Kain Manila's 8 Favorite Ramen Places

What could be better than a hot bowl of freshly prepared noodles? The flavorful soup plus the long noodles are not just epic comfort food, they're also a testament on how meticulous details go into every flavorful bowl of hot, piping goodness enjoyed around the world.

Here are our 8  go-to places for that ramen fix:

8. Kokoro Ramenya

Started by the ex-chef of  Shinjuku, Kokoko has some of Shinjuku favorites, and a Hakata ramen to die for. Ramen is priced just right and can be shared. The place serves more than just noodles with some classic Japanese classic dishes like Tempura. And their fried rice is insanely good.

The Hakata Ramen has a creamy soup base, not as creamy as Santouka's but definitely a hit among ramen enthusiasts and foodies alike

Don't miss: Fried California Maki, Fried Rice, Hakata Ramen.
Pricing about P 280 per bowl, Hakata Ramen cost about Php 380 per bowl
Update: The original one in Roxas Boulevard is already closed but there's another branch in Fisher Mall, QC 

Hakata Ramen now

Fried Rice

Shoyu Ramen

7. Ukkokei Ramen Ron

Love 'em or hate them, Ukkokei has adhered to strict standards  over the years. You've heard of the horror stories and the snootiness of their Japanese Chef. But this ramen place named after the a Chinese fowl still earns its wings among ramen aficionados.

Don't miss: Tantanmen (only 40 bowls per day), Gyoza (others love this, I feel its overrated)
Pricing about: P 380 - 420 per bowl

Miso Butter Corn

Tantanmen

6. Ramen Santouka Hokkaido

I keep going back to Santouka because the best Shio Ramen is here hands down.
I love simple flavors and Santouka delivers, whether its in MOA or Glorietta,
Some say the quality has gone down but I beg to differ. They have removed the Small, Medium and Large portions from the sets. But I love a good bowl of steaming hot ramen and pork cheeks.

Must Try: Shio Ramen, Pork Cheeks, Ebi Furai
Pricing: About P 380/ bowl and 500+ for the set, which includes rice and viand

Shio Ramen Set

Kara Miso Ramen, spicy and creamy

Ebi Furai

5. Ryu Ramen and Curry
Ryu keeps coming up in my lists. Why? because the place serves up sulit portions,
its value for money goodness, without shortchanging you  with the add-ons.
The Shoyu Ramen is pure love, with generous helpings of Chasyu and Menma (bamboo shoots)  and the tamago. Catch them at SM Jazz Mall or UP Town Center
 
Must Try: Tamanegi (Fried onion strips with seafood) Shoyu Ramen

Shoyu Ramen

Tamanegi Php 175, don't miss this

Chashu Ramen Php 390

4. Ramen Kuroda

How can you make ramen taste good and keep it affordable at the same time?
The people behind Ramen Kuroda knows the answer. Whether its their full restaurant at BF Paranaque or their takedown ramen places, Kuroda offers delicious tasting ramen at prices you'll love. Their ramen goes as low as Php 180 at their ramen joints in Aseana Pasay and RCBC Makati

Must try: Aka Ramen, a mildly spicy Hakata ramen with a strong array of flavors, Kuro Ramen, a creamy soup ramen with fragrant garlic oil

Kuro Ramen from their BF resto

Aka Ramen from their newly opened Aseana branch

Kuro Ramen from Aseana branch

3. Ippudo

Ippudo came to the ramen craze a bit late, but this international chain is no greenhorn when it comes to ramen. Every bowl is indeed ramen perfection and seamless to a point it looks art-directed. The flavors are like a katana blade, subdued at first then it cuts you before you know it. The long lines at Megamall says it all. The question is when do they open a new branch to satiate the people's craving for ramen?

Must Try: Akamaru Shinaji ( Red Sea) slightly spicy ramen with a strong hint of garlic and miso paste. Ippudo Pork Bun - this is Chinese Cuapao with a Japanese twist, yum!

Akamaru Shinaji

Pork Bun

2. Ramen Nagi/ Butao

2 Words: Black King!
Expensive, quirky ramen place that serves excellent ramen.
I don't know how they make the bowl of darkness into a delicious pit of umami.

Must Try: Black King, Gyoza

Black King

Gyoza

 1. Ramen Yushoken

Probably the reigning ramen king in town, hard to go all the way to Molito, Alabang and find long lines of people anxiously waiting for their divine ramen. This is not the most kid-friendly place, the service sucks, sharing of ramen is also frowned upon. Ramen can't be brought home or taken out, and you're given a few minutes for the smoke to settle and eat the ramen at its best temperature. Everything is on the menu is spot on.

Must try: Shio Ramen, Chjcken Karaage, Gyoza, Tsukemen

Gyokai Tsukemen

Shio Ramen

Gyoza

Chicken Karaage

What's your favorite ramen place?


Note: This list is compiled from my different posts on ramen.

Tuan Tuan is worth the wait ****

If you're scratching your head why the line at Ippudo is always long, you might also notice that there's also another snaking line at the restaurant beside it - Tuan Tuan Brasserie making the hallway at the third floor a long waiting area for patient diners.

But despite the agonizing wait hours, the food experience at Tuan Tuan is worth every minute. Tracing its roots from Vancouver's Mui Cafe, this gem of a restaurant serves glamorous Chinese fare, starting with their noodles with a Halibut soup base (sosyal). Like the ramen, their noodles can be toppings-customized and comes with a order of their famous Milk Tea. Bowls are big and can be shared by two. The noodles are well-done and the soup delicate and fragrant, without the fishiness (lansa) that one finds in a fish-based soup. Milky and rich, add some tender beef slices and you're good. Oh, and you can order a piece of Fried Fish Fillet on the side.

