Going Japanese at Mushin Cafe in Santa Barbara, Iloilo

This bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen is the most affordable Japanese noodle soup we've ever seen so far!

Given that most ramens cost from PhP 180 to PhP 250 here in Iloilo to around PhP 450 in Manila. Not to mention the almost PhP 950 bowl I had in Hong Kong (missing Ichiran).

Now back at home, Mushin Japanese Cafe along Arroyo Street in Santa Barbara near the town's public market, offers this Japanese noodle soup for only PhP 130 a bowl with add-ons ranging from PhP 10 to PhP 55.

This hole in the wall cafe offers two kinds of ramen - Tonkotsu and Syoyu/Shoyu.

Tonkotsu ( NOT tonkatsu) has a soup broth based on pork bones and other ingredients, which are typically boiled for several hours, and the dish is traditionally topped with sliced pork belly and served with ramen noodles that are hard in the center.

Syoyu (soy sauce in Japanese) has a clear brown broth, based on a chicken and vegetable (or sometimes fish or beef) stock with plenty of soy sauce added resulting in a soup that is tangy, salty, and savory yet still fairly light on the palate. (Wikipedia).

Already a complete set on its own but one certainly cannot resist the add-on especially the spices and sea weeds. But if you're a big eater, you may opt for additional noodles and/or chasyu.

We cannot say no to the Takoyaki balls that sell for an affordable PhP 100 at 12 pieces. It alread has its mayo and its signature brown takoyaki sauce.

But for just an additional PhP10 each, you can top it with a special cheese sauce and my favorite bonito flakes. These are dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna shavings that add another taste and texture profile to the takoyaki and other Japanese specialties.

Capping our orders, we also had Matcha and Hojicha milkteas with the tea brewed and made from organic tea leaves. They also have a hot and cold coffee line up.

The cafe is unassuming and is located along the road in a busy area with many shops around it. Its al fresco ambiance can comfortably seat around 20 pax but due to social distancing around 8 to 10 pax is just right.

The menu is simple and not confusing. Besides ramen and takoyaki, Mushin also serves gyoza, yakisoba, omelette rice, chicken & chasyu donburi meals.

Photo grabbed from Mushin Cafe FB Page

And to have a totally unforgettable visit, they offer traditional Japanese costumes called Yukata which diners can rent for just 10 pesos!

Mushin Japanese Cafe is located along Arroyo Street in Santa Barbara near the public market. Commuters can take Santa Barbara jeeps from Ungka Terminal and alight in front of the cafe when in town. Fare is around 18 pesos.

Those with vehicles can just turn right after Savemore Sta. Barbara and go straight until (before) the public market. Just ask around when you missed it.

Facebook Page MUSHIN JAPANESE CAFE

Sooo Pinoy in Davao City RELOADED! Day 4

I was in Davao City exactly this day a year ago, to be part of Unilever Food Solutions' Sooo Pinoy Food Trip . The goal of the Food Trip is to show that Filipino dishes per region have different identities based on the culture, lifestyle and history of the area. The Food Trip also aims to show that there are many Filipino recipes from different regions of the Philippines, each having its own specialty that has to be recognized for the unique flavor it adds to the Filipino Cuisine. Lots of goodies at Lola Abon's As our eatinerary for the day begins late in the morning, we made use of the spare time doing our pasalubong shopping at Lola Abon’s. Among the most popular durian candy makers in Davao, this business started in 1948 when Abondia del Puerto Raakin made some pastillas de leche. When her sukis suggested putting some flavour to them, she thought of durian being abundant in Davao, thus the durian candy making business was born. In no time at all I filled my basket w...

An Ilonggo favorite - Valenciana

Found in almost all occasions like fiesta, birthdays, reunions and others, Ilonggos really love valenciana because most if not all have grown accustomed of having it in special gatherings at home. A complete " go, grow and glow " dish because it has the carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and minerals in just one spoonful, Valenciana is really an " occasional dish ". Here's the recipe for Valenciana

Ultimate Ilonggo Favorite: KBL Kadyos, Baboy, Langka

K.B.L. or Kadyos, Baboy, Langka is the ultimate favorite dish of most Ilonggos. It is also one of the most missed native dishes as kadyos and the souring ingredient, batwan , are hard to find when outside of the Ilonggo region. Basically, it is boiled/stewed pork dish owing its "deliciousness" to the combination of the soft and tender pork, the tamed sourness of batwan and the malinamnam na sabaw . One of the "secrets" of the malinamnamn na sabaw , is the fact that the pork, whether just the plain meat or pata (hocks) are first grilled or broiled. This gives the broth a rather smoky taste that makes it more appetizing.. Learn how to make the Ilonggo dish KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka) with the recipe below. Ingredients 1 kilo Pata (pork hocks) or pork cubes, GRILLED and sliced into bite size pieces 1 unripe Jack fruit, cubed 2 cups pigeon pea (kadyos) 6-8 pieces batwan fruit (or tamarind powder) 1 piece por...

Easy Century Tuna Recipes

If you're looking for simple, easy and delicious Century Tuna recipes online, congratulations, you've found it right here! How about spicy tuna sisig or tuna sinigang ? Maybe stir fried tuna with pickles or just yang chow fried rice . I love Century Tuna from its flakes in oil variety, the spicier the better, but when I discovered the versatility of its solid variant, it became an obsession. At first I was just into the usual tested recipes; pasta and sandwich filling, but then it got simpler – I just eat it straight from the can! Usually with a piece of bread or an apple. I just add a few drops of vinegar to spice it up a bit. Then came the experiments. Yup I got tired of that habit that one day, I decided to test my skills in the kitchen. Serendipity, you might call it yet most of them turned into good recipes that I have shared now and then. Satisfying my Palabok cravings had me experiment on this recipe on the spot. With Century Tuna in lieu of the us...

Bitso-bitso

What is bitso-bitso ? Also spelled/called bichu-bichu or bitsu-bitsu , this native delicacy is made with fried rice flour dough then coated with coconut cream and muscovado sugar syrup. Its like a combination of making palitaw and banacue . The rice flour based "dough" is usually twisted and deep fried. Then it is placed/cooked in a mix of muscovado sugar then dried out. The sugar then "re-crystallize" making a crisp coating for the fried rice flour. The result is a local delicacy that crisp and sweet in the outside yet chewy inside. Cooking bitso-bitso is done many different ways and with different mixes of ingredients. These particular ones in Santa Barbara, Iloilo are still crisp even after being exposed - they are peddled every afternoon around town for 5 pesos a piece. I particularly like the fact that the sugar coating crumbles in every bite, though messy at times, but its alway a treat to have these bitso-bitso . ...

FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Search This Blog