Yushoken Ramen Bar in Molito, Alabang - A Usual Top Choice for Ramen

Yushoken Ramen in Molito, Alabang

Continuing on with my quest to satisfy my thirst for ramen exploration, I finally got to try Yushoken Ramen in Molito, Alabang. There were some food blogs or sites claiming that this is the top ramen place in the metro, so I got really eager to put that into test. Currently, my the top ramen in my books is Ramen Nagi. The question now is, with this Yushoken experience, will I have a new number 1? Well, let's get into it!

Ramen Yushoken in Molito, Alabang

The interior of Yushoken is rather simple. Nothing extraordinary. What I meant by this is it doesn't generate a Japanese kind of ambiance, unlike hmmm, shall I say Mitsuyado Sei-Men (read more)? Even such is the case, the ambiance was nicely modern and comfy.

As for the dishes, let's start with the gyoza.

Gyoza || P150 - 5 pieces

Yushoken's famous gyoza for starter

The gyoza was fine belonging to the top tier that I had, but unfortunately, I still haven't found the best yet here. This one featured a semi-crisp external layer with a veggie-meaty core.

Karaage || P210 - 4 pieces

The Karage with its fascinating tenderness and tastiness

The karage was magnificently cooked evidenced by the uber tenderness and crispiness on the outside. On top of all, it had this uncomplicated good taste, making it highly memorable.

Tamago || P80

Hiyashi Chuka || P370

This cold ramen was indeed fascinating with its ultimate freshness and bountiful ingredients! I just loved how refreshing the taste was, and how you can control the taste (by mixing your own dressing/sauce).

Miso Ramen || P380

The miso ramen of Ramen Yushoken

The miso ramen had this balanced goodness that was just right for my palate! In fact, it was more balanced the creation of Mendokoro perhaps attributable to the absence of the peculiar aftertaste present in the latter.

Tokusei Tsukumen || P400

Tokusei Tsukumen of Ramen Yushoken - a best seller!

Unexpectedly capturing our hearts, this Tokusei tsukumen featured a rich fatty broth that is considerably, though not perfectly, well-balanced. The richness in taste lingers in and tickles the taste buds. Also, unlike in Mendokoro, the serving here in Yushoken is apparently larger.

In addition, the small yet powerful portion of meat that went with the broth had this smokey tang. However, it also happened to be not as tender as I would like it to be (same case as that of in Mendokoro). Nevertheless, having this Tokusei Tsukumen was definitely such a wonderful palatable experience!

Karai Tokusei || P420

Karai Tokusei - the amazing tsukumen with an interesting spiciness!

This spicy version of the Tokusei is different and the same altogether. The spice added to it to make it hot didn't just bring flame to the dish but as well as more interesting flavors.

A Not-So-Popular Kid in Yushoken Ramen Place in Molito, Alabang

Here's an awesome photo of my second visit here in Yushoken!

Is Yushoken my new No.1?
It took me a few minutes of deliberation to come up with a decision, and it was so hard choosing between the two.

I liked Ramen Nagi's specialty ramen because most of them are unique. Also, I find the 3 of the 4 key ramen dishes that I've tried soft and bold at the same time creating a harmonious experience.

On the other hand, I liked Yushoken's take on the ramen and tsukumen when it comes to the more traditional variant of ramen. The dishes also offer bold and distinct flavors with little of the softness. This however creates deep intense taste that really engages the palate. It was extremely enjoyable at first, and to tell you the truth, I thought I had a new no. 1. However, the more I helped myself with the tsukumen I was having, the more I feel the sawa factor. This sealed back Ramen Nagi's place at the top of my list.

Yushoken- Overall Ratings and Summary

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Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings apply solely to this dining experience.
Place ★★★☆
Taste  ★★★★☆
Service  ★★★★
Value for Money ★★★★
Budget: At least P350 each  for the cheapest ramen, the Shio Ramen

Overall, I enjoyed the bold flavors offered here in Yushoken. Yes, it may get a little too bold sometimes, but this may be remedied by sharing with someone (although I'm not sure if the restaurant's policy permits this). Unfortunately, Yushoken failed to steal the title as far as my list is concerned, but it landed perfectly well on no. 2!

Update 5/2/2015: Yushoken now drops to no. 3 in my list.

To view my list of Top Ramen Places (read more) just head on to the Ramen Collection by hitting the badge below or just visit the link.

How about you - do you recommend this place?

Yushoken Ramen Bar
Location: Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Contact No.: (02) 808 7424
Store hours: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm daily
Service Charge: 10% before VAT