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IPPUDO Ramen Mandarin Gallery, Singapore 博多一風堂 @ippudosg

IPPUDO Ramen Mandarin Gallery, Singapore 博多一風堂 @ippudosg

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 12pm-3pm, 7pm-10pm
Location: Mandarin Gallery, Mohammad Sultan, Westgate, Singapore
Facebook: Ippudo SG,
Twitter: ippudony
Instagram: IppudoSG, IppudoNY
IPPUDO Ramen, Mandarin Gallery Menu

Succulent. Spectacular. Richest. Following TAMPOPO as the 2nd Best Ramen in Singapore by HungryGoWhere, Hakata IPPUDO 博多一風堂 is a ramen chain that’s known worldwide, literally “blowing winds” and revolutionizing the Kyushu ramen industry. First founded in 1985 by Shigemi Kawahara in Fukuoka City, IPPUDO now has more than 60 ramen joints and branches in 10 cities over the world – Japan, Kuala Lumpur, New York City, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Sydney, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Currently it is operated and managed by Chikaranomoto Company Co., Ltd.

Since its opening in 2009, the hype has sustained up to this day with long queues celebrating its art of ramen. To give you an idea of IPPUDO’s huge, unsurmountable success, founder Shigemi Kawahara is known as the “Ramen King”, having won “TV Champion Ramen Chef” three times in a row from 1995-1998. Hakata IPPUDO is best known for pioneering the ramen boom and skyrocketing ramen popularity overseas. Thus, you’re looking at a feature of one of the world’s best ramen joints. For IPPUDO’s New York branch, ZAGAT New York ranks Hakata Ippudo as 1st in 2011 and 2nd in 2012 in its noodle restaurants category.

Ippudo Ramen Mandarin Gallery Singapore

I had a chance to dine at IPPUDO’s dimly-lit branch at Mandarin Gallery, Singapore. I like the fact that they made the interior very mysterious ~ it makes the dining experience very exciting. And as expected there is a queue! They won’t sit you unless everyone in your group is present, by the way.

Shiromaru Chashu

Ippudo Ramen Mandarin Gallery Singapore

If you like the classic Tonkotsu broth with signature Hakata thin noodles, go for the Shiromaru selection. Here you can taste IPPUDO’s creation in its minimal form and appreciate it before you try their other dishes. Shiromaru ramen can be served with Tamago, Rosu Chashu (pork loin), Kakuni or the special where you have bamboo shoots, flavored egg and the Kakuni all in a bowl. You can also select the hardness of your noodles: soft, medium, hard or very hard.

Seasonal Miso Tonkotsu

Ippudo Ramen Mandarin Gallery Singapore

IPPUDO has their original tonkotsu broth mixed with blended quality miso in this Seasonal Miso Tonkotsu broth. It is served with cabbage, Japanese leeks, spring onions, pork belly chashu, pork loin chashu and flavored egg.

Akamaru Tamago

Ippudo Ramen Mandarin Gallery Singapore

If you’re a bit adventurous in palate like me, and want something spicy and different, go for the Akamaru Tamago. It is IPPUDO’s original Tonkotsu broth enhanced with special blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil. Buta bara or pork belly, kikurage, spring onions and that beautiful flavored egg or tamago accompanies the thin Hakata noodles.

I wasn’t quite worried that iPPUDO’s ramen would become like Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen‘s Chikuho noodles. So with this ramen, I choose a hard texture. Down to the last drop of soup, my ramen remained firm and hard, which is exactly what I wanted. As for the broth, it’s a winner. The garlic oil is such strong a taste that it’s overpowering all the elements in the ramen, which is something I like. It’s just made me so thirsty afterwards!

Another Serving Please, Kae Dama

At IPPUDO, as long as you still have enough soup left in your bowl. you can request for an extra serving of their noodles. This is a Hakata tradition. IPPUDO’s serving size isn’t that large compared to TAMPOPO, so I think you’ll have a tendency to go for another round.

Beef Steak with Japone Sauce

Ippudo Ramen Mandarin Gallery Singapore

When you dine at IPPUDO, go for the other items in their menu, such as the Beef Steak with Japone Sauce, served with baby potatoes and assorted vegetables. These tender and juicy beef steak cubes absorb the flavorful Japone sauce well.

IPPUDO SG Buns Collection

Ippudo Ramen Mandarin Gallery Singapore

IPPUDO is not only known for their ramen, but I think that they have the potential to make their Pork Buns collection as something bigger than ramen and maybe a trend. The braised pork stuffed inside the bun is just tender.

The only drawback I see is that the pork buns we ordered were supposed to be spicy. And I didn’t taste anything spicy at all with these pork buns. Nevertheless it’s just delicious, and probably even upstages the Akamaru Tamago I had.

Deep Fried Shrimp and Spicy Chicken is also available instead of Braised Pork.

(On a side note, I would consider this to be better than Red Onion’s Fried Mantou Buns and should have been a better item in the menu. Someone has to pioneer the pork buns here!)

IPPUDO vs. TAMPOPO

So how does IPPUDO fare versus TAMPOPO? It’s a bit difficult to compare the two considering they’re not apples to apples when it comes to where the ramen originated from.

But I’d come back to IPPUDO for their Pork Buns. Just delicious.

HAKATA IPPUDO Ramen Rating:

[usrlist “Taste and Originality: 3.5” “Customer Experience: 3” “Value for Money: 3” “Brick and Mortar: 3”]

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