There's a new ramen restaurant in Manila.
Favorite Japanese restaurant chain Ippudo recently opened at the SM Megamall's Mega Fashion Hall, amid the rising popularity of ramen noodles in the metro.
Founded in 1985 in Japan’s ramen capital of Hakata by three-time “Ramen King” Shigemi Kawahara, Ippudo has expanded to over 80 stores in Japan alone. It also opened some 40 stores worldwide, including in global capitals like New York, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Ippudo can accomodate 79 guests at one time with numerous service staff who announce orders coming out from the show kitchen, where diners can watch the food being prepared. Another glass-encased room, meanwhile, allows customers to watch the noodles being made.
Diners can choose the hardness of their noodles – soft, medium, hard and very hard.
Menu
Shiromaru Motoaji (P375), a “classic Hakata-style ramen” with milky tonkotsu broth and ultra-thin noodles, pork loin, bean sprouts and spring onions.
Akamaru Shinaji (P390) has Ippudo’s original tonkotsu broth enhanced with special blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil for a deeper and more complex flavour with a smooth spicy kick.
The Karaka-Men (P390) is tops in terms of heat but despite the pronounced spice level, the broth still had balance with a rich complexity. This was served with thin wavy noodles, with spicy minced meat, pork belly and spring onions.
Steamed pork bun (P100) with braised pork belly and Ippudo’s original sauce.
Other dishes include Hakata-style gyoza, cheese harumaki and the traditional cucumber slices. The restaurant also has salads, like the Goma Q cucumber slices, and even some rice dishes, like the Garlic Teppan Tonkotsu rice. Dessert choices include green tea and black sesame ice cream.
Ippudo is expected to open eight restaurants in the Philippines within three years. --Source: ABS-CBN News