Back to Osaka with Atsu Atsu Ramen

Ohayo!

I've been missing Japan for quite some time now.

Something about the culture and the people living there have impacted me in a great way that I can never seem to forget about the country.

That is why when I spotted Atsu Atsu Ramen in Araneta Avenue, I knew I had to try it.

Restaurant exterior

After mass, we decided to have dinner in Atsu Atsu. My brother accompanied us, but since he had a dinner to go to, he was not going to eat a full meal.

Upon entering, the Japanese curtains were opened. No greeting no frills, no nothing but the interiors were very reminiscent Japan.

We were quite surprised when they asked us if we reserved a table. At the back of my mind, I was thinking "Um, no. I didn't think we had to right?" So we were showed to the odd single chairs. Another ummmm moment and I wanted to step out at that point. But instead I decided to stick around and ask the waiter to give us a table when another table is freed up. Mind you that it was just 7:30 PM and the other tables were reserved for 9PM. Hello! One and a half hour? Sayang sa oras! So I just asked my mom to look at the waiters while they were cooking. Nakakahiya sa mom ko na palpak ung resto na pinili ko.

You can see the cooks preparing you food.

But again, I wanted to give them a chance, I thought to myself, the restaurant is still new, the staff, unexperienced so I had to give them a leeway.We couldnt decide if we wanted to get the ramen set or have a ramen good for two but we finally decided on having the miso ramen for two and separate orders of agedashi tofu, tonkatsu and gyoza. They had pretty simple menu - no frills.

The order arrived just in when 3 tables cleared up. Hooray! Just when I noticed that the order placed in our table is the ramen noodle set which I had cancelled. I quickly called the waiter who apparently still misunderstood me and continued to serve the gyoza, and some buns I didn't even had a choice! Gah! At that point, I wanted to ask them to wrap everything we ordered, pay the bill and leave. I was sooooo frustrated. As in. First the reservation which was not their fault but they could've posted a sign outside that said reservations only and telephone number. Then seeing that some of the tables reserved were set to be occupied at 9PM then the screwed up order and finally the misunderstanding of the screwed up order. Waaahhhh. Nakakaloka!

I was sooo frustrated I couldn't eat. I was irked and irritated. My bad for choosing a newly opened restaurant with inexperienced staff! But my brother who heard me order, insisted that I did relay all the right instructions to the waiter and I was not at fault.

After a couple of minutes in breathing exercises, I did calm myself and eat. The food like the food in Japan, was nothing special but I like the fact that it was tasty, not to salty, not too sweet, unlike the other restos. It was simple feel good food.

We left the place five minutes before 8pm. hello, to the 9PM reservation na ayaw kaming paupuin! I thought I was going to have a problem when I get the bill because of their screwed up order but thankfully I didn't. Naawa pa din ako so even if they charged us 10% service change, I did leave a tip.

But, shoo away the negastar, which I will not become, when i say that I do believe in second chances. I hope the next time I get to visit Atsu Atsu Ramen, I won't encounter the same incident again.

Budget per head: Php 250-300

Interiors