Whether it’s a civilized dinner after work, or a raucous late-night bowl with your posse, it’s always a good time for noodles in liquified pork fat (pretty much). Here are the places that do ramen best in Singapore, and our favorite dishes to get there.
Buta Ramen
The ramen choices on offer are not quite traditional so don’t expect authentic creations here. The combination of grilled, marinated pork ribs and rich tonkotsu broth in their signature Boss Rib ramen ($13.90) is a winner.
Ippudo
Get in line for a taste of the good stuff—Ippudo doesn’t take reservations so you’re gonna have to wait like everyone else to try hotsellers like the tonkotsu-based Akamaru Shin-aji ramen ($16), served with pork belly.
Keisuke Tonkotsu King
If you think waiting in line for Ippudo is bad, you obviously haven’t been to this super popular spot at Orchid Hotel. Arrive after 6 on a Friday evening and you’ll probably end up standing around for 20 to 30 minutes. But trust us, the original tonkotsu ramen (from $10.80) is well worth the wait.
Marutama Ramen
Not a fan of pork-based broths? This restaurant makes a mean chicken-based ramen that’s light yet satisfying. Go for the tamago ramen ($15.90) to get your lava egg fix at the same time.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
Nestled at Cuppage, the broth of the shio (salt)-flavored Tokusen Toroniku ramen ($19.50 for the small portion) is surprisingly light. We also can’t get enough of the incredibly tender (and thick) pork cheek slices that come with it.
Ramen Matsuri
Chef Kenichi Ikehata left Marutama to do his own ramen, and it looks like it’s working. Located at 7 North Canal Road, this place serves up ramen with a light broth with its herbs and onions emanating from it. Try the Kohaku clear soup ramen ($13.90) or try the Spicy Miso Tamago Ramen ($12).
Sanpoutei Ramen
This is easily one of Holland Village’s best kept secrets as the ingredients are from the Niigata prefecture in Japan. Try the rich tori x spicy miso ramen ($18) if you can take the heat; it looks like a bowl of laksa.
Sapporo Ramen Miharu
This ramen place moved to MIllennia Walk after the Gallery Hotel was acquired, and still continues to offer great ramen choices. Our favorite is the rich, fiery chili miso ramen ($13).
Uma Uma Ramen
Not many places do dry ramen, so you can imagine how crazy we are about the mazesoba with chasiu ($16). You can also choose to skip the meat and have it as a vegetarian meal, it really is just as good.
Yoshimaru Ramen Bar
When you order the traditional hakata ramen ($11), don’t expect curly, springy noodles in the usual shio or shoyu stock—the operative phrase here is “Hakata ramen” [read: Thin, straight noodles in a rich, slightly milky tonkotsu (pork bone) stock]. Special mention must be made for the egg—it’s gloriously melt-in-your-mouth good, with a creamy, slightly runny yolk and smooth egg white.
