On our second day in Japan, Eric’s Japanese-Filipino friend Takashi and his girlfriend Yanni were with us the whole day and toured us around different parts of Tokyo. Since Takashi’s a local, he’s quite knowledgeable about the best eats in the city, and said that he would take us to this awesome ramen place.
My own Japanese-Filipino friend Lena, who lives in Manila, just doesn’t get the whole ramen craze in the Philippines. “I don’t know what the big deal is about ramen here in the Philippines,” she wonders. “Back in Japan, ramen is such a common dish. We just make it and eat it at home. All you really need is a good broth base, and that’s it!”
I was never really a huge ramen fan. I thought, “Pfft, they’re just noodles!” But then I’ve tried some really good ones (particularly the one from Mitsuyado Sei-Men) and that was it. I was a changed person. Suddenly, I found myself starting to have ramen cravings a lot. I realized that the ones that I really like are either the authentic Japanese ones, or at least prepared by Japanese chefs. Maybe Lena was right — it’s all in the broth!
When Takashi told us that we were going to a ramen restaurant, I was thrilled! I thought, if some of the ramen dishes back home knocked my socks off, the ramen in Tokyo would probably make me forget my own name.
We arrived at a restaurant called Kyushu Jangara (also spelled as Kyusyu Jangara) in Harajuku, just across the Meiji Shrine and just 1-2 minutes from the Harajuku Station. Kyushu Jangara came from the island Kyushu, hence the name.
Kyushu Jangara’s Bestseller is the Tonkotsu Ramen (Tonkotsu is pork bone broth). When they served us the bowl of ramen, my eyes practically popped out of their sockets! Look at this beauty and you’ll understand why:
I was already getting full just looking at it! One thing was certain: the chefs certainly did not scrimp on the good stuff. My humongous bowl of ramen and rich pork bone broth came with generous servings of chopped scallions, bamboo shots, delicious chunks of braised pork belly, cloud ear mushrooms, thin slices of melt-in-your-mouth chashu (pork), a bright red gob of mentaiko (marinated cod roe), and ajitama (Japanese soft-boiled egg). Yum! Are you salivating yet? For JPY 1,080, I think I actually got more than what I paid for!
Takashi took us to the right place for some rad ramen! I loved the Tonkotsu Ramen at Kyushu Jangara – the noodles were soft, the soup was creamy but not oily, it was full of tasty and meaty ingredients, and the servings were really big. This one’s a winner for me!
Kyushu Jangara
Address: 1-13-21 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan (across Meiji Shrine and 2 minutes from Harajuku station)
Phone: +81 3-3404-5572
Website: http://www.kyusyujangara.co.jp/
Opening Hours: 10:45 am – 12:00 am
I agree with you. I have a Japanese friend who doesn’t understand the Ramen craze back here in the Philippines. Maybe it’s new to us Filipinos, that’s why we like it so much. Haha. Anyways, nice post! I hope you enjoy your trip! 🙂
But even if ramen is no longer a craze in the Philippines, I still like it! 🙂
I never understood the craze as well, all ramens in manila are overpriced for me. But when I went to Japan last year, we ate at one underground ramen store in Shinjuku and I loved it. The price was almost similar, and it’s legit! Love it!
Nothing beats legit Japanese ramen! Yum!
I would love to taste that ramen!!! Hoping we can go to Japan and tastes all of their food.
Most of the food we had at Japan were DELICIOUS!!! If you like food, go to Japan!
There’s nothing like getting a bowl of ramen in Japan. I hope I can go there to compare how different it is from what the ramen bars here serve. Glad you enjoyed!
Some of the ramen dishes here in the Philippines are good too but of course Japanese ramen is just really, really good!
I would love to have an authentic Ramen in Japan! I’ve been having Ramen in different restaurants here in Manila and I’m loving it.
I think you will never want to leave Japan after tasting their ramen… or their food in general!