The Types of Ramen You Should Be Trying Right Now
The flurry of ramen houses in the Metro today is clearly a nod to Filipinos’ growing affiliation with the celebrated flavors of Japanese cuisine. While many have dared to recreate the popular noodle dish to suit the local palate, staple flavor styles manage to push through years of food trends and discriminating palates. These broths are central to each bowl consumed and effortlessly complement perennial toppings such as eggs, nori (seaweed),
1| Shio
Perhaps the oldest type of ramen variety there is
Esquire Recommends:
- Ron Ramen’s Ukokkei Shio Chashu
- Oyasumi Ramen Shio Butter
2 | Tonkotsu
Boiled pork bones make or break this creamy ramen, which originated from Fukuoka, Japan. It has a particularly pungent odor compared to other ramen kinds, but depending on the restaurant, one can have the richness adjusted to taste. It’s typically topped with
Esquire Recommends:
- Ippudo’s Shiromaru Motoaji
- Ramen Daisho’s Tonkotsu Ramen
- Ramen Kuroda’s Shiro Ramen
3| Miso
The distinct flavor of fermented bean paste is the lifeblood of this ramen style. The miso broth was said to be developed in Sapporo, Japan, in response to the prefecture’s harsh winters. The ramen’s thick, brownish-orange concoction is oftentimes accentuated by copious amounts of curly noodles, butter, sautéed vegetables, ground pork, corn, and egg.
Esquire Recommends:
- Ramen Daisho’s Miso Ramen
- Mensakaba Geishu’s Miso Ramen
4| Shoyu
Locals gravitate toward this soy sauce-based ramen style that is anchored on the savory aftertaste of chicken or pork bones or seafood products. The tangy and fragrant
Esquire Recommends:
- Hanamaruken’s Signature Happiness Ramen
- YUMI’s Shoyu Ramen
5| Tsukemen
Mitsuyado Sei Men Karashi Tsukemen
Tsukemen, or “dipping ramen,” might just be the most popular dry ramen variant in the country. This particular style, which hails from Western Tokyo, is best known for its theatrical claim. It comes to the table deconstructed. Diners would have to dip the slightly firm noodles into a robust, hearty soup, before slurping away. The
Esquire Recommends:
- Mitsuyado Sei Men’s Karashi Tsukemen
- Tsuke-Men’s Ebi Tsukemen
- Mendokoro Ramenba's Tsukemen
6| Kare
Find in this style
Esquire Recommends:
- RYU Ramen & Curry’s Ryu Ramen Curry
- JAEU Bistro and Ramen Bar’s Chicken Curry Ramen
7| Tantanmen
Japan’s take on the Chinese
Esquire Recommends:
- Ukokkei Ramen Ron’s Tantanmen Ramen
- Ramen Shokudo’s Toriton Tan-tan Men
8| Hakata
Another Fukuoka ramen style is the
Esquire Recommends:
- Uma Uma Ramen’s Uma Uma Ramen
- Ippudo’s Karaka-Men
- Ramen Jiro’s Hakata Tonktosu Ramen
9| Seafood
If there’s any ramen variant that’s often unnoticed but is worth a second look, it’s the kind that puts the spotlight on seafood such as scallops, prawns, and squid. This type is reminiscent of
Esquire Recommends:
- Mendokoro Ramenba’s Seafood Ramen
- Butamaru Ramen’s Kaisen
- Mensakaba Geishu’s Ebi Wantamen
10| Tori Paitan
Local ramen houses have ventured toward an alternative that’s just as rich and creamy as the classic
Esquire Recommends:
- Kichitora of Tokyo’s Black Garlic Paitan Ramen
- Ramen Nagi’s Chicken Paitan King
11| Mixed
As Filipinos are very welcoming of creative takes on culinary staples, we ought to save room for a ramen style that pools together flavors of different classics. Of the many varieties present in the local food scene, it seems that the
Esquire Recommends:
- Mendokoro Ramenba’s or Ramen Yushoken’s Tonkotsu Shoyu (
tonkotsu ,shoyu ) - Hokkaido Ramen Santouka’s Awase-Aji (
shio ,shoyu , and miso) - Oyasumi Ramen’s Tonkotsu Tantan (
tonkotsu ,shoyu ,tantanmen )
Ramen House Directory
Butamaru Ramen – Westgate Center, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City
JAEU Bistro and Ramen Bar – Festival Mall, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City
Kichitora of Tokyo – Glorietta 5, Makati City; Central Square, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City; and Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
Mendokoro Ramenba – V. Corporate Center, Soliman Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City; Icon Plaza, 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City; Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Mensakaba Geishu – Southland Apartelle, Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City
Oyasumi Ramen – P. Guevarra corner Sea View Street, Little Baguio, San Juan City
Ramen Cool – 25 West Capitol corner East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City; West Life Building, West Avenue, Project 7, Quezon City
Ramen Daisho – Unit 2, Sunshine Square, Liberty Center, 312 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City
Ramen Jiro – High Pointe Medical Hub, Bagong Silang, Mandaluyong City
Ramen Shokudo – 401 Banawe
Ramen Yushoken – Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Ron Ramen – 822 Paseo Tesoro, Arnaiz Avenue, San Lorenzo, Makati City
RYU Ramen & Curry – SM Jazz Mall, Nicanor Garcia corner Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City
Tsukemen – The Grid Food Market, Second Floor, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City
Ukokkei Ramen Ron – Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City; Upper McKinley Road, Taguig City
Uma Uma Ramen – S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard corner Coral Way, Pasay City; The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
YUMI - Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan City
