Ramen Night at Kokoro Ramenya, Ermita

The hubby was craving for some ramen last night (he thinks he’s turning to be a ramen addict) and I was quite game for it so we agreed to have dinner at the ramen place we’ve long wanted to visit – Kokoro Ramenya in Ermita, Manila. It’s just right across the US Embassy and a mere 5-minute ride from home. This yet another ramen experience made us full to the brim!



On our table were two kinds of ramen and a plate of California Maki (the hubby’s ultimate sushi fave):



Tantanmen, P275. This was off the menu but they made one for me. (The waitress actually showed me a list of food not from the menu and this was the first one I saw and somehow I was familiar with it from the blogs I've read before so I ordered it.) The serving was huge so I thought the price was reasonable. The soup base was rich and thick miso and I loved how tasty and savory it was. The spicy ground pork, though small in serving, packed a lot of flavor and heat. The restaurant was air-conditioned but I could feel my sweat running from my head down in every spoonful. The noodles were firm and chewy, just how I liked it. It was my first time to have Tantanmen and I was very satisfied. This will definitely set the bar high for the next Tantanmen I'd try.

OTHER RAMEN PLACES WE'VE TRIED:
Ramen Kuroda, BF Homes
Ramen Yushoken, Molito-Alabang
Erra's Ramen, Malate
Yasuo Japanese Restaurant, Robinsons Place Manila
Izakaya Den Japanese Restaurant, Malate
Rai Rai Ken, Finlandia
Ume-ya Japanese Restaurant, Bacoor
Yoshinoya, SM Manila



Shoyu Ramen, P235. This was the hubby’s order and he was raving about it. He said the soy-sauce based soup had a delicate, clean taste. The pork was tender and the noodles were al dente just like mine. Suffice it to say, he was very satisfied with this one.



California Maki, P185. For appetizer, we had eight pieces of the American-inspired sushi roll. They were okay except that the rice used wasn’t sticky enough to keep the fillings together. Once dipped in the soy sauce-wasabi mix and held by the chopstick, the sushi had to be eaten fast, or it would break apart easily.

Our ramen left us really stuffed. I actually felt a little dizzy after finishing my bowl. It was too heavy for me. Next time, we’ll just order one ramen and some other dishes so it’ll be lighter.

Kokoro Ramenya has neat and spacious interiors and is located at the second floor of the Avenue of the Arts building. There was a cheery vibe inside which we liked. We also noticed the attentiveness and fast service of the staff. The good food plus all of these extras added up to a pleasant dining experience for us.





We are definitely coming back! :)

Kokoro Ramenya
2/F Avenue of the Arts Building
1388 Guerrero St.
Ermita, Manila

(+632) 254-9716


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Affordable Japanese Meals at Yasuo, Robinsons Place Manila

Strolling around Robinsons Place Manila one random weeknight with the hubby and his family, we chanced upon Yasuo, a tiny Japanese restaurant serving affordable meals. We decided to have dinner there and it turned out be pleasurable both for our tummies and our pockets.



Yasuo is near the supermarket which makes it easy to locate. While it can only serve less than 20 diners at a time, I noticed that people wait to get seated there.



Here are what we ordered during our visit:



Miso Ramen, P149. This was the hubby’s food. He said this was good. I took a spoonful and noted the rich flavor of the broth. The serving was also just right, not too little and not too much.



Sio Ramen, P129. According to the waitress who dealt with us, this has the original ramen goodness. No miso or soy sauce added as flavor. My PILs loved it!

OTHER RAMEN PLACES WE'VE TRIED:
Ramen Kuroda, BF Homes
Ramen Yushoken, Molito-Alabang
Kokoro Ramenya, Roxas Blvd.
Erra's Ramen, Malate
Izakaya Den Japanese Restaurant, Malate
Rai Rai Ken, Finlandia
Ume-ya Japanese Restaurant, Bacoor
Yoshinoya, SM Manila



Katsudon, P129. My SIL and I ordered this same dish. The sauce was tasty and the breaded boiled pork was well-seasoned. But I thought the highlight of this dish was the rice used. It was soft and sticky and chewy just like Japanese rice should be.



Chicken Katsu Set, P139. This was my FIL’s order. He’s a picky eater but he finished this in no time so I’m guessing it was good.



