Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya The Podium — Restaurant in Mandaluyong

Mixed Experience at Menya Kokoro!

I recently dined here and sampled their tantanmen dish. The menu allowed for no customization, offering no choice of noodles and firmness. Opting for a mild flavour, I found the broth surprisingly lacking in richness, closer to clear ramen than the expected robust tantanmen profile.

The pork slices, boiled rather than fried and glazed, deviated from the norm, leaving me undecided if it's a preference or an atypical preparation. The diced pork lacked significant richness, and the vegetable mix of chive and sweet corn failed to compensate for the overall flavor profile.

The unagi was passable, although receiving only half the expected egg and a deviation from the typical soy-soaked brown colour left room for improvement. The absence of chopstick and spoon stand-offs in a restaurant with a 4.8 rating was unexpected and impacted the dining experience.

While the service was prompt, the need to request basics like tea and other amenities fell short of the anticipated seamless service associated with a high rating. The ambiance was notably lacking, with bright lights and basic decor, earning it a low score of 3.

In conclusion, while Menya Kokoro boasts a 4.8 rating, my experience suggests a more nuanced evaluation. I would rate it 3 for ambiance, 4 for food, and 4 for service.

Give me a branded glass for me sapporo beer and not some generic...

We get mazesoba from here almost every month! One of the best dining options at The Podium and pretty consistent too with the quality.

We always order the original Tokyo and Zenbu and have also tried the black garlic ramen, all of which are tasty and very satisfying. Another staple is their potato salad which is highly addicting. It's a no-frills place for your maze soba fix and we highly recommend it if you want something fast and delicious.

Service could be better though as it differs depending on the staff - sometimes it could be overzealous while some could be dismissive. Some will offer the specials, loyalty perks, and attentively offer the oimeshi while some will do just the basic - take your order and serve them (you'd also have to call them for the oimeshi). The chashu also had a weird taste before but lately it has improved; it doesn't taste old anymore nor is it tough/chewy. The AC is also inconsistent; we've gone twice where it's so warm inside we were sweating. We called the attention of the staff but they said they can't do anything about the AC. Lately though it's a lot better.

Overall, we'll continue to visit and hope they continue to make incremental improvement in the...

Time for Tokyo's #1 MazeSoba. This place serves Mazesoba which is a dry-style noodle dish with no broth but it does have plenty of sauce in it. The flavor comes from the meat mixture and the toppings. "Original flavor" is a little spicy. Not spicy version is also available. Honestly, the heat is really mild so better choose the original to get an idea what it's all about. I was then was advised by the staff to mix the dish thoroughly. There are dry seasonings on the side of the bowl so mixing it will make sure it all balanced out. Elevate the taste further with the Kombu Vinegar or Togarashi which you sprinkle on top of your noodles. Finish the soba with a scoop of rice which you mix with the remaining sauces in the bowl. Didn't order any appetizers in the beginning because as I suspected, the Makezoba is heavy enough for me. Price points is the same with a ramen in a typical Japanese restaurant. Quite a lovely meal I must say. Staff is friendly, efficient and the service is good. Place seems small from the outside but it is actually huge, very clean and well lighted. Free Black sesame ice cream is indeed a fun way to end a...