Table Suggestions: Kozui Anmitsu Redux

Kozui has been on the Tomas Morato block for several years now. Which is a lot to say as many restaurants along that stretch open and close in just a few months' time. It's a hands-on business; evident from its entire "green" look, the well edited menu and merchandising. And you can always see the owner puttering or manning the register or meeting with purveyors. Given how solid the concept of this place is you'd expect to have franchises in all the malls by now. But there are no other branches. I guess they're more keen on retaining standards; which is good. They make some perfectly crisp-fried chicken karaage here; served either on rice or in a pita wrap. The takoyaki's not bad as well. The minced spinach soup always satisfies. (And honestly, I love how they squeeze dayap or lime in the service water.) But whatever it is I eat as my main meal, I noticed I always had to have the anmitsu for dessert. It's a Japanese iced treat usually made with fruits, jellies and bean pastes atop some shaved ice. Kozui's version involves some sweet red beans, taro paste, pastel colored chewy dango (or mochi) balls and a generous swirl of soft serve green tea ice cream atop some coarse grated ice. I suppose I like the toppings more as I never really get to the bottom ice layer much. And its not so cloyingly sweet as the bitterness of the green tea and the "neutrality" of the dango help balance out the sweetness of the beans and taro paste; which is to say you probably should get your own serving. A simple, unfussy cold treat I wish I were having right now, actually.


Kozui Green Tea
258 Tomas Morato Ave.
cor. Sct. Fernandez St.,
Quezon City

Tel. (632) 413 2705