We were pretty bored of the ramen choices in Singapore for a while, until Shinsho Ramen opened in mid-2020 and disrupted the scene. Very soon after, they became our favourite ramen shop in Singapore and we are hopelessly hooked to those marvellous bowls of ramen.

Founded by Chef Raymond Tan—the Chef Owner of renown omakase restaurant, Hiryu—Shinsho Ramen is an affordable ramen joint with a carefully-thought menu of interesting appetizers and side dishes, and a very stellar ramen selection that will leave even the connoisseurs mind-boggled.

Ever passionate about serving his customers with nothing but the best, Chef Owner Raymond Tan and Executive Chef Liang Neo spent months working on Shinsho Ramen’s menu, and with their expertise and connections to the best suppliers, you can be assured that you will only be eating premium, superior ingredients.

Shinsho Ramen has 2 outlets in Singapore currently at GR.ID and SingPost Centre.

But let’s first talk about the star of Shinsho—which is the paitan ramen. The broth is standardized and they are all paitan-tonkotsu. Boiled for more than 24hrs with chicken carcasses and pork bones, look forward to a full-bodied milky white broth that is creamy, sweet and extremely satisfying. We’ve always been more drawn to pork bone broth, but Shinsho’s version is a really impressive balance of chicken and pork, with neither being overpowering; it’s a really smooth flavour that will please anyone.

The ramen menu consists of the regular options such as the Aged Soy Sauce (S$14.90), Spicy Red Miso (S$16.90), Homemade Black Garlic (S$15.90) and Special Black Truffle (S$17.90). All are very affordable and comes in a reasonable portion for one, with an assortment of toppings such as cha siu, bamboo shoots, grilled baby corn, spring onion and hanjuku egg.

Shinsho Ramen also has other unique and fusion flavours such as Mala Ramen and Chashu Curry Tsukemen. Be warned, though. The Mala Ramen is super spicy and it is not for the faint-hearted.

Want a more leveled-up version? There is a special ramen menu which comprises some pretty lavish versions: Half Rock Lobster (S$48), Pork Ribs with Teriyaki (S$19.90, and our favourite Kuroge Wagyu A4 (S$54).

The wagyu ramen was the highlight of our meal and it deserves another trip down. 2 slices of A4 wagyu (~110g) are added to the bowl raw, and the boiling broth will cook the wagyu slices lightly, giving it a tender texture with every bite melting in your mouth.

The marriage of paitan-tonkotsu broth and premium wagyu slices is brilliant, and this Kuroge Wagyu A4 ramen is definitely the best bowl of ramen we’ve had in Singapore.

Who needs cha siu in your ramen when you can have wagyu slices?! Trust Chef Raymond and his team to always take things up a notch.

Instead of your usual tortilla wrap, Chef Raymond sourced for good seaweed slices, coated them with a housemade batter, then deep-fried the seaweed which will then become the shells for the taco.

And the fillings are nothing you would expect: mala crayfish, crab tobiko, salmon avocado, wagyu cheese curry, torched mentaiko prawn and scallop with caviar. They are nothing like your usual tacos; these modern fusion tacos both photogenic and unbelievably delicious. Extra points for creativity!

Also on Shinsho Ramen’s menu is a small selection of buns. Mantou is being deep-fried, and tucked with a choice of fried pork loin, sliced roasted pork belly and fried bread crumbs chicken—all at only S$4.90 each. If ramen isn’t for you, perhaps you can go for one of each buns. The kids will love this too!

Shinsho Ramen has plans to open more outlets in 2022 and we are definitely keeping our fingers crossed that they will open an outlet nearer to our home. Until then, you can find them at SingPost Centre or GR.ID Mall.

Shinsho Ramen

SingPost Centre
10 Eunos Rd 8, #01-136,
Singapore 408600
+65 6980 5596

GR.ID Mall
1 Selegie road, #02-02,
Singapore 188306
+65 98792928

This post was brought to you by Shinsho Ramen.

Kanshoku Ramen has opened a new outlet at NEX and it will be having 1-for-1 Dry Truffle Ramen from 8 to 10 Dec 2020.

