An established ramen chef once told me he would never join a Ramen Champion concept, for pride. For newer ramen brands, this could be the stepping stone to a more established name.
Ikkousha Hakata Ramen 博多一幸舎 by Kousuke Yoshimura is one of the very few who managed to benefit from the competition, winning the Ultimate Ramen Champion twice in a row, selling almost double of amount of Gantetsu and Bario who were second and third. While the rest still remains mainly unheard of.
The Hakata ramen shop finally opens its own at Tanjong Pagar Plaza. Woh, Tanjong Pagar.
Yes right, opposite strong competitors Keisuke Tonkotsu King and Menya Sanji, and Ramen Keisuke Tori King and Homebaked Dough are just nearby. The previous ramen shop at the same premise could not survive beyond a few months.
I do need to open to share that I was originally invited for a tasting which was suddenly cancelled as they “received instructions from Japan that they need to stop the food tasting for media”. Strange, I wondered what happened, because that is quite ‘un-Japanese’ to un-invite.
In the end, I went back on my own, for multiple times.
This Ikkousha branch is known for two types of ramen – the original Tonkotsu Ramen ($12.00) with thick pork broth with thin long noodles, or the God Fire ($13.50) spicy ramen specially created for the Singapore market.
Truthfully, the first time my friends and I weren’t impressed – pork broth was not warm enough, noodles slightly overdone, and chashu while thin, was not exactly tender.
My friends swore off it, but I actually went back again (knowing 2 of my favourite ramen are just opposite) because I felt the urge to give it another chance.
The ramen was so much better, with the creamy whitish soup much warmer and full-bodied. Though I am usually a fan of spicy bases, I think Ikkousha’s strength is still in its original.
Noodles were springier, though I think it can go a notch less soggy (perhaps I would request for hard texture the next time). Its ajitama egg ($2.00 extra) made a delicious flavourful accompaniment.
Service was also hospitable, energetic and warm, what you would expect from a Japanese ramen shop. Perhaps what the Ikkousha’s ramen needs, is a little more consistency.
Ikkousha Hakata Ramen Singapore 博多一幸舎
Block 7, #01-104 Tanjong Pagar Plaza Singapore 081007 Tel +65 65381880
Opening Hours: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm (Mon – Sat), 11:30 am – 9:00 pm (Sun)
Other Ramen Entries
Ramen Champion (Great World City)
Keisuke Tonkotsu King (Orchid Hotel, Tanjong Pagar)
Menya Sanji (Orchid Hotel, Tanjong Pagar)
Ramen Kagetsu Arashi (The Star Vista)
Ippudo Singapore (UE Square)
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