Want to make healthier dining choices and have more options for Lent (if you’re a practicing Catholic and you abstain from meat on Fridays)? Finally, you have a new go-to place for this, as global sushi chain Wasabi Warriors opens its first Philippine franchise in Makati, at the ground floor of The Gramercy Residences.

It uses locally-sourced, sustainable ingredients and premium produce. Offering a wide selection of items made fresh in store daily, ranging from fresh, delicious sushi rolls—served whole for diners on the go—to hearty, filling bento packs and bowls, even busy diners like you never have to compromise health, freshness, and flavor for ease and convenience.

Their rolls are served whole, not sliced, for diners on the go, although you have the option to have it sliced.

I was able to sample some of the dishes Wasabi Warriors offers, and I must say I’m really glad it’s open now so I can indulge in my favorites more frequently—they’re that delicious! The core products are 12 different types of sushi, available in four different types of rice: white, brown, black, and red, giving diners lighter, healthier options. Yeah, where else can you easily and conveniently find sushi done this way? You can’t get any healthier than this.

The core menu remains consistent throughout their 50 branches all over, from Australia where it originated to New Zealand, Hong Kong, and UAE. Then, each country eventually comes up with a special. If it gets popular, there’s a chance Wasabi Warriors will introduce it to branches all over the world. But in the meantime, the Philippines can enjoy the core product first—sushi with a green heart, as it’s made of sustainable ingredients.

Read on for my reviews of some of the Wasabi Warriors menu items I was able to try, to help you decide what to order first.

Let me start with the Nigiri Packs (P100/1pc, P250/3pcs, P400/6pcs), which they offer in three types, among which I found my favorite Wasabi Warriors dish.

Seared Salmon Nigiri

1. Seared Salmon Nigiri
The first, and my favorite, is the Seared Salmon Nigiri, that’s blue torched to give you that nice smoky flavor. You can really enjoy the fresh taste of the salmon, even while it’s made with spicy mayo and sweet teriyaki sauce. They come in huge bite sizes, but you need not worry because the salmon practically melts in your mouth—it’s that deliciously soft! We couldn’t get enough of it.

2. Fresh Salmon Nigiri
There’s also a fresh salmon version, which already has wasabi mayo, but I still enjoyed it with the spicy mayo they make themselves.

Fresh Salmon and Ebi Fry Nigiri

3. Ebi Fry Nigiri
I tried this and the other Nigiris in white rice that’s cooked really well and moist. It’s another dish that’s complemented well by their spicy mayo. The prawns retained their fresh taste even as they’re coated in a crispy golden breading.

4. Spicy Tuna Roll (P100 for a whole roll)
The slight heat from this dish was complemented well by the wasabi mayo they make themselves. The tuna had a light, fresh taste.

Spicy Tuna and California Roll with black rice

5. California Roll (P100 for a whole roll)
This is the first time I’ve tried California Rolls with black rice instead of the usual Japanese white rice. The fresh taste of ingredients was further enhanced by the healthy black rice. No guilt about indulging this time!

6. Fresh Salmon and Avocado (P150 for a whole roll)
Just so I can try their various types of rice, I tried this one with brown rice, which went well with the ingredients’ light taste. What’s pronounced is the freshness of the salmon and avocado and the flavor of the nori.

7. Teriyaki chicken (P120 for a whole roll)
The Teriyaki Chicken roll surprisingly had a light taste, so if you don’t want your teriyaki too sweet, you’ve found your match.

8. Gyoza (P80/3pcs, P150/6pcs)
Wasabi Warriors also offers Warrior Bites, which include this flavorful, well-steamed gyoza.

9. Miso soup (P50)
For something hot in your tummy, you can order their flavourful and savory Miso Soup that had just the right saltiness to it.

Wasabi Warriors also offers sets called Warrior Packs that give you more options and allow you to try more. Choose from the Chicken, Ocean, Veggie, Mixed (all four at P350 each), and Little Warrior Packs (P150). They also offer a Sashimi Pack (P300). Click through the photo gallery below for the other dishes on offer.

The use of local ingredients guarantees that ingredients are fresh and the dishes are made daily. To maintain the grab-and-go concept, none of them are chef-intensive. In fact, Wasabi Warriors uses a specially-made sushi robot, which can make 500 rolls per hour, plus a rice mixer that blends rice to make sushi rice. And since all dishes are made fast and fresh, you have to eat them immediately. Don’t keep them in your bag over three hours.

While it’s primarily a grab-and-go restaurant, the Philippine branch is the first in the world to have a dine-in concept because that’s what we Filipinos love to do. Wasabi Warriors still managed to maintain its core value of doing good for the community and the environment, as the restaurant uses air-conditioning sparingly while managing to remain cool. It even uses biodegradable plates. Everything is locally produced, from the organic ingredients from Tagaytay, the Bayani Brew local tea drinks on the menu, to the hand soap in the rest room.

And, to guarantee zero wastage, food that wasn’t sold is given to charity, except the fish (which is used for compost). Charities for street children and youth groups apply to be the beneficiaries and to pick up the food.

The company behind it, Swinging Chairs Establishments, Inc., has an advocacy to support the local community by sourcing ingredients from local farmers and suppliers and, as part of their recruitment program, will collaborate with local youth organizations assisting the social and professional integration of young adults living in extreme poverty. Isn’t it awesome to feel that you’re helping the community when you eat here?

Wasabi Warriors is located at G/F Unit 05 The Gramercy Residences, Century City, Kalayaan Ave. cor. Salamanca St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City. You may call them through 0905-5104901.

Article photos by Trixie Reyna
Most gallery photos courtesy of Wasabi Warriors