Dining Snippets: Sibyullee x Ramen Nagi x Ippudo
SIBYULLEE FLAVORS OF SEOUL
DWAEJIGOGI CHEESE BBQ (P668)
From the same group that brought us Sariwon and Soban K-Town Grill, the Happyfoods Group ushers in its own addition to the Korean cheese craze, Sibyullee! When dining as a group, it’s best to look out for its set menus which feature one of their cheese barbecue specialties as the main dish.
BANCHAN
Whether ordering a set or a la carte, everyone’s guaranteed to be served with heaps of unlimited banchan. Its fish cake appetizer is a personal favorite!
DAKGOGI CHEESE BBQ (Part of Set 2: P2000)
As of this writing, I’ve already tried two of its cheese barbecue dishes. The Dakgogi Cheese BBQ features chicken and vegetables smothered in a mouth-smacking marinade; while the Dwaejigogi Cheese BBQ uses thinly sliced pork strips as its protein of choice. Both come in skillets which are encircled by melted cheese, fluffy scrambled eggs, and corn kernels. The Dakgogi had a powerhouse flavor courtesy of its extremely flavorful marinade. It looks fiery, but rest assured, its level of spice is at a minimal. However, the Dwaejigogi pairs better with the melted cheese.
PORK AND BEEF BELLY (Part of Set 2: P2000)
What makes its set meals reasonable is that it also comes with servings of other meats such as pork belly and beef belly. Watch out for the Pork Belly, as it’s delicious when perfectly cooked. Its Pajeon is huge and perfect for sharing; however, it came out too crispy and slightly burnt.
VOLCANO KIMCHI (Part of Set 2: P2000)
Another noteworthy food item is the Volcano Kimchi Fried Rice, which features a huge cup of kimchi rice filled with cheese, and lies on a bed of cheese at the same time. This dish is then heated up to melt the cheese to stir the rice in. Due to its extreme cheesiness, expect the rice to have a gooey consistency. You have to give the dish time to grow on you as the first bite is a bit confusing. The taste would make more sense as you continue to dig in.
Sibyullee: Flavors of Seoul
GF Ayala Malls, The 30th, 30 Meralco Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig
Dates of Visit: July 2, 2017 with Lily Chua, Jared Chua, and Jem Chua; August 3, 2017 with Angelli Dykimching
RAMEN NAGI
Ramen Nagi is one of the places I frequent to when in need of a pick-me-up. It also teases me to drop by every time it launches a new Limited King. For this month, the Oyster King takes center stage as it dresses up its classic tonkotsu broth with oyster sauce and deep fried oysters.
OYSTER KING (P470)
As the bowls were served, the aroma of the oysters cannot be denied. Unfortunately, once we were eating it, the oyster side of the ramen was too subtle on flavor that it was easily drowned out by the tonkotsu broth. It’s only when you chance upon the tiny oysters in your bowl that you’re reminded that you’re eating the Oyster King. For me, opting for the Red King (a personal favorite) would have made me more satisfied. It was thrilling to order but it failed to make eating it equally as exciting.
Ramen Nagi
UGF, Robinsons Magnolia, Doña Hemady St., QC
Date of Visit: September 9, 2017 with Lily Chua
IPPUDO
From one limited ramen to another, Ippudo has recently launched its Tantanmen in Manila. Hailing from its successful stint in the 2016 Tokyo Ramen Show, the Tantanmen aims to make its presence felt in the Manila dining scene. Personally, I’m biased towards tantanmen. I’ve already mentioned how Ramen Nagi’s Red King is a personal favorite; but it’s Mendokoro Ramenba/Yushoken’s version that sets the standard for me.
TANTANMEN (P495)
Ippudo’s Tantanmen is undeniably picture perfect. Attention to detail is exemplified in how each ingredient is placed. The marriage of its tasty ground pork, its spicy oil, and its signature tonkotsu is a match made in heaven, as it proudly packs on that umami flavor we look for in our ramen. The torched chashu was a beautiful addition to the bowl, as its smokiness helped amp up the taste of the ramen. I think Nagi’s Red King would always have a special place in my stomach as it’s able to infuse a subtle sweetness its ground pork that gives it balance. However, Ippudo’s Tantanmen is definitely a closer runner up to Mendokoro's.
Ippudo
3F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Date of Visit: September 2, 2017 with Lily Chua
