Fun fact: Singapore has more than 115 ramen restaurants. Sounds crazy right, especially considering how tiny our island is?
However, it’s kinda expected when Japanese food is so well-beloved here to the point that there’s a high chance the stranger standing next to you is a fan of the cuisine as well.
I think it’s safe to say that there’s no such thing as too many ramen restaurants and the opening of Singapore’s very own Mensho Tokyo at Raffles City is a testament to that.
Mensho Tokyo needs no introduction to hardcore ramen lovers. Tomoharu Shono, the man behind it all, is a bona fide ramen master, having led his restaurant to be crowned the Tokyo Ramen of the Year and Ramen Walker Grand Prix.
What makes Chef Shono’s ramen so different from the rest lies in the ingredients used. For starters, the noodles are handmade from whole wheat flour, which lend more aroma and a unique texture to the overall dish.
In fact, you can witness the noodles being made right in front of you as you enter the restaurant.
Mensho Tokyo also takes the concept of ‘farm-to-table’ incredibly seriously, ensuring seasonal ingredients come fresh from their farms and seas.
I could feel this dedication while tasting their ramen dishes, specifically the Signature Toripaitan (S$28) and A5 Wagyu Shoyu Aburasoba Ramen (S$41).
The Signature Toripaitan, as its name suggests, is the baby of Chef Shono. You’ll get not one, not two, not three but four types of meat in this dish: A5 wagyu, smoked pork, duck, and chicken chashu.
While the broth was rich and creamy, it was not at all heavy to the extent that I felt jelak afterwards. This is thanks to Chef Shono’s effort to create a dish that works for our tropical weather.
Not to worry, it still retains that notable flavour that’s well-balanced between savoury and smokiness. It’s simply the ramen dish to settle on for lunch or if you’re not an adventurous eater.
Want something more decadent? Opt for the A5 Wagyu Shoyu Aburasoba Ramen instead. When I say that this dish is indulgence in a bowl, I’m not kidding.
The truffle oil coated the noodles perfectly yet it was not so intense that it stole the attention away. The star of the show here is the slices of A5 wagyu and they were done so well that they basically melted in my mouth.
You’ll be served with a slice of calamansi and take it from me when I say that you need to add a squeeze of it to the dish. The tanginess brings out the slight sweetness of the truffle, making the dish even more palatable than it already is.
Another dish you have to try is the Duck Matcha (S$28). Though the matcha didn’t pack the punch I (as a self-proclaimed matcha lover) was hoping for, it still infused an earthy flavour to the dish.
However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say the dish felt ‘healthful’ since the duck chashu slices were oh-so-fatty and juicy.
I would tuck into their other ramen dishes like the Singapore-exclusive Chilli Crab (S$28) and Yuzu Shio (S$17) if I had a big enough stomach for them.
I’m usually not one for desserts but since Singapore’s menu is the only one to feature them, it’ll be criminal for me to skip the sweets.
And, thank god I did not. Because the desserts were out-of-this-world good.
The Yuzu (S$8.80) features a refreshingly light yuzu sorbet topped with coconut meringue and almond crumble, which may help to cleanse the palate after a rather heavy meal.
On the other hand, the Houjicha Tiramisu (S$8.80) possesses a natural sweet nuttiness with subtle earthiness. The flavours weren’t too intense, making it suitable even for tea haters (not gonna lie, I’m side-eyeing you).
It’s impressive to witness the journey of Mensho Tokyo as it rises from a tiny shop in Tokyo to having multiple outlets around the world. Its San Francisco outpost, in particular, had received the seal of approval from the Michelin Guide.
While I’m unsure if Singapore’s will gain a similar level of recognition, I do know that the food has done its international counterparts justice.
Are you prepared for slurp-tastic satisfaction?
Mensho Tokyo
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📍252 North Bridge Road, #03-43 Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103
🕐 11am–10pm (Daily)
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Photos by Sheree Chua
