Savoring Delightful Ramen Shops
Discovering the ramen shops of Baguio feels like venturing on a flavorful adventure through the City of Pines. While all the ramen shops aim to offer affordable yet delicious ramen, each has its distinct taste, specialties, and ambiance that sets them apart. Whether nestled in cozy corners or tucked along bustling streets, these ramen shops offer a delightful escape for locals and visitors.
Toraya Japanese Snack Cafe
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Located at the Whynhope Building, Blk 3 Lot 1 Ciudad Grande, Phase 1, Bakakeng Norte Sur, Toraya Japanese Snack Cafe offers authentic Japanese food and is open daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Run by the Moriyama couple, who are hands-on with the business, the cafe originally started by offering Japanese snacks aimed at students from the SLU Maryheights Campus. Today, it has expanded its menu to include delicious ramen and rice meals, all at student-friendly prices, with promos and discounts.
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The cafe’s interior is simple yet charming, with a distinct Japanese vibe. Lantern decor outside and countertop dining allow you to witness the preparation of your food. The shelves are stocked with a variety of Japanese products.
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From the restaurant’s name, we tried their Toraya Ramen (₱200), a rich and savory bowl with a creamy broth, then Light Salt Ramen (₱180), which offers a simpler yet equally satisfying taste. Both ramen featured perfectly cooked al dente noodles, topped with a soy-soft boiled egg, tender pork, and green onions. For a crispy side dish, we tried the Kushikatsu (₱20 each), available in pork and chicken. The skewers were delightfully crispy, accompanying a sweet dipping sauce or the sweet-savory with a slight tang that complements the dish perfectly.
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For those craving traditional Japanese snacks, we had Katsuobushi (₱140 whole), a savory takoyaki filled with octopus bits and vegetables. We also tried Taiyaki (₱30 each), fish-shaped cakes in ube and leche flan flavors. Both treats were soft, sweet, and satisfying.
The Clover Shop
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Want to indulge in anime or Japanese culture with an impeccable view, this ramen shop has it all. The Clover Shop, located at #66 Lower Lourdes Subdivision Road, is open daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The owner is an anime fan and has decorated the shop with anime-themed posters and images. They also sell a variety of Japanese and anime products and merchandise.
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Step into their alfresco dining area and enjoy the sight of white and pink artificial sakura flowers hanging from the ceiling, along with the astonishing view of Baguio City. You have two seating options: high chairs or low tables with cozy tatami chairs. For a truly immersive experience, you can even wear a kimono or anime costume and props to take fun photos.
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We tried various foods on their menu, starting with their ramen. Both broths were light yet creamy, garnished with seaweeds, beni-shoga, menma, a whole soy soft-boiled egg, narutomaki, green onions, and a torched slice of chashu pork. The Tonkotsu Hakata (₱200) and Tonkotsu Shoyu (₱250) were similar, but the latter featured kikurage mushrooms. As a side, we tried the Ebi Tempura (₱100), which had a delicious batter perfectly paired with a sweet-savory dipping sauce.
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For drinks, we had the 12oz Blueberry Soda Pop (₱60), a fizzy, blue to violet gradient fun drink with a crystal boba, and it has a sweet and tangy twist taste. Lastly, the Mini donuts (₱80) were cute, soft, and sweet. The pink frosting had a subtle strawberry flavor, while the violet frosting had a hint of ube. The eye candy topping had a slightly minty taste that complements the sweetness of the donuts.
Ramen Naijiro
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After a stroll around Burnham Park or a night out on Legarda Road, you might want to visit Ramen Naijiro. This ramen shop is in a food court near Burnham Park and Good Taste, with shared seating with other food establishments. Situated at Cariño St., Corner Shanum St., Rizal Monument, is open 24/7. Although this restaurant is originally from Manila, the owner branched towards Baguio City with the goal of offering the first affordable street ramen in the Philippines.
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We decided to put it to the test and tried their best-seller. Both ramen broths are light and creamy, topped with tenderly sliced chashu pork and sprinkled with green onions and black sesame seeds. But Tonkotsu Ramen (₱172) has a twist of a bit salty. It features a lot of kikurage mushrooms and sliced soy soft-boiled eggs. The regular Shoyu Ramen (₱167) comes generously topped with crunchy bean sprouts. The 4-piece Gyoza (₱95) features crispy dumplings on one side, with a savory filling that complements the ramen.
To round out the meal, we also tried their Chicken Katsudon (₱149), served with steamed fried rice, crispy chicken cutlet, scrambled egg, and gyudon sauce. The savory sauce soaking into the rice and the crispiness of the cutlet made a perfect balance of flavor.
Feli Ramen and Food House
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How about enjoying a bowl of ramen while waiting for your laundry? Feli Ramen and Food House is located at Corner Ledesma St, Aurora Hill, right along the highway. This restaurant with a laundry shop is open every day from 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM.
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Upon entering, you’ll see a Japanese-inspired interior. There’s a designated dining area where you’re asked to remove your shoes, dine at low tables, and sit on cushions, creating a cozy experience.
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As we explored the menu, we decided to dive into some of their most popular dishes, starting with the nutty broth with a mild spiciness, Tantanmen Ramen (₱180), topped with kikurage mushrooms and ground pork. Next, we tried the Ebi Tonkotsu Ramen (₱200), which has a rich, creamy broth that’s slightly heavier. It comes with crispy tempura, crab sticks, narutomaki, and corn kernels. Both ramen dishes are garnished with seaweed, bok choy, a sliced soy soft-boiled egg, green onions, and white and black sesame seeds. To complement the meal, we also tried their 4-piece Gyoza (₱89), the perfect side dish to round out the experience.
Nori Sake
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Located in the heart of Baguio City, this ramen shop that has numerous awards and recognition blends great food with a commitment to the community through outreach programs every December. Nori Sake is located at #54 SB Building of Hotel Veniz on Session Road, Level B1-04. They are open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The restaurant’s simple and modern interior mix, with Japanese decorations, creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
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We tried two of their ramen dishes, both topped with a sliced boiled egg, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, corn kernels, seaweed, and black sesame seeds. Their Tantanmen Ramen (₱290) has a creamy broth and spicy kick with savory ground beef and a hint of chili. As for the Miso Ramen (₱290), the broth has a balance of savory, slightly salty, and subtle sweetness, topped with chashu pork and a dash of chili powder for added depth. We also tried their 4-piece Tempura (₱190), which is crispy and served with a sesame-infused dipping sauce, offering a unique twist of flavor to the classic dish.
The post Warm Bowls, Cool Prices: Discover Affordable Ramen in Baguio appeared first on Pilipinas Popcorn.