Mendokoro Ramenba Review | Top Ramen Restaurant In Makati
Mendokoro Ramenba Restaurant is one of those places we both resisted visiting only because of the Makati traffic. Now we have been we wished we had came here sooner. If you like ramen, you will love this… See why…
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Mendokoro Ramenba is a small ramen restaurant (if you can call it that) in Makati. When I say small I mean it can only accommodate about 20 customers at a time. Now, we all know “size doesn’t matter” and you should “never judge a book by it’s cover” and this is true for Mendokoro as well. Be warned, this place is very popular so expect it to be packed during lunch and dinner.
As you will notice in the pictures, the layout and seating arrangement is not like that of a typical restaurant. You and your friends are not sitting at a table facing each other. Instead you are sitting side by side as if seated at a bar. At first this can seem a little strange but before long it does feel comfortable.
Mendokoro Ramenba Review
While waiting I counted around 24 seats (give or take) around the serving bar. This Japanese-style counter seating arrangement is not uncommon for many of these style Ramen restaurants in Japan. However, this also means it would be wise if you arrived early (the place opens at 11:00 a.m.). If not, be prepared to wait at least 20 minutes to be seated. Unfortunately, this does make it difficult for people who want to come by during their hour-long lunch break.
You can watch your food being cooked
A bit of excitement as we watched the Chef
The open kitchen allows you to see your food being prepared and can also provide some entertainment at the same time. All the ramen is made right in from of you, including the sides like the gyoza. This places serves one of the best versions of the popular Japanese pot stickers… plump and full of flavor.
We went to Mendokoro Ramenba for dinner and I was expecting to have to wait for ages but thankfully our wait time wasn’t that bad. The whole system seems to run very efficiently.. You pay. You wait. You eat. You leave feeling satisfied. You can’t argue with that.
The Food At Mendokoro Ramenba
Despite the fact that they do have a limited menu, they do have off-menu items like the Super Chashu Ramen.
Super Chashu Ramen
Super Chashu Ramen
An off-the-menu ramen called Super Chashu. The chashu was probably 3–4inches in diameter and half an inch thick! Luckily Gary was the one to order it as I don’t think I would be able to finish the whole dish… But I did get to try some of Gary’s and it was sooo good.
It features a milky tonkotsu broth and a giant round piece of grilled pork on top. The chashu was full of flavor and the tonkotsu evened it out nicely. This is definitely a winner
Shoyu
This was my order and I was not disappointed. I was in love with the first mouthful.
The broth was very rich in flavor but not too overwhelming. It may be salty for some but for me it was just right. The noodles were neither soggy nor hard but firm which is how I like them..
And to top it all off, unlike some pork dishes I have had where the pork is more fat than meat, this time it was more meat than fat.. and the taste… I am not a huge meat fan but this would make me give up salads.
All this for only P390… (I’m starting to feel hungry just thinking about it)
Shoyu
Tantanmen
Tantanmen
We ordered this for both of us to try and it was another pleasant surprise. From what we were told by the staff, this is one of their best sellers and we can now see why.
We had a friend with us and he told us he has never liked Tantanmen but we were able to convince him to have a bit of this one to compare… Guess what, after a few mouthfuls he had been won over and later ended up ordering his own. Yes, we converted him.
It seems the Tantanmen from Mendokoro Ramenba is a winner also. (P440)
Gyoza
While their Shoyu was my favorite, the gyoza was not far behind it.
We used to think that nothing was comparable to how good Ramen Nagi’s gyoza was until we tried Mendokoro’s.
It was tastier and priced at P170/5pcs
Gyoza
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Conclusion
If you come here right on dinner time from 6:30–7:30, you will be greeted with quite a long queue. So best to come early.
The system is you wait, you order, your get your number, you wait, you wait, you are seated, you eat. This place is not for the impatient. You really have to wait to be seated.
This place is also not for families and friends who want to chitchat while eating. It’s small and crowded with even the possibility that you’ll be seated with a stranger and not your companion. This isn’t a place for a romantic dinner for two. This isn’t a place if you want to rush in and get a seat. This isn’t a place for large groups that insist on sitting together. This isn’t a place to go if you want wine or beer.
Simply put…this is all about the Ramen.
The Ramen takes center stage. People wait. People get seated. The phones get put away and the feast of the senses begins. There is minimal talking, but a lot of slurping. A white shirt is not advised unless you are particularly skilled.
Now it is your turn
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Location
Mendokoro Ramenba
Ground Floor,
V Corporate Center,
Soliman, Salcedo Village, Makati