Founded in 2014, Kanshoku Ramen is one of the more popular local ramen shops in Singapore. The name Kanshoku means ‘to finish eating every last bit of your food’ in Japanese.

The 3-day exclusive promo for the 1-for-1 Dry Truffle Ramen at Kanshoku Ramen NEX starts from 8 to 10 Dec 2020.

Photos credit: Kanshoku Ramen

Some of the other favourites you can order include Truffle Broth Ramen, Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen, Chicken Karaage, Crispy Gyoza and Truffle Edamame.

Kanshoku Ramen has three other outlets at ION Orchard, Orchardgateway and Northpoint City.

Kanshoku Ramen
NEX #01-57
23 Serangoon Central, Singapore 556083

The famous fire ramen from Kyoto, Menbaka Fire Ramen is opening its first-ever overseas outlet outside of Kyoto at Cineleisure Orchard, Singapore on 24 November 2020.

You’ve probably seen footage of Menbaka’s legendary fire ramen all over the internet. And now, you will get the chance to savour the fire ramen in Singapore without having to fly to Kyoto.

Menbaka Fire Ramen soon became a hotspot for Japanese diners and tourists from around the world. Menbaka’s fire ramen is the first in the world to pour flaming negi oil on top of its green onion broth to create towering flames and an exquisitely smokey broth.

Photos credit: Menbaka Fire Ramen

Other than Menbaka’s signature Shoyu Fire Ramen, which consists of chicken, mackerel, seaweed and bonito brewed for over five hours to achieve a complex and flavourful aroma; you can also look forward to the Vegetarian Fire Ramen as well as the Singapore-exclusive Tonkotsu Fire Ramen.

Menbaka Fire Ramen Singapore
8 Grange Road
Cineleisure Orchard #05-03
Singapore 239695

Our favourite type of men is RAMEN. This awesome noodle dish has everything you could ever ask for — tender fragrant cha shu, gooey lava egg, springy noodles and irresistible broth. Repeat after us: ramen is life.

Sadly, ramen isn’t the cheapest. One bowl could easily set you back by S$15 or more. But, finding one that’s both affordable and good isn’t an impossible task. In fact, we’ve found 10!

Singapore actually has quite a number of eateries and stalls that do great ramen priced below S$10. Some of these places are even run by Japan-trained cooks, so you can expect ramen of superb quality.

Photo Credit: www.facebook.com/butakin1214/

#1 BUTA KIN

One of the OG stalls to sell ramen in a hawker centre, Buta Kin is one of the reasons people flock to Beauty World Food Centre. This stall serves up a range of Japanese dishes, from ramen to curry rice.

Their Special Tonkotsu Ramen (S$6.90) sees straight, doughy noodles drowned in broth made from pork & chicken bones and chicken feet. The bowl comes with three tender slices of cha shu, a hanjuku egg and black fungus.

They also offer Tonkotsu Black Ramen (S$6), which is infused with aromatic black garlic oil.

144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Beauty World Food Centre, #04-28
Singapore 588177
Tel +65 8661 6028
Tues to Sun: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Beauty World

#2 GONPACHI RAMEN

Just another piece of evidence that Kovan is an underrated gem for foodies. Gonpachi Ramen is a cosy little neighbourhood joint that does a variety of unique ramen creations.

Their menu features unconventional ramen such as Sweet Sake Marinated Pork Chop Ramen (S$7.80) and Seven Wonder Ramen (S$7.80). Their Smoked Duck Chashu Ramen (S$7.80) is a safe choice

Block 212 Hougang Street 21, #01-329
Singapore 530212
Tel +65 6584 1943
Sun to Thu: 11.45am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Fri to Sat: 11.45am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.45pm
Nearest Station: Kovan

Photo Credit: www.instagram.com/evirobiex/

#3 JAPANESE CURRY EXPRESS

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you’re probably familiar with Fortune Centre, the pinnacle of plant-based dining in Singapore. Even if you’re not, we’re giving you one solid reason to visit that building — Japanese Curry Express.

