From Sea to Shore

Stuffed Squid

Butterfly Tilapia with Enselada

Fishman Tempura Treat

It has been said that the idea of healthy fast-food has been one terribly sad and unfortunate oxymoron. While fast-food restaurants offer a quick fix for hungry people on-the-go, it’s not an ideal place for diet-conscious diners.

At first glance, Fishman, a new restaurant located at the ground floor of the Bonifacio One Technology Tower in Global City, Taguig, appears to be made of the same stuff. Its modern façade invites hip and hungry diners who value the time they spend on duty and on break.

While the concept behind the restaurant is fast-food, Fishman isn’t your typical quick stop food joint. “We wanted to come up with something different. That’s why we decided to come up with a fast and casual seafood restaurant that offers better options in terms of eating healthy,” explains Fishman’s Executive Chef Peter Ayson.

As its name suggests, the restaurant’s menu is dominated with seafood-based dishes that can be considered Filipino fusion. The kitchen draws inspiration from global flavor while also preserving the taste that Filipino palates crave for. This helps Fishman create both a sense of adventure and familiarity in its dining experience. “We try to introduce different cooking techniques and ingredients slowly. But it’s still Filipino comfort food,” Chef Ayson shares.

For starters, Fishman’s Asian Tuna Salad sets up the seafood theme with a milieu of interesting notes and textures in a fresh plate. The seared tuna creates a savory note underneath the bed of crunchy salad greens. The light dressing, complemented with citrus notes from orange slices, makes for a healthy appetizer.

One of the entrées in the menu is Stuffed Squid, a dish which ardent local foodies simply adore. The grilled squid exudes that familiar smoke infused flavor which, together with the light and sweet barbeque glaze, makes each bite slide gently. The dish is kept seafood worthy with its rich stuffing made purely of ground tuna, giving it an interesting twist in texture and flavor.

Another fun seafood take on a fast-food classic is the Ultimate Shrimp Burger. Under the guise of a regular hamburger, this dish is a much healthier version of its conventional counterpart. Regardless of its difference, the dish still offers the same sensations, albeit in a lighter note. The layers of lettuce and coleslaw give it that fresh canvas, while the thick shrimp burger patty mimics the same structure and texture making for a uniquely satisfying bite.

The restaurant also has an offering of shrimp, fish, and vegetable tempura on their menu. The magic of Fishman’s Tempura Treat comes from the breading. It is perfectly balanced from the crunchy exterior to the full bodied bite all the way through. Another good thing about it is that the coating absorbs the tempura sauce well, which the dish can do with or without.

For sweet endings, the restaurant’s Sweet Shores is an offering of Mango Caramel Panna Cotta and the Coffee Jelly Overload served in miniature fishbowls. Just enough to get that last kick.

Although Fishman has other non-seafood items on the menu, it is unusual to have a fast-food outlet that revolves around fish and other bounties from the sea. Indeed, its uniqueness, the combination of it being quick, affordable, healthy, and downright good, simply implies that the restaurants gets it and is leading diners towards a healthier direction.

Fishman is located at the Ground Floor of the Bonifacio One Technology Center, Rizal Drive corner 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.