Oyakodon, P139. My MIL’s order had chicken chunks in golden brown sauce and topped with egg and sliced scallion. It’s like Katsudon, only chicken is the meat used and the sauce has just a tinge of sweetness.



Looking at the prices of the food above and reading my comments on the food, I bet you’ll agree with me when I say that Yasuo serves cheap yet quality and delicious Japanese food. :)



Yasuo Restaurant
G/L Adriatico Wing
Robinsons Place Manila
Ermita, Manila


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Dinner at Izakaya Den Japanese Restaurant

Last Friday night, the hubby and I had a highly satisfying dinner at Izakaya Den. It’s a Japanese restaurant on M. Adriatico St. in Malate, Manila (just in front of Robinsons Place Manila and right beside Arabic Kitchen Restaurant). Aside from the great-tasting food, what I liked about this place were the free, fast wifi and the good service of the staff.






Izakaya Den’s space is quite small, with tables arranged right next to each other, side by side. The high-backed benches ensure privacy for the diners, though. There was soft music playing during our dinner which was kinda relaxing to me. I also noticed two groups of Japanese men dining as well which I think says a lot about the restaurant.



The hubby was in the mood for ramen that night so he got what he wanted –- Chashu Ramen, P400. It arrived on our table steaming hot, with big chunks of slow-roasted pork and vegetables on a big bowl. It was actually a meal on its own. It was very tasty, flavorful and filled with authentic Japanese ramen goodness. The hubby even said it’s the best ramen he’s ever tried. I believed him.



OTHER RAMEN PLACES WE'VE TRIED:
Ramen Kuroda, BF Homes
Ramen Yushoken, Molito-Alabang
Kokoro Ramenya, Roxas Blvd.
Yasuo Japanese Restaurant, Robinsons Place Manila
Erra's Ramen, Malate
Rai Rai Ken, Finlandia
Ume-ya Japanese Restaurant, Bacoor
Yoshinoya, SM Manila

The rice eater in me, on the other hand, opted for the Katsudon, P300. It was served on a bowl complete with a side dish of miso soup and a small plate of pickled veggies. While I found the breaded, boiled pork well-seasoned and fresh-tasting, I didn’t like how it had more fat than lean meat. The sauce was a blend of sweet, sour and salty which went well with the soft and sticky Japanese rice. The big serving was a given as I couldn’t finish my food all by myself. I had to share some with the hubby.



We also got an order of California Maki, P250. It had eight rolls which all tasted fresh and good. They were generous with the fish caviar and we appreciated it. The hubby ate most of them because he’s a big sushi fan.



All of our food we washed down with complimentary tea and coffee (which you could request to be served either hot or cold).




with my date

If you’re somewhere in the Malate area and craving for Japanese food, do give Izakaya Den a try. It surely won’t disappoint, food and service wise.

Izakaya Den Japanese Restaurant
1555-C M. Adriatico St.
Ermita, Manila

(+632) 254-7034


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YakiMIX, Greenbelt 3: Korean, Japanese, and Cantonese Buffet for Everyone

While I enjoy eating at buffets, I'm quite picky when it comes to restaurants that offer them. You can only take me to a buffet lunch or dinner if it's highly-recommended by friends, I love the cuisine on offer, I'm curious about the restaurant or better yet, it's for free. I've always wanted to try the popular YakiMIX buffet (and the all-new Sambokojin buffet that has the same food selection as YakiMIX's) and I finally did last Sunday afternoon at their Greenbelt 3 branch. I was with the fiancee, his sister A and our friend A. We were there for lunch and we intentionally stuffed ourselves with mounds of food before watching the much-anticipated Harry Potter finale in 3D.



Arriving at the restaurant at exactly 12:00 noon, we found ourselves wait listed for a table. You wouldn't believe it but we were the 16th in the list! After enduring the loooooong wait of an hour and 20 minutes, we got seated in one of the spacious tables with comfortable red couches. Eating began as soon as we tossed our bags onto our seats.