This homely eatery hidden on Level 3 does some legit Japanese food at a little less than market prices. They offer Char Siew Ramen and Smoked Duck Ramen at $7, both

190 Middle Rd, Fortune Centre, #03-04
Singapore 188979
Tel +65 9689 6314
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

Photo Credit: www.instagram.com/francavielsworld/

#4 KURO OBI

A takeaway concept by the famed Ippudo Ramen, Kuro Obi offers customisable chicken broth ramen starting from $8. Adjust your noodle texture, oil richness and even the amount of garlic and onion according to your preference!

Their classic Shiro-Obi (S$8) comes with thick, wavy noodles in a pool of creamy chicken broth and topped with a slice of chicken cha shu, half of a hanjuku egg and nori seaweed. If you’re in the mood for some spice, try their Aka-Obi (S$10), a spicy shrimp rendition of the chicken broth ramen.

2 Bayfront Avenue, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, #B2-54/55
Singapore 018972
Tel +65 6688 7064
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

Photo Credit: www.instagram.com/liptakang/

#5 RAMEN MONSTER

Decked out in colourful hues and a playful atmosphere, Ramen Monster is breaking the stereotypes of a typical ramen restaurant. With an aim to make ramen affordable and accessible for all, Ramen Monster pushes out straightforward bowls of ramen at reasonable prices.

Their menu features a modest variety, with dishes such as Tsukemen (S$9.90), a type of dipping ramen where noodles are served separate from the broth.

238 Thomson Road
Velocity @ Novena Square #01-53
Singapore 307683
Tel +65 6356 4710
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

Photo Credit: www.instagram.com/stevedino87/

#6 RAMEN TAISHO

If we were to do a blindfolded taste test, we probably wouldn’t be able to differentiate Ramen Taisho’s ramen from the ones churned out at a restaurant. This hawker stall in Maxwell is run by a married couple, Hock Soon and Kalene.

With years of travelling around Japan to learn the art of ramen up his sleeve, Hock Soon is certainly not afraid to show off what he’s learnt.

The Black Garlic Ramen (S$7.80) is spiked with robust black garlic oil while the Salted Egg Tonkotsu Ramen (S$8.80) sees an intriguing blend of briny essence and creaminess.

1 Kadayanallur Street, Maxwell Food Centre, #01-32
Singapore 069184
Tel +65 6777 5859
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Fri: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

#7 SUPPARAKI RAMEN

If there’s one question in life that demands an answer, it would be this — just how does Supparaki Ramen do it? With all their mains priced below S$10, each bowl of ramen is shockingly excellent.

Their Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen (S$7.90) is an absolute steal with its richly flavoured pork bone broth and broad slices of cha shu. For those who are craving dry noodles, their Dry Truffle Ramen (S$6.90) will do you no wrong.

1 North Point Drive, Northpoint City, #B2-152
Singapore 768019
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Yishun

#8 TAKAGI RAMEN

Run by an Australian-Japanese lady, Takagi-san and her husband, Takagi Ramen is as legit as it gets. This joint serves up a variety of mouthwatering ramen concoctions, from Miso Ramen (S$6.50) to Butashoga Ramen (S$8.90).

Their Butashoga Ramen swaps out the usual cha shu slices for flavoursome hand-pulled pork, so it’s a relatively healthier option for those who want to skip the fats.

51 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #01-01C
Singapore 569922
Tel: +65 9138 8017
Daily: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio

#9 WAFU JAPANESE CUISINE

One of the few gems in Capitol Piazza’s Food Republic, Wafu Japanese Cuisine serves up satisfying Japanese mains. Ramen and omu rice? Check.

While their ramen isn’t of amazing quality, it’s still a pretty decent rendition. Fuel up with their Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen (S$8.20) or their dry Abura Ramen (S$6.90).

13 Stamford Road, #B1-20/27, Capitol Piazza
Singapore 178905
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

#10 WAKON RAMEN

Volcano seafood ramen at $9.90? Heck, yes. Wakon Ramen is ready to fix your ramen cravings with their respectable line-up of ramen bowls.

Their Volcano Seafood Ramen incorporates chili paste into their tonkotsu broth. And be warned, it’s not for the faint-hearted. If spicy foods just aren’t your thing, you can go for their shio-based Tokyo Ramen (S$6.90).

