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Top Eight Ramen Restaurants in the Philippines 2017
On a rainy day, sip and slurp away at the top ramen joints in the metro.
By: Patricia Marie Prado | July 16, 2017
Due to changing quarantine measures, the destination/s, store/s, establishment/s featured in this article might be temporarily closed under the latest government policies. LGUs might also implement health protocols and travel requirements. Please get in touch with the establishment/s before visiting. Stay safe!
If there’s one Japanese dish that Filipinos know and love, it’s ramen. This hot soup with thin, firm noodles in creamy broth, and topped with meat and vegetables always hits the spot. Whatever the reasons why we’re hooked on ramen, we always want one whenever the rain starts to pour or if we are not feeling well.
We asked our readers what their favorite ramen restaurant is in the country and the results are in. Check out our list below!
8. Ramen Cool
No one is too cool for ramen with liempo from Ramen Cool!
Starting off our countdown is Ramen Cool , a local Japanese restaurant that opened in 2012. Put up by husband and wife Harvard and Rina Yu, Ramen Cool first opened in Kapitolyo, Pasig. They serve the usual Japanese favorites with local and international innovations. You might find your favorite ramen with slices of Pinoy liempo or Korean food staple kimchi (fermented vegetables) incorporated into it.
One of the favorites in Ramen Cool is their Pork Shoyuramen, a soy sauce-based ramen topped with liempo (pork belly). The meat is tender and thinly sliced to give their homemade noodles a chance to shine.
7. Hanamaruken Ramen
Signature Happiness Ramen, the specialty dish at Hanamaruken Ramen
At number seven is Hanamaruken Ramen . First opened in 1982, Hanamaruken was a butcher shop before eventually turning into a ramen restaurant. In 2013, the famed restaurant came to the Philippines bringing their own style of ramen.
The famous dish from Hanamaruken is their Signature Happiness Ramen. It is a Hakata-style ramen in which the soup goes through a running boil of pork broth paired with hard noodles. It has a slow-braised pork rib that’s tender and falls off the bones. They only serve 10 to 20 bowls per day of this dish, so it’s advisable to come early.
6. Akita Japanese Restaurant
Akita Japanese Restaurant is a hidden ramen gem in Cebu.
The next restaurant that made it to number six is Akita Japanese Restaurant in Mabolo, Cebu City. Owned by Japanese native Toshiro Ishihara, Akita opened just last year but locals are already raving about it, making it a welcome addition to the growing list of food spots in Cebu.
One of Akita’s bestsellers is their miso ramen. The ramen is made delicious by fermented bean paste base, pork slices, and plenty of corn and bean sprouts. Aside from the hearty serving, customers also love its nice spicy kick. Gyoza is also one of the most popular dishes in Akita.
5. Kichitora Ramen and Ramen Yushoken
Two ramen restaurants tied at number five: Kichitora of Tokyo and Ramen Yushoken.
Paitan ramen from Kichitora of Tokyo is an alternative to pork broth ramen.
Kichitora of Tokyo is a Japanese brand which reached Philippine shores in 2012. Kichitora stands out among the sea of pork-based broths with their chicken-based one known as paitan ramen. This broth is less oily than pork-based ones but still has that creamy texture.
Their most famous ramen is Paitan Ramen Zenbu no Se. This is made of paitan broth that’s simmered for 24 hours then topped with bamboo shoots, spring onions, fried garlic bits, dried seaweed, and ajitsuke tamago (soft-boiled egg in sweet and salty soy-based sauce). A dash of fried garlic oil makes this dish extra special.
You’ll be thanking the ramen god for the Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen at Ramen Yushoken.
Also at number five is Ramen Yushoken. Ramen Yushoken provides customers with a real ramen experience by serving only a select variety of ramen with a few side dishes. Despite their short menu, customers will be treated to high-quality ramen the ramen god approves of.
One stand-out dish in Ramen Yushoken is the Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen. The salty pork-based broth has black garlic bits, sesame seeds, and garlic oil. It is then topped with a slice of pork, bamboo shoots, and black fungus. It’s best to perfect your chopstick skills as they don’t provide forks in the restaurant.
4. KISSAKO UJI MATCHA CAFE and MENDOKORO RAMENBA
At number four are Kissako Uji Matcha Café and Mendokoro Ramenba.
The ramen and matcha craze rolled into one with Kissako Uji Matcha Café’s Matcha Ramen.
Kissako Uji Matcha Café is known for one thing: matcha. One might think that matcha is only for drinks or dessert, but Kissako Uji is able to incorporate this strong flavor to their ramen. One of their bestsellers is their matcha ramen. The no-frills dish is served with a fish-based miso broth with slices of pork and egg, and bits of seaweed. The dish is tied together by the matcha-infused noodles that bring a bitter but flavorful bite into the ramen. And if you’re a matcha-addict, go ahead and pair it with their blended matcha shake.
Tantanmen Ramen from Mendokoro Remanba
Also on our number four is Mendokoro Ramenba. One of the most raved-about dishes in Mendokoro Ramenba is their Tantanmen Ramen. The ramen is a combination of peanut, miso, and sesame oil in the broth. Instead of the usual pork slices, diners will enjoy an abundant amount of ground pork, plus a good chili kick!
