Review: Kotobukiya Japanese Restaurant
September is the beginning of the rainy season in the Philippines, but it hasn’t been pouring as much until recently. There’s nothing like piping hot noodles during a cool rainy day. There’s a new place I recently tried calledKotobukiya Restaurant: Authentic Japanese Noodles and Curry. It’s a mouthful to say but it is exactly as it reads – a ramen and curry house. Don’t expect the usual sushi and sashimi. Kotobukiya serves ramen, curry, Japanese barbecue, tempura, and gyoza.
On to the goods! There’s three bases to choose from: miso ramen is made from soybean paste,tonkotsu ramen from slow cooked pork broth, and spicy ramen. All regular size ramen go for P235 unless you get an extra order of chasu (slices of simmered pork), then it’ll go up to P295. It’s actually good for two regular people but only one Curvy Katy. There’s a mini-ramen option for each order that is only P205 or P290 for extra chasu. It’s good for one and leaves space to have other orders.
It was in fact a rainy night when the family and I ate there, so the boys and I all had ramen. Dad got the mini version of the Seafood Miso Ramen. Ze boyfriend no doubt got the Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen. So good! You feel the burn down your throat, instead of in your mouth. I fully enjoyed my pork-a-licious Tonkotsu Ramen with Extra Chasu. Unlike most chasus, Kotobukiya’s has MUCH MORE FLAVOR. You can tell that they really spent time cooking it and letting it simmer. I loved it so much I almost didn’t care that we were running late for Taken 2. My sister and mother are not ramen people. Sissy got the Shrimp Furaiand Japanese fried rice – no big deal. Mom ordered Japanese BBQ skewers (which we attacked right away, that’s why there are no photos). Mom also made us try the gyoza, which I still wasn’t impressed with. The Japanese should just stick to what they know; dumplings are not their forte.
Bring the family to Kotobukiya Restaurant on the ground floor of JCentre Mall, along AS Fortuna Street. It is in the same building as Accessorize and Etude House, on the right wing of the mall, before going into the main entrance. They’re open daily during mall hours (10:00 am to 9:00 pm).
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