Ramen Bar: A Taste of the Seasonal Menu Offerings

A few years back, Ramen Bar in Eastwood has always been a go-to noodle house for us. Even if both the beau and I were not really big fans of ramen, this modern Japanese noodle spot had successfully converted us. And although we haven't been back sooner, we've decided to pay Ramen Bar a visit just recently to check out their new offerings.

Unlike my first review for Ramen Bar, I now have Candice, my Canon EOS 550D with me to take better photos. And with that, I'm just glad that this time I get to snap a few shots of the place. The interior and overall feel of the restaurant seems unchanged though as it's exactly how it was during our last few visits. The tables are still arranged in long rows mimicking the vibe of ramen counters in Japan, while the walls are adorned in red, white and wood which successfully give off a warm, cozy and laid-back atmosphere.

Upon getting seated, you'll probably notice the table top which has paper place mats doubling as the restaurant's menu sheet. And as expected for almost a year of missing out on Ramen Bar, they're now offering more items for hungry guests since our last visit.

Click the menu photo to enlarge.

From our previous trips, we've already tried their Kakuni Buns, Chahan, Shoyu Ramen, my favorite Sapporo Miso Ramen, the beau's go-to order R.B.S. #1, and their only dessert item, the Tempura Ice Cream. And as much as we wanted to order the tried and tested dishes along with the newer items on the regular menu, the friendly and knowledgeable staff suggested that we sample their Seasonal Menu offerings instead.

Click the menu photo to enlarge.

To start off our afternoon meal, we had the Cheese Gyoza (P180). Unlike the usual Japanese dumplings, these bundles of meat and veggies are infused with the goodness of sweet, salty and creamy cheese. The dumpling skin encasing them are not the common wrappers found in other Japanese restaurants too. For me, they seem to be more like pastry wrappers similar to those of savory meat pies. And while my palate found the casings a little odd, they're good treats to munch and whet the appetite with.

With a good start, we're off to try our first bowl -- the Shoyu 2.0 Ramen (P280) which has chasyu (pork slices), naruto (fish cakes), tamago (egg), negi (scallions) and soft yet firm noodles in a lighter version of Ramen Bar's soy-infused chicken and pork broth. Although the beau and I love the rich, savory flavor of their regular Shoyu Ramen, this 2.0 version brings out the natural goodness of the ingredients more. With a mellow and delicate flavor, I can't deny that I found this bowl more comforting with every spoonful.

Next up, we had the Kakuni King Ramen (P380) which has a similar light-flavored chicken and pork broth as the first bowl. The toppings are pretty much the same except that an overload of kakuni (braised pork belly) slices replaces the chasyu. Between the first two bowls, I can say this is definitely the manlier. While the soup is delicate on the palate, the kakuni pieces pack a savory flavor that makes the whole ensemble meatier.

Our last bowl for the day was the Bikkuri Ramen (P380) which has a miso-based broth infused with chili and minced pork. While this bowl has the usual chasyu, naruto, tamago and negi in the mix similar to our first bowl, the spicy topping greets the palate with a pleasant "bikkuri" which literally translates as "surprise" in English. Since the beau isn't a big fan of spicy foods, I gladly finished off this bowl on my own. And personally, I can say that this is a great treat for spicy food lovers as it's a pretty hot and savory noodle dish.

We weren't able to sample the last item on the Seasonal Menu which is the Curry Chahan. Maybe the next time we're at Ramen Bar, we'll give it a try to complete the list.

THE VERDICT

Pretty much everything we got to try on our recent trip to Ramen Bar was good. I can't say that I've found a new favorite 'cause their Sapporo Miso Ramen still tops my list, easily followed by their new Bikkuri Ramen. However, I definitely see myself coming in again for a warm and comforting bowl the next time I'm in the area. As with generous portions, a wider selection of items to choose from, a nice ambiance and a courteous set of staff, a trip to Ramen Bar in Eastwood was, is and will always be a sure success.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Ramen Bar, Eastwood Mall
G/F Eastwood Mall, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Bagumbayan, Libis
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 570-9457
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