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Nothing beats the good-tasting broth and soft and chewy noodles of ramen. Its hearty toppings, be it pork or beef, allow food lovers to taste and experience the uniqueness of Japanese cuisine. The heat of its broth comforts us after a long and busy day, giving us what we truly desire–a warm bowl of flavorful soup and noodles.

However, a bowl of ramen in the Philippines is usually expensive because of its imported ingredients. There are budget-friendly restaurants in Makati and in other cities that can satisfy your taste buds without spending much. Here are 11 affordable ramen dishes in Metro Manila that will definitely reward you the oishī palate.

1. Ippudo’s Shiromaru Motoaji (PHP 385)

***Instagram photo by @johnsonmamayson***

Ippudo’s tonkotsu ramen may lack color and presentation, but wait until you taste its broth and noodles. It’s only then you can say that their Shiromaru Motoaji cannot be judged by its look. Ippudo cooks their classic Hakata-style ramen broth for 15 hours to bring out its rich flavor. It’s topped with chasu, a Japanese pork belly that’s boiled and stewed for over two hours. The noodles are ultra-thin but perfectly firm and are made daily.

Ippudo branches: SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Eastwood City, Robinsons Place Manila, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Power Plant Mall, and Uptown Mall

2. Tongara Ramen (PHP 390)

The signature Tongara Ramen has a sweet taste because of a special broth called tongara that’s made of chicken and pork bones simmered for hours. It’s topped with a soft-boiled egg and bamboo shoots. It’s a feast in your mouth once you taste the tongara, consume the fresh wheat noodles, and take a bite of the succulent pork belly.

Tongara Ramen location: Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Ave., Marikina

3. Ramen Nagi’s Original King Butao (PHP 390)

Ramen Nagi’s Original King Butao is best consumed when you’re hungry. Served in a large bowl, its flavorful and creamy broth is cooked for more than 20 hours. Enjoy it with its handcrafted noodles and char siu, a kind of pork barbeque. Crowds love Ramen Nagi as you can customize your order to your desired palate, garlic (from none to extra heavy), pork (shoulder or belly), and spiciness level.

Ramen Nagi branches: SM Aura Premier, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Place Manila, Greenbelt 3, U.P. Town Center, Ayala Malls Feliz, and NAIA Terminal 3

4. Takashi Japanese Cuisine’s Volcano Ramen (PHP 320)

***Takashi Japanese Cuisine Facebook page***

Fuel your taste buds with a spicy ramen challenge as this Volcano Ramen from Takashi Japanese Cuisine will determine your tolerance for spicy food. Warning: Its fiery red broth and noodles will set your tongue in fire. But, don’t worry, you can still control the spice levels by choosing from five spice preferences.

Takashi Japanese Cuisine branches:

Pioneer branch: Pioneer Center Supermart, 8006 Pioneer St. cor. United St., Kapitolyo, Pasig

Makati branch: G/F Elizabeth Place Condominium, 332 H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati

5. Ramen Daisho’s Hakata Tonkotsu Chashu-Men (PHP 380)

Ramen Daisho’s Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen reveals a secret sauce–a thick broth that comes from ukkokei (black) chicken. Together with a handful of thin and silky noodles, chasu, soft-boiled egg, seaweed, and bamboo shoots, this dish for less than P500 will complete your whole ramen experience.

Ramen Daisho location: Unit 2, Sunshine Square, Liberty Center, 312 Shaw Blvd., Pleasant Hills, Mandaluyong

6. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka’s Shio Ramen (PHP 385 for regular / PHP 445 for large)

***Ramen Santouka Philippines Facebook page***

The restaurant’s authentic home-style Japanese ramen recipe is primarily made of freshly-cooked pork broth. Once served, you’ll experience a layer of oil produced by more than 20 hours of simmering. The starchy noodles add flavor to the soup.