Mendokoro only serves 23 customers every 30 minutes in a bar-type open kitchen where the chefs prepare ramen in front of diners. Prepare to queue though, as wait times at Mendokoro Ramenba is known to last for at least an hour.
3. AKIRA: THE ART OF SUSHI AND TEPPANYAKI, FUKUYA JAPANESE RESTAURANT, and OYASUMI RAMEN
Three ramen restaurants made it to the third spot. They are Akira: The Art of Sushi and Teppanyaki , Fukuya Japanese Restaurant , and Oyasumi Ramen .
Akira also serves wagyu ramen aside from teppanyaki.
As their name implies, Akira: The Art of Sushi and Teppanyaki prides themselves with their sushi and teppanyaki. Opened last 2013, the restaurant features modern interiors which vary from one branch to another. Though it may seem surprising that a teppanyaki restaurant made it on this list, it’s because Akira serves ramen, too. One customer favorite in Akira is their wagyu ramen. Akira prides themselves in using only the finest beef both in their teppanyaki and other dishes, so expect premium meat when you try this ramen along with your choice of broth.
Voters have deemed the simple ramen bowl at Fukuya as still one of the best.
Also at number three is Fukuya Japanese Restaurant which opened way back in 1995. Fukuya is often associated with nostalgia as they are among the earliest Japanese restaurants that offered the cuisine to the masses at an affordable price. Amidst their wide array of offerings, their ramen is one of the most loved dishes. With its simple broth that soothes the soul and a huge portion of noodles topped with slices of pork and egg, their humble shoyu (soy sauce) ramen is still a favorite among frequent patrons of the restaurant. Their ramen is best paired with their signature okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake).
Iekie Ramen from Oyasumi Ramen San Juan
Still at number three is Oyasumi Ramen in San Juan. They opened just last 2015, and despite being a newcomer among ramen restaurants, Oyasumi is already gaining rave reviews from their diners. One of the favorites in Oyasumi Ramen is their Iekie Ramen, their simplest, true-to-form ramen, that became known in the streets of Yokohama. Customers love the creamy tonkotsu-shoyu tare broth, topped with slices of pork, leeks, spinach, and sheets of nori. Diners who are unable to finish their broth have the option to pay an additional PhP60 for the leftover broth to be turned into cheesy risotto.
2. RAMEN KURODA and RAMEN NAGI
Voter’s comment:
“Creamy and tasty = yummy :)”- Nicole
The second spot is a tie between Ramen Kuroda and Ramen Nagi .
Affordable and authentic ramen can be had at Ramen Kuroda.
Ramen Kuroda has been in existence in Japan for over 20 years. However, it was only in 2015 that they decided to bring their ramen to the Philippines.
Among the three specialties of Ramen Kuroda, diners raving about their Kuro Ramen. With a velvety tonkotsu (pork bone) broth as its base, the flavor of Kuro Ramen is elevated by the dash of special garlic oil that gives it a bolder kick. But don’t let the creamy broth take the entire spotlight. The firm noodles and tender pork slices will also help complete the full ramen experience.
Ramen Nagi offers award-winning ramen.
Also at number two is Ramen Nagi. Their ramen has been receiving awards abroad even before coming to the Philippines in 2013.
True-blue Ramen Nagi devotees know that one of their most popular dishes is their Butao King. Their classic tonkotsu ramen is the perfect must-try if you are in search of traditional ramen. At Ramen Nagi, diners can personalize their bowl by answering a sheet to select the soup base, noodle, topping, and amount of spices in their ramen. They also have three other “colors” of ramen to choose from: Black, Red, or Green King ramen.
1. IPPUDO
Voter’s comment:
“Their curry cheese harumaki is always the best!”- blake33
Ippudo takes the crown for the best ramen in the country!
The best ramen restaurant in the country goes to Ippudo! Ippudo serves Hakata-style ramen with the signature pork-based broth. Despite their pricey menu, their loyal customers attest that their ramen is worth every peso spent.
To appreciate their Hakata-style broth, try their Shiromaru Motoaji (original tonkotsu ramen) made with their famous broth with ultra-thin noodles. The bowl is topped with bean sprouts, pork loin, spring onions and kikurage (wood ear mushrooms). More adventurous eaters can try their Akamaru Shinaji (modern-style tonkotsu ramen) or Karaka-men (spicy tonkotsu ramen), both made with miso paste and garlic oil.
Excited to slurp your way through this list? Let us know which ramen spot is your favorite in the comments section below!
Click the store links to see the exact addresses and contact numbers of featured establishments.
Photos/Images are from the official Facebook pages of featured establishments.
Prices may change without prior notice.
About Patricia Marie Prado
Patricia came from the field of business and accounting but is now pursuing her dreams of being a writer. She is a self-confessed introvert and is passionate about reading, travelling, writing, movies, coffee and God. When she's not writing, she loves discovering new coffee shops/cafe and doing TV-series marathons.
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