Tokiya Review: The Members-Only Japanese Restaurant at the Rockwell Club, Manila

The short version: Tokiya is the Japanese restaurant at the Rockwell Club in Makati, right in front of the pool, and it’s one of my favorite settings in Manila. It’s members only, so you need a Rockwell Club member to get in; I went on a friend’s membership, both with them and on my own. The food is solid izakaya cooking, with the chicken teriyaki, the gyoza and the salmon nigiri the things to order. It’s very good value: a full spread of teriyaki, edamame, gyoza, kimchi, sashimi and nigiri runs about ₱1,500 to 2,000 (about $25 to 30) a person. Service is friendly but not the strong point. If you can get in, go.

I went to Tokiya many times while living at Aruga by Rockwell, for lunch and dinner, usually with a friend who’s a member and sometimes alone on their membership. I paid for everything myself, apart from one time my friend did. It all goes on the membership account either way.

Pros

• One of the best settings in Manila: peaceful, right in front of the pool, with the Rockwell towers around you
• Never turned away, never waited, even when the restaurants at Power Plant are packed
• Very good value for how much food you get
• The chicken teriyaki, gyoza and salmon nigiri
• Pairs perfectly with the club gym and sauna before or after

Cons

• Members only: you need a Rockwell Club member to get in
• Service is friendly but can be slow, especially outside
• Sushi quality varies a little depending on who’s behind the counter
• Outdoor seating gets very hot
• The edamame portion is on the small side

Getting in

The first thing to know: Tokiya is Rockwell Club members only. The sign at the door says so, and when you pay they ask for a membership number, not necessarily the card. A long-term stay at Aruga gets you into the club itself, but I’m fairly sure not into Tokiya. If you don’t know a member, this review is to tell you what you’re missing, or to help you decide whether the club is worth joining.

Once you’re in: go past the Rockwell Club lobby, take the stairs down one level, head outside, and keep going left past the pool. Tokiya is on the left. It’s open for lunch and dinner, from 11 am I believe, and you don’t need a reservation.

The setting: 8.5 out of 10

This is why I kept going back. It sits in the heart of Rockwell, looking up at the towers, directly in front of the pool, and feels very peaceful, almost like a hotel restaurant in Japan. The design is Asian, in browner tones, and it never feels packed, probably because it’s members only. Indoors, with a sushi bar, high tops and regular tables, is usually the better call, because outside gets very hot. The upside of outside is the view and an almost resort-like feel, and sometimes they’ll wheel out a big portable air conditioner for you.

The visit I think of most wasn’t even a proper dinner. A friend and I sat outside by the pool one afternoon working on a project on the club Wi-Fi, with the towers behind us and the food coming out between emails. Everything around it makes it better. It’s a great spot before or after the club gym and sauna, and after dinner you can walk Luna Gardens. Dinner can get a little crowded, but I’ve never been turned away and never waited in line.

The food: 8 out of 10

Good izakaya food, and a lot of it. The one caveat is that the sushi and sashimi can vary, maybe half a point either way. It’s better when the Japanese chef is working, and I don’t know of a way to check short of calling.

Kenji’s chicken teriyaki: 8.5 out of 10. One of my favorites: chicken with a glaze and a sauce on top. I don’t know how healthy it is, but it’s very good, and I haven’t seen anything quite like it elsewhere. ₱490.

Gyoza: 8.5 out of 10. I really like these. Smaller pieces, easier to eat and lighter than the big ones a lot of places make. ₱285.

Salmon nigiri: 8 out of 10. One of my favorites here: fairly thick, well made. ₱260 for two pieces.

Salmon sashimi: 8 out of 10. Very good and refreshing. ₱485.

Edamame: 8 out of 10. Comes out hot with a good amount of salt. The portion can be a bit small. ₱200.

Kimchi: 7.5 out of 10. Fairly tasty. ₱100.

Chicken yakitori: 7 out of 10. Nice and thick, with good flavor. The only thing is they could grill it a little more and add a bit more glaze. Thigh is ₱150 a stick.

Tuna nigiri: 7 out of 10. Still good, but it doesn’t feel quite as fresh as the salmon. ₱220 for two.

Uni: 7 out of 10. Pretty good, though I’m not a huge uni person; the friend I was with liked it. ₱340 for two pieces.

Food comes out fairly quickly, which is nice.

