Menya Kokoro @ 100 AM Mall - Launches ‘Super’ Ebi Mazesoba and Ramen this National Day

In conjunction with the National Day celebrations, Menya Kokoro introduces two new creations that pay homage to one of our local favourites - Prawn Noodles!

'Super' Ebi Ramen 4/5

The 'Super' Ebi Ramen ($15.80/$17.80) comes with a pure prawn broth blended with rich tonkotsu soup and homemade chilli paste for a touch of spice. The portion is generous, even for a regular bowl. Mine came brimming with de-shelled prawns, aburi chashu slices and crunchy Sakura Ebi Crumbs.

The ebi broth is done by simmering for over four hours before blending it with the Japanese - style pork bone broth. Glossy with an appetising red hue, the soup exuded a rich umami essence that spoke an excellent depth of prawn flavour. As the base is Menya's tonkotsu soup, this 'Super' Ebi soup boasts a rich consistency and unctuous mouthfeel, elevating it from a regular prawn noodles soup.

‘Super’ Ebi Mazesoba 4/5

'Super' Ebi Mazesoba ($15.80/$17.80) is a broth-less ramen variant that delivers a tantalising combination of flavours and textures. Each bowl is topped with two juicy de-shelled prawns, chopped fresh garlic, shredded seaweed, beansprouts, spring onions and an oozy onsen egg, brought together by a punchy rich ebi sauce.

Resembling a bowl of chilli prawn noodles, there was a heightened sense of satisfaction from the chewy thin and flat noodles handmade in-store daily from Japanese wholewheat. The thick-cut cubed aburi chashu gave a substantial meaty texture to the noodles, and the experience that the crunchy sakura ebi crumbs brought to the noodles was reminiscent of that of pork lard. On the table, you will find a housemade kombu vinegar, and drops of it into your noodles provide an uplifting tang that adds a delightful twist to the flavour profile.

Available in the month of August only. From 7 to 20 Aug 2023, enjoy 50% off on the second order of either ‘Super’ Ebi Mazesoba or ‘Super’ Ebi Ramen, exclusively available for dine-in at Suntec (#03-313), 100AM (#02-10), and Plaza Singapura (#B2-53).

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.


Menya Kokoro
100 AM Mall
100 Tras Street
#02-10
Singapore 079027
Tel: +65 62353386
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1100am - 3pm, 5pm - 930pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 930pm

Direction: 1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Gopeng Street and turn into Tras Street. Walk to Amara Hotel. Journey time about 5 minutes.[Map]

WOKE Ramen @ Changi Airport Terminal 1 - Singapore's First Wok Hei Ramen

WOKE Ramen, located at Changi Airport Terminal 1 viewing mall central, is Singapore's first wok hei ramen. It is a cultural crossover between Japanese ramen broth and Chinese lamian noodles. The noodles are stir-fried in a seasoned wok that singes them for the smokey aroma (wok hei).

Seafood Mix Prawn Ramen 3.8/5

There are two broth bases - prawn and chicken for the enjoyment of the wok hei ramen. I had the Seafood Mix Prawn Ramen ($18.90), which comprises a treasure trove of prawn paste balls, tiger prawns and scallops served atop wok hei ramen, onsen egg, black fungus and spring onions in the savoury prawn broth. The prawn broth gets the tick for its umami seafood richness. The noodle's texture is on the soft side, which is not my preference. The prawn paste ball is the paste type, while I preferred the crunchy version. Overall, it is still a decent bowl of ramen.

Chicken Chashu Collagen Ramen 3.8/5

For a lighter option, go for the Chicken Chashu Collagen Ramen ($13.90). The flavourful and creamy broth allows a fuller appreciation of the wok hei ramen than the prawn broth. It is topped with grilled chicken chashu, onsen egg, black fungus and spring onions for a slurping bowl of goodness.

Onion Oil Ramen 3/5

Go for the Onion Oil Ramen ($8.90), a dry version tossed in aromatic onion oil and garnished simply with spring onions for the unadulterated appreciation of the noodle's wok hel smokiness.