Hokkaido Ramen Santuoka branches: SM Mall of Asia, Glorietta 4, TriNoma, Greenhills Shopping Center, Eastwood Mall, Alabang Town Center, U.P. Town Center, and Ayala Malls Cloverleaf

7. Ramen Kuroda’s Kuro Ramen (PHP 180)

A bowl of Kuro ramen is a thumbs up if you’re on a budget. For less than PHP 200, Kuro Ramen can match the flavor of popular ramen brands. Its noodles are tender and firm, just like what you’re looking for in a bowl of ramen. Its rich, smoky tonkotsu broth with roasted garlic prove that it’s a must-try for ramen enthusiasts.

Ramen Kuroda branches: SM Marikina, SM Fairview, SM Manila, Eastwood Cyber & Fashion Mall, Eton Centris, Double Dragon Meridian Park, TV5 (LaunchPad Reliance cor. Sheridan St.), Mezza Residences (Sta. Mesa), Venice Grand Canal Mall, Lucky China Town Mall, Aseana II, RCBC Plaza Makati, and BF Homes

8. Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen’s Ajitama Tonkotsu (PHP 380)

Ajitama Tonkotsu’s signature ramen bowl is everything you wished for in a bowl of ramen: full-flavored broth topped with a hard-boiled egg seasoned with Ikkoryu’s own blended soy sauce. Taste the wholeness of oishī flavors for less than PHP 500 with this dish.

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen branches: Shangri-la Plaza, SM Aura Premier, Power Plant Mall, Estancia Mall, Bonifacio High Street, Century City Mall, Alabang Town Center, and Newport Mall

9. Mendokoro Ramenba’s Shoyu Ramen (PHP 410)

Shoyu Ramen is a soy-based tonkotsu ramen with tender pork slices. Before digging in, watch chefs prepare your food at their open-kitchen setup. When dining in, expect a long line as the restaurant can only accommodate approximately 20 customers.

Mendokoro Ramenba branches:

Makati branch: Shop 18, V Corporate Center, Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati

BGC branch: Icon Plaza, 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

10. Butamaru’s Curry Tantanmen (PHP 370)

Curry Tantanmen is made of a spicy curry broth with peanuts and sesame sauce. Butamaru broth is cooked for 16 hours, releasing a strong yet delicious flavor. The ramen has spiciness levels you can adjust according to your preference.

Butamaru branches:

Alabang branch: E405 Commerce Ave., Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa

Ortigas branch: G16 Ortigas Technopoint Bldg., Ortigas Home Depot Complex, 1 Doña Julia Vargas Ave., Pasig

11. Ramen Yushoken’s Shoyu Ramen (PHP 400)

Ramen Yushoken offers a bowl of tasty ramen that’s not too heavy for the light eater. Shoyun Ramen comes with a smoky broth with a chunk of grilled char siu that adds a rich taste to the dish.

Ramen Yushoken location: Molito Lifestyle Mall, Madrigal Ave. cor. Commerce St., Alabang, Muntinlupa

Apart from the flavors, these bowls of ramen invite you to enjoy the experience with your family and friends. Treat yourself and bring your loved ones to the next ramen trip of your choice.

Food is one of those things in life that can easily bring together a group of strangers and turn them into a party of friends. In the Philippines, eating and drinking is a part of its culture of camaraderie and friendship, strengthening bonds and even rekindling lost connections. That is why, regardless of the occasion and no matter how small or grand the celebration is, everyone’s favorite Pinoy and foreign dishes will always be present.

While many Filipinos in the province are used to cooking and preparing a feast at home, residents living in the country’s biggest cities don’t have the luxury of time and space to accommodate a hungry crowd. The great thing is, there are different food spots and dining hubs where they can equally have a great time. For every type of celebration and a wide variety of cravings, there are restaurants in the Philippines that can offer the best dining experience for family and friends.

Aside from a wide selection of dishes and an enthusiastic wait staff, the following restaurants can offer something that a typical food place doesn’t have: privacy and exclusive customer service.

1. Casa Roces, Manila City

If you want to experience Old Manila, Casa Roces is the perfect place to dine and just reminisce the past with your friends or family. The restaurant used to be a heritage house, but this is not the only reason why this place is a rare find. Casa Roces is open daily from 8AM to 10PM and is situated at 1153 JP Laurel corner Aguado Street, San Miguel, Manila.

