Wasabi Warriors the Sushi Super Star

Sushi is my favorite food at school every lunchtime. And since there is not a single Japanese restaurant near my school that I know, my only choice is family mart's packed sushi varieties that couldn't satiate my appetite. It's kinda intimidating walking in a Japanese resto to grab and go sushi alone, so sometimes I buy in supermarkets or food stalls. AND IT IS NASTAAAAH!!!

Sushi is about the right place and the right fish. 

Japanese cuisine is very popular in the West and also in Australia, sushi in particular has been described as being "as popular as sandwiches", particularly in large cities like Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane. As such, sushi bars are a mainstay in shopping centre food courts, and are extremely common in cities and towns all over the country.

Who would’ve thought that the terms “healthy” and “fast-food” could be used to describe the same restaurant? Today, these two seemingly opposing ideas come together as global sushi chain Wasabi Warriors launches its very first branch in the Philippines, at the heart of Makati City’s central business district.

Tagged as the healthiest sushi fast-food chain in the world, Wasabi Warriors formally launched its first Philippine outlet on May 6, 2015 at The Gramercy Residences in Century City, Kalayaan Avenue.

Established in Sydney in 2007, the sushi chain is known for creating innovatively crafted meals and providing alternatives to the unhealthy fare offered by most fast-food chains and convenience stores. The brand currently has four branches in Australia, and also has outlets in Hong Kong, New Zealand, and soon the United Arab Emirates.

The person behind the sushi fast food chain's coming to Philippines is Kimmi Siu Dewar. Born and raised in Australia to Chinese parents and is currently the Business Development Manager of Swinging Chairs Establishments Inc. here in the Philippines. During the launching of Wasabi Warriors, the guests were entertained with spectacular Chinese Dragon dance that graced the event all the more.

Gyoza are dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables and wrapped in a thin dough. Also known as pot stickers, gyoza originated in China (where they are called jiaozi), but have become a very popular dish in Japan. The typical gyoza filling consists of ground pork, nira chives, green onion, cabbage, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil.

Wasabi Warriors restaurant serves Age gyoza (deep fried), it is crispy, deep fried gyoza mainly found at Chinese and gyoza specialty restaurants, but rarely encountered elsewhere. I prefer age than yaki gyoza which is pan fried which is soft in texture and juicy that the flavor of ginger standouts.

Ebi Fry

Breaded and deep fried shrimp are called ebi fry in Japan. It can be served with tartar sauce or tonkatsu sauce.

Wasabi Warriors Advocacy

“Wasabi Warriors’ operations revolve around its ‘green heart’ philosophy, which offers diners the chance to live by three intertwined tenets—to eat good, do good, and feel good,” Dewar stresses during her speech at the launch.

According to Dewar, to “eat good” specifically refers to eating fresh, premium food that is nutritionally beneficial for the customers’ well-being. In turn, to “do good” means supporting business practices that help the oceans, the earth, and the animals. “Feel good” refers to knowing that, when they eat at the restaurant, customers also help honor practices that are good for the environment. 

Wasabi Warriors draws Inspiration from the Japanese Bushido, a warrior code which eventually became the basis for ethical training in Japanese society. Bushido literally means “the way of the warrior” and espouses respect, honor, and excellence—virtues that guide Wasabi Warriors’ daily operations.

Helping guide customers to “eat good, do good and feel good” are the five Wasabi Warriors brothers: Ocean, Beefy, Porky, Chicken, and Veggie. Each of the brothers personifies a different facet of Wasabi Warriors’ overall advocacy which is to honor the ocean, the earth, and animals.

“Wasabi Warriors is also driven by its mission to provide excellent products while honoring and showing a deep respect for the environment,” Dewar notes. In fact, items on the restaurant’s menu that are not sold on the day go directly to charity or, in the case of fish leftovers, later made into compost and used as fertilizer. As such, Wasabi Warriors generates almost zero food waste.

Edamame is young soybeans, usually still in the pod. Because the beans are young and green when they are picked, edamame soybeans are soft and edible, not hard and dry like the mature soybeans which are used to make soy milk and tofu. It is a popular appetizer at most Japanese food restaurants, and is a great choice for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone wanting to eat healthy.

Cheap sushi can have an overly fishy taste and bad texture, but in Wasabi Warriors, you can never go wrong with their you-can-have-a-taste-of-everything packed sushi.

Have you noticed the size of their sushi rolls? 

Inari Seaweed

A classic inari pockets with traditional Japanese seaweed.Very healthy and full of goodness!

When your sushi comes, it will be on a wood plank or, less commonly, a plate. If you are sharing with friends, it may all come in a single wooden pan.  There is no general taste for sushi, and in Wasabi warriors, they serve sushi with mayonnaise instead of dipping it on soy sauce.   If you can't use chopsticks, use your fingers. That's the "proper" way of eating sushi in Japan.

Sushi made with brown rice (genmai) has the added bonus of providing even more health benefits. Brown rice contains more nutrients than white rice, and while brown rice sushi may not be traditional, when it's well made there isn't much difference from white rice sushi.

Seared Salmon

In eating nigiri, you have to put the entire thing into your mouth. Don't try to bite it in half  'cos you'll end up clumsily spilling rice. But how do I eat this seared salmon without creating a mess? If you really think you can't fit it, try chewing it a little while you are putting it in your mouth. I think you can also ask the waiter for smaller pieces.

California, Chicken Teriyaki, Fresh Salmon, Pork Prawn, Tuna and Avocado

California is the most popular sushi, it is usually made of crab meat (real or imitation), cucumber and avocado. This seems to be a good one to begin with because it has no raw fish and most people do like and have eaten crab before.

Although Wasabi Warriors’ signature is its line of healthy and creative sushi rolls, the restaurant also serves bento packs and bowls. The restaurant offers 12 different types of sushi rolls, all of which can be prepared using white, brown, red, or black rice. These sushi dishes were crafted specifically for Wasabi Warriors by Japanese sushi master chef Hideo Dekura.

True to its fast-food nature, Wasabi Warriors uses a specially made sushi robot that can make 500 rolls per hour and a rice mixer that automatically blends rice for the sushi dishes. The restaurant also has an open kitchen that allows guests to see the kitchen staff preparing the food.

To learn more about Wasabi Warriors, visit <http://www.wasabiwarriors.com.ph/> and <https://www.facebook.com/WasabiWarriorsPH> 

and @WasabiWarriors_