Are you ready for a maze-soba extravaganza in global proportions?
Menya Kokoro, Japan’s largest maze-soba chain is hosting “Top of the World”, Singapore’s biggest maze-soba party.
Now you have the chance to meet the brand’s 6 best-sellers curated from its international menus – Tokyo, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Vancouver, and Singapore. All under one roof.
You can choose to have them from any Menya Kokoro’s 3 outlets at Suntec City (Eat At Seven), 100AM Mall, and its newest outlet at Plaza Singapura.
Menya Kokoro began when a Japanese Chef named Takuma Ishikawa created Kokoro Maze-Soba in Tokyo, Japan. His maze-soba, unparalleled in taste and quality, has spread its popularity all over Japan.
It even won the Best Maze-Soba Award in 2014.
Within 5 years, Menya Kokoro has opened a total of 29 outlets around the world. As it continues to expand, more foodies will have access to its award-winning signature dish.
Visit its latest outlet in Singapore at Basement 2 of Plaza Singapura and discover the 6 global top-sellers from 6 countries. Here they are:
Furious Mala Ramen – Top-seller in Singapore ($14.80, $16.80)
Singapore’s very own bestseller is the Furious Mala Ramen, not surprisingly a spicy choice since mala is still trending.
Like a traditional ramen, this bowl is filled with rich and slightly creamy tonkotsu-based soup.
But what differentiates it from the usual, is that the bowl is packed with intense flavors from the trio of Szechuan peppers, dried chili strings and chili oil.
The al dente cooked ramen is doused in the fiery mala soup, then topped with seaweed, chopped spring onions, and an onsen egg cooked to precision.
Up for a tongue numbing challenge? This is the dish to pick. If you are up for a bigger challenge, inform the staff to increase the “mala level”.
(Also available is a dry-version of the Furious Mala Maze-Soba, with the same type of ‘heat’.)
Tokyo Maze-soba – Top-seller in Bangkok ($10.80, $12.80)
In the heart of this winning dish is Menya Kokoro’s signature secret-recipe minced meat sauce.
Prepared using Japanese techniques through a 4-hour slow cooking process, it has deep flavours that well complement the maze-soba ingredients.
Once tossed, these ingredients – ramen, ground Saba fish, nori, poached egg, green onion, garlic, and chives – deliver a fusion of flavours enhanced by the minced meat sauce.
If you are a first-timer to Menya Kokoro, I would say go for this classic bowl or the Zenbu Maze-soba (more below on the Zenbu).
Double Cheese Maze-soba – Top-seller in Jakarta ($13.80, $15.80)
Attention, cheese lovers. This maze-soba boasts of double cheese for twice the fun, making it impossible to resist.
A top-seller among Jakarta-based foodies, this dish is a variant of the Tokyo Maze-soba, upgraded with a blanket of melted cheese.
Do give the noodles a good toss when the bowl freshly arrives and cheese is melty. Then savour the rich flavour and creaminess when the cheesy sauce coats the strands all over.
Kokoro Tantanmen – Top-seller in Tokyo ($13.80, $15.80)
This particular ramen racks up in popularity in Tokyo, where it prepares the noodles deliciously swimming in an aromatic tonkotsu-based broth.
Featuring Menya Kokoro’s signature secret recipe minced meat, this tantanmen also includes tender char shu slices and chopped fresh spring onion.
Of all the new additions, I like this best. There is more going on with mild spiciness from the chilli oil along with mellow nutty sweetness.
Mentai Ebi Maze-soba – Top-seller in Vancouver ($13.80, $15.80)
Have a taste of this Canadian bestseller from Vancouver, the Mentai Ebi Maze-soba.
This dish features a combination of prawns, ebiko, seaweed, onsen egg, and a couple of greens – the herbaceous and pungent shiso leaf and the crisp and peppery rocket or arugula.
What’s especially delectable is the savoury mentai butter coating the entire dish with its creaminess.
This sauce is on the rich and thick side, almost feel like you are having carbonara.
Zenbu Maze-soba – Top-seller in Manila ($14.80, $16.80)
This maze-soba is not called “Zenbu” for nothing. Living up to its name (‘Zenbu’ means ‘everything in’), this dish brims with ingredients, showcasing its signature Japanese-style slow-braised minced meat sauce.
This Manila bestseller also includes char shu along with ground Saba fish, two eggs (one poached, one onsen), nori seaweed, chopped green onions, minced garlic, chives, and bamboo shoot.
Quite value-for-its money as you get a bit of everything in a bowl, especially when you get two types of pork (minced meat and char shu) and two types of eggs.
In addition, you get a free mushroom kombu-based soup and high-quality oimeshi rice (upon request) for every order of maze-soba.
Need to add more sides? Menya Kokoro offers new additions to your maze-soba party, including Aji Fry (Fried Horse Mackerel) ($3.80 per piece) and Pumpkin Croquette ($2.80 per piece)
Aji Fry (Fried Horse Mackerel) ($3.80 per piece)
Typically eaten during summer in Japan, the horse mackerel provides stamina to the body. Menya Kokoro has prepared it deep-fried as side dish to your maze-soba.
It is coated in crispy breadcrumbs for a delightful crunch, then served with an accompanying in-house sauce.
Pumpkin Croquette ($2.80 per piece)
Made with Japanese kabocha squash, these croquettes are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. You will love how the filling is naturally sweet and savoury, a blend of flavours your taste buds will easily love.
Menya Kokoro – Plaza Singapura
Plaza Singapura #B2-53 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839
Opening Hours: 11am – 3:30pm, 5pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 11am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)
Last order half hour before closing
https://www.facebook.com/menyakokorosg
Menya Kokoro – 100AM
100 Tras Street #02-10 Singapore 079027
Tel: +65 6443 1727
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)
Last order half hour before closing
Menya Kokoro – Suntec City
Eat At Seven Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard #03-313 Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6235 3386
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Thurs), 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat), 11am – 9:30pm (Sun)
Last order half hour before closing
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Menya Kokoro.