Ramen Yushoken Cebu — Restaurant in Mandaue

A Candid Account of 8 Years of Dining at This Restaurant

Honest & Detailed Review

A little bit of context. I have been dining here ever since I was in college 8 years ago. This review will take into account all of my experiences, from my first visits to now.

First Impressions: Premium, Expensive, Foreign, Clean

My first impressions of this place were of course when I was still in college. Back then, I had limited resources to spend — so this place was expensive for me. Foreign because this was my first authentic ramen experience.

I had no idea which to order because I was unfamiliar with Japanese food. Thankfully, their menu was well-formatted, with clear and concise descriptions that gave an accurate idea of what to expect from each dish. This continues to enhance the restaurant’s overall accessibility and appeal to this day.

Food Impressions: Superb, High Quality, Authentic

The restaurant keeps its secrets well. The only time they allowed take-outs was during the covid pandemic. So as someone who often breaks the food down, this was somewhat challenging for me.

I ordered their tantanmen the first time I was here. I personally did like it, but as it sits on your table it becomes too off-putting due to the intense porky and fatty flavor as it concentrates.

For the past several years, I’ve always settled on their Shoyu Ramen with ajitsuke tamago, and Gyoza — the only dishes I order every time I come back.

The noodles in the Shoyu Ramen are typical of classic ramen yet prepared with a satisfying al dente texture that has been very consistent for the past 8 years. The broth has a rich porky flavor that has been prepared with authentic Japanese techniques. It is obvious that they carefully clean the bones and remove the scum, resulting in a broth that’s naturally creamy, with a rich milky-white color — achieved without adding any cream. The broth flavor can be inconsistent though. That can be explained through a technique called yobimodoshi — where shops keep the pot simmering continuously, or the leftover broth is carried over to the next batch of bones and ingredients. Combined with the varying quality of the ingredients and continual adjustments to flavor, this creates subtle inconsistencies that make each day’s broth unique, yet still true to its signature flavor. The chashu is tender and flavorful which are characteristics of being simmered slowly in a seasoned broth, then charred before topped. You have the option to personalize the broth through various seasoning provided on the table.

The aji tamago is boiled until the whites are set but the yolk is still creamy or slightly runny. However, you won’t actually taste the marinade — contrary to the name ajitsuke, which means flavored.

The Gyoza is also one of our favorites — a rich and juicy pork dumpling with herbs to cut the intensity, adding some element of freshness. The gyoza wrappers are crispy on one side, al dente on the rest.

You also have other options in their off-menu dishes. Our favorite was the Super-Chashu Shoyu Ramen. The same as the Shoyu Ramen with additional toppings such as sliced chili, and a round slab of chashu.

Service & Atmosphere Impressions: Welcoming, Attentive, Friendly

The staff greets you when you arrive and thanks you when you leave. When they open, they perform a morning ritual — calling out to customers and announcing that the restaurant is open.

The sitting is okay as the table has a comfortable space and distance. High tables are what you expect from high tables, counter tables are what you expect from counter tables. They have an open kitchen so you're able to see what they're doing, smell and hear what they're cooking.

On busy days, expect to wait in line for 10-30 minutes. The average food wait time is around 10-20 minutes.

Final Thoughts: This place is one of those restaurants that I find myself coming back twice or thrice a week. The authenticity of the Tonkotsu ramen is comparable to what you get in Japan. Subjectively, I rank this as the best ramen...

The food is good in general in terms of taste. It's just the price and its serving. Their chahan (fried rice) looks to be one and a half cups of rice, and that costs 380 pesos. With 380php, you can already by a full meal at restaurant in a mall that would most likely satiate you. I made a platter of chahan before, and it tastes just as much like the one in Yushoken. I gotta say that it cose about 30php for one and a half cups of chahan. If you tripled 30php for profit, that would 90php. 380php is just ridiculous. You can get a generously portioned meal with 380php at Abaca with the quality to match it. In a way, I felt like I was robbed. Don't even get me started on the prices for the gyoza.

I don't like that you cannot take the leftover ramen and gyoza out. Their reasoning for this is to preserve the experience, and the temperature might change that experience. As a customer, this idea already ruined my experience, I don't like being told what to do with my food after buying it. It doesn't feel like my food. When I have leftovers, I don't think about the quality. I think of what I can do with it when I am hungry. I can eat it cold from the fridge without having to reheat it. I can use the broth to flavor my rice and when I am too lazy to cook. I don't care about soggy noodles or rubber-like textures for my gyoza. The only time, I think about the quality is when I am eating it fresh from the kitchen. I feel like the rule for not taking ramen and gyoza out is a little pretentious and an excuse to cost cut on packaging. It gives the idea that it is acceptable to waste food. It's my food, and I wanna do what I want with it!

As for the staff, they have been great and wonderful. I can see that they are working hard and doing their best. I only wish good things for them.

The atmosphere is okay. It made me feel like I was in a higher-end fastfood chain (but not really).

I am not coming back to this place again.

This is just what I experience and opinion about this place. I have my own set of...

Mediocre Experience with High Prices

★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars)

Yushoken, a fancy ramen restaurant, left me with mixed feelings. While the establishment had an air of sophistication and ambiance, I found the overall experience to be rather mediocre, especially considering the steep prices.

Firstly, let's discuss the positive aspects. Yushoken's elegant decor and attentive staff contribute to a pleasant dining environment. The restaurant's chic design and comfortable seating create a sophisticated atmosphere, ideal for a special occasion or a refined meal. The waitstaff were courteous and knowledgeable, providing assistance with menu choices and promptly serving our orders.

However, my enthusiasm waned as I delved into the main aspect: the food. While the presentation was visually appealing, the taste failed to live up to my expectations. The ramen lacked the depth of flavor and complexity that I had anticipated, leaving me somewhat underwhelmed. It lacked the distinctive and authentic elements that I associate with truly exceptional ramen.

Moreover, I must address the pricing. Yushoken's menu is on the higher end of the spectrum, making it quite expensive for a bowl of ramen. Although I understand the desire to create a premium dining experience, the prices seemed unjustifiably inflated given the quality of the dishes. It felt as though I was paying more for the ambiance and decor rather than the outstanding flavors and culinary mastery.

In conclusion, Yushoken falls short of its potential, earning a middle-of-the-road rating from me. While the restaurant impresses with its stylish setting and attentive service, the lackluster flavor of the ramen and the inflated prices leave much to be desired. For those seeking a truly exceptional ramen experience, it may be worth exploring other options before settling...