Chicken Karaage 4/5

There is a number of sides to go along with the noodles, making it a complete meal. The Chicken Karaage ($4.50) was chunky and juicy with a delectable coat of crispiness and crunchiness.

Golden Beancurd Skin 3.8/5

The other sides I had were the Golden Beancurd Skin ($3.50) and WOKE Gyoza ($4.50). The golden beancurd is not only crispy on the exterior, but the meaty fish paste interior made me enjoy it more. A delightful choice is the gyoza deep-fried to crisp with juicy filling.

WOKE Gyoza 3.5/5

For an additional $5.50, you can complete your meal with a choice of side and drink.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


WOKE Ramen
Changi Airport Terminal 1
Viewing Mall Central
80 Airport Boulevard
#03-19
Singapore 819642
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Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to the skytrain platform. Take the skytrain to Terminal 1. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Nakiryu @ Plaza Singapura - One Star Michelin Ramen Restaurant From Tokyo Famous For Their Tan Tan Men Opens In Singapore

Another Michelin-starred ramen restaurant from Tokyo has landed on our shore. Nakiryu, famed for its Tan Tan Men has been awarded One Michelin Star since 2017 for seven years in a row. I have yet to try Nakiryu in Otsuka, Tokyo; hence I am excited to check out the place.

Tan Tan Men 3.8/5

We started with the famous Tan Tan Men ($15.90), known for its sesame-based broth that differs from the usual Japanese ramen. It comes with a hint of spiciness from the chilli oil. The slurping goodness is topped with minced pork. It is definitely very different from the usual ramen we have been eating in Singapore. I am not sure whether it was a bad day for the kitchen, as the broth was a bit salty for me to appreciate the delicious broth.

Shoyu Ramen 3.5/5

For a lighter option and something more familiar to Singapore is the Shoyu Ramen ($14.90). The broth is a concoction of a few blends of soya sauces. I don't usually have shoyu ramen, but I thought it should be richer in taste.

Hot & Sour Soup Ramen 3.5/5

If you are looking for something piquant, then the Hot & Sour Soup Ramen ($15.90) would be your preference. Similar to the Tan Tan Men, it comes with minced pork. However, I was expecting something more robust for the broth.

Prawn Wonton Cha Shu Shio Ramen 4/5

Surprisingly my favourite of the four different soup bases is the shio ramen. I had the Prawn Wonton Cha Shu Shio Ramen ($18.90). It felt like having a bowl of Hong Kong style wonton noodles with the clear and sweet soup, served with plump and juicy wontons.

Yodare Dori 3/5

Besides the ramen, there are a number of side dishes to accompany the ramen to make it a complete meal. A delectable choice is the Yodare Dori ($5.90), whereby tender steamed chicken is paired with a spicy sauce and sesame. It is similar to the Chinese Kou Shui Ji.

Prawn Wonton Spicy Garlic Sauce 3.5/5

The Prawn Wonton Spicy Garlic Sauce ($8.90) is another Sichuan similar dish on the menu which Singaporeans will enjoy. However, it made me puzzle why a ramen restaurant has it on the menu. I wonder if it is offered in Japan or only in Singapore to cater for the locals.

Fried Chicken 4.2/5

Deep-fried to perfection is the Fried Chicken ($7.90). The juicy and chunky chicken pieces are coated with crispy rice puffs for extra textural enjoyment.

Teba Gyoza 4/5

I always thought stuffed chicken wings were a Thai thing, but now I know even the Japanese has this dish on the menu as Teba Gyoza ($8.90). Crispy on the outside, the inside is stuffed with pork-based gyoza filling. It is achieved by replacing the dumpling skin with chicken skin.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Nakiryu
Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
#02-35
Singapore 238839
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Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC, NE, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes [Map]

Nonbei Izakaya @ Southbridge Road (Chinatown) - New Izakaya Restaurant Inspired By Tokyo's Nonbei Yokocho

Nonbei Izakaya at South Bridge Road, located beside the famous Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, is a new izakaya restaurant inspired by Tokyo's Nonbei Yokocho.