28 Dover Crescent, #01-97
Singapore 130028
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Dover

When Singaporeans see the word Yishun, save for the Yishun-dwellers, they normally think of the many odd occurrences that have been blown up on social media and the news often over the past few years.

However, many don’t realize that Yishun is a treasure trove of rather affordable yet delicious food options! One of them, our latest food-find, is Suparakki Ramen located in Northpoint City, serving ramen under S$10. Meaning “super lucky” in Japanese, you’ll find you and your tastebuds feeling exactly that when you taste their ramen.

First up, we tried one of Suparakki Ramen’s classic ramen bowls – the Tonkotsu Black Garlic Ramen (S$9.90). It comes with a good portion of springy ramen noodles, three slices of thinly-sliced chashu, black fungus, seaweed, spring onions and a gooey ramen egg. You can also choose to have it spicy or non-spicy!

We felt that the broth was quite substantial and had a nice richness, complemented by the slight smokiness of the black garlic oil. However, the black garlic taste faded as we continued eating.

We also ordered their Dry Truffle Ramen (S$6.90), which is one of their newest menu items. The bowl comes with pulled pork, shredded seaweed, spring onions, black fungus and a ramen egg. The ramen noodles are drizzled in a special sauce that includes fragrant truffle oil.

We were super impressed by the ramen as it had a very strong truffle flavour. Be sure to mix in all the ingredients and the egg so that you get a good mouthful of all the toppings and chewy ramen noodles. We did find the noodles a tad salty, but it was still a pretty legit bowl considering the price point!

We also think the ramen toppings deserve a quick shout because despite such affordable price points, they were still super delicious. The egg was nicely seasoned and perfectly gooey on the inside, while the chashu was fatty and tender.

Though the seating area may get a bit cramped, we definitely wouldn’t mind coming back for such affordable and delectable ramen bowls.

1 North Point Drive
Northpoint City, #B2-152
Singapore 768019
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Yishun

If you are a soba fanatic, or simply just in love with anything Japanese, you will definitely be familiar with mazesoba: a dry noodle dish steeped in flavourful sauce, topped with a myriad of luscious ingredients and completed with a raw egg yolk in the middle.

For the uninitiated, Mazesoba or fondly described by some locals as the Japanese Bak Chor Mee, is literally translated as mixed noodles and is a type of ramen that has no broth – in other words, it’s dry ramen. As there is no hot soup involved, it is no wonder this dish is particularly popular during the hot summer months in Japan and Korea.

With several outlets in South Korea and Japan, Kanda Soba has finally arrived on our local shores, rolling out their famed mazesoba bowls, sushi platters and HULK Power drinks! Ramen lovers be warned: this restaurant will overthrow your love for ramen and turn you into a mazesoba convert.

Kanda Soba is now offering a set lunch promotion at affordable prices! For only S$12, you get to have their Original Mazesoba, two pieces of yummy sushi, and a beef soup. So, make a beeline for their eatery and see what the hype about them back in South Korea and Japan is all about!

The noodle bar has taken residence in Clarke Quay’s Don Don Donki dine-in food court alongside other Japanese eateries, serving a specialised menu of mazesoba dishes, each created with an array of 62 Korean ingredients. Some of their popular hits include the Original Mazesoba and Cream Mazesoba!

ORIGINAL MAZESOBA WITH CHASHU

Though it is said to contain 62 ingredients in one bowl, one of the key ingredients in the Original Maze Soba (S$12) is its noodles. Kanda Soba focuses on the chewiness and firm texture of the noodle that they use.

To ensure each bowl comes out perfectly, the noodles are boiled for exactly 8 to 9 minutes before it is mixed around in a strainer to enhance the springiness of each noodle.

A good tip to have when enjoying the maze soba is to first mix the ingredients (spring onions, chives, seaweed, ground pepper, raw egg and meat sauce) in to taste the original maze soba. After, add a little bit of the pickled chili vinegar and mix it again. In this way, you’ll get to not only enjoy one but two different types of flavours in one dish!

We love how Kanda Soba’s mazesoba bowls are customisable, ranging from the meat sauce to toppings and sides. You can be your own chef and opt for the ingredients you prefer! We will recommend going for the Original Beef Sauce, which is a unique combination of both beef and pork. We also added the Chashu, which came in two chunky slices.

