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First look at Marudori, Mendokoro Ramenba’s new sibling at Rockwell

This cold period is the perfect time of the year for a warm bowl of ramen. And if you want to explore something outside of your usual ramen places, Nippon Hasha Inc., the company behind Ramen Yushoken and Mendokoro Ramenba, has a new concept called Marudori.

Located on the ground floor of 8 Rockwell, the restaurant gets its name from “maru” which means whole and “dori,” derived from “tori,” meaning chicken. For those who are curious, yes, the concept is all about using all parts of the humble chicken to make a flavorful soup.

Yuzu tsukemen (P520). Seasoned shio taré with freshly grated yuzu, chicken breast, fried chicken balls, pinch of lemon, and yuzu kosho.
Shio paitan (P430). Salt-based taré with chicken breast, yuzu peel, leeks, and menma.

If you loved Yushoken and Mendokoro’s creamy pork-based ramen broth called “tonkotsu,” you’re in for a brand-new experience with Marudori’s “paitan,” a kind of thick broth of chicken—and take note, they use locally sourced chicken, too.

Ebi miso tsukemen (P680) topped with fried shrimp balls, karaage, and grilled prawns. Served with yuzu vinegar on the side.

There are three kinds of ramen (starts at P430) on the menu: tori paitan, with Marudori’s signature chicken broth; tsukemen, with noodles served separately with a dipping broth; and hiyashi, a type of cold ramen, traditionally served during summer.

Shoyu paitan (P460), a soy-based bowl with grilled chicken thigh.

As usual, to maintain its quality, Marudori’s ramens are not made for takeout. But there are other equally delightful items on the menu that will surely be your new favorites in no time. 

Tsukune (P280), grilled minced chicken with housemade seasoning, served with organic egg and teriyaki sauce; and grilled shrimp (P280-P420), ebi on top of coleslaw, seasoned with sesame dressing.

There’s the tsukune, an entree of grilled minced chicken served with organic egg and teriyaki sauce. Unfortunately, one of the early crowd favorites, the chicken gyoza, is only available for dine-in.

Marudori is open to fully vaccinated guests all week long, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There’s no need to make a reservation, too, as it follows a first-come, first-served policy. 

Tags: ramen
Christian San Jose: