A refreshingly light yet flavorful broth infused with the sharpness of leeks and the indulgent nutty notes of truffles sounds like a winning combination. But it becomes even more special when used as the soup stock in a bowl of ramen...
Fresh, clean, light yet full of flavor, the signature Shoyu Ramen earned the Michelin star for Tsuta Ramen not just once but three years in a row. Now that's no ordinary bowl of noodles...
Inside Tsuta Ramen, the attentive staff leads you to your table, but I suggest sitting at the bar for a view of the open kitchen and witness the creation of each dish before being served, quite an experience in itself (for more on Tsuta Ramen, see my previous post, A Bowl of Ramen and a Michelin-Star Dining Experience at Tsuta). 
Drawing inspiration from the traditional layout of ramen houses in Japan, sitting by the bar gives you a unique vantage point for an exclusive peek behind each starter and bowl of ramen. Trained by chef and owner Onishi Yuki, the local chefs prepare each dish to the exacting standards of Tsuta Ramen's young founder... 
...and my starter, the Ro-Su Char Siu (P 100), is masterfully executed and served. The use of the freshest and finest ingredients is evident, but one bite is all you need to appreciate Tsuta Ramen's distinct style and culinary approach to flavors.
The thin fork-tender slices of delicately roasted pork delivers a subtle richness capped by the flavorful butter sauce and perfectly finished by the fresh leeks and watercress adding both flavor and texture. It's the kind of starter that really opens up your palate before your bowl of ramen...
At the open kitchen, the chefs prepare another set of tasty starters for the growing lunch crowd. The Aburi Niku, another signature starter, is torched before serving. The starters and sides at Tsuta Ramen are also unique to this Michelin-starred ramen house. Then, the signature Shoyu Ramen was served... 
The Shoyu Soba (P 390) is a masterful play on subtle and delicate notes with its light broth. Unlike the usually heavier soup stocks from other ramen houses, Tsuta Ramen's broth is refreshingly clean while delivering full flavors. The mild salty hints of the broth are perfectly tempered by the sharp notes of the leeks and the deep earthy flavors of the truffles.
The soft yet firm soba, or buckwheat noodles...
...and the fork-tender pork chashu complete the trifecta of flavors. Definitely different, it's yet another expression of a comforting bowl of noodles. But this one's got a star, a Michelin star, behind it.
Tsuta Japanese Soba Noodles is located at the UG/F, C3, Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/tsutaphilippines/ for more updates.
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