In Search of the Perfect Gyudon: Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

On a cold, dreary, rain-drenched night, one searches for the comforts that will bring warmth to the chilliest soul... And for gyudon-addicts like me, nothing beats a piping hot bowl of that good ole' beef... Amidst the pouring rain, I joined a trip to downtown Makati to grab that treat before downing a few drinks... And the place was quite familiar, in fact, its numerous branches litter the metro, albeit unassumingly... But Rai-Rai-Ken perhaps does not suffer yet from the ill effects of commercialization and franchising, perhaps preserving its original taste...

Their take on the sacred beef bowl was quite a pleasant surprise, much like a hot cup of chocolate filled with marshmallows on this stormy night.. The beef strips are rightly cut, with just enough tenderness and grit.. The sauce was quite sweet, however, leading me to think that some teriyaki sauce must have gotten in the way.. The rice serving though was more than adequate... However, lacking obviously was the apparent absence of shitake mushrooms  and onion strips, that give this sacred dish  its necessary contrast of soft and sinewy, sweet and spicy.. Overall, however, it was a satisfying treat for a friendly price, a comforting get-away for the stressed soul, and perhaps one that should be visited more often, when one strays into the heart of the metro.

Gyudon Beef Bowl

P195 per serving

Rai-Rai-Ken Ramen House and Sushi Bar

Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City
Rating: 3 stars!

(originally posted on July 18,2009 in http://volvox23.multiply.com/reviews/item/12)