There’s a new dining place in town, and it promises a unique take on Asian food.

Toast Asian Kitchen & Tasting Room recently opened its first branch at Ayala’s swanky The 30th Mall in Ortigas.

“We take traditional Asian recipes and add modern or local cooking styles and techniques to the mix,” said Timo Roxas-Chua, one of the restaurant owners. “The dishes at Toast combine well-known Asian recipes to create distinct flavors we hope customers will love.”

A dish combining sisig and gyoza is named “Gyozig”—which is filled with scrumptious chopped pig ears and cheeks.

Wagyu Cubes are moist and tender cubes of Wagyu beef skewered in a stick, then slathered with one’s choice of teriyaki or soy baste sauce.

Other must-try dishes include the Longganisa Pasta, fusilli pasta spirals topped with authentic Vigan longganisa; Seared Salmon Linguine, pasta tossed in a nori cream sauce topped with pan-seared salmon; Twice-Cooked Pork with Salted Egg Fried Rice, braised and seared pork belly tossed in honey and garlic served on top of a salted egg fried rice; and Blaksa, a unique take on the Singaporean laksa dish—seafood laksa infused with squid ink.

For its opening, Toast had famed New York restaurateur Danny Meyer create unique cocktail creations.

“A cocktail done right can really show your customers you care,” explained Meyer. “A good cocktail mix can make customers love a restaurant, which in turn will make them want to come back again and again.”

Toast is also set to bring in renowned Singaporean mixologist Jason Grey to create more cocktails. Classic staples like mojito, martini and amaretto sour will be on the bar list, along with special concoctions like Jack Sparrow, Summer in the City, East Meets West and Mankari Sour.

Local and imported beers as well as craft beers are also served. —CONTRIBUTED

Toast Asian Kitchen & Tasting Room, Ayala Malls The 30th, 30 Meralco Ave., Pasig City. Follow @toastkitchenph on Instagram and Facebook.