Service: 7 out of 10

Friendly and good, but not the strong point. They’ve never messed up an order, and after a few visits they knew mine. The misses: it can take a while to get someone to take your order, especially outside. Once the outdoor air conditioner was pointed at the next table instead of ours, and once I wanted to pay and couldn’t, because it had already gone on the membership account. Minor things.

What it cost

I didn’t keep receipts, so these are the prices from the menu on Tokiya’s site. Nigiri is ₱220 (tuna), ₱260 (salmon) or ₱340 (uni) for two pieces. Salmon sashimi is ₱485, Kenji’s chicken teriyaki ₱490, gyoza ₱285, edamame ₱200 and kimchi ₱100. Yakitori runs ₱90 to 255 a stick, or ₱975 for a seven-stick platter. My usual order, with the teriyaki, edamame, gyoza, kimchi, salmon sashimi and salmon and tuna nigiri, comes to about ₱1,500 to 2,000 a person, roughly $25 to 30. I don’t remember a service charge, but I’m not certain.

Value: 8.5 out of 10

Excellent. For that money you get a lot of food, all of it good, in one of the nicest settings in the city, and it’s cheaper than Ganso.

Vs. Ganso and Jung One

Ganso, the shabu-shabu place at Power Plant, gets very crowded, as does Din Tai Fung next door; Tokiya was my fallback when those were full. The setting is much nicer than a mall, the food maybe a teeny bit better, and it’s cheaper. I’d pick Tokiya.

Jung One, in BGC, is Korean rather than Japanese, but it’s the other place in the same bracket: similar price, similar or a teeny bit better food. The LA galbi is very good, and the kimchi is spicier and fresher. Jung One and Ganso are open to everybody, which is the real difference, though Jung One can have a queue at dinner. Tokiya has the more unique setting and never a wait. I preferred Tokiya because I lived in Rockwell; in BGC I’d go to Jung One more.

Is the club worth it?

Since you can’t eat here without it, a word on the Rockwell Club. Membership gets you the gym, a bit small but with a golf simulator, plus classes, a jacuzzi, sauna, massages and the outdoor pool. And the restaurants: Tokiya, Rocky’s (a breakfast-and-lunch spot) and Chef Jessie, which is open to the public anyway. Monthly dues are ₱3,080, including ₱830 of consumable credit, and Rockwell residents and tenants can join on the dues alone. Non-residents buy a share or lease playing rights on top, quoted on request, plus a one-time ₱35,640 transfer fee. For a resident, ₱3,080 a month for the gym, the pool and Tokiya is very reasonable.

Who it’s for

• Rockwell Club members and their guests. It’s a popular date spot, and I saw plenty of them.
• Families and birthdays. A lot of members use it as a celebration place, and you can rent the whole restaurant out; I’ve seen it done.
• Anyone at Aruga with a member friend: it’s a five-minute walk.
• Not for anyone without a member to get them in.

Tips if you go

• Sit inside unless it’s evening and the portable air conditioner is pointed at you. If you get cold easily, don’t sit right under the AC units; they’ll turn it down if you ask.
• Order Kenji’s chicken teriyaki, the gyoza and the salmon nigiri, and go when the Japanese chef is working if you can.
• It’s a good fallback when Din Tai Fung and Ganso have a line; dinner is busier than lunch.
• Have a membership number ready when you pay.

Verdict: 8 out of 10

A good Japanese restaurant in a great setting at a very fair price, with the one catch that you need a Rockwell Club member to get in. If you have one, it’s an easy recommendation and a great date spot. I’d go back any time I’m in Rockwell. This restaurant is in my Where to Eat in Manila guide, with all fourteen ranked and matched to occasions.

FAQ

Is Tokiya open to the public?

No. It’s inside the Rockwell Club, and the sign at the door says members only. You need a member with you, or a membership number when you pay.

Can Aruga guests eat at Tokiya?

I don’t believe so. A long-term stay at Aruga gets you into the Rockwell Club, but not Tokiya itself as far as I know; I always went on a friend’s membership.

How much does Tokiya cost?

A full spread of teriyaki, edamame, gyoza, kimchi, sashimi and nigiri comes to about ₱1,500 to 2,000 (about $25 to 30) a person, based on the current menu.

Where is Tokiya?

At the Rockwell Club, 23 Amorsolo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati: through the club lobby, down one level, outside and left past the pool.

What are Tokiya’s hours?

Lunch and dinner, from around 11 am as far as I remember; no reservation needed.

What should I order at Tokiya?

Kenji’s chicken teriyaki, the gyoza and the salmon nigiri. The salmon sashimi is also very good.