Showing posts with label ramen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ramen. Show all posts
Singapore's first dedicated duck ramen at Kamo Soba Keisuke: Take a quack at it
Labels:
hidden finds,
holland village,
japanese,
ramen,
restaurants,
roast duck,
will return
·
My mind is engrossed with flashbacks from Mighty Duck (yes, I am an 80s kid), the awkward beginnings of the "Quack, Quack, Quack, Quack" at their first game building to a crescendo of triumphant cheer that illustrated true camaraderie. It never gets old. Ducks fly together.
And even more in the not so proverbial combination of Irish duck and ramen. Yes, before you voice your confusion and perhaps disapproval with this very non-Japanese ingredient, hold up. Chef Keisuke has succeeded in many combinations before this masterpiece, Kani King (Crab) and Lobster King leading up to him picking the bird as his new muse. And given his former training in French training, the pieces of the jigsaw begin to make sense.
Tsuta Singapore celebrates their first-year anniversary with two brand new ramen offerings
Labels:
michelin starred,
noodle,
orchard,
quick picks,
ramen,
roast duck
·
Helmed by Chef Yuki Onishi, Tsuta's flagship outlet in Japan is the world's first Michelin-starred ramen eatery. Its outlet in Singapore at Pacific Plaza has been awarded the Bib Gourmand Award for the 2017 MICHELIN Guide Singapore. In conjunction with Tsuta's first anniversary, Chef has created two duck ramen dishes specially for Singapore that have made available to the public on the 4th November' 17.
Flaming Don 烤丼 : When Yakiniku and Donburi make merry
Labels:
affordable,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
japanese,
large groups,
ramen,
restaurants
·
Flaming Don 烤丼 is the latest dining concept by Creative Eateries, the same company that spearheads popular brands such as Bangkok Jam, Suki-Ya and Barossa Bar and Restaurant. As its name suggests, Flaming Don specialises in Japanese rice bowls and strives to provide high quality ones at affordable prices.
The restaurant takes on a self-service concept, whereby customers use kiosks to order their food and make payment. A receipt that displays their queue number will then be printed. While waiting for the food to be prepared, diners can help themselves to free-flow miso soup and beverages. When the food is ready, the corresponding queue number will flash on the screen displaying in front of the pick-up counter. Diners can then collect their food and dig in!
[NEW outlet] Ramen Champion at Clarke Quay Central
Labels:
affordable,
clarke quay,
family friendly,
ramen,
restaurants,
sashimi,
sushi,
the central
·
The new outlet at Clarke Quay Central is Ramen Champion's first full-service restaurant and the only one to offer a free-flow salad bar. For a top up of $4 for every main course ordered, diners can enjoy a spread of over 20 dishes, from fresh greens to pasta, salads and the unanimous favourite mentaiko potato salad. Those with a sweet tooth would be pleased to know that the salad bar also includes desserts such as almond pudding with mango and houjicha pudding with matcha.
Menya Sakura: Nagoya Style Ramen that you'll be fantasizing about (way past your bedtime)
Labels:
boat quay,
hidden finds,
must go,
ramen,
will return. japanesefood
·
It's that witching hour again, when fantasies of piping hot bowls of fat-laced ramen cloud the mind with tall cumulonimbus structures too high even for the countdown sheep to leap over. Either that, or you're pushing through the drinks quota so hard, as if planning for your demise and higher destiny. Both things, you'll live to regret the next morning; sunglasses, coconut water and vitamin c being the best weapons against the pulsating headaches. The idea of a sultry bowl of ramen might not be a wild departure as well.
All things [NEW] at Earle Swensen's, Steam Box and Eat @ 7
Labels:
affordable,
circle line,
food news,
harborfront,
japanese,
korean,
new openings,
promenade,
ramen,
serangoon,
steamboat,
vivocity
·
2016 has passed by in a flash, hasn't it? It seems like it was just yesterday that we are toasting to a new year, and now we find it already half over. But hey, look at it a different way and its half yet to begin. There's no better time than now to celebrate all things new, and no better way to do it than with food indeed! Here are some of the freshest pickings from eateries islandwide.
Torimaru @ Ramen Champion: the Next Better Player?
