Ippudo Ramen at SM Mega Fashion Hall

COCONUTS HOT SPOT — We’ll assume you’re familiar with Ippudo Ramen — you’ve probably eaten there while traveling in Japan, Hong Kong or Singapore; a photo of a bowl of ramen may have appeared many, many, many times on your social media feed. Call it the Ipuddo effect. A slurp will have anyone sharing the good news.

So allow us to share the best news: Ippudo Ramen has finally opened its doors in Manila. Yesterday, in fact, on the third level of SM Mega Fashion Hall. The 81-seater ramen joint is right across the busy row of restaurants that include Osaka Osho, Burger Bar, Boquaria, and Linguini FIni. Ippudo Ramen standing separate in its little corner.

It was a delight to see the super stylish Mr. Shigemi Kawahara, 62, ramen king and founder of Ipuddo, greet the media during its press preview over the weekend.

He revealed how, in 1985, when they first established Ippudo at Hakata, Japan, all they wanted to do was to make people smile. With stores in New York and then later this year in London, Ippudo has clearly gone a long way from what they intended to do.

THE LOOK
Dim lights and dark cement tiles will make you feel as though you were in nighttime Japan. The owners of Ippudo Philippines — the Concepcions of Yabu fame — tell us the space was designed by a Japanese team.

To the left is the kitchen, where bar seating is also available. To the right are intimate tables that seem perfect for up to groups of four. Larger parties can be accommodated at the back, where surprisingly, more tables are situated. At the far end, is the room where noodles are made. We know because we watched them through the glass panel.

THE GRUB
Ippudo Philippines opens with three of its original ramen bowls: The Shiromaru Motoaji (PHP375), the slightly spicy Akamaru Shinaji (PHP390), and the supposedly-spicier-but-not-really Karaka-men (PHP390). The owners tell us Ippudo will add two more variants as they go along.

We had the Shiromaru Motoaji and just like in Hong Kong, where we first had a bowl a few years ago, slurping on the soup first, it delightfully warmed our stomach, calmed us down, and readied us for more. The pork loin was so tender, that snapping the chopsticks together easily cut us a piece; the noodles were wonderfully al dente.

Marlon, our server, told us the Shiromaru is best with some garlic. He points to one of the condiments on the table, a crusher right beside it, and we experiment with two cloves. True enough, it adds a welcome zing to the ramen.

It’s easy to see why this ramen overshadows the rest of the menu. A shame, really, because there are a few gems in there. John Concepcion reveals the pork buns (PHP100) were his favorite, and it’s easy to see why. An order consists of one sandwich; braised pork belly generously coated with Ippudo’s original sauce in between a fluffy steamed bun.

It’s a joy to eat, sure, but our vote for the easy, early non-ramen favorite goes to the curry cheese harumaki (PHP190). Strips of pork, strings of cheese and curry sauce rolled and fried. What yum, we tell ya.

We can imagine the Hakata-style gyoza (PHP195) and the Dashimaki Tamago (PHP150) as awesome breakers between slurps of ramen, but we wouldn’t be surprised if diners overlook these items. They take up too much real estate in the stomach. Space that you would probably reserve for the ramen.

Ippudo Ramen, 3/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong; www.ippudoph.com, +63 2 4701837. Daily 10am-10pm.



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