No soup for you (but that’s OK): Menya Kokoro in Manila now serving dry ramen in BGC

Experts say that it is officially ramen weather in the Philippines — and now open in Bonifacio Global City, just in time for it, is a popular Japanese chain that serves a different variation of the noodle dish.

A new addition to Uptown Bonifacio mall is Tokyo’s Menya Kokoro, a restaurant popular for its mazesoba, or soup-less ramen. But just because the dish is not swimming in steaming broth does not mean it’s not a good pick-me-up during the rainy season.

A typical mazesoba is made with buckwheat noodles, a thick sauce of chicken paitan broth and soy sauce among other things, and is topped with spicy minced meat — so it can definitely warm the body right up. Menya Kokoro’s Tokyo Mazesoba (PHP350/US$6.82) also comes with raw egg yolk, seaweed, green onion, chives, and garlic.

Diners can add or remove toppings and choose a spice level based on their preferences. They’re meant to mix the noodles, toppings, and sauce to bring all the ingredients together before digging in.

Apart from the classic Tokyo Mazesoba, the restaurant also has five other varieties including the Spicy Mazesoba (PHP370/US$7.21), Vegan Mazesoba (PHP380/US$7.41), Zenbu Mazesoba (PHP470/US$9.16), Cheese Mazesoba (PHP430/US$8.38), and Curry Mazesoba (PHP430/US$8.38).

All bowls come with a serving of rice and a mushroom shoyu soup.

Rice lovers, meanwhile, can choose between two rice bowls including the Mazedon (PHP320/ US$6.24), which has similar toppings to a mazesoba, and the Currydon (PHP320/US$6.24), a Mazedon with curry.

They also have smaller plates for appetizers or side dishes like gyoza (PHP120 – PHP350/US$2.34- US$6.82), agedashi tofu (PHP140/US$2.73), takoyaki (PHP140/US$2.73), karaage (PHP200/US$3.90), and edamame (PHP150/US$2.92).

Menya Kokoro also operates outlets in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Canada.

FIND IT:
Menya Kokoro is at 3/F Uptown Mall, 36th St. cor. 9th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Open daily, 11am-10pm
Contact: menyakokoroph@famedishinc.com
Social: FB @menyakokoroph + IG: @menyakokoroph