Labels:
bugis,
comfortfoods,
large groups,
ramen,
soup
·
Torimaru is the newest contender at Ramen Champion, and if the ramen I tasted yesterday is anything to go by, the reigning six brands ought to be worried indeed!
Torimaru is bringing a rather unique take on ramen, unlike what we're used to having here in Singapore. Instead of the traditional Tonkotsu soup made from pork bones. Head Chef Takano Koji is introducing Tori Paitan, a broth made from five different parts of chicken and five different kinds of vegetables.
When asked about the inspiration behind his dishes, Chef Koji explains that Tori Paitan is all the rage in Japan now, and he simply adapted it by creating his own original noodles to batch match the broth. His demeanour betrayed nothing but humility despite the fact that he experimented with over 10kinds of noodles and personally consulted suppliers before finally producing this splendid rendition that (I find) he has every right to be proud of.
Kanshoku Ramen @ Orchard Gateway: Keeping it real
Labels:
affordable,
all day,
hidden finds,
noodle,
orchard,
orchardgateway,
ramen,
somerset,
will return
·
It is never cold in Singapore. But since rain is in the air, often. What you want to be eating is ramen - a seemingly popular themed restaurant springing out like baby rabbits across the land - it's tonic effect against the chill (mostly from stepping in and out from blazing temperatures to frigid malls), highly regarded
The first thing you should know at Kanshoku Ramen is that they make their own ramen, no commercial, over-alkalised nonsense here. Secondly, the two young men behind the shop have no kitchen experience prior to setting up the two instalments of Kanshoku. Passion-driven and fuelled by a need to provide good food at reasonable prices to the masses; hence the eye-catching location at Orchard Gateway mall - just mention 'Psst, you know the new blue ramen stall near Orchard Central?' - Everyone nods in unison.
The Ramen Chronicles: Ramen Keisuke Lobster King, Menya Takeichi, Men Tei
Labels:
affordable,
clarke quay,
downtown,
japanese,
lists,
lunch,
must go,
promenade,
raffles place,
ramen,
will return
·
The Good, the bad and the ugly. Let's break the rules and reverse order, shall we?
Starting with the relatively new Ramen Keisuke Lobster King located in party capital, The Cannery at Clarke Quay. Ramen Champion Chef Keisuke Takeda has fervently worked his ass off to open up 10 outlet joints in Singapore within a span of 6 years, each touting a different concept that veers away from the traditional ramen. The Clarke Quay outlet features a specially concocted Lobster broth ramen which draws inspiration from a certain French mannerism.
But truth be told, how does the ramen measure up?
Orchard Central: Japanese Food Trail
Labels:
advertorial,
food tasting,
japanese,
large groups,
orchard,
orchard central,
ramen,
shabu shabu,
will return
·
Not the first time I'm expounding its merits but Orchard Central is a treasure trove of brilliant activities, cool stores peddling niche goods and food meccas worth boasting about. When it comes to dining in OC, we're completely spoilt for choice, whether it be fusion-Thai at Som Tam or rambunctious casual izakaya style dining at Sumiya; there's loads of ways to fill the stomach. I didn't want to get all excited but the prospects of embarking on a purely Japanese centric food trail around Orchard Central was enough for me to let our a rip-roar cheer. Delving into the heights of Orchard central and sifting through the various Japanese offerings from shabu shabu to home styled grilled items and finally ramen, we bring you the best of OC. Think of this as your definitive check list for your next visit. I assure you, my recommendations are true.
Such is the density of Japanese restaurants on the 8th floor of OC that, of an evening, the various smells adrift from boiling stock pots, grilled pork bellies and the different cook stations on the buffet line can be intoxicating. For shabu shabu, head on over to Shabu Sai, a casual Japanese sukiyai/shabu shabu establishment that does good food and remarkably good value (especially considering you can eat to your hearts content and that sauce counter tho.).
Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen: Signature Volcano Ramen and a [GIVEAWAY]
Labels:
affordable,
giveaway,
japanese,
japanese curry,
large groups,
liang court,
ramen,
setlunch,
will return
·
"Order the Kazan Ramen," the PR mistress beckons via text. Impervious to her pleas, I browse through the menu, setting my sights on the chashu karamiso ramen at first, only to be distracted by a mere glimpse of the next page - a firewall display of smoking chimneys and black claypots of bubbling ramen. "OOoooo" Could it be? Did she mean these? - at this juncture, there was no turning back; the impressive poster stealing our hearts and guts instantly.
