Today was one of those days where everything just clicked into place. We finally got to check off a few things on our to-do list, including a long-awaited visit to Quiapo Church, a quick grocery run, and a satisfying lunch at Ramen Nagi with Daddydoodledoo.
We’ve been planning to attend mass at Quiapo Church since the start of the month. However, our plans kept getting derailed. First, there was the Feast day of the Nazareno on the 9th, and the place was swarmed with people, so we couldn’t get in. Then last Monday, we tried again, but a Peace Rally by the Iglesia Ni Cristo turned the whole road into a giant parking lot, making it nearly impossible to get anywhere near the church. We just had to let that one go too. But today, with the kids at school, we finally decided it was the perfect time. And lucky us, we made it! We were able to attend mass, say our prayers, and offer our intentions. It was peaceful and exactly what we needed.
Afterward, we were both starving, so we decided to have lunch at Ramen Nagi before doing any more errands. Daddydoodledoo was in the mood for ramen (he’s been craving it since December, seriously), so we headed to Ramen Nagi. The place was buzzing with energy as usual, and it was the perfect spot to satisfy his ramen cravings.
Ramen Date
I went for Ramen Nagi’s signature Original Butao King (₱430), which is a rich tonkotsu ramen made with a pork-bone broth that’s been simmered for over 20 hours. And let me tell you, the broth did not disappoint. It was incredibly rich, velvety, and bursting with deep flavor. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and the pork shoulder was just the right amount of tender – like, melt-in-your-mouth good.
Daddydoodledoo chose the Wonder Kakuni King (₱430), which had tender braised pork belly in a velvety tonkotsu broth with a spicy sauce that definitely brought the heat. I took a bite, and it was really good—super tender and flavorful. But, I have to admit, there was a bit of an “expectation vs. reality” moment. The pork belly in the poster looked so juicy and fatty, and when it arrived, it wasn’t quite as indulgent as we thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, it was still delicious, but I guess the picture set the bar a little too high!
For our side dish, I ordered the Sesame-Q (₱200), which is a refreshing cucumber salad tossed in sesame oil and served with a side of tartar sauce. It was the perfect cool contrast to the warmth of the ramen, and the crunchiness of the cucumber was just what I needed to balance everything out.
All in all, it was a great day—catching up on the things we’d been putting off and enjoying some good food along the way. It felt like we finally got some much-needed downtime, even with all the errands we had to run. Definitely a day well spent!
