Facebook and Instagram.
Cook as if you are cooking for a loved one – Chef Mark Marzan
What I love about the restaurant is that the exterior finish is made of old wood while the ambiance resembles a mixture of classic Japanese interior (with the wooden walls, tables and chairs) and a hip atmosphere with modern Japanese wall art! It’s a marriage of tradition and modern take.
While classic Japanese dishes are great on their own, you get to try something new with a Pinoy twist and taste the unique difference! There are some unique sushi varieties that take the form of our beloved local viands such as adobo, sisig and tapa. Two things in one! Why not?
Here are some of the items I tried during my visit:
To start off, I tried their Bulalo Shoyu. I was craving for bulalo and ramen at the same time. Why not combine them? Surprisingly, the rich flavor of the bulalo broth did not overpower the ramen component of the dish. It includes sweet corn, egg, beef pieces and some garnishes to complete the experience. It was an ACE for me.
Sushi has been one of my favorites so I was so eager to try their rendition of old Filipino dishes in a Japanese way. First from the “EAT MY SUSHI” series would be Adobo Sushi.
Topped with adobo flakes, each bite will definitely have a contrast of crunch and smoothness. What i like about this dish is that the adobo flakes remained very crispy even after an hour. It was not oily too. This one is a HIT for me.
Tapa Sushi was a bit heavy although it was so tasty! Topped with special sauce and garnishes, it will surely be on top of your list! Not really a big fan of tapa but this one got an ACE for me.
Composed of bacon, cabbage, mushrooms, Japanese mayonnaise and mozzarella cheese, Cheesy Bacon Takoyaki Pizza will surely be an instant HIT for you. At first, I was a bit skeptical about it as it doesn’t look a pizza to me at all! I’m not also not fond of okonomiyaki but I was so surprised when I took a bite! Serving size is a bit small but worth the try!
Pepper & Cheese Pakpak Wapak was one of the best dishes served to me. Aesthetically pleasing plating along with a great taste flavor sealed the deal for me. The cheese did not overpower the overall taste of the wings and you can still get that crispy crunch on each bite. Pepper balanced the sweet taste of the cheese. This one is an ACE for me.
Sriracha Adobo Pakpak Wapak was so spicy! I love the sriracha kick to it and the sauce balances the heat by providing a sweeter touch to it. It was a HIT for me.
Don’t Cha wish your drink was so COLD like this. Matcha! Kidding aside, Matcha Latte was not too overpowering. It cleansed my palate every after dish. I would drink two – three glasses of this. A HIT for me.
It was a fun experience dining at Pepeng Hapon. Thanks Gio Torres for inviting me over.
To know more about the brand, check out their official social media sites:
Facebook: Pepeng.Hapon
Instagram: @pepenghaponph
My stepmother-in-law was from the Phillipines and always had interesting food cooking. These dishes sound like flavorful cultural fusions.
Pepeng Hapon looks very cozy. I like the wooden décor. The food all looks amazing. It would be a place I’d have to try!
Wow, I love the modern atmosphere and the food looks so yummy! Can’t wait to try!
Yum this looks absolutely amazing. I would love to try it if the chain comes to my area (NYC). I think fusion food is often greater than the sum of its parts!
Hhm…hhm….sushi! I so badly want to try it out. I just don’t where to get it, though.
I would have sworn that this looks like Vietnamese food lol. I have not had much Japanese or Phillipino food but that soup looks like Pho Bo
Sounds delicious. And now that you’ve written about it, I really want to try it! Thanks.
Most of these aren’t things I would eat, personally, but I have to say I have never seen sushi presented in such a beautiful way before (I’m sure it’s been done, I’ve just never seen it).
All of these dishes look and sound amazing. I would like to sample them all!
It looks so delicious – I´m a fan of Japanese and fusions but never tried Filipino food. The interiors look amazing as well!
My husband loves Matcha! I bet he would love their Matcha Latte!
The adobo sushi looks fabulous! I like the mix of tradition and modern in the decoration as well.
All of these dishes look so neat! Thanks a ton for sharing. Good food is magical 😊
This food looks so amazing! Love it. Would love to taste it all!
Japanese and Filipino foods combined sound so interesting especially ramen and bulalo, I miss the latter by the way, and I think ramen and bulalo together make it more delicious.
My stepmother-in-law was Phillipino and was always cooking up something interesting. I’m not familiar with Bulalo Shoyu but would be up for trying it as I like corn, egg, beef and ramen.
It does have a good ambience. The food looks tasty.
Filipino and Japanese Cuisine! Yummy. The restaurant is quite a distance from my home but if the food is this good, I would not mind getting stuck in traffic!
I absolutely love both Filipino and Japanese food. Pepeng Hapon sounds like such a great place to try out the best of both culinary worlds!
Well, now I am starving after seeing all of the yummy food in your photos and reading about how delicious everything tastes!
Pepeng Hapon seems a cozy and pleasant place to eat out. Foods look so yummy especially the succulents meat.
Wow, this food looks amazing. I’d love to try Pepeng Hapon.
I’m glad you were able to fuse the two types of food and make something delicious. Fusion foods often end up being like that.
I love the sentiment about cooking for a loved one. This is heartwarming 🥰 I will definitely go and visit them when I’m in the area!
I love the setup of this place and the food they have available. Everything looks delicious!
Can you believe that I have not tried Japanese food! Now I have seen this I absolutely must!
That place looks amazing. I love Filipino food and Japanese food, I am sure I would love that place!
Everything looks so delicious! Wow! Wish I could reach through and steal a bite of everything. Yum!
The food looks amazing! This is the type of restaurant my husband and I would love to visit!
Wow, what a great place! Filipino food and Japanese food look so delicious. I have yet to try it.
The interiors provide such a cozy vibe. Such an interesting fusion of flavors – Japanese and Filipino! I should set a date with my husband and try this restaurant soon!
This was such a great post! I would love to visit this place one day!
I love both Japanese and Filipino food and I would love to try a mixture of both. Definitely want to try Adobo Sushi and Cheesy Bacon Takoyaki Pizza.