CREAM MAZESOBA

When we heard that this dish had won over the hearts of many Korean girls, we knew we had to try their Cream Mazesoba. Made from homemade coconut and potato cream, this is one unique mazesoba creation we had never seen before.

To our surprise, the noodles tasted just like carbonara — except much lighter and airier. It wasn’t heavy on our palates either. The generous topping of cream coated every strand of the noodles, giving it a very fluffy texture. It also had a tangy and slightly peppery aftertaste from the sprinkled spices.

The chashu was fork tender and tore apart easily. It was well-torched, and we could taste the hints of char on it, adding on to its savoury flavour. We also appreciated how the chashu had more meat to fat ratio, as compared to the other overly fatty ones in our local Japanese cuisine-inspired restaurants.

Paired with the noodles, the meat had a solid bite and was a nice contrast to the soft, chewy soba. After all, chashu is a one true pairing with Japanese noodles.

SPICY MAZESOBA

Their Spicy Mazesoba is not for the fainthearted. If you’re craving for something that will tingle your tastebuds, this is the dish to try. Just like the Original Mazesoba, it is garnished with a dollop of mixed meats of beef and pork, seaweed, veggies and a raw egg yolk, except with a subtle, unnoticeable twist: a pinch of special chilli sauce.

On the outside, the chilli sauce does not look like much, but mix it together with the noodles and ingredients and you get an everlasting, fiery kick of spice.

MEAT SUSHI PLATTER

Keeping in line with their Japanese cuisine offerings, Kanda Soba also has six varieties of meat sushi—Basil Pesto, Cream Cheese, Mentaiko, Mushroom, Spicy and Original (Herb Salt)—available for you to order alongside your bowl of noodles. The sushi are freshly made with a choice of beef or pork topping. Each piece of meat is torched until it is perfectly caramelized before it is topped on to the moulded sushi rice with your desired topping.

Diners will need to order a minimum of two sushi pieces, but trust us, you will definitely keep going back for more. If you decide to order a mazesoba together with a minimum of two meat sushis, the beef-based sushi will only cost S$1.70, while the pork-based sushi will be S$1.50.

We recommend the Mentaiko with a pork base! The Mentaiko sushi was bursting with sweet and salty notes, while the savoury meat contrasted with the soft, sweet rice.

ORIGINAL MAZESOBA LUNCH SET

When it comes to lunch time, we are always looking for a meal that is not only tasty, but substantial enough to last us through the day. Introducing the dish that brought Kanda Soba to fame: Original Mazesoba.

We had their set lunch promotion, which runs from 11am to 3pm. It came with two standard pieces of sushi, which was their Cream Cheese Meat Sushi and Mentaiko Sushi. We thought the small side of sushi was a nice touch to a simple meal.

During preparation, the Korea-imported noodles are constantly stirred to ensure its springiness, which results in a soft and Q finish. Though the Original Mazesoba looks unassuming, it is actually chock full of ingredients that are full of piquant flavour. Mix all the ingredients together, and you get a burst of flavours in your mouth.

HULK POWER DRINK

An interesting beverage to try at Kanda Soba is their HULK Power Drink (S$4.50), which is also coincidentally a much-loved drink amongst the chefs who hydrates with this drink whenever they are feeling thirsty in the Korean Summer.

This unique thirst-quencher is concocted with the mix of a blue energy drink and a popular Korean Vitamin C drink to give it a bright green colour that’s reminiscent of the well-known Avengers team member, the Hulk.

Kanda Soba
Don Don Donki
B1-11 Clarke Quay Central
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
Singapore 059817
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 3pm – 5pm (break), 5pm – 9:30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

This post was brought to you by Kanda Soba.

October is a great month for ramen lovers! Not only do we have the legendary Ichiran Ramen’s pop-up stall and an abundance of other famed ramen booths setting up shop at Takashimaya’s Japan Food Matsuri, there is also the new “Ichiran-inspired” Gangsta Ramen at Tanjong Pagar Plaza.

