Tasteful Jap-Mex at TORO ~ The Fat Vain Shopper

What do you think about Japanese-Mexican fusion? Sounds promising right? Well, I had to try it myself to find out. Last month, I visited a new place in Bonifacio Global City called TORO. Yes, Toro as in the bull. It's a newly opened restaurant which is quite small (fits around 40 people) and hidden since it's not located in the usual Highstreet, Serendra, or Burgos Cricle. I didn't mind having to look for it though because for me finding it is like discovering a treasure concealed inside the many streets of BGC. All because I had a delightful dining experience. :)

According to OAP, TORO means bull in Mexican and tuna belly in Japan

So before entering the little posh place, your first concern would be parking. Unfortunately, they don't have a designated parking area yet. We almost parked in the MINI car showroom parking area but the guard did not allow us. So anyway, no need to worry though because they have a valet service for all Toro customers. Not bad. Besides, valet parking has always been convenient. So after parking and entering the restaurant, the first thing i noticed was its size. It was quite small with very few tables (so make sure to go early or make a reservation) and if I'm not mistaken it can only fit 40 people at most. However, the size didn't make things uncomfortable. In fact I kinda like the private feel to it. The chairs were comfortable and the tables were big enough, but I didn't like the dim lighting so much. Perhaps because it's also a bar/lounge and they served drinks aside from food. In terms of design, for a small resto, interiors were quite remarkable, having a few artistic pieces that caught my eye. Overall, the ambiance can be perfect for a date or a chill dinner and drinks with friends.

Spanish bar ambiance

With some artistic pieces that caught my eye

TORO BAR - they do serve drinks that look yummy so you can also come here for a "loading dose" before a night out with friends :)

Now onto the best part...the food as usual. What can I say, I was right! The Japanese-Mexican fusion idea is superb! Well the dishes were more of Japanese, let's say 70% Japanese with 30% Mexican kick, but still brilliant. They have the usual Toro Miso Soup which I loved because of the fresh enoki mushrooms and large fresh tofu cuts and green onions. A warm cup of miso soup is always a good way to start my Jap meal. We also ordered the Toro Ceasar Salad which was quite interesting because it had romaine lettuce, tomatoes, manchego, crispy ebi tempura, and a soy ginger glaze. It was deconstructed so you have to mix it by yourself, maybe so that you can mix the flavors according to your preference. Then we also tried the Stuffed Finger Chilli which is their version of my favorite dynamite rolls. It's basically a big green pepper stuffed with mozarella cheese, chedda cheese, and basil. It didn't fail my taste buds as usual! There was a beautiful contrast between the spicy chili and mouthwatering cheese. Two thumbs up for an appetizer! Then we wanted to order something like a Japanese resto staple, ebi tempura. The Creamy Spicy Tempura Rock Shrimp was the closest bet so we tried it. It wasn't the normal ebi tempura because of the special sauce that's creamy but tomatoe-y and spicy like a mexican version of marinara sauce. So again it's a good combo of Japanese with hint of Mexican flavors. Now for my favorites - the maki. First we ordered the Salsa Verde Maki which didn't look so appetizing at first because it was too green. But alas, I was wrong, it tastes unique but very delicious. Then here comes my favorite dish of all - the Volcano Roll. Yes, it is now included in my top 10 favorite foods of all time! I just love the powerful taste of spicy mayo combined with the delicate taste of fresh salmon, with an extra kick of crispy jalapeno fried in tempura batter. Wow it just literally explodes in your mouth, hence the perfect name Volcano Roll. That maki really made my dining experience such a delight. We also ordered other dishes such as crispy pork belly, spicy beef fire bowl, crispy chicken basil bowl, and age dashi tofu, and all of them were pretty tasty. Oh and we also tried the Mojito since some guests seemed to be having fun drinking. :)

Miso Soup - P200

Toro Ceasar Salad - P260

Stuffed Finger Chilli - P250 (5pcs)

Creamy Spicy Tempura Rock Shrimp - P350 (4 pcs)

Salsa Verde Maki - P350 (5 pcs)

My favorite! The VOLCANO ROLL - P390 (5 pcs)

Mojito (You can try their drinks too, they look good)

As the restaurant seems quite intimidating because of the fine dining appeal, no need to worry because the prices aren't that steep. Dishes are more expensive than the ones in your usual Japanese or Mexican restaurants but can be affordable especially for special occasions. You'd spend an average of around P700 per person depending on what dishes you'll be ordering. By the way, I also like the service and the fancy bag holders that they lend to the ladies. :)

My overall rating for Toro would be 4 out of 5. If the prices were a bit lower, it would be 5 out of 5. If you like Japanese food and you're looking for something new and exciting, try Toro! You won't regret it.