The signature Kazan Ramen served in stonepots to maintain its sizzling hot consistency may seem like a gimmick to some but I can assure you that in some ways, this method of service does have its merits. For starters, the stone bowls are preheated to a whopping 300 degree celsius and ingredients neatly arranged within; once at the table, the waiter will then proceed to pour in half the soup and slap on the funnelled lid, VOILA! volcano eruption! or essentially steam generated from the fiesty interaction. Let it cook for a minute and you're ready to eat.
Quick Picks: Weekday eats that won't gnaw into your wallet.[Part 2] || The Ramen Stall, P.Bistro, Wolf
Labels:
affordable,
arab street,
burgers,
cafe,
cityhall,
comfortfoods,
halal,
japanese,
lists,
milkshakes,
must go,
orchard,
pasar bella,
ramen,
restaurants,
sashimi,
sunteccity,
will return
·
Second part of the quick picks features a medley of wallet friendly options, once more. Depicting some amicable halal certified establishments for group gatherings, and pish-posh settings in Palais Rennaisance for private meetings; then of course, there's no special occasion needed for breaking in the burgers - and Wolf tends to those unfussy cravings all too good.
Let's begin the tour with a trip down to North Bridge road, popular ramen stall located along Short Street in Rochor has recently expanded their territory to rope in the consumption efforts of the Muslim community. It's clever positioning in the Arab street precinct together with its recent granting of its halal certification, clearly a clever plot and not a mere coincidence. It is 10pm at night and the stall is flooded with throngs of hungry diners, the patchwork of ethnicity in the room a sure win sign that they've done something right.
Megumi Japanese Restaurant @ Upper East Coast Road: Japanese nosh with a local spin
Labels:
affordable,
alfresco,
big groups,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
japanese,
must go,
ramen,
restaurants,
sashimi,
tempura,
udon,
will return
·
I'm just going to dive straight into the food. Because that's mainly what it is about at this no-frills Japanese eatery tucked away in the Upper East Coast Road region, flanked by the ever-so crowded Perle Noire and Strictly Pancakes on the other side.
Focus on the sashimi, and not the stiff faces of the floor staff, whom not once in my time spent at the joint even lifted the corners of their lips. Since the ordering is done through an IPAD system, it more or less lessens the interaction between these drones and the diners, so I'm not complaining. It just bugs me a little that the kitchen which bears so much soul in its cooking is cold and barren on the outside.
My orders of Mekajiki ($14 for 5 slices) and Salmon Belly ($12 for 5 slices) was inspiring. Thick slices of omega-3 laden treasure pots on a single dish definitely is a sight for sore eyes. We could have eaten 5 of these and begged for more. The Ebi Tempura ($15) was your run off the mill regular fare, the light batter not possessing as much crispness as I would like, however, the stiff, crystal snap of the prawns within, do make a difference.
Quick Picks: Roll-Up & Ramen Bari-Uma
Labels:
affordable,
hidden finds,
Indian food,
japanese,
large groups,
must go,
ramen,
takeout,
will return
·
Once again, its time for a couple of quick picks around town. Spots where you can jump in and out for a meal on the fly, yet still emerge with a stomach full of contentment at the end.
Roll-Up, an unpretentious little joint dishing out kebabs along the riotous boat quay area is a good time. You'll smell it before you experience it, thanks to the fumes of Indian spices floating from the tandoor oven within the kitchen. Despite the spoken affiliation to most late night kebab stands, the lack of grime and inherent insipidness in the decor, made it hard for me to build those connections. Needless to say, my stay in Sydney itself, housed right smack on George street in the city, saw me breeding familiarity with the neighbourhood kebab shop - a filthy 24 hour outlet churning out huge platters of grilled meats for the drunkards late into the night. Truth be told, Roll-Up was none of that, the finesse in the final product further proving this point.
