I have always been a fan of Japanese food. I love the wonderful gastronomic adventure I get every time I visit a Japanese restaurant. Recently, I had the opportunity to try Skillet Japanese Cafe & Bistro located at Norkis Cyber Park in Mandaue. What I was about to experience was an epitome of a true “afternoon delight”. So let me tell you more about it.

Skillet’s menu is unique in every way. Owners Kate Tiffany Yu and Chef Masaki Tsuji made sure that their food has to have an identity exclusive to Skillet. Their menu is a fusion of Japanese and Western flair with French and Italian influences.  They have fresh and unfamiliar food choices that give new experience, new taste and new flavor to every foodie – both the adventurous and traditionalists. If you are expecting to get the “usuals” like other Japanese restos have, then you’re in for a treat because Skillet doesn’t have any of that.

Skillet introduced their unique dessert cake called Dew Droplet last year. This time, they created another dessert masterpiece made from the same dew droplet cake ingredients. It’s ramen-inspired with a bit of a Filipino twist.

Dessert Ramen is like combining ramen and halo-halo in one stylish dessert glass. It’s a ramen made for dessert; a halo-halo served with transparent noodles; a dessert to be eaten with chopsticks; I can describe it in many different ways but generally – it’s a wonderfully unique dessert with a taste I may not find any place else.

It comes in 3 flavors: Mango, Black Sugar Syrup and Matcha. I must admit, matcha dessert ramen is to-die-for. It’s like having a dessert and a refreshing drink all together. I couldn’t stop smiling while I was devouring it because it was really really good! This newest dessert gives a fun twist to our normal dessert experience – from plating and presentation to the process of pouring your flavored syrup, to mixing everything in, up to the actual eating part using chopsticks! That’s food adventure, right there. (*like the Dew Droplet Cake, they only prepare 10 servings of Ramen Dessert every day. You may call in for advance reservation to make sure you’ll have what you came for. The transparent noodles will take 2-3 hours to make.)

Skillet has the best appetizers, too. Practically everything they serve is different and delicious and unique from what we’re familiar to. A shout-out to their Sisig Quesadilla and Smoke Salmon Marinade because these two made me want to keep eating and eating and eating some more. The texture of the quesadilla with pork sisig inside was just right; who would have thought that it is possible! The Salmon tasted fresh and clean, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Are you a fan of matcha? No problem, Skillet has got you covered. They have Matcha Cheesecake and Matcha Crepe Cake that will surely tickle your inner matcha cravings.

Overall, you get nothing but world-class experience in this tiny nook. The interior decor/art was done by the renowned Japanese artist Aito Kitazaki, who came all the way to Cebu just to paint the restaurant’s most prominent wall painting. Truly a haven for art enthusiasts as well.

Different is always a good idea. For unwavering foodies like me, it’s nice to explore new flavors and be always on the verge of trying new things (food/taste). That is why you have to make Skillet your next destination for your lunch or dinner plans. You’ll fall in love with it, like I did. See you at Skillet Japanese Cafe and Bistro

Norkis Cyber Park, A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue (beside JCenter Mall/behind The Sentral)
📞 (032) 417-2805
Opens daily:
Mon-Fri: 11AM-2PM, 5PM-10PM
Sat & Sun: 11AM-11PM