Ramen Nagi @ Suntec City - Tokyo's Ramen Of The Year For 3 Consecutive Years

Ramen Nagi at Suntec City has more than 40 outlets around the world. Winning top spots in Tokyo's Ramen of the Year for three consecutive years, their signature Kings ramens served in Singapore are Butao, Red, Black and Green King. You can customise your bowl of ramen by choosing the richness of the broth, amount of garlic, spice level, ramen texture, the type of meat and vegetables that you prefer. Additional toppings such as Ramen Egg, Seaweed, Cabbages are available too.

Red Ramen 3/5

The Red King ($15.90) is seemingly a hot favourite. The spice blend is a concoction of garlic, chilli oil and cayenne pepper, topped with a ball of miso-infused minced pork and special Nagi spices. I had mine with pork belly. Well marinated, soft and tender, I strongly recommend their pork belly over chashu. The spice blend was aromatic and robust, but the combination of that and the miso-infused minced pork was too highly flavoured. It can be quite a challenge to finish the entire bowl.

Butao Ramen 3.5/5

The beauty of the Original Butao King ($13.90) is that it allows you to taste the rich, creamy tonkatsu broth. For the price, the portion is generous with 3 big pieces of chashu. However, the chashu here is probably one of the driest I ever had. Hence, do opt for the Pork Belly if possible.

Gyoza 3/5

I was surprised to find bite-size Fukuoka style Gyoza here. The skin was not as thin compared to those that I had in Fukuoka, but the crisp skirt was good enough for me.

Other than the four signature ramens, Ramen Nagi also serves up Limited Kings on a rotational basis, including all Veggie King and Shrimp King. It has also opened its second outlet at Ion Orchard.

Written By Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Ramen Nagi
Suntec City Tower 2
North Wing
9 Temasek Boulevard
#01-512/513
Singapore 038989
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Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

So Ramen @ Novena Square - Shiok Tonkotsu + Bonito Broth

Singaporean loves Japanese food, and there are indeed quite a number of ramen shops in Singapore. One of the lesser-known brands is So Ramen a local brand by the breadtalk group. It offers three types of noodles (Hosomen, Chijiremen and Futomen) and 5 types of broths (shoyu, miso, tonkotsu, uobushi tonkotsu, and spicy tonkotsu).

Grand Tonkotsu 4/5

The Grand Tonkotsu ($13.90) consists of Toroniku (braised pork cheek), Cha Shu and Buta Kakuni (braised pork belly in special sauce), Ni Tamago and Menma (bamboo shoot). It is quite a luxury in a bowl considering the pricing. Black onion sauce is added to the rich and hearty broth, enhancing the flavour. While the pork belly is huge, I find it on the tough side.

Toroniku Uobushi Tonkotsu Ramen 4.2/5

The soup for the Toroniku Uobushi Tonkotsu Ramen ($13.90) is double-boiled comprising tonkotsu and premium bonito. The result is more intense and richer, which really pack a punch. Not only that, it comes with tender pieces of Toroniku (braised pork cheek, Ni tamago, menma and seaweed.

Yaki Gyoza 3.5/5

I also ordered Yaki Gyoza ($4 for 6pc) to go along with the ramen. The parcel comes with marinated premium pork wrapped in translucent dumpling skin, then pan-seared to crispy perfection

Butariki Ishinabe 4/5

Besides ramen, the restaurant also offers rice item on the menu. We tried the Butariki Ishinabe ($12.90) that is served in a hot stone-pot. One can find pan-fried and barbecued pork, seaweed, raw egg, caramelised onion and sesame in it. Mix everything up to coat the pearly Koshihikari rice with the sauce and get a mouthful of different flavours and textures.