We also ordered their famed Curry. I rarely hear or see curry on the menu in a Chinese restaurant and their version is unbelievably well-done. The curry is light on the spice and easy on the mouth, much like the consistency of Chicken Pastel. The chicken curry is tender adorned by a velvety curry plus pieces of potatoes. Trust me, you'll want more rice with this.

We also ordered the Honey Lemon Spareribs, this was not one of my favorites and their honey glaze has a bit of an overwhelming tartness, much like a syrupy tamarind sauce.
The spareribs has a bit of crunch, some may like it but I'm not really a fan of this dish.

Order for the noodles and the curry, both are excellent and guaranteed to satisfy.Tuan Tuan is a great, great culinary experience but service needs to be improved. (Our drinks did not arrive til we called the attention of at least 3 waiters)

And if you thought Tim Ho Wan's barbecue buns are the best, wait til you try theirs.
It is soft and not crumbly, with generous barbecued tender pork lsices, it is indeed heavenly (with a hellish one hour waiting time.)

Tuan Tuan
3rd Floor Megafashion Hall
SM Megamall
Beside Ippudo




  

The McRib is here!

Mcdonalds has just launched the Mc Rib in the Philippines, for a limited time we can have a taste of the barbecue pork sandwich enjoyed in other parts of the world. Now that its here, let your food journey to barbecue glory begin!

 The McRib comes in a roll instead of the usual hamburger bun. It is available in 2 variants Original and Special one with mayo and veggies. 

Just like the McGriddle the sandwich is not available in all stores and this comes in a very limited release. 

The pork sandwich arrives tasty and almost tocino like in consistency. Onions and pickles add a level of tartness and slight slobber of barbecue sauce adds zing. This is 149 pesos and comes with medium soda and fries and 99 alacarte.

Here's a list of stores that carry the McRib , got the list from wheninmanila (I got mine from D Macapagal branch) 

Qc area and ortigas

Sm north edsa 

Gateway mall

Sm fairview

Eton centris

Trinoma

Sm megamall

Mdc 100

Shangrila

South/makati

People support

Greenbelt

New glorietta

Glorietta3

Guadalupe

Sm southmall

Jp rizal

Manila area

Tutuban prime block

Baclaran redrmptorist

Tm kalaw

Lugang Cafe's Feast All You Can

Lugang Cafe's Feast All You Can Promo  is back, for Php 588+, you can order anything in their menu plus one main dish. This runs from April 20 - May 30, 2015 at all Lugang branches and is available from Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.



Image grabbed from Lugang's FB page

Kimono Ken Blue Bay Walk ***

For great Japanese food that's light on the budget, try Kimono Ken. The place actually has great tasting Japanese food that can please the Pinoy palate. For years it had been little restaurant at Bluewave Macapagal that wowed. But Bluewave has closed and Kimono Ken already established branches at SM Moa and Blue Bay, plus other areas.

Kimono Ken has a lot of maki choices, some of our favorites include the chicken teriyaki maki and the kani salad maki.

Crunchy wasabi wanton has so-so wanton much like the chinese pinsec frito but the wasabi mayo is the bomb.

Chicken Teriyaki

Tempura

The tempura is nothing to talk about but its affordable and big. Wish the breading was't so thick.,

Fried Rice

They also have a good fried rice, a cup is filling and freshly done.

Seafood Teppan

 

 

Cafe 1228 at New World Makati ***

Immensely enjoyed the buffet at cafe 1228.

The buffet spread may not be as lavish as other hotels but the food is an even balance of cooked classics and grill specialties. Loved the prime rib and the pasta station. 

Loved the big prawns you can ask them to grill for you on-the spot.

They were also very generous with the salmon sashimi. 

Service though, is a bit slow. And you'll have to really attract attention for the servers to refill your water or get your drinks.

Dessert: Strawberry sushi

I can't recall what this is but it's a fish dish

Cafe 1228 is at the ground floor of New World Hotel Makati. 

Buffet price is at 2099 per head. 

Manam is indeed Malinamnam *****

Filipino food never cease to amaze me.
There's just too many good things to experience.
Manam is one of those few places that has cooking that feels close to home.
From classics to fusion, they have managed to make Filipino food stand out
and re-invented with a modern spin. The food is portioned for one, four to a large group.

The Gising-gising is made with sigarilyas

The Tokwa't Baboy has lechon pieces and fried tofu in light soy

 Pork and Chicken Garlic Adobo

Iced Tea

Their Sisig is one of the best I've tried

The Calamares is done Chinese style with Salt and Pepper

 

Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain **

If you're around the BGC area, you won't help but notice the Farmacy,
the ice cream and soda fountain near Wildflour.

I love the 1950's era charm of the place. The interiors will take you back in time
when ice cream parlors were the rave. Think Pops' Choc'lit Shop of Archie comics.

The area is quite narrow as there are only rows where customers can have their ice cream fix. You may also have it by the bar or al fresco where more tables are set up. (Please be warned that there are a lot of mosquitoes outside, I don't know why)

Farmacy serves different flavors of their home-made ice cream, in scoops or in sundae,
soda fountain classics like thick milkshakes are also available.

3 scoops: Cheese, Double Milk Chocolate, Straciatella

 Ice cream flavors include: Vanilla, Cheese, Double Chocolate, Black Sesame, Strawberry, Banana, Melon, Starciatella, Butter Pecan, Mint Chocolate Chip, Green Tea and more. They also have sorbets like calamansi.

We ordered different scoops to try and I can't help but notice their ice cream melts easily.
The ice cream is too sweet for my taste but the Double Milk Chocolate is spot on. 

At night, Farmacy is a great place to hang out with friends, beer and local craft beers are served. Check this place out and do tell me the flavors you like




Farmacy Ice Cream & Soda Fountain
4th Avenue corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City