MANILA, Philippines?Every time I travel to Canada, I love the four-hour stopover at the Narita airport. There are just too many fascinating things to see. Here at home, Japanese culinary culture has spilled over to our country through Kombini Store in San Juan.

We recently decided to get together with some friends at Kombini. What an interesting place! It?s a grocery with a restaurant beside it.

Assortment

The place has an assortment of rice snacks and instant noodles, plus a selection of ready-to-cook frozen foods.

On the restaurant side, you?ll see an open display of grills. We ordered shrimp tempura, tori meshi (chicken cubes over rice), super California roll, a variety of yakitori or Japanese barbeques, and miso ramen.

These days, many of our local Japanese restaurants are not far behind in taste. At this restaurant, the presentation is neat. Other items I plan to return for are the gyoza, karage and the pita chicken yakitori.

I was told that a Japanese chef came over to teach the preparation technique to his Pinoy counterparts, who do a great job.

Kombini Store, Tokyo Market is located at 57 Conneticut st., North-East Greenhills. Take Edsa going to Makati, and turn right on Connecticut. Call 722-4263. Happy eating!

E-mail sandydaza@shaw.ca