Menya Takeichi @ Suntec City Mall - Tokyo No.1 Chicken Ramen

Joining the rank of restaurants at the new Eat at Seven concept in Suntec City Mall is Tokyo's top chicken ramen chain, Menya Takeichi. Menya Takeichi became famous when it is featured in TV Asahi back in September 2012. Soon diners flock to the outlet. From then on the business expanded to 40 stores over Japan in just 4 years, attracting long queues of patrons waiting to get into their outlets.

Potato Salad Nikumiso & Mentakio 4.2/5

The Potato Salad Nikumiso & Mentakio ($7) is something for a different. Served in two forms, one of the potato salad is topped with nikumiso and a poached egg while the other is topped with mentakio and spring onions.

I really like the combination. It brings extra flavour and texture to a simple and common dish that is served in every other restaurant. In fact I could not really make up my mind which is better. Each of them has its own merits.

Fried Chicken with Tartar Sauce 3/5

Good to go with a glass of beer is the Fried Chicken with Tartar Sauce ($8). While the tartar sauce goes well with the fried chicken, I felt that the chicken didn't have the crispiness I was expecting.

Shio Rich Ramen 4/5

I first started with the lighter Shio Rich Ramen ($13). The standard chicken soup ramen comes with slices of chicken, chicken meat balls and eggs. The first thing I did is to take a sip of the soup. I was very surprise how rich and thick it is. I had tried other chicken broth ramen before but this is the richness I tried so far. The other highlight for me is actually the chicken meat ball which is tender, soft and juicy.

Special Rich Spicy Ramen 3.5/5

For those that prefer a spicy kick to their ramen, Menya Takeichi has the Special Rich Spicy Ramen ($17.50) to satisfy the local palate. The chilli used for the spicy chicken soup ramen is somewhat different from the usual. It is kind of garlicky and even to the point of acquire. Why so? It is a taste that I have not tasted in other spicy ramen before. Rather the creamy soup with the thick noodles remembered me of Ah Ma yellow noodles mixed with sambal chilli. While the bowl of ramen triggered a part of my memory, I have my doubt whether it will be accepted by many.

Special Rich Shoyu Ramen 4/5

If you think the shio rich ramen is rich, the Special Rich Shoyu Ramen ($16.50) is even richer and creamier. The collagen rich and thick soup is cooked for hours form simmering of fresh chicken and chicken feet. Diners can opt to add clear soup to it if they felt the soup is too thick. The clear soup is made from bonito flakes, giving it a whole dimension of enjoyment.

While the collagen-rich chicken broth ramen at Menya Takeichi is thick and robust, I did not like the use of noodle. The noodle gets rather mushy and gooey very quickly. Putting that aside, Menya Takeichi changes my whole perception that chicken broth is light, and it can never match the richness of tonkotsu. Menya Takeichi has proved me wrong.


Menya Takeichi
Suntec City Mall
Eat at Seven
3 Temasek Boulevard
#03-313
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 62353386
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Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line), Promenade (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 1030pm

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

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Lim Beef Mee @ Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Centre [Johor Bahru]

Lim Beef Mee at Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Centre, Johor Bahru was never on our food hunting list. In fact, we already had our dinner and was making our way home when we chanced upon the stall. What caught our attention is the sign saying that they are opened on weekends only.

Beef Noodle Dry 3.5/5

We have the Beef Noodle Dry whereby the noodle and soup is served separately. The noodle is a mix of yellow noodles and rice noodles, topped with minced meat. In the bowl of soup, there are ingredients such as salted vegetables, slice beef and various beef innards.

Beef Noodle Dry 3.5/5

I could not say this is one of the best beef noodles I had. The beef noodle has a rustic flavour in it. The bowl of clear soup, flavoured by the salted vegetables, simply allows the full appreciation of the nature flavours of the various beef parts in it.

We managed to have a brief chat with the old couple manning the stall. They having been selling beef noodle for the past 40 years. They used to be operating in downtown but has since moved here. However as age catches up with them, they do not have the energy to do it everyday now. Hence they are only open on weekends.


Lim Beef Mee
Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Centre
Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau,
80050 Johor Bahru, Johore
[Map]

Opening Hours:
Sat & Sun Only