For one, Casa Roces is actually located within the compounds of the most powerful house in the country: Malacañan Palace, the residence of the Philippine president himself. Secondly, aside from the native-themed menu, there are available function rooms on the second floor of this beautiful restaurant/café. All these rooms are named after the country’s past and present news publications: The Tribune, La Vanguardia, The Manila Times, Liwayway, and The Daily Mirror.

Some rooms can accommodate 20 people and others have the capacity to entertain 6-15 guests. The prices per room will vary.

2. Wildflour Café + Bakery, Makati City

Baked goods and pastries aren’t the only things in the menu of this famous Wildflour Café Rockwell branch. Among all its partner stores around Metro Manila, this particular location has an upper floor where guests can reserve in advance.

This private room can accommodate a maximum of 35 people, perfect for a birthday party or a baby shower with the entire family. For a more private experience that involves only an intimate number of guests, Wildflour also has smaller private rooms in its other branch at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig.

What’s on the menu? American, Korean, and other western and eastern delights are served in this charming café. You can check out their complete menu online to know more about what they have to offer.

3. Gerry’s Jeepney, Quezon City

For a less formal event that requires a unique, cultural experience of the past and present Pinoy culture, Gerry’s Jeepney is what you are looking for. So what is so special about this place? It offers one of the most genuine and unique private rooms in the Philippines.

Dubbed as “The Jeepney”, it literally promises what it’s named after: a full experience inside an actual-but not moving- Filipino commuter jeepney. The food and the theme are centered on the owner’s love for the masa or lower class, celebrating the simplicity and authenticity of a truly Filipino gastronomic experience.

While waiting for the boodle feast (the Filipino military style of eating meals in which all the dishes are laid out on a freshly cut banana leaf), guests are provided with board games to make the experience more fun. Each private room, a.k.a. private jeepney can accommodate eight people.

This place has become so popular that booking a reservation beforehand should be part of your plan.

4. Antonio’s, Tagaytay City

Not all the best private dining restaurants can be found in Metro Manila. In fact, if you’re a true foodie, you would know that there are a lot of rare and unique restaurants around the country, many of which are located in rural and less-urbanized areas. And one of them is Antonio’s in Tagaytay.

If you were to ask food critiques, Antonio’s is probably one of the best restaurants not just in the country but also in Asia, and this is the reason why it’s a special place for true foodies, celebrities, and international food bloggers.

The place is strictly by reservation, with operating hours that start at exactly 5:30 in the evening. Additionally, the restaurant implements a smart casual dress code, even for younger guests. The location has private venues for exclusive gatherings, but even if you can’t book these spots in advance, dining in this Spanish-inspired gastronomic haven is a gift in itself.

What’s on the menu? Antonio’s set menu includes a full-course meal of delectable tastes inspired by the classic and traditional flavors. Here, food is consumed not just as sustenance but as a surreal and one-of-a-kind culinary adventure.

5. Café Piansa, Marikina City

This unique restaurant may not fit the definition of “private dining” but the experience itself, depending on your taste for adventure, can be both interesting and bizarre. Why? The theme of this culinary spot is actually inspired by a typical prison. Yes, you read that right.

Café Piansa is an Italian restaurant that has jail cells as its semi-private rooms where guests can dine in and be imprisoned in the flavors of what this unique place can offer: delectable flavors of steaks, pasta, and other dishes that truly fit the definition of a perfect final meal.

The restaurant is not for the faint of heart as it can be quite intimidating to anyone who is afraid to try new things and experiences. A full view of the place reveals prison bars enclosing several tables, and other portions of the building reveal an execution chamber with an electric chair to complete the ensemble.

These are just a few of the many unique restaurants in the Philippines that you should visit soon. Hopefully, this article has helped add more entries to your bucket list. Remember that if you want to truly experience the Filipino culture, don’t be afraid to open yourself to the most genuine and even the most bizarre culinary experience out there. Bon appétit and have a great time!

Affordable Ramen Below P500 in Metro Manila