Mazesoba, Yakitori, Kushiyaki, Kushikatsu and Highballs at the Newest Location of Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya in San Juan

Since 2019, Menya Kokoro offered local diners and Japanese food lovers a whole new way of enjoying ramen with its award-winning specialty Tokyo style mazesoba. Now, Menya Kokoro brings yakitori, kushiyaki, kushikatsu and highballs along with their bestselling mazesoba and more at their third and newest location in San Juan...

The yakitori grills are fired up as Menya Kokoro opens its newest location in San Juan showcasing a savory array of tempting yakitori selections prepared by a trained yakitori chef for all your cravings. From kushiyaki, kushikatsu and highballs to complement its signature mazesoba, the new location promises a sumptuous izakaya dining experience. Step inside Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya in San Juan and come hungry...

Located at the new Gallery 7 building in San Juan along A. Mabini Street, Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya brings its savory repertoire of authentic Tokyo style mazesoba and more to the neighborhood reflecting an expanded menu in its evolving brand story (for more on Menya Kokoro, see my posts Not Ramen. Not Soba. It's Mazesoba. Menya Kokoro Presents Two New Mazesoba Creations...from two months back and #TokyosNumber1Mazesoba: Prepare For A New Ramen Experience by Menya Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba from the formal launch six years ago). Now, you can can enjoy your favorite go-to bowl of Tokyo style mazesoba plus fresh off the grill yakitori and more at Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya in San Juan. 

The opening of new restaurants in the neighborhood is slowly transforming the culinary scene in San Juan, offering a welcome change from the usual mall-based dining options in the busy commercial and business districts. Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya in San Juan promises an immersive Japanese dining experience with a much wider range of menu options anchored on their award winning Tokyo style mazesoba and if you're from the area, that's great news. The addition of grilled yakitori specialties prepared fresh as you order completes the menu guaranteed to satisfy all your Japanese food cravings all in one place. 

But first, some soothing libations. Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya offers the perfect pairing for your bowl of Tokyo style mazesoba and skewers of yakitori like the refreshingly crisp, smooth and mildly tart Lemon Sour (P 180) blended with sochu, sparkling water and lemon to open up the palate before the sumptuous Japanese feast. 

My pick? The Choya Spritz (P 225) with Choya Yuzu Liqueur, sparkling water and lemon. The deep rounded notes of yuzu brings a refreshing and flavorful depth with each sip followed by an effervescent fizz from the sparkling water teasing the palate with lingering lemon hints. Fresh, vibrant and clean, the Choya Spritz cleanses the palate for that perfect pairing with the savory richness of Tokyo style mazesoba, yakitori and more at Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya. 

Fresh off the grill, your first batch of yakitori is served. You'll find the traditional yakitori delicately seasoned with Japanese spices and the kushiyaki or flame-grilled glazed skewers with a sizzling finish on the menu. The Tomato Bacon Kushiyaki (P 150) offers fresh and savory contrasting flavors kissed by gentle hints of smoky fragrance while the Reba (P 100) or chicken liver brings deep earthy notes to the palate. The crisp Torikawa (P 100) or chicken skin is an indulgently rich skewer with its flavor-packed strips perfectly washed down with the Choya Spritz. 

The delicate notes of the juicy Sasami (P 100) or tender chicken breast with a dab of wasabi is another tempting treat at Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya. The lingering buttery richness of the grilled chicken breast is perfectly tempered by the subtle sharpness of wasabi for that delectably balanced finish. The first rounds of fresh off-the grill skewers at Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya is an impressive peek at the brand's expanded menu, with each skewer masterfully executed by the trained yakitori chef. With its Tokyo style mazesoba leading the menu complemented by its new yakitori and kushiyaki offerings, Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya is reinventing itself as the complete one-stop dining destination for sumptuous Japanese cuisine. 

And there's more. The earthy richness of the Sunagimo (P 100) or chicken gizzard is enhanced by the bold seasonings adding more layers of flavors with each tasty bite...

...while the juicy Momo (P 100) or chicken thigh with tare brings a pronounced sweet and savory finish. Each skewer offers unique and distinct notes with something for everyone prepared as you order fresh off the grill. The delicate notes of the chicken remain the dominant flavor enhanced by the Japanese seasonings with the fiery and smoky finish from the grill completing the play on contrasting savory notes. 