Ohitashi 3.5/5

We had the Ohitashi ($6) to kickstart our dinner. The vegetables marinated with dashi are crowned with a pile of bonito flakes.

Tamago Yaki 4/5

Both young and old will enjoy the Tamago Yaki ($10). The Japanese omelette is sweet, soft and fluffy.

Sashimi 5 Kinds 4.5/5

We were astonished at how reasonably priced the Sashimi 5 Kinds ($38) were. For only thirty-eight dollars, you get five thickly cut varieties. It is a steal. You can also top up $18 for Hon Toro.

Buri Kama Shio Yaki 4.2/5

Grilled to perfection is the Buri Kama Shio Yaki ($18). The grilled yellowtail collar has a thin crispy skin on the exterior, while the moist fish meat comes with a hint of smokiness.

Kushi Yaki 3.8/5

Since this is an izakaya place, we need to order some kushiyaki to accompany our drinks. So we ordered a couple of yakitori from the menu, such as the Tebasaki (Japanese Chicken Wings), Yakitori (Chicken Skewers), Tori Kawa (Chicken Skin Skewers), Asparagus Bacon (Asparagus wrapped with Bacon), Mukago (Japanese Yam), Ko Tamanegi (Charred Onion). Each skewer ranges from $1.50 to $3. My favourite is the tebasaki and yakitori.

Buta Kakuni 3/5

For the cooked item, we tried the Buta Kakuni, which has been cooked to tender and infused with fragrant soy sauce. Interestingly, some dining companions commented that it tasted like a particular can tinned braised pork brand, in a delicious homely familiarity.

Ebi Tempura 4/5

Comes with a light and thin crispy coat is the Ebi Tempura ($15) that will delight everyone with its sweetness and crunch.

Chashu Ramen 3.5/5

If you are still hungry after all the drinks and bites, the Chashu Ramen ($12) is something more substantial to fill your tummy. The chashu reminds us of the buta kakuni, which probably is the weak link of the bowl of slurping goodness.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Nonbei Izakaya
282 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058831
Tel: +65 81128028
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Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 5pm - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight down Pagoda Street. Turn right onto Trengganu Street. Walk to the end of Trengganu Street and turn left onto Sago Street. Walk to the end of Sago Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 2 minutes. [Map]

Teng Bespoke @ Sunshine Plaza - A Gem For Vegetarian Japanese Food

Vegetarian and Japanese are not words you'll too often see together, but Teng Bespoke is one of the few restaurants aiming to offer something different. With a refreshed menu launched earlier this year, you will see an eclectic range of dishes from sushi, and tempura, to bento sets and desserts. The majority of the dishes here come in big portions. Hence it's a suitable spot for family meals and big group gatherings.

White Radish 4/5

We started with the hearty White Radish ($16). It was generously portioned and came with lots of different ingredients - shredded radish, baby tomatoes, lettuce, cashew, etc. and topped with vegetarian floss and seaweed. We expected the typical sesame sauce as a dressing but were pleasantly surprised by a thicker, richer and nuttier tasting one. It was a dish that we kept reaching out for throughout the meal.

Sashimi 3 Kind 3/5

The Sashimi 3 Kind ($19) comes with a selection of salmon, tuna and squid. There's not much difference in flavour across the three, but each has slight variations in its firmness. These mock sashimi are made of konjac jelly and have a slightly spongy bite. It's an interesting try, but I'd suggest going for their sushi options as it has more textures and different components.

Unagi Roll 3.8/5

A pity that the sushi rice was a bit mushy and sticky for both rolls we tried, but flavour-wise, we were pretty impressed, especially for the Unagi Roll ($16). It has an avocado and cucumber centre, topped with slices of unagi and a sweet glaze. We liked how there was quite a bit of smoky char that came with the unagi, which helped to tie it all together.

Mozzarella Roll 3.5/5

The second roll we tried was the Mozzarella Roll ($15). It has a fried centre with cucumber, topped with cheese and a mayo chilli sauce that reminds us of sriracha. We preferred the fried centre here to the one in the unagi roll for texture, but overall, we thought it could be less sweet.

