Kichitora of Tokyo: The Place To Go For Real Japanese Ramen

I love ramen. I could probably eat ramen for an entire year without getting sick of it. Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get to see or eat real ramen (and I mean authentic Japanese ramen) because I don't live in Japan, and local places serving ramen cooked by real Japanese chefs here are quite far from where I live (like the restaurants at Little Tokyo in Makati). Fortunately, Kichitora of Tokyo is a little bit more accessible from my place.

My fiancé and I first dined in this restaurant a week ago when we went to Megamall to pick up some figures I ordered, and while searching for a place to eat lunch, I remembered that there's this ramen place in front of Yabu on the second floor of the Atrium, so we went there. We checked out the menu first and decided that the prices were okay, so we gave it a shot.

I ordered Shoyu Chicken Ramen and my fiancé ordered Paitan Chicken Ramen, and we chose ajitama half-boiled egg as our topping. I think I completely fell in-love with the ramen from Kichitora of Tokyo, so when we were at Megamall again today, I said I wanted to eat there again. Both of us ordered Shoyu Chicken Ramen, but this time, with dried seaweed as our toppings.

Kichitora of Tokyo's Shoyu Chicken Ramen

I could say that Shoyu Chicken Ramen tasted much better this time with the dried seaweed. It was already delicious the first time with ajitama as its topping, but the dried seaweed gave it a more distinctive and flavorful taste, which I loved.

I can remember some of the other ramen dishes from the menu of Kichitora of Tokyo and they include Shio Chicken Ramen, and specialty ramen like Special Miso Chasu Ramen with Ma oil and Special Crab Seafood Ramen. They also serve Tsukemen, a variant where the noodles and soup are served separately. Of course, let's not forget the good selection of toppings for your ramen like chicken chashu (grilled chicken), ajitama (half-boiled egg), bamboo shoots, green vegetables,  pork chashu (grilled pork), dried seaweed, and mixed vegetables. Aside from ramen, Kichitora of Tokyo also offers other goodies on their menu, such as gyoza dumplings, rice bowls, and desserts.

Are you hungry yet? ;)

Bottom line: I highly recommend Kichitora of Tokyo to everyone who loves ramen or Japanese cuisine in particular.

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Kichitora of Tokyo is located on the second floor Atrium of SM Megamall Building A in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines (it's on the same level as Forever 21, Watson's, Yabu, and Mango).
More links:
Kichitora of Tokyo's on Facebook
Kichitora of Tokyo on Twitter

Yabu: House of Katsu

I first heard about Yabu: House of Katsu from a friend. When I checked out the restaurant's Facebook page and saw some of the pictures of the food, I knew I wanted to eat there. Later on, I would find reviews and blog posts about the restaurant, which made me want to go and eat there more.

I finally had my chance last January (so this is actually a late post. :p), but I would like to share how awesome Yabu is and how I'd like to go back there again and eat the best tonkatsu that I've ever tasted in so far.

If you want authentic Japanese katsu, Yabu is the best place to go. The prices on their menu are reasonable, and the service is good, too. I found the staff friendly, helpful, and very accommodating, which made the experience of dining at Yabu: House of Katsu more pleasant.

I ordered the 100g Hire set and it had hefty servings of cabbage, rice, miso soup, and a bowl of fruit. Of course there's the tonkatsu, which was quite plenty, too. So just imagine how full I was after trying to eat everything. I ended up not finishing the set at all. There were still some cabbage and rice left, so the next time I visit Yabu: House of Katsu, I'll make sure that my stomach is completely empty.

That is my almost-finished tonkatsu there. The reviews and blog posts that I previously read before visiting Yabu were not kidding. The tonkatsu's outer core is crispy, and the inside is soft and easy to chew that you'll think that it can just melt in your mouth. Don't worry, I still managed to eat that last piece. :)

I am definitely looking forward to eating there again.

Onigiri by Nodasho Japanese Restaurant

I have always wanted to try making and eating onigiri but never had the chance to actually make one, so when I saw it listed on the menu of Nodasho Japanese Restaurant in Little Tokyo during a family lunch on March 2011, I just had to order it. The serving was quite large so it is great for sharing, and it was rather affordable (I guess that couldn't be helped when considering the simple ingredients and the creation process involved). The onigiri we ordered had salted salmon in it and the tasted complemented the seaweed, yet the saltiness of the entire onigiri was just right for my preference.

A single onigiri was enough to make me full, so I guess that's why it's great to bring with you as packed lunch when you're already in a hurry but would like to have a complete and filling meal that is easy to eat especially while on-the-go.