What sets Gangsta Ramen apart from the usual ramen restaurants in Singapore is that they are the first place in Singapore to emulate Ichiran Ramen’s private ramen dining concept! Their prices are also NETT, with no GST or service charge.

They offer 12 single-pax booths, separated by wooden dividers for you to eat in isolation and peace. They also have sharing tables for those who prefer to dine with friends.

We tried their Original Ramen (S$10), which had a classic pork bone broth. The noodles were springy and quite firm.

The tonkotsu broth was light—bordering on bland—on the palate and it was not as creamy and rich as we expected.

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We also had the Signature Ramen with Cheese (S$12). All the soups are simmered in the same tonkotsu broth, so taste wise, it was not that much different from their original ramen. The cheese was a let-down; it only coated the first few noodle strands, and the broth did not have the richer, cheesier taste as claimed.

We did like the pork belly slices though; they had a well-balanced meat to fat ratio and were melt-in-your-mouth tender! The hanjuku egg was also runny, and the yolk was slightly sweet, complementing the savoury soup. The ingredients were generous in portion as well, with thick slices of pork belly, bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms.

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If you’re alone and in the area looking to have a peaceful lunch, you can consider dropping by Gangsta Ramen! We will visit here once for the experience, but we won’t return for the ramen.

Gangsta Ramen
1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#2-10
Singapore 082001
Mon to Fri: 11:30am – 8:30pm
Sat: 11:30am – 2:30pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

Cooked properly, a simple dish like ramen could have the makings of something absolutely soul-satisfying. A warm, hearty bowl comprising good quality noodles, succulent meat and an umami-dense broth, ramen is something that we could literally eat at any time of the day—especially late at night after several rounds of drinks.

From places that sell ramen with the most innovation to the ones that keep it as real as it should be, here is our list of 12 ramen restaurants in Singapore, so good that you’ll regret not finishing every last drop. Sit tight, because this is going to be one heck of a drool-inducing ride.

A NOODLE STORY

These folks made it big all thanks to their innovative take on ramen that features locally-inspired ingredients and flavours. They have come a long way since, having been awarded a few prestigious accolades over the years.

Priced rather affordably—compared to most ramen joints anyway—a standard bowl will feature the likes of springy mee kia tossed in a slightly sweetish chilli oil, an onsen egg, wantons, a crispy potato-wrapped prawn (this one’s insanely good) and char siew.

7 Maxwell Road, 01-39,
Singapore 069111
Tel: +65 9027 6289
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 11.15am – 2pm, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Sat: 10.30am – 1.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar/Telok Ayer

GONPACHI RAMEN

Nestled in the heartland of Kovan along the same row as popular Thai eatery, Nakhon Kitchen is Gonpachi Ramen. At this humble ramen joint, you can expect gorgeous and flavourful bowls of restaurant-standard ramen that will not cost you much.

We highly recommend going for the Seven Wonder Ramen (S$7.80) that essentially features the best of everything. This dish comprises 7 types of toppings—a large prawn, half a flavoured egg, bamboo shoots, minced meat, black fungus, corn and a spicy green chilli sauce.

212, Hougang Street 21, #01-329
Singapore 530212
Tel: +65 6584 1943
Sun to Thu: 11.45am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11.45am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.45pm
Nearest Station: Kovan

IPPUDO

A veteran in the ramen scene and one that foodies from all over consider the global standard, IPPUDO is one of those restaurants that you turn to whenever you’re just craving authentic, guaranteed-to-put-your-soul-in-a-good-state bowl of ramen.

Amidst their repertoire of flavour-types, our go-to is always their signature Tonkotsu Ramen. This original creamy tonkotsu broth style balances richness and flavour exceptionally well and always tastes superb.

2 Bayfront Avenue, #B2-54/55,
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands,
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7064
Sun to Thu: 10.30am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 10.30am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

*IPPUDO has multiple outlets islandwide

MARUTAMA RA-MEN

Specialising in chicken broth ramen instead of pork, many may find their version a tad underwhelming but we rather enjoy it because it carries a much milder flavour without compromising in richness. It still satisfies the same way a tonkotsu ramen would.

Milky white and creamy in appeal, their signature chicken paitan ramen not only comes with a beautiful flavour but with lots of collagen which is great news for the ladies.