So Ramen
Novena Square
238 Thomson Road
#01-05
Singapore 307683
Tel: +65 62536066
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Website
Nearest MRT: Novena (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

The Sampan @ Boat Quay - A Refreshed Menu Focused on Local Produce And Asian Flavours

We are back at The Sampan located along the Singapore River in Boat Quay for its revamped menu. The new menu will focus on local and regional produces, transforming them into sensational dishes, incorporating Asian flavours. Lead by Head Chef Ahmad, even the kitchen team is local.

Espresso Martini 4/5

Emping Crackers

I started with an Espresso Martini ($18) and snack on the complimentary Emping Crackers. I realised many restaurants have begun to introduce emping crackers on their menu, not sure whether it is a trend but I find it a bold move, as not many people like the bitterness taste of it.

Half Shell Japanese Scallops 3/5

For appetisers, we started with the Half Shell Japanese Scallops ($15 for 3pc). The scallop is topped with laksa leave pesto. I like the idea, but the sauce didn't quite bring out the taste of the scallop for me.

Silken Egg Tofu with Peanut Sauce 3/5

The Silken Egg Tofu with Peanut Sauce ($12) is probably inspired by the local Tahu Goreng. It is topped with vegetable fritters for that extra crunch. However, I didn't find it quite as inspiring as a dish. It felt more like a shrink version of Tahu Goreng which is presented delicately but at a steeper price.

Pot Sticker Dumpling 3.5/5

The Pot Sticker Dumpling ($12) fares better than the other two appetisers. The dumpling skin is not too thick, with a decent proportion of minced meat stuffing. It even has delectable crispiness on one side, giving it an additional contrast in texture.

Spicy and Tangy Singapore Salad 3/5

Moving on to the salad menu, they are not actually the most healthy salad I have eaten. The Spicy and Tangy Singapore Salad ($14) is an interpretation of our local multi-cultural dish - Rojak, with a prawn paste sauce to hold the different components together.

Crispy Thai Beef Salad 3.5/5

The Crispy Thai Beef Salad ($15) compared to the Singapore salad has more textures, and I enjoyed the addition of the basil leaves to give it a boost in taste profile.

Kampung Bali Fried Rice 4/5

Sad to say, the dish that I enjoyed most is the Kampung Bali Fried Rice ($15) which is packed with rustic flavours infused with the smoky aroma.

Beef Cheek Rendang 3.5/5

I was left feeling speechless and stunned when the Beef Cheek Rendang ($26) was served. The plating with the grilled vegetables and steamed rice cake was so elementary. I also didn't get the idea behind the steamed rice cake. The saving grace has to be the flavourful and fork tender beef cheek.

Fresh Local Seabass 3.8/5

Among the mains, the Fresh Local Seabass ($21) is my favourite. The portion is generous, moist and comes with crispy skin glazed with Asian soya sauce. It is paired with smooth potato puree and pickled cucumbers.

Charred Chicken with Mango Sambal 2.8/5

Whole Baby Chicken with Tomato Sambal Aubergine 2.8/5

We tried both the chicken dishes, Charred Chicken with Mango Sambal ($19) and Whole Baby Chicken with Tomato Sambal Aubergine ($22). Putting aside that the chicken is tender and juicy, I didn't enjoy them. The chickens were bland, and the sauces didn't help to bring it together.

Local Coconut Pudding 3.8/5

For dessert, we have the Local Coconut Pudding ($13) that is topped with crunchy coffee tuille and served with a scoop of charred bread ice cream. A well-balanced dessert that is not overly sweet and has a smooth, creamy consistency.

Pandan Pancakes 4/5

The Pandan Pancakes ($13) is served with vanilla ice cream and palm sugar syrup. The texture of the pancakes tasted more like our local "Min Jiang Kueh" with the fragrant peanut filling.

Thai Sticky Rice 3.5/5

The Thai Sticky Rice ($13) with mango slices and mango sorbet is enjoyable, but I think there is room for improvements. I felt it was missing some elements such as coconut milk to bring everything together. Perhaps, also garnished with some mung beans for the extra texture.

