Packed right now
based on typical Saturday evening
Own this business?
Claim this listing to keep its hours, menu, and photos up to date.
Claim this listingChaya is widely regarded as the best Japanese restaurant in Baguio — an old stone-and-wood Baguio house on upper Legarda Road converted into a warm, homey dining space that reviewers liken to a grandparent's vacation home, with wooden floors, private rooms, outdoor seating, and hill views. Its motto: authentic Japanese cuisine, wholesome food, and a healthy lifestyle. It's run by a Japanese husband-and-wife team (owner Sonoko Taguchi is often on the floor), with the kitchen working like a home kitchen — everything cooked fresh after you order, and the owners directly involved in sourcing fresh fish and produce daily. The food is the draw — pristine sashimi platters and chirashi, salmon carpaccio, negitoro and California maki, a DIY temaki hand-roll set, ebi tempura, agedashi tofu, gyoza, sukiyaki, paitan-broth ramen, katsudon, curry and chahan, and yakitori — with vegan options marked, complimentary mini-appetizers to start, and free matcha ice cream to finish. The walls double as a small gallery (look for the Hafalla photo book on highlander life), and the counter sells Chaya's own coffee blend, wild honey, miso, and fresh Baguio vegetables. It's hugely popular with locals, tourists, and celebrities alike, so reservations are near-essential even on weekdays, and the driveway fits only about 4–6 cars. A second branch operates at SM City Baguio (Upper Ground Floor, Left Wing) with a terrace overlooking the city, set meals around ₱400, and cashless payments. The restaurant also hosts degustation dinners, private events, and catering.
Address
Phone
Alternate phone
Typical visit
Open days
Usually busy at these times — based on typical patterns, not live crowd data.
Landmark: Upper Legarda Rd, near Hotel Henrico / 45 Hotel, beside Hungry Project
No reviews yet.
Be the first to share what a visit to Chaya is like.