6A Shenton Way #03-25
Downtown Gallery,
Singapore 068815
Tel: +65 6221 9759
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11am – 9.30pm

RAMEN NAGI

Hailing all the way from Fukuoka in Japan, Ramen Nagi is famous for their knack for experimentation. Founded by Chef Ikuta Satoshi many years back in a humble hole-in-a-wall in Fukuoka (where he’s from), his claim to fame came when people started taking notice of his interesting ramen variations of which would differ every single day of the year—not kidding.

Ordering your ramen is as easy as filling up an order sheet that lets you decide on certain criteria such as richness, spice, doneness of noodles and choice of meat. However, we highly suggest trying their signature Black King if it’s your first time. Infused with blackened garlic, squid ink and black sesame in an umami-dense pork broth, this dish brims with immense richness and a complex flavour that sings.

Suntec City Tower 2, North Wing, #01-512/513,
Singapore 038989
Tel: +65 9144 7482
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Promenade

RAMEN HITOYOSHI

Tucked away in Harbourfront Centre, this gem of a ramen restaurant is seriously worth hyping about. Their broth differs from others in that the flavour of garlic is more pronounced, providing a more savoury flavour and a headier aroma.

We absolutely love their Special Chashu Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen that sees torched slices of pork chashu, a flavoured tamago and black fungus. Their noodles are firm and come with a nice bite to it and everything else is fresh. But truly, it is their soup that seals the deal every time.

1 Maritime Square, #01-99,
Harbourfront Centre,
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6250 8518
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

RAMEN KEISUKE LOBSTER KING

A popular post-party supper spot in Clarke Quay, this boss-level ramen restaurant opens till as late as 5am daily.

As their name clearly states, these folks are known for their lobster broth ramen. Rich, hearty and brimming with an umami-dense lobster flavour, this is hands down, a flavour bomb that will perk up even the tipsiest party animal. An added perk is that their bean sprouts and hard-boiled eggs are free-flow too!

3C River Valley Road, #01-07 The Cannery,
Clarke Quay,
Singapore 179022
Tel: +65 6255 2928
Daily: 6pm – 5am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

SUMO BAR

Founded by the same people that brought you Standing Sushi Bar, Tanuki Raw, Shinkansen and The Secret Mermaid, Sumo Bar focuses on donburi, ramen as well as a selection of tapas—all perfect accompaniments to their vast sake selection.

Their tonkotsu ramen is simmered for 2 days and the result is a concentrated, collagen-rich broth full of flavour and depth. The Sumo Ramen is a beef lover’s idea of perfection—featuring slow-roast oxtail, braised beef tendon, 8-hour-slow-roasted red wine boneless short rib and sautéed sliced US beef.

261 Waterloo Street
01-24 Waterloo Centre
Singapore 180261
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue & Wed: 5.30pm – 10pm
Thu & Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bras Basah

TAKAGI RAMEN

Takagi Ramen, located just a short walk away from Ang Mo Kio Hub, is home to a host of innovative, flavoursome and affordable bowls of ramen. Run by a team of Singaporeans with a mad passion for ramen, every dish is fastidiously prepared and even their noodles are made fresh in-house daily.

Their Butashoga Ramen (S$8.90) consists of everything you would typically expect in a bowl of pork-based ramen—except with pulled pork instead of the usual chashu. A considerably healthier alternative because of the absence of fat, the soup was still rich, creamy and flavourful.

51 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #01-01C,
Singapore 569922
Tel: +65 9138 8017
Daily: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio

TAMPOPO

Known for being one of the top places to visit for high-quality kurobuta (black pig), Tampopo never fails to impress with their wide variety of kurobuta dishes prepared tonkatsu style. While many people prefer their tonkatsu served with rice, we rather enjoy having ours with ramen.

Their Black Pig Tonkatsu Ramen boasts an incredibly complex and flavourful broth that brims with massive pork flavour and tons of umami. Their noodles are brilliantly done and the flavour of their premium kurobuta is truly unparalleled.