In my humble opinion, I felt that The Sampan has a great concept, but it still hasn't found the exact identity in its food yet. It seems that they are caught in this barrier to elevate the traditional dishes and/or flavours, into a modern take that is something new and creative. If I were to compare the dishes I tried, I would say the dessert are much closer to the goal than the savoury dishes.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Sampan
63 Boat Quay
Singapore 049851
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Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 12midnight
Sat: 430pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down Upper Circular Road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to the riverfront. Turn left and walk down Boat Quay. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Gyoza-Ya @ Plaza Singapura - Exclusive Set Meals With Free Flow Of Japanese Salad

Known for their affordable gyozas, Gyoza-Ya has recently launched a new set menu which is exclusive to both Plaza Singapura and Northpoint outlets only. From $14.80 onwards, there are 23 variations of the set meal to choose from, alongside with free flow of Japanaese salad.

Saba Tonkatsu Donburi 3/5

For Donburi Set Meals, each donburi comes with 2 types of meat, a radish stew, 3 original gyozas, a soup and a free flow Japanese salad which is shredded cabbage with plum sauce. Crunchy and refreshing with acidity from the plum sauce, the salad went really well with my Saba Tonkatsu Donburi which is quite a classic pairing to begin with. However, my tonkatsu was tad too dry. The fattier saba fish fared better and the radish stew was surprisingly a highlight of the rice bowl.

Gyu Kakuni Donburi 4/5

Compared to the above, you will probably get a lot more bang on your bucks and satisfaction with this Gyu Kakuni Donburi ($20.80). Both the gyu and kakuni were very well braised, hence they were tender and packed with umami. The gyu was in large slices with a balanced portion of fats and the pork belly were juicy without any porky taste. A scoop of tempura bits was served for some extra crunch.

Tendon Set 3.5/5

The Tendon Set ($18.80) may not be the most affordable one but the 3 juicy prawn tempuras make up for it. Other than the prawns, I also like the use of Shimeji mushroom tempura instead of the commonly used Enoki mushroom. Its texture is meatier and when fried, in this case it seemed even juicier against the crisp batter.

Mentaiko Gyoza

If that 3 original gyozas within the set doesn't fill you up, feel free to order other variations from the menu, such as the crowd pleasing Mentaiko Gyoza ($9.80) or the outlet exclusive Takoyaki Gyoza ($9.80).

Words and photos by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Gyoza-Ya
Plaza Singapura
#B2-50/51
68 Orchard Rd
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 62668311
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Website
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 1130am - 10pm

Directions:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Yuzutei @ Interlocal Centre (Pasir Panjang) - Hidden Japanese Restaurant Specialises In Yuzu

Opened without any fanfare at Pasir Panjang is Yuzutei, a yuzu specialty Japanese restaurant that has their menu centric in using yuzu that is specially air flown from Tokushima Perfecture, Japan. Only the highest grade, Kito Yuzu is used here. Its signature is Yuzu Shabu with the rare and premium A5 Hokkaido Snow Beef.

Yuzu Gyoza 2.8/5

I visited the restaurant for lunch so I didn't try the shabu shabu. Instead I ordered rice bowls from their lunch menu. While waiting for the mains to come, I decided to start with some Yuzu Gyoza ($7 for 5pc). The homemade gyoza is stuffed with yuzu filling that has been specially created by the chef. Unfortunately I did not find it memorable.

Tempura Curry 3.5/5

The first rice bowl I tried is the Tempura Curry ($14). It comes with 3 pieces of deep fried seabass, enoki and shitake. Dines have a choice of rice or udon. As you can tell I have gone for the rice bowl.
For the pricing, the rice bowl is quite substantial. The curry is also delicious and packed with robust flavours. My let down is the so called tempura, its nothing like the Japanese type light batter but more like deep fried Chinese food.

