Thursday, April 19, 2012

Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss - ramen shop



Moshi Koshi Noodle Boss is one those new Ramen specialty shops that have been popping around the city. There had always been numerous Japanese food restaurants in the country for years. There are those catering to hi-end expensive ones and there those oh so dozens of Japanese fast-food chains with cheap good eats. Most of these had the standard menu with various popular Japanese food like Sushi, Tempura and Teriyaki meat dishes. Dishes that the Filipino palate found comforting that most have been taken in and absorbed to the Filipino cuisine, much like Chinese foods.

Ramen are available in these standard restaurants, but their quality tend to be much to be desired, some can't even hold against to instant ramen. Nowadays with these Ramen specialty stores coming out, Filipinos are slowly being reared to the rich ramen culture that is prevalent in Japan. Each of these store vying  for the Filipino market with each trying to present the real "authentic" Ramen taste.




I ordered a Shoyu ramen as sort of test case comparative menu, since Shoyu is the most common ramen type in Tokyo.

The soup is quite clear and clean, with a very respectable taste. Though the soy sauce base they use makes it quite pungent. The bamboo shoots they used isn't pickled right that it is soggy to bite and it's odor, though not unpleasant, conflicted with the broth.

The noodles are made in-house, that they are fresh and are cooked just right. Straight and smooth, they have that nice chewiness. I can't taste the wheat flavor that much but they go really well in soup that they get soaked on. Again there is a problem with the odor. The smell of kansui is slightly noticeable, especially to ramen connoisseur.  Perhaps letting the fresh noodles rest a lot longer before cooking will help remedy it.

Overall, they still have a very good bowl as a start. It is rather cheap than most specialty Ramen store. I sure would like to try their other menu.


I also ordered a plate of Gyoza. Again they're fresh with good filling. It's pan-fried with sesame oil like those done in Japan.


The shop is bright and had that nice modern minimalist design to give Japanese air, with that straight flat wooden benches and utilitarian setup. The Shop is partly self-service. that is you order in the counter that is right by the door, with the help of that large menu plastered besides it. The food will be served to your table by the staff.


 I should point out that this is specifically a Japanese Noodle shop, so it's not just ramen that they specialize but also Udon and Soba.

 The restaurant is quite close to the Studio that I'm connected to, so it is a must that I should try it.I ordered the Shoyu ramen as a trail order. It's not they're specialty ramen flavour so I must return to try their other dishes. I have high hopes for this store. I'll post on the other ramen, udon and soba when I got around to trying them.






















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Moshi Koshi noodle boss
Shaw Blvd cor Ideal st, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

Monday, April 9, 2012

Konbini Store - ramen shop and Japanese grocery

Konbini Store is an aptly named Japanese products grocery that is conveniently located  just a few minutes walk from Greenhills shopping center and much closer to other Japanese themed restaurants in Connecticut st.

As stated, the place is were one can buy essential Japanese food product. From instant ramen to real Wagyu beef, you can buy it here for any Japanese expats to local Japanophile who wanted some real cool products from the Land of the rising sun.




The store has in it's corner a dinning area that one can order delicious Japanese food. Their specialty is their Ramen and fried chicken. I haven't tried they're chicken yet, but it is very popular to most eaters that I'll it make a point to try them sometime.



I ordered there their Chasu tonkatsu ramen and gyoza combo. For a grocery they do serve a very decent ramen. The noodles, straight thin variety, are not in-house made but are fresh and has good chewy texture with a right neutral taste.

It goes really well the Tonkatsu soup broth. The broth itself has that clean but tasty flavor that is ideal for that pork based soup. It has the right thickness but never being too heavy or fatty on the mouth, nor is it heavily seasoned or salty. The combination makes a very refreshing noodle soup that ones yearn on a rainy cold night.

 
My toppings consist of extra pork chasu that are thinly sliced lean cuts of pork. The hard-boiled egg is rightly half-cooked, though not stewed. The use of light green leeks and roasted sesame accent the dish quite well.


The shops gyoza are quite good and are freshly cooked. To local shoppers will find the products on display as being quite pricey for  even for imported items, but the price for the food being served in the store's restaurant is quite reasonable and and of very good authentic quality.

I quite recommend this store to any ramen enthusiast or to those who definitely want to have that little Japanese experience without leaving the county.




View Konbini Store - Tokyo market in a larger map


Konbini store - ramen shop
Connecticut St, San Juan, Philippines