These Second-Bestselling Dishes At Ramen Restaurants Deserve Your Attention Too
Itadakimasu!
Today is as good as any for a hot bowl of authentic Japanese ramen – there is a level of comfort that a sip of the rich broth brings. Many of us missed the taste of our favorite ramen for months because of quarantine restrictions (hurray for delivery services!), but thankfully, restaurants around Metro Manila have been gradually reopening their doors to the dining public, and you can enjoy a freshly made bowl of your favorite ramen again.
And while ramen is always a good idea, don’t forget that there are other non-ramen dishes in these restaurants’ menu -- aka, the second bestseller -- that deserve the same attention. Have you been missing out on these?
Ippudo
Ippudo is a world-famous Japanese ramen emporium dedicated to serve a wide variety of authentic Hakata-style ramen. “It was brought into the Philippines in 2014 by The Standard Group and eventually the group became Ippudo’s best operator, globally,” shares Catalina Altomonte, Senior Brand Communications Manager.
Aside from their customers’ top favorite, Akamaru Special Ramen (Php 530), you must also try Ippudo’s signature side, Pork Buns (Php 340/3 pcs) -- soft-braised pork belly topped with Japanese mayo and sauces, all inside a soft-steamed bun.
Another bestseller is their Nanban Karaage (Php 285), which are crunchy bite-sized pieces of chicken, glazed with sweet and salty Japanese sauces.
All of Ippudo’s shops offer take-out and pick-up services. For dine-in customers, a pre-booked reservation is recommended. Customers may also join their Viber community or check them out on GrabFood for deliveries.
Mendoroko Ramenba and Ramen Yushoken
“’Yushoken’ literally translates to ‘House of Ramen Champions,’ [after] the three chefs: ‘Ramen God’ Kazuo Yamagishi and Ramen Champions Koji Tashiro and Hideaki Aoyama,” says Ryan Cruz, CEO and Managing Director. When they opened Yushoken in Alabang in 2012, word about their delicious ramen spread quickly that people from the North would drive all the way to the South just to experience it. Two years later, they opened Mendokoro in Makati, followed by three other branches, including one in Cebu.
Thinking of getting their bestselling Shoyu Ramen (Php 430) topped with their famous grilled chashu? Why don’t you pair it with another customer favorite, the Gyoza (Php 200)? Each piece is filled with more than a dozen ingredients including ground pork, vegetables, and their special seasoning mix.
If you’re visiting Yushoken, you have to try their Karaage (Php 320) or boneless chicken thighs marinated in a special soy-based mixture, with Japanese mayo as dipping sauce.
Yushoken and Mendokoro branches in Metro Manila are open daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. Their Cebu branch opens at 10:00 am, Mondays to Thursdays, and at 10:00 am Fridays to Sundays. They also deliver! Place your orders by visiting nipponhasha.com.
Hanamaruken Ramen
Hanamaruken Ramen was founded in Osaka, Japan in 1982. In December 2013, it was introduced in the Philippines by the Tasteless Food Group through their first branch in TriNoma, Quezon City.
“All shops strictly follow Arakawa's philosophy that ramen should be made with excellent meat and prepared by passionate chefs. From Osaka to Manila, the same commitment to quality applies,” says Kathy Molina, the Strategic Business Unit Manager.
People have been lining up for their bestselling “Signature Happiness Ramen” (Php 445/half, Php 580/whole), a shoyu tonkotsu broth ramen topped with slow-braised soft bone pork rib, but another must-try is their popular Drunk Man Rice Bowl (Php 340). It comes with a hefty serving of pork kakuni with two fried eggs.
Their Chicken Karaage (Php 380) is also a bestseller, served with side crackers and a special dipping sauce.
All of their seven branches around the Metro are open for dine in from Monday to Sunday. Customers may also order online or book through a third-party application such as FoodPanda, GrabFood and Pick-a-roo.
Ramen Kuroda
Ramen Kuroda offers a variety of Japanese meals aside from their affordable and quality ramen. “With comprehensive supervision by a top-class ramen chef with 20 years of experience, no doubt our ramen is definitely authentic”, shares Camille Bagatsing, the Marketing Manager.
Their bestselling Aka Ramen (Php 180) is best paired with the four-piece Gyoza (Php 100) and Teriyaki Pork Don (Php 150).
Dine in is allowed on schedule (check here), and they also have delivery services in areas within 10 kilometers from their branches. To place your orders, go to togo.kuroda.ph.
Oyasumi Ramen
Oyasumi Ramen was launched in 2015 because of a group of friends’ love for ramen -- and food, in general. Nicky Chua, partner and co-owner, says, “We invested in our own noodle machine to be able to create a variety of fresh & flavored noodles. One of our partners also worked in Yokohama for half a year where we took inspiration and method for creating ramen dishes.”
Their bestselling ramen is the Iekei Ramen (Php 350), which is shoyu-based. Current favorites also include the Curry Ribs 9Php 270) - thick and juicy pork ribs coated with their special curry mix.
Don’t forget to order the Cheesy Risotto, which turns any leftover ramen soup into this flavorful recipe.
Oyasumi Ramen is open for dine in and take-out every day from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. They also deliver in San Juan, New Manila, Mandaluyong, and selected areas in Pasig and Sta. Mesa for a fee. Order online at foodbooking.com or book via third-party providers.
Yummy Tokyo
Yummy Tokyo is a brand under the YC Yummy Ventures Corporation. “We started joining food bazaars back in 2018 to introduce our brand and our flavors to the market. In order to cater the growing demand of our patrons, we put up our first restaurant in the famed Maginhawa Street in Quezon City,” shares Mary Monseratt ofSales and Marketing.
Their Miso Ramen (Php 149) is delightfully affordable and one of their bestsellers, but be sure to get their Spam Mayo Onigiri (Php 59)too - a rice ball made of Japanese white rice filled with spam and mayo.
For a complete and filling meal, order the Karaage Bento (Php 99) which comes with 50 grams of Karaage fries, Japanese rice, and cold ramen.
Their Maginhawa, Makati and Mandaluyong branches are open for dine in. You can also place orders for delivery by sending a message on Facebook or Instagram.
This article was originally posted on OneLife.PH.