Some food items I spotted:

KOREAN
Bulgogi
Broiled beef tripe
Glass noodles in chicken broth
different kinds of Korean side dishes (beansprouts kimchi, chopped radish kimchi, summer green kimchi, white cabbage)

JAPANESE
Yakisoba
Sushi (in various flavors)
Maki (in various flavors)
Tuna and Salmon sashimi
beef- and bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms
wide selection of marinated and fresh meat for smokeless grilling right on your table (prawns, squid, beef barbecue, pork barbecue, chicken barbecue, cocktail hotdogs, pork luncheon meat, bacon, shiitake mushrooms, tuna, salmon, etc.)

CANTONESE
Yang Chow fried rice
Sweet and sour pork
Broccoli with mushrooms
beef strips with teriyaki sauce, seafood roll,
crunchy squid
chicken and corn soup
bird’s nest soup

YakiMIX buffet selection was impressive. There was so much food and I didn't know where to start. You can choose to go for the cooked items first and go back for the uncooked ones. Or do the reverse. As for me, I filled my plate with raw meat for grilling.





Then, I went back for the cooked items that caught my interest. I loved their Yang Chow fried rice that had generous servings of shrimps, ham and vegetables.



I also got some sushi and maki rolls. After that, I went back for some tempura, yakisoba and more of those crunchy squid that tasted real good when dipped in their special vinegar.





Feeling too full already, I got some orange wedges to clean my palate before ending my satisfying YakiMIX meal with some desserts.





Other dessert items I saw were ice cream and sprinkles, egg tarts, mini muffins, etc.



The food at YakiMIX were good but nothing exceptional. I loved their tempura and crunchy squid and I couldn't get enough of their bacon-wrapped sprouts and asparagus. For me, these are the must-try items from the buffet.





I also liked their choices of raw meat and I loved how they provided each table with a smokeless grill. It gives a good alternative for those who want to enjoy grilled food in a cozier place and minus the burnt smell that sticks on the clothes.



Dining at YakiMIX is affordable. With several buffet stations filled with various kinds of food, you actually get more than what you pay for. Take a look at their buffet rates below:

Monday to Friday LUNCH : P499
Monday to Friday DINNER, Weekend ALL DAY: P599
Children below 4ft: P380
Drink all you can: P75

Some tips when dining at YakiMIX:

1. Don't be overwhelmed by the wide selection of food on the buffet. It could make you feel stuffed fast and worse, dizzy. Just relax, enjoy the food and chew everything slowly. You have at most 3 hours to stay, anyway.

2. For the raw meat, get and cook only what you can consume. We made the mistake of getting one plateful of various raw meat each. We had a hard time finishing all that we took because the cooked items on the buffet easily filled us up. YakiMIX implements a "No Leftover Policy" at P699. Better be safe than sorry.

3. Get desserts early, unless it's ice cream that melts easily. Desserts run out fast and when it's near the last call already, they don't refill the dessert station anymore. (Last call to the buffet stations is 2:30 p.m. The restaurant closes at this time and opens again at 5:30 p.m. for dinner.)

4. Drink only when necessary. This is self-explanatory. Don't drink a lot so you don't feel full fast. I dunno but unlike others, I tend to drink only once I finish my meal. When I started eating at buffets, I found out this was an advantage. :)


their blue lemonade was my drink of choice!

One look and one can easily say that YakiMIX's target market are families and friends. The place can be very noisy and crowded but I think it's understandable. It's a busy restaurant and they serve lotsa food which can easily perk up everyone's mood.






YakiMIX (Sushi. Smokeless Grill. Restaurant)
3/F, Greenbelt 3
Ayala, Makati

(+632) 998-8039
(+632) 475-5153


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Buffet Alert: Eat All You Can Sushi at Sakae Sushi, Mall of Asia

Fond of eating Japanese food? One of the Japanese treats I like best is sushi. Sushi comes in various colors, forms and flavors. Now we can eat all the sushi we want (as in all!) at Sakae Sushi-Mall of Asia Branch. They have an eat-all-you-can sushi buffet daily from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Prices are as follows:

P399 for Adults
P299 for Senior Citizens
P199 for Kids

Sakae Sushi (Good Place, very Good Sushi) is known for its rotating conveyor belt carrying bowls after bowls of fresh sushi. All you have to do is get whichever sushi you want to enjoy and you're on your way to sushi heaven.

Sakae Sushi is located at the 1st Level of MOA's Main Mall, just beside the South Mall Entrance.


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