Is any weather not ramen weather?
When it’s warm and sunny, we want ramen. When it’s cold and rainy, we want ramen. It’s a basic food group.
Notice all the new Japanese restaurants opening in Metro Manila. Recently we had the excellent kurobuta katsu at Ginza Bairin in Glorietta 2, facing the new hotels. The restaurant was full and we had to wait almost half an hour to get a table, but it was worth it. While you’re enjoying your katsu a waiter comes around offering extra servings of miso soup, shredded cabbage and rice.
Santouka’s ramen with a side of pork cheeks.
On Sunday in the middle of the storm we tried Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, the ramen place at Glorietta 4 (facing SM). Juan had pronounced it the best ramen he’d ever had. They don’t accept reservations; there was a 15-minute wait for a table.
Santouka’s Miso ramen with char siu
We can’t claim to be an expert, but the noodles were delicious, the broth flavorful, the pork cheeks evil. “You were right,” we told Juan. “This is the best ramen we’ve ever had.”
“The ramen at Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen at the Shangri-La East Wing is the best ramen I’ve ever had,” Juan declared. “But this is close.” (Dissenting opinion Walk and Eat prefers Santouka to Ikkoryu.)
Next stop: Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen.
Any mention of ramen brings up Juzo Itami’s Tampopo.
Pinoy addition to the ramen ritual: After separating the chopsticks, rub the two sticks together to remove splinters.
Don’t forget to apologize to the pork and eye the noodles affectionately.
Do the Japanese make the world’s greatest movies about food? Must see Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
August 20th, 2013 at 08:24
Walk and Eat is right. Santouka’s good, Ikkoryu’s really just OK. I know you hardly go there, but if you find yourself in Alabang, eat in Yushoken (in Molino complex). That’s where you’ll eat the best ramen you’ll ever have in Metro Manila. The owners are obsessive ramen fans who are on a neverending quest for ramen perfection, and it shows in the quality of the broth and the noodles.
August 20th, 2013 at 12:15
Love Santouka and Ikkoryu. Also Ukkokei. But to me the best so far is Yushoken at Molito Mall Alabang.
Have to try Ginza Bairin.
August 20th, 2013 at 12:37
isaak and mcmorco: Thanks for the recommendation! We will try Ikkoryu tomorrow and organize an expedition to Alabang on a weekend.
August 20th, 2013 at 18:45
Have you watched Nankyoku Ryorinin (Chef at the South Pole)? It’s a hilarious film. There’s a scene there where one of the researchers was starting to go crazy because they ran out of ingredients to make ramen.
August 20th, 2013 at 22:45
Your Grace and others, thank you for the recommendations. I will slurp with absolute gusto on these ramen restos!
August 21st, 2013 at 00:57
Japanese Table Etiquette Trivia: It is actually impolite to rub chopsticks together. It’s sends a message to the owners that their utensils are cheap. :)
Love the broth at Ikkoryu and they also give you texture options for your noodles. Looking forward to trying Santouka!
August 21st, 2013 at 02:42
f878: Usually we have to rub the chopsticks together because there ARE splinters. Why we get the lousy sticks, we have no idea; that’s probably our lumber the rest of the world is eating with.