Ramen Kuroda Ayala Malls Circuit — Restaurant in Makati

I recently visited Ramen Kuroda for the first time, and I must say, it was an experience to remember! From the moment I walked through the door, I was greeted with a warm and enthusiastic “Irasshaimase!” from the staff, which immediately set the tone for an authentic Japanese dining experience. The service crew was incredibly polite, attentive, and quick to respond to every need, making me feel genuinely welcome and cared for throughout my visit.

The ambiance of the restaurant is cozy and inviting, with beautiful touches of Japanese-inspired design. I absolutely loved the wooden accents and clean, minimalistic setup, which felt true to traditional Japanese aesthetics. The open kitchen concept was a delightful feature—you could see the chefs meticulously preparing each bowl of ramen with precision and passion. Watching them work added a special connection to the food and enhanced the authenticity of the experience.

When it came to the food, Ramen Kuroda did not disappoint. I tried the Aka Chasumen, and it was incredible! The broth was rich and packed with flavor, while the noodles were cooked to perfection with just the right texture. The chashu slices were tender and melted in my mouth—definitely one of the highlights of the dish. For BBQ lovers, I highly recommend the Kuro Ramen, which offers a smoky and bold flavor that’s both unique and satisfying.

Another pleasant surprise was their drink menu. I tried their melon drink, and it was the perfect complement to the meal—sweet, refreshing, and incredibly enjoyable. It’s a must-try for anyone who loves fruity drinks!

Although the restaurant itself is smaller compared to others, the thoughtful design, warm atmosphere, and top-notch service more than make up for it. Every detail—from the friendly staff to the authentic decor—makes you feel like you’re dining in a little corner of Japan.

For my first visit, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Ramen Kuroda has exceeded my expectations with its delicious food, affordable prices, and genuine Japanese vibe. I’m already looking forward to my next visit to try more of their menu. Highly recommended to anyone craving authentic, high-quality ramen in a...

This is a first time experience in Ramen Kuroda at Circuit Ayala and I also do not have extensive exposure on ramen. So, take this review with a grain of salt.

This shop has high reviews in reddit so I’ve decided to try it. It was around 10 am (hot time) and somehow the restaurant’s aircon was not working. Despite this, there were still some people buying food from this place. Ph is a super hot country btw and people still eating hot ramen with no aircon will make you question the sorcery of the food. So, I tried it.

I bought the Kuro Ramen, Tonkatsu with Rose Garlic Flavor. I can say that the broth was flavorful. It was super good. Although as someone who’s not exposed to Japanese food, I was shocked when it only had one slice of boiled egg and one tonkatsu. But, the noodles and broth was enough to fill me. Overall assessment of the meal was 3 stars. The ramen was flavorful but after a lot of tries, the spices will come and get you. I did finish it though which was a good sign.

Made the place 4 stars because of their service. The place did not have any aircon but the staff made up for it. There were only few large fans in the space and I had one all for myself ☺️. So when new customers come in, a staff approach me on moving the fan but she was stopped by another and told her to move it right after I’m done. I was a bit shocked when they approached me but I find their interaction cute.

Thank you so much for the food and service. Definitely a good experience. Maybe I’ll try a different Ramen...

It's true that service in this branch needs a little more improvement. But, in the several times that we've visited there are some palpable efforts shown. Being retirees, we also managed our visiting time to 1130am for lunch to avoid the lunchtime crowd which starts piling in at 1215pm. At this time, we get great service and attention from the servers and when we finish there is no wait for our bill. On the positive note, I've noticed that even with the lunchtime crowd, the staff no longer act like headless chickens in moving about. They have gained composure and confidence, more attune to their roles.

Ramen Kuroda was founded by Keiichi Kuroda whose business foray has swung from music, deejaying, trading, HR to food. In his first venture in BF Homes in 2013, we were able to try his reasonably priced Ramen which topped at P200 vs P400 from known Ramen shops. Ramen Kuroda became a South favorite because of this. You get authentic taste at a price half of the ones in Molito and Makati. I would not say they are better as a whole than Ramen standard bearers, but taste was definitely spot on.

Even to this day, I still consider their pricing a bargain for the ramen experience you are getting. I always get their Kuro Chashumen (P250) which is garlic flavored with extra helping of Chashu which is meltingly tender, sliced pork belly that has been simmered and braised. My wife likes her Shiro Chashumen (P250), the basic soy based ramen with extra Chashu. We normally pair this with...