BBQ Bacon w/ Enoki Mushroom 4/5

Apart from sushi rolls and sashimi, there's also a section of grilled items on the menu. This BBQ Bacon w/ Enoki Mushroom ($12) is one of them. It had enoki mushrooms wrapped with thinly sliced mock bacon, grilled in a sweet glaze. We enjoyed the light smokiness and the charred parts on the mock bacon. Other than enoki mushrooms, there's also the option for asparagus in replacement.

Spicy Ramen 3.8/5

The Spicy Ramen ($13) tasted like a cross between tom yum and assam that's not as rich and heavy in flavour and consistency. Nevertheless, we appreciated the cleaner broth, which came default in medium spice, with a considerable portion of noodles, topped with seaweed, vegetables, mock prawns, Japanese fish cake and corn. I would have liked a springier bite in the noodles, but otherwise, it was quite a comforting bowl.

Shiitake Mushroom with Cream 3.5/5

I heard from the staff that the Shiitake Mushroom with Cream ($17) is one of their must orders! The shiitake mushrooms are tempura fried and paired with lots of mayo and cream, with a lightly torched layer of cheese, sweet glaze and a Thai-like sweet chilli sauce. Some might find this a little watery with the generous amount of sauce, but we can also see why it's a popular dish with its family-friendly flavours. I would recommend ordering this in a bigger group to share.

Tempura 7 Kind 3.8/5

The Tempura 7 Kind ($16) came with mock prawns, sweet potato, ladyfinger, pumpkin, enoki mushroom, baby corn and lotus root. These could be a bit more seasoned, but they were lightly battered and fried to a good crisp.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Teng Bespoke
Sunshine Plaza
91 Bencoolen Street
#01-50
Singapore 189652
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Nearest MRT: Bencoolen (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11.30am - 3pm, 5pm - 9.30pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bencoolen MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Turn right to Prinsep Link. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Menya Kokoro @ 100 AM Mall - Seasonal Tsukesoba Specials Featuring QQ Noodles Made In-House

Menya Kokoro is one of the largest mazesoba chains in Japan, and they have been serving a whole range of mazesoba, ramen and dons in Singapore for the past couple of years. This time, they have launched seasonal Tsukesoba specials - Kokoro Tsukesoba and Mentai Tsukesoba, available till 31 July 2022. Their noodles are now freshly made in-house using 100% whole grain wheat flour imported from Japan. Each portion of noodles comes at 200g, slightly bigger than what they used to serve.

If you are dining at their 100AM outlet, you can peek in to look at the whole noodle-making process. These fresh noodles are also being supplied to their other two outlets at Plaza Singapura and Eat At Seven Suntec City.

Tsukesoba, like tsukemen, has its noodles served separately from the sauce. It's enjoyed by dipping the noodles into the sauce and slurping them up. The Kokoro Tsukesoba ($14.80) has toppings of cha shu, bamboo shoots, ajitama, seaweed, naruto fish cake and freshly grated yuzu peels. You get to choose either the Original or Spicy for your dipping sauce. The original is made with mackerel fish powder, a thick tonkotsu broth base and spring onions, while the spicy version has additional homemade spicy oil that leaves a numbing mouthfeel.

If you have had Menya Kokoro's mazesoba before, we found the new noodles thicker with a much more distinct chew. Fans of chewy noodles, you will enjoy this! In addition, we all appreciated how the yuzu peels and squeeze of lime give the whole dish a needed zest and brightness to help cut through the more decadent sauce. When you are done with the noodles, you can also request for "oimeshi", a small amount of complimentary rice to mix into the remaining dipping sauce.

Mentai Tsukesoba 3.8/5

The second seasonal bowl is the Mentai Tsukesoba ($14.80). It has the same noodles topped with cha shu, bamboo shoots, tobiko, mentai, naruto fishcake and seaweed. The dipping sauce for this has the same base ingredients as Kokoro Tsukesoba's, with the addition of sesame seeds, a slab of butter, spring onions and more mentai. We enjoyed the crunch from the tobiko and how the generous amount of mentai provides more of an umami touch. However, I found it a bit too heavy to finish on my own with the buttery sauce and thick noodles. I would recommend sharing this bowl with a friend.

