Kazunori’s cafe sibling Kazu Café injects Japanese energy and happiness into a space filled with a sense of fun
It’s been a long time coming (about a year and a half to be exact) but Kazunori’s hipper, younger sibling is finally open.
In a sea of cafes sprouting across the city, Kazu Café at Ayala Triangle Gardens is a breath of fresh air, thanks largely to the escapist quality of the interior design, branding details, and spirited presentations signaling that, yes, even traditional Japanese restaurants can have youthful spin-offs that invite you for a good time.
“We’ve designed every aspect of Kazu Café to bring pleasure and positive energy to everyone who visits,” says Nippon Hasha, Inc. CEO Ryan Cruz. “We are bringing a global twist to our offerings while maintaining the precision and discipline of Japanese cuisine that the Kazunori brand has been known for all these years.”
If Kazunori exudes Ginza’s elegance, then the 68-seater Kazu Café is as electric as Shimokitazawa and Daikanyama’s love child. Irresistibly hip from the get-go, Kazu Café sparkles in copious shades and shapes that reference the cafe branding.
If Kazunori exudes Ginza’s elegance, then the 68-seater Kazu Café is as electric as Shimokitazawa and Daikanyama’s love child. Irresistibly hip from the get-go, Kazu Café sparkles in copious shades and shapes that reference the cafe branding.
“We wanted the space to give people energy and in order to do that we needed to create the perfect vessel for the food that people seem to take out among [Kazunori’s] three concepts,” Cruz shares.
Kazu Café’s sense of identity—particularly the cute clay-like logo that pervades throughout the entire space, the tableware, and beautifully tactile menu, and transforms in shapes like a symbolic flower based on how it’s rearranged—was created by Singapore’s Acre Design.
“We wanted to create a brand that’s instantly recognizable and carries a unique personality, much like a well-traveled individual who appreciates artistry and hospitality,” says TY Zheng, co-founder and creative director of Acre Design. Meanwhile, the Liza Crespo-designed interiors feature custom sculptural lights and denim-upholstered seating to “connect the cafe to its culinary roots.”
These roots don’t just come out of nowhere. After all, when you’re influenced by Tokyo’s cafe culture and when you have an established fine dining Japanese sibling (and a slew of other beloved brands under Cruz’s care like Mendokoro Ramenba, Ramen Yushoken, and Marudori) then it’s easy to cruise into the playful and wild territory of yōshoku or Western-style Japanese cuisine.
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Over the course of the expansive menu are flashes of brilliance from chef Kuramochi Kazunori such as the 10 kinds of temari neatly presented in a wooden box, a mildly sweet daikon salad, and a loaded tamago sando. One other noticeable thing about Kazu Café is the restraint in portions. “We reduced the portions because we wanted to give people freedom of choice and enjoy two to three things,” says Cruz.
But make no mistake, there are still some dishes meant for sharing—only if you want to though.
Elsewhere, you can find cafe exclusives like a premium burger made with A5 Hitachi wagyu beef with bonito and aioli in a soft potato bun, the Yaki Tonkatsu (deep-fried breaded pork with cabbage salad, tomato karashi or mustard, and tonkatsu sauce), a Hanetsuki-style crispy pork and seafood dumpling or simply “gyoza with wings,” and a multidimensional melon musk kakegori carved out of an actual Japanese melon that’s bound to set off Instagram foodies.
But much of Kazu Café’s charm lies in its pretty drinks menu. For example, the coffee selection covers the classics using an in-house espresso blend made with 100 percent Brazil and Panama beans and with the option to switch to oat milk.
The honey latte has just the right amount of sweetness, thanks to the Sorsogon honey, while the cup of mocha gets a Malagos Davao dark chocolate boost. Versatile beverages round out the section for peak drinking experience—espresso orange soda, iced yuzu Americano, strawberry matcha latte, and even a “matchagato” with carabao milk ice cream.
So when Cruz says “we just want to give people happiness,” you believe him.
Kazu Café is located at Unit 05-06, Ground Level, Restaurants at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.For reservations, contact 0917-5020320 and follow on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
