One bowl of ramen that completely overdelivered. One dessert that overhyped itself. Here’s what really happened at Karrivin, Makati.

Getting a reservation at Azukitoyo felt like buying concert tickets and I still wasn’t entirely sure it was worth it.

That’s the thought I left Karrivin with. But let me take you back to the beginning, because before the dessert debate, there was a bowl of ramen that made me want to come back to this little strip of restaurants every single week.

Karrivin, Makati

Karrivin is easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there. It’s a small, quiet stretch of restaurants tucked in Makati, al fresco tables lining the path, each spot with its own personality. It doesn’t try to be loud. It doesn’t have to.
I arrived with my best friend. We were celebrating their birthday, and I had been planning this day for weeks.

The Underbelly: The One That Stole the Show

We started at The Underbelly, a Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded ramen restaurant, and it set the bar dangerously high for everything that followed.

We ordered three things — Billy’s Rib Ramen (PHP480), Belly Dip Tsukemen (PHP480), and Karaage (PHP280). The tsukemen came first. For the unfamiliar, tsukemen is a dipping ramen, the noodles arrive separately from the broth, and you dip as you eat. The noodles had this satisfying chew, almost crunchy at the edges, and the broth was thick and deeply savory, the kind that coats the back of a spoon and makes you slow down. The ramen was everything ramen should be. And the karaage? Perfectly crisp, not greasy, gone in minutes.

The Bib Gourmand recognition is well deserved. But honestly, even without the award, I’d be back. This place earns its reputation on the plate, not the accolade.

Azukitoyo: The Hype, The Experience, The Verdict

Now, the main event.

Azukitoyo is a kakigori specialty shop, Japanese shaved ice layered into something delicate and architectural. What makes it talked about isn’t just the dessert. It’s the scarcity. The shop seats only 8 people. Reservations open at the end of each month and disappear almost immediately. I checked their Instagram regularly, waited for the announcement, and when booking day came, it was exactly like securing concert tickets. Frantic. Competitive. I managed to snag the only available slot for two: March 10th at 5:30PM.

Once you secure a slot, they email you within 24 hours to confirm your reservation by paying PHP600 per person. No payment, no seat.

On the day itself, we headed over at 5:30PM. One thing to note, they don’t call you or send a signal when they’re ready. You have to walk in and let them know you’ve arrived. We were seated by the window. Our server Axel was warm, informative, and made the experience feel personal.

We ordered the Azuki at Meringue (PHP600) and Table at Kiat Kiat (PHP750). The meringue kakigori was the standout –  light, airy, not aggressively sweet, with the meringue flavor coming through cleanly in every layer. The kiat kiat, on the other hand, was too sour for my taste. Not bad, just not for me.

The desserts are served individually, so you can savour each one fully before the next arrives, no racing against a melting clock. The atmosphere is intimate and peaceful, the kind of place that feels like a little escape. It’s a genuinely lovely experience from start to finish. Just a heads-up: it can get cool inside, so bring a jacket if you run cold. The good news is they offer throw, which honestly just makes the whole thing feel even more cozy and special.

But here’s my honest take: I think a big part of Azukitoyo’s appeal is the difficulty of getting in. The 8-seat capacity, the monthly reservation scramble, the advance payment, all of it builds anticipation before you’ve even tasted anything. And when anticipation is that high, the actual thing rarely matches it.

The kakigori was good. It wasn’t life-changing.
If you love desserts, try it, at least once, for the experience. But given the choice on any random day? I’d pick street food ice scramble without hesitation.

Quick Stop – One Ayala

After Karrivin, we wandered over to One Ayala and stopped at Uniqlo Coffee for juice. A good palate cleanser before heading home. Nothing more to say, it was a nice, easy wind-down to the day.

Final Verdict

The Underbelly –  go. No reservations needed, no hype required. Just genuinely great food that speaks for itself.

Azukitoyo –  go once, for the experience. Manage your expectations and you’ll enjoy it. Walk in expecting to be blown away and you might leave a little flat.

Up next on my Karrivin list: Toyo’s course meal. I’ll report back when I do.

Love,

Maria