Ramen weather feels? Make Hakata Ikkousha your happy place to keep you warm and satisfy your cravings.
If you live or work within or near Alabang, or you’re willing to go south of Manila for the best ramen in town (and worldwide), consider yourself lucky! It’s one of the newest restaurants at Festival Mall Expansion Area, just beside Studio Bake at the Upper Ground Floor.
What’s the big deal about Hakata Ikkousha anyway? If you’ve never heard about it at all, it’s about time for you to discover that this famous ramen establishment can be found not just in Japan but also in China, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Brazil, the USA, Australia and now, the Philippines (close to 60 outlets in total).
Fast facts about Hakata Ikkousha Manila:
* The only Manila outlet so far, located at Festival Mall Alabang, opened on March 3, 2018
* Another outlet in the Philippines is in the Visayas, at JY Square in Lahug, Cebu City.
* The restaurant name came from a known ramen hotspot in Fukuoka named Hakata-ku, a.k.a. Hakata Ward + the brand Ikkousha (pronounced i-KÅ-sha), a term that means “one happy place”.
* Kousuke Yoshimura, the master chef who started the Ikkousha brand in 2004, wanted his diners to have a memorable time with every bowl of his special Hakata ramen.
* In 2011, the Ikkousha franchise was born. Yoshimura’s ramen first reached Jakarta in Indonesia, followed by more cities in and outside Asia.
* Hakata Ikkousha Manila’s owners are Shigehiro and Marivic Tomoda.
The Hakata ramen is being recognized and loved by loyal patrons as the “tonkotsu ramen”. Most Filipinos are very familiar with the breaded pork dish or “tonkatsu” and it’s an entirely different concept. Tonkotsu means “pork bone”, and the tonkotsu ramen broth is being made for two days purely out of pork bones and water (yes, just these two and no other ingredients). The tonkotsu must be the best of its kind and cleaned for hours before the broth preparation method called “Yobimodoshi”.
If Japanese collagen products are bestselling anti-aging products, so is the Hakata tonkotsu ramen. Hence, this deserves your undivided attention: the broth produced the traditional Yobimodoshi way is best characterized by its thick and creamy texture with froth rich in collagen called “umami bubbles”. More bubbles means more collagen (and more pork bone flavor too)! The slow simmering time, not milk, creates these bubbles. If you hear some customers calling the tonkotsu ramen “tonkotsu cappuccino”, don’t be surprised. Now you know why. ð
Apart from the broth, a bowl of Hakata Ikkousha tonkotsu ramen boasts of premium quality noodles (made only in the Ikkousha company factory), and braised pork slices or “Cha-shu” that are thin, tender and prepared with minimum amount of seasoning.
When you order ramen at Hakata Ikkousha Manila, you are given an order sheet that allows you to “customize” your ramen according to:
* Ramen type - more details later on
* Noodle texture - soft, normal, hard, very hard (the resto owner Ms. Marivic recommends hard, the texture favored by native Japanese ramen lovers)
* Saltiness - light or normal (just the right amount)
* Spice level - 1 (least) to 4 (most)
* Spring onions - with, without or served in a separate bowl
* Add-on toppings like the flavored egg (never take this for granted as it tastes really good ð), cha-shu, spring onions, nori (dried seaweed), bamboo shoots, black fungus mushrooms, bean sprouts
* Kaedama (extra noodles) and extra soup (Japanese version of the Pinoy extra rice dining habit) - served with your order or later on
* Side dishes - choice of gyoza (two thumbs up for this one!) in 5 or 10-piece set or 3-piece chicken karaage (another must-try)
Hakata ramen’s price range is PHP 290 to PHP 470 per order (without add-ons and side orders), and one serving is good for 1-2 persons.
Take your pick as Hakata Ikkousha serves so many choices of ramen:
* Original or the classic tonkotsu topped with cha-shu, spring onions and black fungus mushrooms - choose between Ajitama (added with flavored egg) or Special (with additional flavored egg and cha-shu slices)
* Tonkotsu Black - with burnt garlic oil or “ma-yu” as main ingredient, also comes in Ajitama or Special
* God Fire - the spicy version in Ajitama or Special
* Shio-tonkotsu - the lowest-priced ramen with tonkotsu broth combined with shio (salt) broth, in Ajitama or Special
* Black Fire (the house specialty highly recommended by this blogger) - If you’re undecided between Tonkotsu Black and God Fire, get both in one bowl.
Drinks offered at this Japanese-themed dining place include juices, tea, beer, sodas and bottled water. If you prefer something else over ramen, try Hakata Ikkousha Manila’s rice bowls Cha-Shu Don (PHP 150) and Sisig Don (PHP 160).
Visit Hakata Ikkousha Manila today, order your ramen and get yourself a loyalty card. Just ten stamps to complete and get a bowl of tonkotsu ramen for FREE!
Visit as a walk-in customer or call for reservations at 842-1873.
Website: www.ikkoushamanila.com
FB: @hakataikkoushamanila
IG: @hakataikkoushamanila
