Bar n bar ramen — Restaurant in Manado

You ask anyone in Manado where to get a decent bowl of ramen, and they’ll point a finger toward Bar and Bar. What started as a humble cart back in 2016 has clawed its way up to a proper joint—nothing fancy, just a cozy little spot with air-con inside and a scrappy outdoor patch for the smokers. The vibe’s Japandi—clean lines, minimalist, like someone took a Zen garden and dropped it in the tropics. It’s open 3 PM to 10 PM, but show up around 7 or 8, and you’re in the thick of it—10 minutes wait on a Tuesday, longer when the weekend crowd rolls in. Sundays? Forget it, they’re packed.

The star here is the Tonkotsu ramen, a lighter take on the Hakata style. No heavy gut-punch of pork fat, just a broth that’s simmered long enough to whisper its story—cloudy, rich, but not a grease bomb. You get the classics: thin, firm noodles that hold their bite, a marinated egg with a yolk that oozes just right, a slab of chasu that’s tender but not falling apart. No bamboo shoots, no funky wood ear mushrooms—just the essentials, done clean. It’s the kind of bowl that fills you up without leaving you slumped over, regretting your life choices.

Then there’s the Abura ramen, and this—this is where I’d plant my flag. It’s dry-style, no broth, just thicker noodles slicked with shoyu and sesame oil that hit you like a savory slap. Instead of sliced chasu, they shred it, roasted to a crisp edge, and it’s a texture game-changer. Word of warning: if they overcook those noodles, it’s a damn tragedy. Tell ‘em to keep it al dente, and you’ve got a contender for the best bite in town.

Here’s the kicker: for 4,000 rupiah—pennies, really—you can tack on a half portion of noodles. They’ll toss it in the bowl or plate it separate, your call. It’s the kind of deal that makes you wonder why every joint doesn’t do it.

Skip the rice bowls. The pork katsu don sounds good on paper, but it’s a thin, bland pork loin plopped over a mountain of jasmine rice that’s more filler than flavor. Stick to the noodles, trust me.

Don’t sleep on the gyoza, though. The dough’s a little thick—could use a lighter hand—but the pork filling’s generous, spiked with ginger that cuts through like a quiet surprise. Pan-fried crisp, they’re worth the detour.

This is my third swing through in a month, and it’s not just the food. The service here’s got soul—family-run, maybe that’s the trick. The staff’s quick, friendly, and they know the menu cold, even if they stumble over the Japanese lingo. Restroom’s cleaner than anything else within a mile, which isn’t saying much, but it counts. Condiments are slim—chopped chili and green onions if you ask, but don’t expect pickled ginger or a garlic press. This ain’t Tokyo.

I’ve slurped my way through Jakarta’s ramen dives and even the holy grail spots in Japan, and Bar and Bar holds its own. In Manado, it’s not just the best ramen—it’s the only one that matters. You’re not here for fusion gimmicks or Instagram props. You’re here for a bowl that respects the game, served up by people who give a damn. That’s enough.

Taste 5/5 Price...

Bar n Bar Ramen, yang terletak di Jalan Flamboyan, Sario, Manado, adalah salah satu tempat makan ramen yang wajib dicoba. 🍜🥟🥢🍵 Mereka menyajikan ramen dengan porsi yang sesuai dan harga yang terjangkau, tanpa mengurangi kualitas maupun cita rasa autentik ramen Jepang.

Bar n Bar Ramen bisa dibilang pelopor ramen di Kota Manado. Saya masih ingat pengalaman pertama kali mencoba ramen ini, bahkan sebelum mereka memiliki tempat di Jalan Flamboyan. Pada masa-masa awal, saya menikmati Tonkotsu Chasu Ramen dan gyoza, termasuk saat masa lockdown. Ketika akhirnya mereka membuka tempat makan di Jalan Flamboyan, pengalaman makan ramen jadi semakin menyenangkan, karena ramen paling nikmat disantap langsung di tempat.😂😋

Dari awal, Bar n Bar Ramen sudah menyajikan kuah kaldu yang kaya rasa 🫕, tekstur mie yang pas 🍜🍥, dan chasu yang lembut serta lezat. Memang, sempat ada beberapa kendala di masa-masa awal ramai, seperti rasa kuah yang kadang terlalu asin dan gyoza yang tidak konsisten—pernah sekali isinya masih beku, atau isinya kurang nikmat. Tapi hanya beberapa kali, kemudian kembali normal.

Namun, baru-baru ini saya berkesempatan berkunjung, (setelah hampir 2 tahun) dan hasilnya luar biasa. Tonkotsu Ramen 🍜 yang saya coba terasa sempurna, dengan kuah yang nikmat dan chasu yang berkualitas. Gyoza-nya 🥟🥢 pun semakin baik, dengan rasa yang konsisten. Sama seperti awal mula, tapi lebih mantap lagi. Enaknya nampol dahhh 😂

Selain ramen, menu lainnya juga patut dicoba. Katsu Don mereka, misalnya, memiliki rasa yang seimbang, dengan katsu yang empuk dan terasa isiannya. Ebi Furai Maki juga disajikan dengan baik, dengan rasa ebi yang kuat dan memuaskan, sesuai dengan harga yang ditawarkan.🍣🍤🍲🍱🍵🍹

Hingga kini, meskipun sudah berjalan sekitar empat tahun, Bar n Bar Ramen terus meningkatkan kualitasnya. Saya sempat menjadi pelanggan rutin beberapa tahun lalu, dan hingga sekarang tempat ini masih sangat recommended banget. 😍😂😊

Bagi Anda yang mencari ramen halal, Bar n Bar juga memiliki Hashi Ramen di Mega Mas. Namun, untuk cita rasa ramen yang otentik, Bar n Bar Ramen di Jalan Flamboyan tetap menjadi pilihan utama.

Terima kasih untuk tim Bar n Bar Ramen yang telah menyajikan ramen, gyoza, dan menu lainnya dengan sangat baik. Saya juga melihat ada beberapa orang di tim yang masih setia sejak awal berdirinya di Jalan Flamboyan, mereka melayani dengan sangat baik. Ganbatte 😂💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Semoga Bar n Bar Ramen terus sukses dan semakin berkembang....

Ordered Tonkotsu (pork soup), Ninniku (fish soup), gyoza and cold ocha. Ramen noodles were delicious and very tasty however to me the soup and gyoza were salty. The saltiness remained on my tongue after 2-3 hours. Cold ocha can't flush the salty after taste and it remained there a bit long. I hope the resto doesn't put MSG too much. Price wise pretty fair ramen 38k and gyoza 25k. The place has indoor and outdoor sittings. Overall, it's a nice place...