RamenPlay: New Japanese Shabu-shabu hotpot experience
Labels:
affordable,
ala carte,
beer,
big groups,
circle line,
comfortfoods,
family friendly,
must go,
ramen,
shabu shabu,
will return
·
Like it's parent company, BreadTalk Group Limited, RamenPlay is always on the mode of reinvention in order to keep its diners interest piqued by fresh offerings and better menu options. Just a few weeks back, I was fortunate to be able to get taste of the latest debut of their Shabu Shabu set. But first, we take a tour of the unprecedented heavy weights on the menu.
Daikokuya (Paragon): Ramen stop.
Labels:
affordable,
ala carte,
big groups,
dinner,
family friendly,
japanese,
lunch,
may return,
orchard,
ramen,
restaurants,
salad,
tonkatsu
·
Ramen is a meal option in abundance, especially when straddling the length of Orchard road. There's just something about a group of friends bent over hot bowls of noodles, slurping on thick broth full of umami that sets the stage for feelings of camaraderie.
Daikokuya located in the basement of Paragon with its long term residence in the same location has been on my "to-try' list, at least subconsciously, for the longest period of time.
It was a Monday night when we set foot in the establishment. Business was all but a thin whisper of cold air apart from the subdued laughter from our table. Perhaps it's the Monday blues at work, but with the queue system at Din Tai Feng in full swing next door; one begins to wonder if the change in menu has had an adverse effect on business.
Ippudo @ Shaw Centre: Look beyond the Ramen
Labels:
affordable,
big groups,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
japanese,
may return,
orchard,
ramen
·
Opening its 5th outlet in Singapore, it is clearly evident that despite the saturation of ramen options on local grounds, Ippudo has succeeded in breaking into the hearts of many. Just sitting there alone and observing the incessant flow of large groups through the grounds, trying to figure out the various group dynamics, nationalities and age groups certainly made for a mind boggling experience.
But first, we put the food to the test.
Chabuton - Premium Kurobuta Ramen at not so premium prices.
Labels:
japanese,
may return,
noodle,
orchard,
orchard 313,
ramen,
somerset
·
Being crowned "Best Ramen Chef" and receiving a Michelin star is a pretty big feat for someone who just makes ramen. So I guess you can say we're pretty blessed that chef Yasuji Morizumi has decided to bring this exclusive ramen to our shores.
Billed as the Premium Tonkotsu Ramen, it has the usual shebang of bamboo shoots, japanese leek and soft boiled egg. But what makes it special is that beautiful marbled Kurobuta pork that bursts juices into your mouth. Gutted that only a small piece was given, perhaps they should offer more for a separate charge.... Oooh.. and their luscious blend of tonkotsu and chicken collagen broth went down a treat too. We were instructed to slurp it up instead of mixing everything together, so that we'll get the difference in flavors. The mouthfeel was definitely not as thick and gravy like, and the taste isn't as "meaty" (sorry, inside joke) as a full on tonkotsu broth you can find in places like Gumshara, Sydney. Noodles were cooked to perfection. Firm and springy and you definitely expect nothing less from a famed chef. Our egg came out nicely and way better than our first try...
So there you have it kids. Do check it out and it's on for a limited time (17 Jan - 31st March 2015) and costs only $18.90
Chabuton
313 Orchard Road #B2-01
313@Somerset
t: 66368335
Opening Hours:
Daily 11 30am - 10pm
This post is written and photographed by the fabulous Sylvester F of thenomcollective.blogspot.sg who is a professional french fryer, lover of hats, and is secretly addicted to alcohol.
Hakata Ikkousha Ramen: where the broth and boiled eggs runs freely
Hakata Ikkousha basically takes the heritage of Tonkotsu Ramen and combines it with the happiness that its' ramen is to bestow onto people. Chef Kousuke, after holding the reigns for Singapore's Ultimate Ramen Champion for two years has gone on to open his second Singapore-based restaurant in CHIJMES.