The Hatsu (P 100) or chicken heart is one more must-try at Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya with its fresh, clean yet bold flavors. Tender with just a mildly firm bite, the Hatsu's rich earthy notes with just a whisper of smoky hints brings deep flavors to the palate. This calls for one more round of Choya Spritz... 

The Pepper, Bacon and Cheese (P 150) is a lavish play on flavors and textures with the sweetness of the peppers enriched and lusciously smoothened by the creamy cheese and pronounced notes of the bacon finished by fragrant hints of smoke from the grill. Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya offers a tempting array of flavorful possibilities fresh off the grill, providing a glimpse of the new approach and direction of the brand with its expanded menu. 

Light, crisp and deep-fried golden brown perfection from the Kushikatsu menu offers diners another taste of Japan at Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya. From premium meats, vegetables and seafood, the Kushikatsu selection served with their signature dipping sauce brings even more flavors to the table. The Young Corn (P 80) draped in a light and crisp layer of breading brings a fresh and clean subtle sweetness to the palate while the Ebi (P 190) releases a flavorful burst of clean briny hints from the succulent prawn. The Japanese Sausage (P 180) is a unique rendition highlighting the familiar flavors of the Japanese staple in a new and refreshed execution while the Quail Egg (P 80) combines textures and flavors in a palate pleasing weave. The Chicken (P 150) with its juicy texture and subtle yet rich notes are transformed by the layer of lightly crisp breading adding to the medley of flavors at Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya in San Juan. 

The extensive yakitori, kushiyaki and kushikatsu offerings reveal an exciting new page and chapter in Menya Kokoro's journey and fans as well as local diners will be glad to be part of the ride. The local culinary landscape and competitive restaurant scene continues to evolve and Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya keeps in step with the times and well ahead of the game with its exciting new offerings. 

Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya then flexes its mastery of mazesoba with three new and creatively inventive creations. Inspired by classic pasta dishes, Menya Kokoro Ramen Mazesoba introduces the innovative soba-based Spaghetti (P 450), Carbonara (P 480) and Super Cheese (P 480). The Spaghetti brings Italian flavors to Japanese mazesoba with a rich, thick and tangy tomato sauce infused with aromatic herbs on soft yet firm soba noodles. Garden fresh and leafy greens and cheese complete the play on flavors for a pleasantly unexpected twist on the popular pasta staple. 

My pick is the Carbonara, a decadently creamy take on another beloved pasta dish made even more indulgent with Menya Kokoro's signature Japanese umami touch. Imagine soba noods topped with smoked bacon, egg yolk and a heaping mound of cheese. That's a winning bowl of soba with Italian flair. Each component and ingredient complements the other for another unique rendition of the pasta soba combo. And it works. Only Menya Kokoro can pull something unexpected like this with ease. Both the Spaghetti and Carbonara are unique to Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya setting the tone once more for relevant differentiation in a crowded ramen category. If you love cheese, then the Super Cheese is the perfect pick. 

You just can't pass up the King Prawn Tempura (P 660-3 pcs/P 1,100-5 pcs) at Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya. Why? Just take one more look at the size of each King Prawn Tempura draped in its light and delicately crisp batter. 

The sheer size and weight of each piece of the appropriately named King Prawn Tempura deserves the royal moniker. And that first bite announced by an audible crunch is soon followed by a burst of succulent briny sweetness from the large and plump prawn. The King Prawn Tempura of Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya has to be one of the best kept secrets in the metro, and you'll be glad to know you can now find it in San Juan. 

Since it first opened six years ago, Menya Kokoro successfully penetrated the crowded and intensely competitive local specialty ramen restaurant scene with its unique brothless and soupless rendition of the classic and iconic Japanese noodle dish. That clear and unique distinction set Menya Kokoro apart from the rest for a refreshed ramen experience. But the brand didn't stop there with just relevant differentiation versus the usual ramen options, instead Menya Kokoro takes it up a notch with an expanded menu. Tokyo style mazesoba, yakitori, kushiyaki, kushikatsu and highballs and more, step inside Menya Kokoro Ramen Izakaya in San Juan and do come hungry...

Menya Kokoro is located at the Ground Floor of Gallery 7 of The Tile Gallery, A. Mabini Street, San Juan, Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/menyakokoroph and https://www.instagram.com/menyakokoroph/ for more information and updates.

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