HANS IM GLÜCK @ Republic Plaza - Fairy Tale-like German Burger Chain Opens 2nd Outlet In Singapore

With birch tree trunks stemming from floor to ceiling, the foresty ambience within HANS IM GLUCK at Republic Plaza might have you slightly fuzzled initially. While this might be your first time 'dining-in-the-woods', some might have already experienced this before when its first outlet opened in Orchard months ago. Combining gourmet burger concept with German draft beers, cocktail mixology and seasonal offerings, this double-storey flagship burgergrill is HANS IM GLUCK's latest outlet in the CBD. Originated from Munich, it specialises not just in beef and chicken but vegan and vegetarian as well. All the sauces used are vegan and on each table, there is a Allergen booklet which you can refer to. That probably makes it the most thoughtful burger place ever.

Geissbock 3.5/5

Alsdann 3/5

The burger patties here are made using 100% premium grain-fed beef, balanced with 20% fats. What can be a little disappointing is that although they belong to the Gourmet Burger category, all patties adhered to a well-done standard, which I find them somewhat dry and too flat, almost like a sandwich. That said, the variety of interesting combination makes up for it, such as pairing the patty with grilled pear, mild blue cheese sauce and walnut Alsdann ($17), or feta cheese, bacon and fig jam Geissbock ($17). In fact, most of them sound really yummy to me, especially the sharp, gooey, savoury and sweet combination. I prefer Geissbock to the latter, as it offers a lot more dimensions in terms of flavors. Alsdann falls short a little as I was expecting the grilled pear to be a lot sweeter to be up against the blue cheese but it turned out to be rather bland.

Klassik 3.5/5

All burgers can be double up with an extra patty at $4, and each come with a choice of a sourdough bun, multigrain bun or naked. What I appreciate is how the buns remain fluffy and pleasingly dry, unlike some which are be really soggy and greasy with butter. If you are having yours naked, perhaps it's good ask for less dressing as mine was soaked in sauce. Well, if everything is too much, just head for the mother of all burgers Klassik ($14)!

Fabelhafter 3/5

I had my first ever vegan burger Fabelhafter - Wheat patty with avocado cream, orange-mustard sauce & herby garden salad. Though i'm still skeptical about vegan alternative, especially on how it attains that meaty texture, the tender and nicely seasoned wheat patty lifted that thought away for a while.

The lunch specials here are quite worthwhile, considering the top up of $5 gets you a free side, coffee or tea, and a thirst quencher. The chunky 1 pfund Fritten - One pound of hans im glück steak fries and crusty Ringelrein - Beer-battered onion rings leave quite an impression, but their 1 pfund Susskartoffel Fritten - One pound of sweet potato fries is really what I will crave for. Each strip is sweet and starchy, with lovely crisp edges. Their version of Krautknolle (traditional german white cabbage salad) is more refreshing than the usual, with its crunchy chopped cabbage and potato dressing.

For the evening crowd, top up $15 to get a side order and a cocktail. My citrusy Lebemann (Bourbon, apricot brandy, pineapple, passion fruit, lemon & sugar) was great with all the meats and fried food. If that's too sweet for you, German Draft Beers are always available.

Do take some time to read the Hans im Gluck fairy tale in the menu. It talks about being present in the moment, like how you should enjoy the food! Spot the animals and other forest elements, and observe how the synchronized lighting that mimics the changes from day to night when you visit at different hours of the day.

Tuesdays at Hans Im Gluck is ladies night promotion exclusive to the raffles place outlet entitles all ladies to free-flow cocktails from 530pm to 8pm.

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.


HANS IM GLUCK
Republic Plaza
9 Raffles Place
Singapore 048619
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Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 12 mignight
Fri-Sun: 11am - 2am

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

Konjiki Hototogisu Ramen @ CHIJMES - Tokyo Michelin Bib Gourmand Ramen Opens in Singapore

Our ramen scene continues to flourish with the arrival of Konjiki Hototogisu at CHIJMES. Chef Atsushi Yamamoto has come a long way, from selling a mere 5 bowls a day when opened in 2006 in Toyko, to earning the Michelin Bib Gourmand title consecutively from 2015 to 2018. Locally, it was also the Number 1 Ramen in Tokyo for 2016 and 2017 as well as the Number 1 Ramen in the whole of Japan in 2016. What make it Number 1? I believe it's Chef Yamamoto devotion to mastering the 3 main component of the ramen - Soup, Noodles, Cha Shu.

The signature Triple Soup - produced using selected premium Hamaguri clams, pork bone and Japanese broth. This combination creates a deeper umami flavor that you don't really taste in a regular tonkatsu broth. Each of us had a mini bowl of clam rice to prime our taste buds.

Shio Hamaguri 4/5

Indeed, as I brought the bowl of Shio Hamaguri ($14.90) towards my nose, that sweet umami fragrance was pronounced. Before you tuck in, be sure to read the instruction tablet on your table on how to appreciate your bowl of ramen. There are 4 basic steps - feel the warmth with your palms around the bowl, smell the aroma of the triple soup broth, sip the broth and taste the difference with the respective Porcini Duxelles Sauce, the herbs & the bacon bits, and finally mix everything up and slurp the noodles. The soup itself, though I must say it was still high on the salt level, has that additional depth of deep, savoury sweetness not found in a regular pork broth.

Shoyu Hamaguri 3.8/5

The Shoyu version comes with black truffle, spring onions and the shoyu. Although Shoyu Hamaguri ($14.90) appeared to be even more flavourful, I prefer Shio for its cleaner taste, which allows each component to seep through, such as the Porcini Duxelles Sauce that enhances the aroma and imparts earthiness to the broth. I also like how the basil from the herbs accented the soup with its minty and peppery nuances.

Shifting the spotlight to the housemade noodles - Made from a special 'haru-yo-koi' flour from Hokkaido, which explains the brown specks on the noodles, this wholegrain noodle is like a hybrid of soba and thin ramen noodles - wholesome, light, nutritious but carry enough weight to satisfy your cravings for ramen. I love it.

Hamaguri ramen comes with 2 types of cha shu - the regular and the low temperature. Though the regular is lined with more flavourful fats, the latter is just as tender, and fall apart with great ease in my mouth.

Tonkatsu Smoke and Pepper 3/5

Tonkatsu broth-base ramens are available too, with one exclusively created for us - Tonkatsu Smoke and Pepper ($13.90). Smoked using Sakura woodchips, the minced meat topping imparts a smokey hue into the broth. It's intriguing to taste that 'smokey bacon flavour' in the soup, alongside with the black pepper accent. The fried burdock strips topping was moreish.

Tonkatsu Spicy 3/5

The Tonkatsu Spicy ($14.90) here has its own characteristic as well. While some spicy ramen are simply added with chilli oil, the spicy minced meat topping is similar to a grainy spicy miso paste. It doesn't just add heat but along with some sweetness and tanginess to the soup.

Garnishes with minimum toppings, the 3 main components - soup, noodles and cha shu each stands out in its own right and together they form a fine bowl of ramen. What a stark contrast to a recent bowl of ramen which I had tried, which was a case of too much doesn't mean good. Konjiki Hototogisu Ramen has managed to create ramen with a rare elegance.

Photos 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.

Konjiki Hototogisu Ramen
CHIJMES
30 Victoria Street
#01-17/K5A/K5B
Singapore 187996
Tel: +65 62563155
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Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 930pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Cut across Raffles City Shopping Centre to Bras Basah Road. At the junction of Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road, cross the road to Chijmes. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk southwards towards Victoria Road. At the junction of Bras Basah Road and Victoria Road, cross the junction to Chijmes. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]