Foodie Trip: Ramen X

My foodie-Arashian friend Tine and I decided to drop by Trinoma to simply hang out. Just doing the usual Saturday stuff, strolling around. Our main reason was to try out Ramen X. I’m sure most of you by now knows how much I adore Japanese foods. Tine and I are always up and about in search of new foodie experience. We’ve tried quite a lot of Ramen shops and Ramen X ranks as one of the best for me.

Ramen X VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

INTERIOR & AMBIANCE:
Ramen X is still in “soft opening” phase when we tried it out. I find the entrance amusing with the huge “X” branding on the door. You can’t really miss the place since it’s quite unique within the floor.

The interior definitely looked stylish to the point that most think Ramen X is a pricey food joint. The style’s a mix of Eastern and Western designs. The tables in the mid-area are made to look like wood to add an Asian ambiance into the restaurant. It bright and modern.

What caught my eye are the cute anime characters plastered on the shop’s glasses.

FOOD:
Ramen, of course, is Ramen X’s best seller. Now, it would ne stupid if we don’t order ramen while dining in Ramen X, right?

We ordered appetizers. Karaage (fried chicken) and Fried Gyoza (dumpling). I think the Karaage’s a bit well done since it’s a bit hard when I bit on it but it’s tasty.. Gyoza’s wonderful and I love the taste. It’s not as salty as common gyozas. I prefer gyozas that way.

 
Fried Gyoza (PhP59/order)

Karaage (PhP49/order)

For beverages, I love their yoghurt soda. It’s my first time tasting one and I love it. My friends ordered the Green Apple Soda and “Momo” or Peach Soda.

Yoghurt Soda (PhP60)

Green Apple & Momo/Peach Sodas (PhP60 each)

And of course, ramen! My friend and I ordered Miso Ramen and Kimchi Ramen. Miso Ramen’s made up of egg, chyasu pork and they used miso as the soup’s base. Kimchi ramen had the same content but it has a separate serving of kimchi and they used soy sauce as the soup’s base.

The serving size’s enough (and satisfying) for one person. At first I thought the serving’s not that much but after eating halfway through the bowl, I just realized the bowl’s kinda deep. The noodle’s texture is ok. Not too soft and soggy. Perfect for my taste.

Miso Ramen (PhP109 per order)

Kimchi Ramen (PhP129 per order)
Kimchi is not mixed into the ramen. This gives the customer an option to eat the kimchi as a side dish or simply mix the kimchi into the ramen.

SERVICE:
Ramen X’s service is pretty satisfying for me. The place is a “pay as you order” store so don’t simply sit and start waving your hand to get the crew’s attention for your orders. All staff/crew are accommodating and nice. There are even times when we were approached by the staff, offering up water and condiments (spoon and fork). There are times though when we are simply sitting around, the staff asked us if they can clear our used bowls. It’s fine though. It’s not the first time we experienced something like that.

One funny incident I experienced in Ramen X is when I asked what “Momo” Soda was. The cashier replied “Pish”. I was silent for a while, giving the lady a confused look and tried to decipher what she meant. I can’t believe that it’s “FISH” since I can’t imagine them serving FISH soda. When my very limited Nihonggo knowledge kicked in (and after replying with a resounding “OH!”), I remembered that “Momo” is “PEACH” in Japanese. Lolz!

PRICE:
You can have a hearty meal at Ramen X even if your budget ranges from PhP100-PhP200. The food’s not really that expensive and the serving’s satisfying. It’s rare for one to find a cheap, authentic Ramen shop inside the mall. I’ve shared here Ramen X’s actual menu for you to check out.

MY TAKE & RATINGS:
I give Ramen X a total of 4/5 (★★★★☆) rating.

If you’re looking for a shop that sells authentic ramen at a cheap price, then Ramen X is the place to go. Of course, comparing it to shops found in “Little Tokyo” is a bit unfair (since those shops in Little Tokyo are truly authentic). Honestly speaking, I appreciate Ramen X over Eastwood’s “Ramen Bar” (I can’t forget Ramen Bar super salty miso base! That destroyed my image of Ramen Bar)

Offering additional toppings is a real good concept. I  myself love additional corn kernels in my ramen. The interior design is stylish and we immediately felt at home with the crew’s hospitality and the ambiance of the place.

Personally, I think they need to expand their menu a bit and their “donburi” or rice toppings needs to improve. We weren’t really that satisfied with their rice bowls but other than that, everything’s great! Oh, a plus side with their rice bowls, they also offer “unlimited rice”. I know how important those two words are to some foodies out there! Lolz!

CONTACT DETAILS:
2/F, Trinoma Mall, North Ave. QC.
(02) 628-1603
http://www.ramen.ph/