Mendokoro Ramenba Cebu — Restaurant in Cebu City

Mendokoro Ramen (and its parent/sister companies) is a well known ramen chain in the PH, and I have dined in a few of their stores in the past - Makati, Alabang, expansion branches etc. to mostly good experiences. It was my first time in the Cebu IT Park branch.

Ordered their miso ramen (with 'seven types of miso') and an order of gyoza on the side.

Gyoza arrived first within 5 mins in a huge serving. The miso ramen was served about 15 mins after I was seated. Waiting time was fine.

Now, to the food. I first tried the Gyoza (P180) - pretty good! It's a little larger than your usual sizing, but I'll take it. 4.5/5 because it was way more oily than it had to be.

However, the miso ramen (P565) was the let down for me. I found the broth to be too thick and felt 'umay' very quick - within the first few sips. Not sure what I expected really, but it just felt off. I've tried miso ramen in other places before, including in Japan, and this one tasted very different, soup was too thick and rich, in a poor way. To my disappointment, there were also a few noodle strands 'clumped together' which is indicative of poor quality control, especially for this price point - you can refer to my last photo. I love eating noodles, so this is a little hard to write. The saving grace were the chashu cubes (about 4-5) which were cooked well and added the right texture to the dish. Overall, 2/5.

I hope my poor experience is due to miso ramen not being Mendokoro's specialty, and not due to a deteriorating overall quality of the brand (or this branch). It might be better to just stick with the shio and shoyu ramen next time.

Service was overall good. No complaints. Staff greeted upon entry and exit, and servers were quite attentive to guest needs - one noticed I didn't have a water glass yet and promptly gave me one.

I visited around 1:30pm on a Friday and the place was reasonably packed but with ample seating available. Place was well designed with a circular seating style, and I found it was quite large...

My go-to ramen spot in Cebu! Every visit to Mendokoro Ramenba feels like a treat — from the savory aroma that greets you to the cozy ramen bar setup where you can watch the chefs at work.

My favorite is the Shoyu Ramen with extra egg. The broth is rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with that deep umami taste that lingers in the best way. The noodles have just the right bite, and the chashu practically melts in your mouth. The soft-boiled egg is always cooked perfectly — creamy yolk and all. I can usually only finish half, so it’s best shared with someone. That said, I can see how some might find it a bit overwhelming — too creamy or too fatty for their taste, especially if you prefer lighter ramen styles like shio. Personally, I love it, but it’s definitely on the indulgent side.

The dumplings (gyoza) are great too — crisp on one side, soft on the other, with a juicy, flavorful filling. The serving of five is generous; three or four pieces would be just right for me.

The ambiance deserves a mention as well. It’s got that minimalist Japanese ramen-bar charm — warm lighting, clean lines, and the lively sound of ramen being prepared right in front of you. The staff are friendly, service is fast, and everything feels efficiently run. It can get busy during peak hours, but the overall experience is consistently good.

Many other diners share the same sentiments — praising the rich broth, excellent service, and authentic taste. Some find the ramen a little pricey or heavy, but most agree it’s worth it for the quality and flavor.

Overall, Mendokoro Ramenba Cebu is one of the best ramen spots in the city. Come hungry, or better yet, come with a friend to share — because once you taste that Shoyu Ramen, you’ll definitely want to come...

They charge a service fee but won't accommodate simple requests. No forks, and when I kindly asked for softer noodles, the chef gave me a lecture about their "standard" and how to eat it instead of just helping out. For context, their noodles are harder than typical ramen (based from previous visit), and my workmate found the shoyu too salty.

Although they offer "user-friendly" modified chopsticks, they're still challenging for those with joint issues or the elderly. With a service fee in place, is it too much to ask for forks to be provided and maintained?

While I recognize the emphasis on trying to be authentic Japanese, it's important to remember that this isn't Japan where chopsticks are the main utensils.

Honestly, the place is overrated and overhyped. There are better, more inclusive ramen spots without the extra charge for poor service.

Tl;dr: overrated and inflexible; noodles are harder than usual; too salty: visit only if you want to get schooled with their "standard" and pay service fee for the lecture?...