Fourth Review: November 2018
I can't stress enough how much I like Ramen Kuroda -- while it's not my top 1 choice, the price point is enough to make it garner a slot in my top 3 ramen places. The quality and taste of the ramen is good too, and you can score a bowl for less than 200 pesos, vs. the more expensive ones that can go as high as 500 pesos a bowl.
This time around, Josh and I got the following for our lunch a couple of Sundays ago:
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FOR ME: AKA RAMEN (Php 180) - โญโญโญโญ
It has been a while since I had this flavor, so I actually forgot how it tasted like already. It felt like I was eating this for the first time again. The verdict? It was slightly spicy, but still had the creamy tonkotsu broth taste. It has shrimp paste in it, so expect the soup to taste a bit more like seafoods. If you fancy a meatier taste, then it might be better to stick with Kuro or Shiro variants. Their firm noodles, soft boiled egg, and meaty chashu slice are all perfect! Yum!
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FOR JOSH: NIKUMISO RAMEN (Php 220) - โญโญโญโญโญ
I'm not sure how new this is on their menu, but it's the first time we noticed it. Josh tried it, and he actually enjoyed it! โค๏ธ It has the same base as their other flavors, but with the added umami flavor from the generous heap of miso paste they put in. ๐ If you're a fan of rich, flavorful ramen, then this is for you! Needless to say, the noodles were firm, and the egg is perfect. Yum!
Service was quick, and servers were generally courteous. Despite having the restaurant quite packed, they were able to manage the customers well. It was a little warm though, so maybe they can lower the temperature of their ACUs a bit, after all, the customers might feel a bit warm after wolfing down a bowl of piping hot ramen. ๐
#EatDrinkSplurge
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Third Review: March 2018
On a tight budget but craving for ramen? Ramen Kuroda is your best friend during these times! ๐ค There was one Sunday when I wanted something to slurp, so Josh and I visited their Mezza branch.
I got this Kuro Ramen (garlic flavored tonkotsu broth) for just Php 180! Aside from being so affordable, their ramen noodles are firm, broth is flavorful, egg is cooked properly, and chashu slices are tender. It's really such a steal! ๐ The serving size is also just right, and you won't end up getting too bloated after eating.
On the other hand, Josh tried their Bari Kara Ramen, their limited edition super spicy ramen. I forgot how much this is, but it's a bit more expensive than what I got. But Josh liked it! He said the spiciness was quite intense, but it was the good kind (unlike Samyang ๐). I tried one sip, and it was indeed spicy, yet flavorful. Of course, the quality of the noodles was really good as well. ๐
I hope they have their unlimited noodles promo again soon! ๐
#EatDrinkSplurge
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Second Review: October 2017
After yesterday's worship service, Josh and I were a bit lazy to travel to malls with plenty of food choices, so we decided to go to the Sta. Mesa area instead (this is near the church, just a short jeepney ride away!). I was surprised that the branch was almost full (there were almost no customers during our previous visit a few months back), with couples and families dining out on a Sunday lunch. Good thing there were still some tables available.
We decided to veer away from our usual orders, and try something different during this visit. Here's what we got for sharing:
โ KURODA BENTO BASIC SET (Php 500) - โญโญโญ
Since we wanted to try new dishes here, Josh suggested that we get this so we can hit many birds with one stone. ๐ This already has: tempura, salmon sashimi, chicken teriyaki, tsukemono, rice, and your choice or ramen (half order only). Since I'm the one who's craving for ramen, Josh let me decide on the flavor of the ramen. Since there's just one flavor of ramen here which I haven't tried yet, the Kuro Ramen, I decided to give it a try. This is their classic tonkotsu ramen with rosted garlic flavor. It was really good! ๐ This is their Shiro Ramen but packed with a punch of a whole lot of flavor. I'm so glad I tried this. ๐ Today's tamago was cooked really well, too. I found the chashu sliced a bit too thin, though. ๐ข
Most of the contents of the bento was consumed by Josh, but I tried a piece of salmon sashimi. It was okay, not as sweet as I hoped it would be, but at least the texture is good and does not feel like it has been frozen, then thawed. The chicken teriyaki was good, the chicken was juicy and flavorful, and it was cooked to the right doneness. ๐ According to Josh, the ebi tempura was just okay, but he won't order that again next time. (So maybe it wasn't that good? Tempura is his fave, btw.) Overall, I think the price for this set is pretty steep if it will be consumed by just one person. It would be better if you can get someone to split it with. Variety-wise, it is a good deal, since you'll get to taste the various menu offerings of Ramen Kuroda in just one order. Think of it as a sampler. ๐๐
โ GYOZA (Php 100 - 4 pcs) - โญโญโญโญ
Their gyoza is reasonably priced at 25 pesos a piece, way cheaper than most gyozas in Japanese restaurants. Each piece had just the right amount of filling, with a wrapper that's not too thick, but is able to hold the fillings in. It was quite oily though, so make sure to dip it into the black vinegar sauce to rid it from some of the oil. ๐
โ EDAMAME (Php 80) - โญโญโญโญโญ
Sooo, I have always been seeing this in the menu every time I eat at a Japanese restaurant, but never paid any attention to it before. I was initially skeptical when Josh ordered this... Like, how do you eat it? What does it taste like? When it was served, Josh demonstrated how it should be eaten. Take note: the pod is not edible! You can only eat the beans inside. Surprisingly, it tasted good and it was quite addicting. ๐ You may ask your server for some salt which you can sprinkle on the pods for a more enjoyable edamame eating sesh. ๐
Service on the other hand, was really good today, as the servers were very attentive and refilled our water without us asking them to do so. Food was served quickly, too. Their only miss is they took too long to give us back our change after we billed out. ๐
Overall, we had a pleasant experience in Ramen Kuroda yesterday. Food was generally good, but some dishes still have room for improvement. Still, I can say that Ramen Kuroda is really my go-to place for a delicious and affordable Japanese food fix! ๐๐
#EatDrinkSplurge
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First Review: March 2017
Ramen Kuroda is my go-to ramen bar when I'm craving ramen, but on a tight budget. For only Php180, you can already enjoy a bowl of that slurp-worthy goodness that will make you come out of their store with a satisfied tummy and wallet.ย ๐ They offer 3 ramen variants: Kuro (Garlic Tonkotsu Flavor), Shiro (Classic Tonkotsu Flavor), and Aka (Spicy Tonkotsu Flavor).
I used to always order Aka Ramen, but since I've been diagnosed with GERD, I try to limit my spicy food intake. I ordered the SHIRO RAMEN this time, and it did not disappoint. For this affordable price, I got a bowl of comfort which included: a slice of their version of chashu, a half piece of their perfectly boiled egg, leeks for topping, and of course, their al dente noodles and creamy and tasty broth. What more can you ask for, right? But if you want a bigger serving of their chashu, you may order their Chashumen, offered in the same 3 flavors, for only + Php 50!ย ๐
Pro-tip: You may like their Facebook page, so you'll know when they'll be offering the unlimited noodles in a branch near you!ย ๐ (Note: Only the noodles are unlimited, not the soup, though!)
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