What a delightful hidden gem of a ramen spot! If you're a Japanese cuisine enthusiast, this place is a must-visit. I have always had an exceptional experience here—superb taste, premium quality, and fantastic service. That's why I visit weekly!
The broth was rich and flavorful, the noodles perfectly cooked, and the toppings, like melt-in-your-mouth chashu pork and well-marinated shoyu eggs, were divine.
What's even better is that the prices are surprisingly affordable. You get top-notch quality without breaking the bank. The value for money here is outstanding.
The service deserves a special mention too. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. They went the extra mile to ensure a memorable dining experience.
Whether you're a ramen aficionado or simply looking for a remarkable dining experience, this place won't disappoint.
Siah Chin Siang
5
Very enjoyable lunch at Ramen King. The ramen soup was very tasty. It was very good.
The ramen was surprisingly very nice. It's made to order, so it's served piping hot. (It's self-service: order and pick-up.) I ordered the spicy Tonkotsu ramen, and it was really spicy compared to the miso-based one. The former broth looks lighter but tasted very rich. I added the set with a side and drink; it was $13 for the set I chose. The noodles were springy and pleasantly chewy. However, the portion might be small for some if you are feeling hungry.
Yew Jin Ho
1
I don't usually write reviews, but I felt that I needed to for the benefit of both potential customers and the restaurant owner/chef/manager.
The shop clearly tries to market itself as an authentic Japanese ramen restaurant, with its menu items spelled out in both Japanese and English. I also just found out that the restaurant prides itself on being owned by a chef who formerly worked at Santouka, a Hokkaido Ramen chain.
I was there at around 2:30 PM. The stall was empty, with one other customer leaving as I ordered. Order and payment are made at the self-service kiosk. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen, priced at $10. My order took about 5 minutes to be ready. I spent no more than 10 minutes in the restaurant.
Also, I was told that it was their very first day of opening. Typically, on a restaurant's debut, the food served is of the highest standards. But clearly, this one was a miss.
I have eaten many bowls of ramen from various stores around Singapore, and I couldn't decide if this shop or Ajisen disappointed me more... (P.S. I ate at Ajisen so long ago that I can't remember when I last went there; it was a try-once-and-never-return experience.)
I'll be really straightforward.
**GOOD:**
* The waitress was friendly, readily recommending the most expensive $15 Black Pork Ramen as it was their "signature item."
* Serving size was acceptable for $10 (as seen in the picture).
* Egg was similar to onsen-style.
* Pork was tender.
**BAD:**
* Soup was diluted (significantly more diluted compared to other ramen shops).
* Soup was really bland (despite asking for more tare).
* Noodles were slightly undercooked (the inside was still a little "doughy").
* Pork and egg were unseasoned (usually, chashu and egg for ramen are seasoned by soaking in tsuyu).
* The shop was not proactive or very interested in receiving feedback. (I saw what looked like a manager or perhaps owner in the store, but not once did he check in to find out how the food was. Perhaps that's the standard of today's service, and after all, I only spent $10. But back then, when I worked for a Japanese food stall, my shop staff and owner were proactive in receiving customer feedback. It is also possible that I left too quickly after having been haunted by the standard of food.)
**CONCLUSION:**
As I was expecting to get a bowl of authentic Japanese ramen, I was greatly disappointed. So disappointing that I could not even take a third bite of noodles. (As seen in the photo, I only ate the egg and pork with some soy sauce.)
As a Japanese, I'm deeply saddened and somewhat offended that this is being advertised as an authentic bowl of Japanese ramen or, for that matter, an authentic Japanese ramen shop. It is at best a failed Japanese wannabe or, at worst, cultural misappropriation.
I'm somewhat glad that I ordered the $10 item and not the more expensive $15 one. Yet, it was still a big waste of money.
**RECOMMENDATIONS:**
**(For customers)**
For ramen in a similar price range, I would recommend Suparakki Ramen@Yishun-Northpoint or Takagi Ramen@Ang Mo Kio. They offer a much wider range of items at a slightly cheaper price, and are more authentic to the Japanese taste.
Marutai Instant Ramen is also a good go-to that you can easily get from Don Donki or Sheng Siong Supermarket.
**(For owner/manager/chef)**
Please taste your food before sending it out. Visit other ramen places; I recommend Ramen Champion, Sanpoutei, Keisuke, perhaps even Santouka (your chef should know better, since he used to work there). Do try Takagi and Suparakki too (they are your immediate competitors offering affordable ramen to Singaporeans).
If you are able to, visit Japan too. While I don't have a specific restaurant to recommend, I suggest visiting Ganso Sapporo Ramen Alley. (Spend a few days there to try out all the different stores. I went there in my early teens, and those are some of my fondest memories of a great bowl of ramen.)
makanwithkelvin
4
The ramen here is good value for money and pretty good for its price! It's one of the better noodle options in the Canberra area. The staff working here have very good service, too. They will greet you.
Lew Yichen
4
I ordered the Char Siu spicy miso ramen. As someone who loves ramen, this ramen is not bad, but it's not the best either.
Eating this ramen made me feel very cozy and warm. However, what I didn't like about this ramen was that it wasn't spicy enough. As a spice lover, my go-to ramen option is always the spicy one. Though it wasn't a huge disappointment that the broth wasn't spicy (to me), I found the broth to be very rich and flavorful.
However, for this price, there are better ramen out there. If the spicy miso ramen were spicier, I would really love this ramen.
Side note: I added a lot of the spice powder, but it wasn't spicy at all.
En Qi Xavier
4
I tried the tonkotsu char siew ramen, and I would say it's an above-average bowl of ramen. The broth is thick and has a rich texture. The ramen itself is also delicious and springy. You will have no complaints about it. The add-on, with a top-up of $4, comes with a can of drink, 2 pieces of freshly fried chicken karaage, and a few edamame. The total cost was about $15, which is an average price for ramen in a shopping center.
Goh De
4
Food is high quality, and the broth is damn rich and thick. Noodles are also nice and Q Q 👍. Good for the price.
Asphalt 9 Kakis
4
Honestly, the noodles are the type I like, and the soup was piping hot. They cook one by one to ensure consistently good quality for all bowls of ramen. 🍜 No GST or service charge. A bowl of ramen starts from $9. Staff greet you upon arrival and as you leave, just like in 🇯🇵. Didn't expect Canberra would have this hidden gem. Will come back for this comforting ramen! 🍜