177 River Valley Rd, #01-23/24
Liang Court Shopping Centre,
Singapore 179030
Tel: +65 6338 3186
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Fort Canning

TSUTA RAMEN

Opened by Master Chef Onishi Yuki, Michelin-Starred Japanese Soba Noodles joint Tsuta in 18 Taiseng, Sugamo impresses with their expertly prepared bowls of ramen. The soup is composed of a lot of various ingredients, such as whole chicken, herbs and seafood like Asari clams, which are all carefully selected and their noodles are made from scratch using a combination of different flours.

Their truffle oil blended Shoyu is a signature condiment and can be found dolloped over quite a few of their ramen offerings. We tried their Shoyu Soba for its sheer simplicity and that alone, managed to blow us away.

18 Tai Seng Street #01-01
Mapletree 18
Singapore 539775
Mon to Wed: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm
Thu to Sun:11pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Tai Seng

Takagi Ramen, located just a short walk away from Ang Mo Kio Hub, is our new go-to spot for innovative, flavoursome and affordable bowls of ramen—here’s why.

Run by a team of Singaporeans with a mad passion for the craft, every dish is fastidiously prepared, ensuring that every single bowl of ramen that leaves the kitchen is guaranteed to possess maximum flavour with just the right texture.

Ang Mo Kio may not be the first to come to mind when one thinks of authentic ramen, but little did we realise—having chanced upon this humble hole-in-a-wall—that it is indeed very possible to find great food (that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg) in even the most unassuming of places.

Feeling in the mood for something a little more unusual, we opted for the Butashoga Ramen (S$8.90) which essentially consists of everything you would typically expect in a bowl of pork-based ramen—except with pulled pork instead of the usual chashu.

Supposedly healthier due to the lack of fat, what we particularly enjoyed was the fact that the pork was incredibly well flavoured and seasoned. The shreds of pork were tender and brimmed with a robust and deep pork taste.

Freshly made in-house, the ramen noodles were springy with just the right amount of chew to it.

Paired with the rich pork broth, the Butashoga Ramen was just a delight to have. Takagi Ramen succeeded in ensuring that the pork broth was neither overwhelmingly rich nor salty, and we were pleasantly surprised with how the distinct flavours of the pulled pork and pork broth blended well together.

Takagi Ramen
51 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #01-01C,
Singapore 569922
Tel: +65 9138 8017
Daily: 11am – 12pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio

There’s no shortage of Japanese ramen restaurants in Singapore, and joining the lineup over at South Beach Avenue is Ebi-Tori Menzo.

Hailing from Osaka, Ebi-Tori Menzo, as per namesake, specialises in both chicken ramen and shrimp tsukemen. For the uninitiated, tsukemen is a form of dipping noodles, and the sauce it’s served with is a thicker and richer version of the usual ramen soup broths that we are used to.

Their signature ramen offering may not rank as high as compared to many others out there but here’s why you should pay this humble ramen restaurant a visit anyway.

We ordered both their signature dishes—their Signature Ebi Tsukemen (S$17.90) and their Shio Chicken Ramen (S$15.90).

Their Signature Ebi Tsukemen was served with a mix of fresh salad leaves, tomatoes, sweet potatoes cubes, a slice of baguette and a thick slice of Chashao.

They use over 15 ingredients—all of which are on display on their wall mural—in just their shrimp based dipping sauce and broth alone. The result is reminiscent of both mee rebus and lobster bisque.

To be completely honest, in spite of the hype of the sauce itself being intensely flavoured with shrimp and other seafood items, our taste buds felt differently. Granted that the sauce was rich (as it’s meant to be), the flavours of prawn did not really come through as prominently as we would have liked.

We actually preferred the Shio Chicken Ramen. It was topped with two slices of the same thick-cut Chashao, bamboo shoots and shards of sweet potato crisps.

What caught our attention was not the noodles or broth, but surprisingly, the sweet potato crisps. The flavour of the long crisps melded well with the flavour of the Shio broth, unlikely to be found anywhere else.

Both bowls of noodles were served with Chashao. We found them neither too fatty nor too dry, and it provided an adequate chew before melting away in our mouths. However, for some, it might be considered too salty.

Ebi-Tori Menzo
South Beach Tower
26 Beach Road
#B1-18 South Beach Avenue
Singapore 189767
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade