With the year drawing to a close and the weather getting colder, there’s nothing better after a long day than a piping hot bowl of ramen. Traditionally made with wheat noodles, char-grilled pork, sliced onions or bamboo shoots, and a soup base famously boiled for hours, it’s is an excellent comfort food for the soul (or stomach). It’s no wonder the ramen craze has been going strong for years, and with how much Filipinos love food, there’s no shortage of excellent ramen spots in the Metro. Here’s a list of some of our favorites.
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Ramen Shokudo
Where: 401 Banawe Ave., Quezon City, NCR
Price: Php 360-400 for a bowl
Contact: (02) 247 7873, Facebook, or Instagram
Ramen Shokudo serves Yokohama ramen, which has a distinctive creamy, strong taste. Their Toriton Shoyu (Php 360) is rich and delicious, and if you’re feeling a little more adventurous you can try their Brown Prawn Ramen (Php 420). Make sure you get here early, as the restaurant can get filled up pretty quickly.
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Ramen Daisho
Where: Unit 2, Sunshine Square, Liberty Center, 312 Shaw Boulevard
Mandaluyong
Price: Php 300-380 for their regular bowls; Php 560-740 for their large bowls
Contact: 0917 881 7471, Facebook, or Instagram
Ramen Daisho boasts the famous ukokkei ramen, which is ramen made from the Silky chicken, a breed with dark blue flesh and bones that was once thought to bring eternal youth. Try their Hakata Tonkotsu Chashu-Men (Php 380 for a regular bowl) for that classic taste with a “Silky” twist.
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Oyasumi Ramen
Where: Unit 3, 308 P. Guevarra St. corner Seaview St., Little Baguio, San Juan
Price: Php 350-470 for a bowl
Contact: (02) 275 0309, Facebook, or Instagram
Oyasumi Ramen in San Juan also offers Yokohama-style ramen, and new diners should take care not to miss out on their Iekei Ramen (Php 350). Oyasumi Ramen also puts a new spin on a lot of their dishes, offering La Paz Ramen (Php 370)— yes, based off La Paz batchoy!— and Truffle Ramen (Php 470), and even offers to turn your leftover broth into risotto for an additional Php 60.
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Ippudo
Where: Third Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, plus other locations
Price: Php 385-495 for a bowl
Contact: (02) 470 1837, website, or Facebook
Originally founded in 1985 in the ramen capital of Hakata, Japan, they serve tonkotsu ramen, which has a broth base of pork bones that have been simmered for hours and hours. Their original tonkotsu dish is the Shiromaru Motoaji (Php 385 for Motoaji, Php 415 for the Tamago, Php 480 for the Chashu, and Php 490 for the Special), but they also have Akamaru Shinaji (Php 495 for the Special) and Karaka-men (Php 495 for the Special).
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Tongara Ramen
Where: Lamp Quarters, G/F Unit 7, Gil Fernando Ave., Sto. Nino, Marikina City
Price: Php 390-560 for a bowl
Contact: 0917 179 4718, Facebook, or Instagram
Tongara Ramen was first established in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 2013, and what sets it apart is its tongara broth, a combination of tonkotsu (pork bone broth) and torigara (chicken bone broth). The flagship franchise of this restaurant is actually in Cebu, but for ramen-lovers in the Metro the Marikina branch is luckily accessible enough. The tongara broth gives this bowl a unique taste unlike any other, and you can try it for yourself with their signature Tongara Ramen (Php 390).
Ukokkei Ramen Ron
Where: 822 Paseo Tesoro, Arnaiz Avenue, San Lorenzo, Makati City
Price: Php 320-400 for a bowl
Contact: (02) 856 4588, website, Facebook, or Instagram
One of the longer-established ramen joints in the country, Ukokkei Ramen Ron definitely has a place on our list of must-try ramen. As the name suggests, Ukokkei is known for its ukokkei broth, made from the Silky chicken. They offer a variety of different ramen styles, but you should definitely try out the light, clean taste of their Shoyu Ramen (Php 320 for the Ukokkei Shoyu).
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Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen
Where: Level 5, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Price: Php 330-400 for a bowl
Contact: (02) 477 8333, website, or Facebook
Another popular restaurant would be Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen, which does its ramen Fukuoka-style or with tonkotsu broth. Try their Ajitama Tonkotsu (Php 380) which is their original broth with half-boiled egg, or for a richer taste, their Black Garlic Tonkotsu (Php 380) with special roasted garlic oil. They also offer a Vegi Tama Cheese Tonkotsu (Php 400) for those who want lighter fare.
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Butamaru
Where: G16 Ortigas Technopoint Bldg., Ortigas Home Depot Complex, 1 Doña Julia Vargas Ave., Pasig City
Price: Php 320-420 for a bowl
Contact: (02) 635 9246, website, Facebook, or Instagram
Butamaru started out as two-story restaurant in Westgate, Alabang, but such was their popularity that they recently expanded to include a branch in Ortigas. Their ramen recipe, concocted by Chef Jerome Lim who studied under a master in Japan, effortlessly mixes modern tastes with traditional ramen recipes. Try one of the best TanTanMen (Php 350) bowls in the city, or mix it up with their Curry Tantanmen (Php 350).
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Ramen Yushoken
Where: Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Price: Php 370-480 for a bowl
Contact: (02) 808 7424, Facebook, or Instagram
Ramen Yushoken is usually packed, and with good reason so make sure to prepare for a wait. They’re famous for their broth, and their Tonkotsu Ramen Shio (Php 350) is an excellent place for a new diner to start. They also offer cold ramen Hiyashi Chuka (Php 370) and Tokusei Tsukumen (Php 400) for those who want to branch out.
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Mendokoro Ramenba
Where: Ground Floor, V Corporate Center, Soliman Street, Salcedo Village, Makati.
Price: Php 370-480 for a bowl
Contact: (02) 478 9625 or Facebook, or Instagram
Mendokoro Ramenba is managed by the same people who run Ramen Yushoken, and is considered the more “serious” ramen bar of the two. Like most traditional Japanese ramen bars, there’s limited seating (21 seats, to be exact) and a limited menu (3 types of tonkotsu ramen, one type of tsukumen, and one type of cold ramen), but the experience is worth it. Try the Shoyu Tonkotsu Ramen (Php 390) for its thick, milky soup sprinkled liberally with black garlic oil.
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For more suggestions on what to do in Metro Manila, take a look at our other articles on Daydreaming in Paradise.
If there’s one thing Jonah De Jesus loves, it’s food. He practically grew up in the kitchen, following his mom around as she put together delicious dishes (although he was sometimes more of a hindrance than a help). Although he eventually ended up taking a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, that love for all things gastronomical followed him well into his adulthood.
When he’s not watching reruns of Parts Unknown or trying to imitate Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen, Jonah spends most of his time scouring Manila for all the newest and best places to eat.
