Bariuma Ramen @ Jaya Shopping Center PJ - Marvelous Ramen!

Ramen devotees are constantly on the lookout for the best ramen in town.

My essential guide to Ramen is really simple - flavorful but not-too-oily broth, bouncy and well done noodles, with a thick cut of deliciously simmered chashu to add.

Sounds really simple. But did Bariuma meet the mark though?

Bari-Uma Ramen

My first foray into the newly revamped Jaya Shopping Center brought me to Bariuma Ramen Japanese Restaurant. Mind you, it's spanking new but already brimming with loyal customers and curious onlookers alike. And I was there that evening to sample some of Bariuma's signature and highly recommended dishes.

It is also important to note that Bariuma is located inside Jaya Shopping Center, not Jaya One, not Jaya 33.

Here, you'll get an amalgamation of some of the best ingredients from around the world, from Japan to Italy, to Spain, if I were to name a few. I was without a doubt, eager to feast. Starting with two of the most popular Japanese appetizers, before moving on to the ramen, and ending with desserts.

Yakitori Combo. Rm13.90 (5 sticks).

For a combo plate, you'd get a combination of 5 yakitori sticks - pork and chicken thighs with leeks, pork belly, and chicken breast sasami and toriniku. 

My favorite would have to be the pork belly yakitori. It was delightful, flavorsome yet mildly chewy at the same time. Nevertheless, I thought there were too much teriyaki-like sauce on the plate. It splattered messily onto the table - and clothes, every time we gregariously pried a meat off the stick. 

Chicken Gyoza. Rm11 (5pcs) Rm20 (10pcs).

Pan fried Japanese chicken dumpling which was fine to be eaten just like that. Perhaps it could do better with a squeeze of mayo and ginger at the side.

Negi Mayo Gyoza. Rm12 (5pcs) Rm22 (10pcs).

For those who'd like a hint of spiciness in their gyoza, opt for this version instead.

Bari-Uma. Rm26.

Bariumas' pork flavored shoyu soup was not overly rich or thick, done in clever consistency, and good enough to fill you up without feeling overwhelmed towards the end. The noodles were well done too. There is also a lighter version in their menu, Ajitama-uma. 

Chashu-Uma. Rm32.

The Chashu-uma is definitely value for money. Essentially the Bari-uma, plus four thick cut flamed Spanish chashu instead of one. The chashu had toothsome textures and melts in the mouth. For an additional 6 bucks, it was clearly worth every penny.

Kara-Uma. Rm26.

Meant for those who have a fiery tongue, the Kara-uma comes in the form of spicy soup and the essential lots. If you are wondering what those yellow pickled-lookalike slices are - those are bamboo shoots. Like most Kara-ramen, the spiciness was slow to hit, and it leaves a tinge of fieriness to the tongue on every mouthful.

Noritama-Uma. Rm29.

My top pick of the day and also the chef's recommendation - Noritama-uma. 

One glance at this dish and I thought - well, looks inherently extravagant compared to the rest and has way more seaweed than it probably needs. The fantastic thing about this - the slices of seaweed added the perfect twang to the pork flavored shoyu soup. It was delectable on every slurpful and absolutely addictive. Me and my friends were literally fighting over who gets to finish it. I guess everyone agreed with my verdict as well.

Green Tea Ice Cream. Rm7.90.

A compulsory dessert after a satisfying Japanese meal. This green tea ice cream was not too sweet and had a substantially authentic green tea taste to it. 

Black Sesame Ice Cream. Rm7.90.

As much as I love my matcha, my vote would go to this - black sesame ice cream.

This tasted fabulous. The texture of this Italian imported ice cream was very refined, yet packed with an abundance of sesame. I wouldn't mind having a cup of this everyday. Sinful indulgence I suppose.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10. For a wholesome Japanese meal at Bariuma, I would order - one plate of original gyoza, a bowl of noritama-uma, and a serving of black sesame ice cream for dessert. If I had additional tummy space, I would go for the chashu-uma instead. Closing this review, Bariuma is definitely on top of my ramen list. In my humble opinion, this place could potentially be the Rising Star of Ramen in PJ.

For Bari-Uma Menu and Prices click Here.

Address: L3-11, Level 3, Jaya Shopping Centre, Jalan Semangat, Seksyen 14, 46100 Petaling Jaya.
Phone: 03-7932 2958
Website: www.bariuma.my
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm-3pm / 6pm-9.30pm 

Bariuma is located inside Jaya Shopping Center, not Jaya One, not Jaya 33. A corner shop lot on level 3.