Gyu Don 3.5/5 

The other rice bowl I had is the Gyu Don ($16). It comes with stir fried angus beef with onions, poached egg, pickled radish and carrot. Once again, while the beef is quite enjoyable I felt that the execution is too incline to Chinese cooking.

My review is purely based on my lunch visit which I did not try their signature yuzu shabu. Hidden right inside Pasir Panjong Road away from the main road, this maybe a great place to escape the buzz of the city to have a quiet lunch/dinner. While the rice bowls have rooms for improvement, it is still pretty decent.


Yuzutei
Interlocal Centre
100G Pasir Panjang Road
#01-01
Singapore 118523
Tel: +65 96894092
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Pasir Panjang (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 4pm - 10pm
Sat: 1230pm - 10pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Pasir Panjang MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk down West Coast Highway along the traffic. Turn left onto Pasir Panjang Road. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Kabe no Ana and Men-ichi Ramen @ Jurong Point Shopping Centre - Mentaiko Madness

RE&S, the team who bring you your popular Japanese cuisine concepts such as Ichiban Boshi, Kuisin Bo, Kuriya, celebrates their 30th anniversary with Mentaiko Madness! Men-ichi Japanese Ramen and Kabe No Ana are the two out of its four restaurants concepts that will be running this special promotion.

Hakata Mentaiko Tonkotsu Ramen 3.8/5

From now till 4 June at Men-ichi Japanese Ramen, enjoy a bowl of collagen rich tonkotsu soup with mentaiko served as a whole. The commonly known versions of menatiko dishes often present mentaiko in the form of cream sauce, mayo drizzle etc, it is really the traditional way of serving it that allows one to appreciate the deep umami taste of mentaiko which I have learnt during my trip to Fukuoka. At only $14.90, I thought this Hakata Mentaiko Tonkotsu Ramen is quite decently priced, considering the rest of the regular dishes are priced within the same range.

Mentai Mayo Gyoza 3.8/5

Don't miss out the Mentai Mayo Gyoza ($6.90) - chicken gyoza drizzled with mentai mayo. Though it is back to a mayo form, that deep umami flavour of mentaiko is still quite pronounced.

Mochi Mentaiko Pizza 3/5

Do you know that Kabe no Ana is the creator behind the origina mentaiko spaghetti? And for this occasion, out came another four new mentaiko creations, of which are Mochi Mentaiko Pizza ($16.90) and Mentaiko Gnocchi set ($22.90). What I like about the pizza is the use of toppings that really get your jaw going - Chewy Japanese mochi, squid and succulent prawns.

Mentaiko Gnocchi 3.8/5

The Gnocchi dish really surprises me, given the fact that it is not a true blue Italian place. The pillows of gnocchi are light and fluffy, with a very slight stretchy texture. The mentaiko spinach cream sauce isn't too creamy and the perilla leaves brightens up the dish and gives its flavour a lift with its sharp, minty nuances. A truly enjoyable dish as you get a bit of everything in one spoonful - the pillowy gnocchi coated with mentaiko sauce, the succulent salmon cubes, ikura.

Each set comes with 2 appetisers, Iberico Pork with Tomato Salsa & Rocket Arugla, and Smoked Duck & Grapefruit Salad, as well as a Ume Spakrling Soda, available from now till 2 July. As some of you may find the mentaiko in its original state an acquired taste, these Japanese-Italian creations will be suitable to have with friends and loved ones.

If you are a mentaiko fans, do check out Tokyo Eater Pop-Up Store at Nex or Ichiban Sushi for more Mentaiko Madness. My preference still goes to the ramen as it allows me to savour the entire hunk of mentaiko as such dishes ain't readily available elsewhere.

