TAMPOPO - San Jose del Monte

I love their black pig shabu ramen...super delicious talaga!!!

Tried Tampopo Ramen at lunchtime, and the place - merely partitioned from the Promenade Mall itself - only had five or so diners in it. Staff were polite and there was the traditional greeting, but here it wasn't as enthusiastic as that of Ramen Nagi. I ordered the Black Pig Shabu Ramen and their steamed gyoza. The Black Pig Ramen was very good, but not quite as stellar as those of top ramen houses. The steamed gyoza was a departure from the previously fried versions, and had hints of China all over it. The mango shake was freshly made - not poured from a can - and is thus a plus point.Will come back!

Although Kuroda and Yushoken remain to be the top two ramen joints on my list, Tampopo is a welcome break from the two. It's milky and spicy, although I don't really fancy the corn in my ramen.

I brought my good friend and her daughter to Tampopo since they wanted to eat ramen. The restaurant is in the middle of the mall with no separate enclosure so the airconditioning is dependent on the mall. We came early during the lunch hour so there weren't too many people around. We ordered ramen and the black pig tonkatsu. The ramen was good, with many toppings available. The "top grade black pig" tonkatsu was nothing great - certainly not worth the increase in the price. On the whole, quite expensive but taste is mediocre.

On our first visit here. we waited at least 10minutes in the reception area waiting for someone to assist us or to tell us how long we would have to wait since they were "kinda" full that weekdayevening. After waiting 10minutes or more , we decided to eat somewhere else because they did not even bother to entertain or assist us. (whats the point of the reception table if there is no receptionist to welcome you?)Anyhow, we again tried to eat here the second time around, weekday night. and at last there was a receptionist who told us to wait . we did not mind , at least we were being assisted. after 10 minutes or so. we were finally seated. The ambience was ordinary since it is located in front of the mall entrance. Since I am an avid fan of Ramen , I wanted to ask the waiter what the differences are with each dishes. the answer of the waiter though was not only mediocre but insulting to me and to the establishment. When I asked him what the difference of each ramen were , he answered me with a shrug and added " Sir, I think its all the same" which kind off irked me. But not letting that ruin my dinner. After asking a series of questions regarding the dishes they served there. of which the answer was either "he doesnt Know" or "its all the same" or " I am new here so I dont Know" We finally ordered Deluxe Tampopo Black Pig Shobu Ramen , Deluxe Hakodate Ramen and the Black Pig Tonkatsu Set which cost me 700+ and two glasses of water. The waiting time was also hell since it took them at least 15 minutes or more to take out the first food. Tasting the Ramen; The ramen was okay, nothing fancy. The tonkatsu set was also average. not that good not bad also.Asking for the bill tooked us another 10 minutes or more. Its as if we were playing the waiting game. and dont you hate it when you pay expecting a 100 pesos change , that it seems that the wait for your change is very long, its as if they dont want to give your change back. Note to service crew: Serve me WELL, I will give you that 100 change plus another 100, IF service is satisfactory. and not the other way around. Anyway, after eating in this place. Id say there wont be another visit coming from me or my friends any time soon