Kichitora of Tokyo is easy to recommend to anybody who is looking for delicious and close-to-authentic ramen in Metro Manila. I have not yet tried authentic ramen, just to clarify, and I have not yet been to Japan.
However, Kichitora of Tokyo is marketed as the home of the authentic flavor of Japanese tori ramen in the Philippines. The food is good, so the claim is believable.
|
| Paitan Ramen Zenbu no Se |
Our experience at Kichitora of Tokyo
A Saturday lunch out with friends brought us to Kichitora of Tokyo. We have
never really been caught in the current ramen craze but we made a note to at least try one good ramen restaurant.
|
| The entrance |
So what is ramen? Simply, it’s a Japanese soup dish made with wheat noodles,
meat or fish-based broth flavored with common seasonings like soy sauce or
miso, and then topped with vegetables and slivers of pork, chicken or beef,
and eggs. It’s a very filling and warming dish, perfect for combating both the
cold weather and the blues.
Kichitora, whose name literally translates to “lucky tiger,” brings all the goodness of authentic Japanese noodle soup to the local restaurant scene.
Upon entering the restaurant, you will be greeted by its minimalist interiors and warm, soft lights. The only accent is the flowery wallpaper adorning the wall to the right of the entrance.
It was quiet, but that was probably because there were only a few diners when we went here. Immediately, we were handed copies of the menu which we readily checked.
The food
The menu is not extensive; it consisted of Paitan Ramen, Hiyashi Ramen, Tan
Tan Mien, Pan Pan Chi, Paitan Zenbu no Se, Gyoza, Special Crab Seafood
Ramen, Shoyu Tsukemen Chicken Karaage Rice, Oyako-Don, Pork Chasu Rice,
Chicken Soboro Don, Mabo Tofu Rice, Ban Ban Ji, Chicken Karaage, There are several deserts and drinks to choose from as well as extra orders of
toppings.
Kichitora prides in using chicken soup for their broth, which renders it
with a mild flavor, hence taking in the seasonings well.
Being newbies, we did not really know what to order so we asked our server what their best seller is. She suggested Paitan Ramen Zenbu no Se, which I
initially had my eye on.
|
| Oyako-Don |
In the menu, it was described as a special variation of Kichitora’s famous
Paitan Chicken Ramen topped with an additional piece of pork or chicken
chasu (I opted for pork), dried seaweed, molten lava eggs, or Ajitsuke Tamago
and finished with a sprinkling of garlic oil or ma-yu.
Khris, meanwhile, wanted to try the Oyako-Don, a rice dish composed of
chicken, egg, and scallions are simmered in a special sauce.
Our orders arrived after a fair amount of time. The Paitan ramen was served
in a big bowl and it looked much more appetizing in person than it was in
photos.
I did a bit of research on what paitan meant – some described it as “milky”
or “white broth.” This noodle soup did not really have white broth, it was closer to ochre. I inhaled the steam rising from the soup and it was very fragrant and inviting.
|
| Condiments |
I excitedly got a spoonful and sipped the rich mélange of long-simmered
chicken meat and bones, aromatic garlic, and spices. The pork topping was flavorful and very tender, you can easily flake it with your chopstick.
The noodles, meanwhile, were very firm and mildly-flavored which balanced the rich ad savory soup. This dish is very good and is highly recommended for those
who are hunting for authentic ramen.
The Oyako-Don, on the other hand, was also scrumptious. The generous topping was loaded with flavors and went well with rice. It was also very good and will satisfy the tummy of any rice lover.
Our verdict
The food is a little pricey. For the Paitan Ramen, we paid P420.00 while for the Oyako-Don, it was P320. Price is VAT exclusive. Likewise, be ready to pay an additional service charge.
|
| Iced tea |
Kichitora is not really a place you would regularly go to, say for your
lunch break, but it’s a good place to go if you want something special.
Kichitora of Tokyo's branches
We went to Kichitora of Tokyo's Glorietta 5 branch in Makati City, which is already closed. However, Kichitora of Tokyo still has branches in the
following locations:
SM Megamall
Second Floor, Mega Atrium, SM Mega Mall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Bonifacio High Street
Third Floor Bonifacio High Street Central Square, Bonifacio Global City,
Taguig City
Comments
Post a Comment
Your comments are welcome!