Handmade Gyoza 3/5

Apart from the mains, a couple of sides are also available on the menu. The Handmade Gyoza ($4.80) has minced meat wrapped in slightly chewy skin. These were pretty decent, but we would have liked them a little less oily.

Tori Karaage 4.5/5

Their Tori Karaage ($4.80) was a favourite for us. A portion comes with four big karaage chunks that are nicely battered and crunchy on the outside yet still very juicy and tender within.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Menya Kokoro
100 AM Mall
100 Tras Street
#02-10
Singapore 079027
Tel: +65 64431727
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Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm
Fri: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 930pm
Sat: 11am - 930pm
Sun: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Gopeng Street and turn into Tras Street. Walk to Amara Hotel. Journey time about 5 minutes.[Map]

Menbaka Kyoto Fire Ramen @ Cineleisure Orchard - Towering Fire Ramen From Kyoto

For those that have travelled to Kyoto, Japanese, you probably have visited Menbaka Kyoto Fire Ramen whereby the chef will set your bowl of ramen into a ball of fire. With the new norm under the COVID-19 pandemic, leisure travelling may not be that convenient or cheap anymore. While we may not be able to fly to Japan, Menbaka Kyoto Fire Ramen created by Ramen Master Masamichi Miyazawa has brought his famed ramen restaurant to our shore at Cineleisure Orchard. This is their first overseas outlet outside Kyoto.

Diners in Singapore will get to enjoy their signature Shoyu Fire Ramen ($17.90) which comprises of chicken, mackerel, seaweed and bonito boiled for over five hours for a complex and flavourful aroma. On top of that, there is a healthy Vegetarian Fire Ramen ($16.90) and a rich Singapore exclusive Tonkotsu Fire Ramen ($18.90).

Shoyu Fire Ramen 4.2/5

If you order one of the three ramens in the menu, you will be invited to the counter seats for a showcase of fire performance. Behind the counter are handphone holders which you can pass it to the staff to capture the video moment. Before the fire performance starts, the chef will also remind diners not to panic and touch the bowl.

Vegetarian Fire Ramen 4/5

Though you may find it theatrical, pouring flaming negi oil on top of its green onion broth to create a towering flame, it actually gives the broth an exquisite smokiness. The heat from the towering fire is scorching, you can really feel it from the counter seat.

Kyoto Menbaka Fried Rice 4/5

Besides the ramens, there are other items on the menu too. If you are not into ramen, you can have their Kyoto Menbaka Fried Rice ($9.90) which is wok-fired, infused with the wok hei aroma.

In House Karaage 3.5/5

A delectable side to go with the ramen and fried rice is the In House Karaage ($7.90). It is chunky, tender, juicy and crispy. I like the accompanying cabbage that cuts the greasiness.

Crispy Charcoal Karaage Salad 3.5/5

Another exclusive dish for the Singapore outlet is the Crispy Charcoal Karaage Salad ($14.90). The chunky chicken pieces are deep-fried to exterior crispiness while juicy inside on a fresh bed of greens and drenched with a choice of tangy yuzu and creamy sesame dressing.

Authentic Kyoto Matcha Beer 3.5/5, Authentic Kyoto Matcha Latte 4/5

For drinks, you may want to try the Authentic Kyoto Matcha Beer ($12) which is made using premium Matcha powder from Uji. I doubt you can find this anywhere in Singapore for the moment. Not into alcohol? You can also go for the Authentic Kyoto Matcha Latte ($7.90 hot/ $8.90 Iced). 

In celebration of its opening promotion, Menbaka will be offering a limited time 1-for-1 promotion for all their fire ramen from 27 to 29 November 2020.


Menbaka Kyoto Fire Ramen
Cineleisure Orchard
8 Grange Road
#05-03
Singapore 239695
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to traffic junction of Orchard Road and Orchard Link. Cross the road. Turn left onto Orchard Link. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]