Photograph and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Kabe no Ana and Men-ichi Ramen
Jurong Point Shopping Centre
1 Jurong West Central 2
#B1-55
Singapore 648886
Tel: +65 63970435
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Boon Lay (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Boon Lay MRT station. Take Exit C, D, E. Walk to the new wing of the shopping centre. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Ramen Champion @ Clarke Quay Central - Ramen Champion First Full Service Restaurant

Ramen Champion has just opened its latest outlet at Clarke Quay Central. Like its other outlets, over here you will get to pick your favourite ramen among the popular Japanese ramen brands curated under one roof. On top of that, you will be enjoying a full-service, alongside with a more extensive menu which includes a wide variety of Japanese food choices such as rice bowls, sashimi, sushi, maki tools, grills, etc. And my favourite, is the addition of a free flow salad bar that cost only $4 when you order any main course.

I really appreciate the Salad Bar. I love Yasai Ramen and at times I do order additional vegetable topping for my ramen which can be rather expensive for a tiny portion. The salad bar offered over 20 dishes and even come with desserts!

Mentai Gyoza 3/5

Gyoza is always a popular add-on to ramen and over here we had Mentai Gyoza ($6.80). The pork filling is moist, wrapped within a thin, crisp skin. The mentaiko sauce is pretty solid with roe, unlike those that has been mixed with mayonnaise.

Special Tonkotsu Pink Ramen 4.5/5

There are two new ramen so on the menu - Special Tonkotsu Pink Ramen ($15.80) and Magma Ramen ($14.80). What gives the pink ramen its pink broth is the infusion of fresh beetroot and blueberries into the rich tonkotsu broth. I thought it may be too sweet for my liking but it turned out that the infusion neutralises the saltiness, resulting in a broth with a even more balanced flavour. There are still people on the table who prefer the usual White Tonkotsu but this works for me really well, not to forget the extra nourishment from the beetroot and blueberries!

Magma Ramen 4.2/5

The latter is a spicy ramen served in a hot stone bowl. We tried spicy level 5 which wasn't too much for me. Daring eaters may try up to level 20. Concocted using 6 different kind of spices- capsicum peppers, Japanese black pepper, chilli padi, chilli oil, Korean as well as Japanese chilli flakes, there's a tinge of sweetness to it which I like. There's also a heap of mixed vegetables to balance this spicy chicken broth. I like the idea of using minced meat in this ramen, they seem to soak up the broth really well.

Salmon Tower Maki 3.5/5

We also tried 2 of the rice varietals- Salmon Tower Maki ($21.80) and Fisherman Don ($21.80). The presentation of the Salmon Tower Maki is visually enticing, though the taste may fall a little flat. The slice salmon sashimi is fresh but I find the California roll slightly too sticky.

Fisherman Don 3.8/5

The latter is akin to your chirashi Don with fresh sashimi cubes atop of Japanese rice. What's different is that you will enjoy this in a Ishikawa-ken style, by adding the blended sauce of miso, sasame, wasabi and soy sauce to the bowl. Upon half way into the bowl, in goes the hot dashi soup made of bonito and kombu. The soup is quite light which is kind of palate cleansing after the savoury first half. However, I find the sashimi cubes too tiny for me to savour the fatty sweetness of sashimi.

For me, the ramens remains as the stars of Ramen Champion, perhaps together with its gyozas. Some may appreciate the spaciousness of this 110-seater restaurant and the convenience and comfort of ordering through one system but I very much prefer its original style in which each clan get to showcases its identity with its individual little stall and signage. It is a joy to walk around and check out individual stalls to see what they have got to offer. Such browsing and choosing show-how heightens the taste of the bowl of ramen that I had picked. That is almost like a smaller setting of what I had experienced in Hakata where an entire floor of a shopping mall is dedicated to ramen restaurants. Still, it is a place to go for a good bowl of ramens!

Grand opening promotion: 1-for-1 Ramen from Tonkotsu Ikkyu when you order its signature White Orignial Tonkotsu Ramen, Red, Green, Black or Pink from $14.80.

Words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ramen Champion
Clarke Quay Central
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#03-89
Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 62212156
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]