The place wasn't full yet when I got there since it was still early. I ordered their signature Tongara Ramen. It had slices of chasyu, bamboo shoots, veggie and green onions. It wouldn't be complete without a half slice of ajitsuki tamago to top it all off. Mind you that the tamago they use isn't the ordinary yellow yolk ones. It's the small orange ones that are hard to find and if I'm not mistaken, these are the brown eggs or the free range ones? Or Japanese eggs perhaps? I'm not sure but one thing I do know that the egg is special, not the commercial ones. I have a recipe here to try.
What also impressed me is not only the yummy, firm, chewy noodles but the rich, dense, delicately seasoned broth. You don't get that often on other ramen house. I fell in love with the broth the moment it touched my palate. You can guess right away that it has been specially prepared, simmering in the pot with all the meat, bone and cartilage goodness for several hours. My guess would be pork or combination of pork and chicken broth. You know the sticky feeling around your lips right after you have the soup? That's the cartilage making the stock thick not the starch. It brings back memories when my grandma makes cartilage based soup. The cartilage is made up mostly of collagen and many Asians believe that consuming collagen is good for the skin, makes you look younger since skin is mostly held up by collagen fibers beneath the epidermis. IMHO, the key to a great ramen is in the broth. No matter how many fancy toppings you put in every bowl, if the broth is bad, the whole thing wouldn't taste any good. So here's to Tongara Ramen and younger looking skin! ( Told ya food and beauty blog always go together. Hehehe)
I was just dissapointed that they didn't have Gyoza available today. It's my tradition have gyoza on the side with my ramen. :( Oh well, till my next visit soon!
They always have a pitcher of ice cold water on each table. I love to put lots of garlic paste, ground sesame seeds and chili oil in my ramen. There are plenty of condiments to choose from.
Menu items are a bit pricey for a typical penny pinching Cebuano. In the end it's really up to you on how you spend your moolah wisely. Spending it sporadically like once in three months when you feel you deserve it. Hahaha.
Restaurant facade. There is air conditioning inside and seats around 30 to 50 pax if I'm not mistaken. Staff are courteous and would gladly explain to you what's in your ramen if you're not familiar with Japanese cuisine. There are ample parking spaces outside. The comfort room is located outside the resto, within the building complex.
Tongara Ramen | Tongkotsu+Torigara is located at
Unit #13, Escario Central Mall, 64 N. Escario St., Cebu City, Philippines
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