Karate Feed
I’ve passed by one of their stores in Robinsons Place Manila during the time I was still working with a Filipino casual dining restaurant. But it never crossed my mind to really go and eat out there. For me, Karate Kid looked too Japanese. And yes, the use of chopsticks did intimidate me even up to now.
When the mother of all mystery diners approached me to take on a restaurant audit project three weeks ago, I replied with a resounding yes. (Well, who wouldn’t when you know it’s free food?) Karate Kid branch in SM Centerpoint was my assignment and I took with me a college friend, Ogie.
Store Details
Karate Kid in SM Centerpoint is located at the Ground Floor. From the entrance, you turn left at the side where Pizza Hut is. It’s a big space that can seat a hundred people including that area they have converted into a party venue. They accept reservations.
What’s On My Order Slip
We ordered a complete meal set: miso soup, sashimi, chicken yakitori, ika fry, gyoza ramen snack size, karate potato balls, green tea and strawberry mousse. All of these for only P360.
Service Factor
We arrived at exactly 12 noon on a Thursday and were greeted by an unmanned counter. We spotted the cashier down under arranging soda cans. Good thing we were the only guests in line. If we happened to be hold-uppers, we would have taken the cashier’s register with no sweat.
The cashier assisted us with our orders, offered desserts and pushed their raffle promo. We took our place near the entrance where we can see everything. Inside we saw around 20 people taking their lunch and two managers in blue busy with what seemed to be a birthday party preparation.
Our orders arrived one by one and were completed in 15 minutes. By 12:30 p.m., we saw customers lining up the counter. Their managers left the party preparation. One went to the counter, standing behind the cashier while the other stationed herself near the kitchen to manage the traffic. We even have to call their attention for the bottomless drinks. No one did table checks until the time we finished at 1 p.m.
Yummy Meter
The chicken yakitori was burned. But all the rest were good. It was a filling lunch for such value. It’s just that at the end of the meal, Ogie and I felt sleepy we had to take long walks.
Facilities Checks
I think this place is a lot better than that one in Sucat. No broken tiles, busted signage lights and the tables and floor were clean. The menu board was painful to read as usual. It’s like viewing a kaleidoscope.
Karate Kid does sound a Japanese restaurant but their overall look doesn’t reflect it in the same way a Komoro Soba or Yoshinoya does. It is a confuse Japanese. Maybe the management should consider changing their staff uniform instead of trying to look like a shadow of Tokyo Tokyo.
