Saturday, January 18, 2014

Menya Miyabi Hokkaido Ramen (麺や 雅) @ Queensbay Mall, Penang.


Originated from Japan, Menya Miyabi is the first branch in Penang/ Malaysia, with 4 branches in Japan, Menya Miyabi is making the interior decor as simple as possible, just like those Ramen shops in Japan. Its location at Queensbay Mall provides shoppers a decent place to enjoy a quick meal and recharge. Their menu, however, is rather simple and earnest- few Ramen dishes, couple of Rice dishes and Gyoza/ Japanese Dumplings. Prices are on the higher side but it is worth splurging a little more to go for their authentic Ramen than the usual ones; service was genuine and attentive but probably due to first day jitters, the presentation of the foods was somewhat unappealing and falls below par, improvements are certainly needed. Do check out their Ramen dishes if you are in the mall and on the lookout for some new eateries. Menya Miyabi is located on 1st floor of Queensbay Mall, a stone's throw distance from Maybank of South Zone. 



We were especially enamored for their Yaki-Miso Ramen (Rm 23 for Regular/ Rm 26.50 for Large), the broth was brimming with flavors, with a permeating aroma from the Yaki Miso; extra marks for the perfectly cooked al-dente Ramen noodles and the Onions which gave a crunchier bite. The Braised Egg was equally delectable- perfectly cooked with a runny Egg Yolk. I like my Ramen broth to be thick, rich and creamy but theirs seemed to be quite lacking in the thickness. Nevertheless, it was a relief that the Chef had done a great job in maneuvering the flavors- not too heavily seasoned/ salty, just perfect. The Large-sized Ramen is just enough for a big eater I reckon, go for the Regular ones if you are not one. 


Served piping hot, their Tonkotsu Ramen (Rm 23 for Regular/ Rm 26.50 for Large) was a little less successful when in comparison with their Yaki-Miso Ramen. The broth was boiled for hours to extract the essence, the result is a milky white, thick and rich broth, which was robust in pork-broth flavor but unlike Yaki-Miso Ramen, it lacked of a discernible aroma; just my personal preference probably. 


Their Gyoza/ Japanese Fried Dumplings (Rm 11 for 6/ Rm 19 for 12) was a disappointment. The charred surface did provide a pleasant burnt aroma but the filling was nothing out of the ordinary, nor it was juicy. It felt like as though I was eating some normal dumplings that can be found elsewhere. Moreover, it was let down to learn that they were not providing any dipping sauce for the Gyoza, not even julienned Ginger, as a top-notch Japanese Ramen shop, I would expect them to have at least served us some dipping sauce to complement with the Gyoza. 


Ratings:
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good) *6.5/10 for the Gyoza*
Price: 6.5/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)
Service: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Parking: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Ambiance: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: Yes 6%
Non-Halal

Additional Information:
Address: 1F- 152, Queensbay Mall, 100, Pesiaran Bayan Indah, Bayan Lepas, Penang.
Business Hours: 11am to 9:30pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 604- 645 3811

1 comment:

  1. The sauce for the gyoza can be made using soy sauce, chilli oil and vinegar that you can request. The rest are available at the table

    ReplyDelete