Ippudo SM Megamall — Restaurant in Mandaluyong

So, I finally got to try Ippudo Ramen, the popular Japanese spot known for its delicious noodles. Here's the scoop: it was pretty good, but with a few things to keep in mind.

Let's start with the good stuff - the ramen soup. Oh boy, it was packed with flavor! The broth was tasty and authentic, just like you'd expect from a top-notch ramen joint. But here comes the but... they didn't give a whole lot of it. I left feeling a bit disappointed with the small serving size.

Next up, the price. I have to be honest, it's a bit on the pricey side. If you're trying to save some cash, this might not be your everyday spot. But hey, sometimes treating yourself is worth it, right?

On the upside, the staff was super nice and attentive. They made me feel welcome and helped me choose the best ramen for my taste. A friendly crew always adds a nice touch to the meal.

The place itself was cozy and had a cool Japanese vibe. It's perfect for a chill lunch or a warm dinner with friends.

In a nutshell, Ippudo Ramen delivers on flavor, but it comes with a higher price tag and smaller portions. If you're up for a little splurge and want to enjoy some seriously tasty ramen, give it a shot. Just remember to come hungry or be ready to shell out...

My boyfriend and I are both sick so we wanted to eat some ramen. It’s been awhile since we ate at Ippudo and it was a good restaurant for our cravings. It was nearly closing time so we were able to get some seats. We both ordered Shiromaru Motoaji (Php 385). I like really enjoyed the soup it wasn’t a fatty as I remembered it to be so I was able to finish it. We ordered additional noodles for Php 80 and tamago/egg for Php 60 to complete our ramen experience 😋

Oh, I also had an accident. I wanted some sesame bits on my ramen. As I was using the sesame seed crusher, it bursted open and seeds flew all over the place. Most especially on my ramen. I really did make a mess. I asked the waitress for a small plate so I could clean the table and apologized for the mishap. I was willing to eat my then sesame topped ramen since it was my fault. But the waitress was kind and insisted that she’ll replace it. Despite the mess I made the staff were still smiling and also apologized that some crushers might have been overused.

Kudos to the nicest staff and...

After a long time from my first visit, I tried Ippudo again. This time I had the Wild Mushroom Ramen. Highly recommended for those who don't eat pork, for this is a meat-less ramen. The broth is creamy and tasty. There were 2 slices of firm tofu, plenty of mushrooms (3 kinds), some cabbage strips, and other green veggies which were cooked just right. As for the Gyoza, the wrapper was falling off and did not hold the meat well. Although the meat was tasty, the presentation/execution is not delightful. Their Torched Salmon is still the same, and definitely one of the resto's specialty. Once you put it in your mouth, there's a burst of flavorful deliciousness. Highly-recommended! For the dessert, I got the Matcha Creme Brulee. It's a so-so for me. The custard is not creamy and lacks the matcha after-taste I'm looking for. And the caramel (torched sugar) was hard and thick, when it should have been crispy and thin. I only had their service hot tea as beverage but I really liked it. It has a distinct smoky tea leaf flavor, it was great to...