It's menu is easy to comprehend with range of variations that allows for a bit of personal flair. Feeling a bit flat-lined from work, I opted for the straightforward Ajitama Tonkotsu ($14) which is composed of ramen steeped in boiling water and served in a collagen rich pork bone broth and then some razzle dazzle injected in with the lava-centered Ajitama (seasoned egg). It was an undeniably intense dish, that showed the energy and skillfulness of the chef with a great respect of tradition along the lines of Japanese cuisine. The spoonfuls of creamy soup catapulted themselves into my mouth at the slightest encouragement and I appreciated the Chef's easier touch on salt as compared to many other local versions. I did not fancy the noodles however , finding that it's anorexic proportioning did not work well with the full-bodied flavors of the broth.
As much as I fancy the soup, the noodles for me was the weakest player in the team that would probably hinder me from a return visit. That's just me, I'll let you be the judge.
Hakata Ikkousha @ CHIJMES
30 Victoria Street
#01-07 CHIJMES
Operating Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11 30am - 10pm
Sunday: 11 30am - 9pm
Shin Sapporo @ Orchard Gateway: Seasonal Summer menu
Labels:
affordable,
family friendly,
japanese,
orchard,
ramen
·
Offering more than just Ramen, the new Shin Sapporo at Orchard Gateway gives the other ramen joints in the vicinity a good run for its money. Here, the options run wild and freely, spanning from the usual suspects of soup bases, miso, shoyu and tonkatsu to even the noodle types. bodaciously curvy to straight-edged; there's something to satisfy everyone's whims and fancies.
The thing about the practise of eating ramen here in Singapore is how everyone is so strongly opinionated, almost guru-like, often sticking to familiar territory when navigating a new menu. When at Shin Sapporo, ,my advice would be to remove all inhibitions and try something different. How about the new Seasonal Summer menu?
Acquaint your taste buds to the lighter flavor nuances of this newly introduced menu with the appetiser of Ebi Tofu ($6.80), a plump prawn sits on a pedestal of cold silky tofu and an aromatic homemade sesame sauce cascades down the sides. I wish the sauce was a little thicker but it may be wiser to appreciate the more subtle approach of this dish in the entirety of the meal ahead.
I soldier on...the Miso Tofu Steak ($6.80) picking up the pace with its racy entry. Here, tofu is a deep fried to golden brown in tempura batter and topped with a sauce that was redolent with miso paste and just sticky enough to moisten the dish perfectly.
For mains, the Tenchirashi Ramen ($15.80) comes highly recommended. If you're a carnivore like me and can't imagine tucking into a bowl of ramen sans the mandatory slice of char siu then you might want to heed my advice, clear you mind and give this dish a go. At the end of the day, you'll thank me for it.
Chilled ramen is served with a generous mixture of tempura prawns, shitake and shimeiji mushrooms. I appreciate the additional whisper of sweetness with each mouthful, from the light sauce that was expertly balanced. Before eating, give the poached egg a playful poke and enjoy the classic combination of poached egg with mushrooms done with a Japanese twist.
Having said that, I turned to my usual ramen order to weigh it against my benchmark. The Shin Sapporo Miso Ramen ($14.80) delivers on its promise for a lighter approach. The soup is translucent and only slightly salty, not so much that it sets you back with tingling lips at the end of the meal; topped with sweet corn, stir fried vegetables (just a tad queer with the boiled cabbage), bean spouts, tender yakibuta and RUNNY egg. This was a bowl of comfort, simply made, yet big on flavor. Authentic sapporo miso noodles are used in the dish, a tad thicker than the usual versions, this curly noodle feel fuller to the bite and allows the sublime flavor of the broth to adhere better to its surface when you handle them. To be honest, this isn't a bowl of ramen that would send me running up and down the corridors flailing my arms in the air; but IT IS a good dependable version that is unlikely to disappoint.
Desserts such as the Chocolate Lava cake trip up the traditional line up of mochi and matcha dominated finale menu choices. It's uncanny presence revealing a burlesque-girl type performance, with all the bells and whistles included. Piping hot chocolate dribbled from the molten centre, the sides reinforced by sinister walls of crusty chocolate cake batter. Trailing your spoon along the plate, get a bite of the vanilla ice cream with the unorthodox toasted peanut crumbs and that divine chocolate cake; then, you're pretty much in heaven.
Shin-Sapporo Ramen
Orchard Gateway
#B2-04A/05
t: 6702 4906
w: www.shin-sappororamen.com
Opening hours:
Daily 11am - 10pm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
