[OK na Food Trip] Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Panimula:

Since nung una naming try several months ago, naka-ilang balik na kami dito para kumain. Ito currently ang top recommendation namin (Kichitora of Tokyo is running second) among a surge of ramen places in the metro, with overall dining experience considered.

Yung nasa Glorietta ang madalas namin puntahan. Aside from payday Fridays kasi, hindi sila madalas mapuno or mabilis naman tumakbo ang pila.

Pambusog:

• Shio Ramen
• Shoyu Ramen
• Ramen sets with Pork Cutlet, Fried Salmon, or Fried Prawn
• Gyoza

Yung shio ramen ang pinagmamalaki dito. The soup base is made from boiled pork bones hanggang sa maging milky ang texture nito at titimplahan lang ng asin. It's topped with chasiu pork slices, fish cake, onions, pickled plum, bamboo shoots (na paborito ni Kat), at iba pang plant-like items na wala kaming pakialam kung ano basta masarap. The soup is served na tama lang ang init, meaning kayang higupin agad at hindi nakakapaso. The noodle is cooked firm and resists a bit to our bite.

the new set meal (with soft boiled egg)

The shoyu ramen is the one flavored with soy sauce. This is not really one of their okay items. Kung anong sarap ng shio, ganun naman ang mediocrity ng ramen na ito. The soup base reminds us of instant noodles albeit creamy and with the same delicious toppings as shio's. We only tried it once. Never again. Feeling lugi sa binayad.

There are several set meals to choose from which is composed of a small-sized order of your choice of ramen flavor, a cup of hot tea, pickled veggies, unlimited rice, soft-boiled egg, this coleslaw-like veggie salad, and a combination of either pork cutlet, fried salmon, fried prawn, fried chicken, and char siu.

pork cutlet set

May option na i-upsize yung ramen into regular or large kaya perfect sa amin ang isang set meal for sharing (depende sa uri ng gutom ang size ng order namin). Masarap yung mga fried meals na kasama nung set. In particular, yung pork cutlet ang lagi naming ino-order. Madami kasi yung servings kaya sulit at manipis ang breading. Hindi yung breading ang nakakabusog kumbaga. Fried salmon is the next best option.

the old set meal (with chawanmushi)

Nami-miss lang namin yung chawanmushi (egg custard) kasi nawala ito sa set meals nila. Yung soft boiled egg ang ipinalit. 

Their gyoza's not bad. Perfect na combo sa ramen. Malambot yung pabalat pero it holds when you take a bite (unlike sa iba na pagkagat mo eh damusak ang laman all over). Malasa din yung laman, hindi masyadong dependent sa sawsawan.

gyoza

Pambayad:

Yung ramen sets ang sulit dahil pang dalawang tao na (although may case na sinolo ko ito). It comes in P450 to P550. Madalas may napapabalot pa kami sa fried food na ka-combo.

The regular sized ramens are priced from P290 to P330. Competitive ang presyo nito compared to most ramen places na nagsulputan ngayon.

Papampam:
May fake food na naka-display sa isang istante! Elibs lagi kami sa mga Japanese fake food kaya tuwang tuwa kami kapag nakakakita neto.

The place is not bad in terms of ambiance, madaming wooden panels typical of Japanese architecture. Pero may halo nang modern touches yung itsura. Medyo dikit dikit lang yung upuan kaya talagang nagkakarinigan ng pinag uusapan. There are two function rooms though for bigger groups na naka-separate sa main dining area na mas may privacy. Patok yung wooden slab of a table dun.

fried shrimp and salmon

The staff are very attentive to our needs. Kaso ga-ingay. LOL. Like in most Japanese restaurant, they shout greetings from time to time. Whether it's customary or not, it's annoying.

Sobrang dami ng branches nila around Japan. Nakasulat sa menu lahat. Madaming ritrato sa menu nila kaya perfect na guide ito sa mga katulad naming mangmang.

Dati, payments are made by going to a counter near the entrance. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng pauso yun. Pero ngayon pinalitan na din nila and went back to the usual way where bills are handed to you on your table. Lalo kasing sumisikip at nagkaka-pila kapag nag sabay sabay ng bayad sa counter.

glorietta branch

Panapos:

Stick with shio ramen.

Rating: 
6.5 out of 7




[obi.June]