Six acclaimed ramen-yas hailing from various Japanese prefectures have recently opened outposts at Iluma Bugis. They will be open until June 30 next year, and a popularity contest based on sales and votes will determine the Ultimate Ramen Champion who will be invited to set up a restaurant here.
Following the Straits Times' recommendations, I settled on a regular portion of Ikkousha's signature Hakkata Ajitama ramen ($13+). Other dishes on offer here include Bario ramen, mori soba from Taishoke, Tetsu's Very rich! Paitan tsukemen ramen, Negitama ramen from Iroha as well as Ganetsu's special miso ramen.
Ramen Champion uses a magnetic strip card system a la Marché. Like in Japan, a disc-shaped electronic device is issued to you upon ordering and beeps when your food is ready for collection!
Ikkousha's noodles are skinny and slightly crisp to the bite, though not as resilient as I would have liked. Texture aside, the kansui (alkaline) taste of the noodles could have been more subdued as well. Simmered with pork bones and soy sauce, the broth was smoky and piquant, and was topped with some crunchy black fungus and negi. My favorite item in the bowl would be the flavorful chashu, which was tender with a great fat to meat ratio. The onsen tamago, however, could have been more tasty, and it was unfortunate that the yolk wasn't molten either.
For the ravenous, a larger serving of the Hakkata Ajitama ramen is available at $15+, and you can ask for kaedama (替玉) ($2+) if you want a refill of noodles.
All in all, this was a decent bowl of ramen but I'm too sure if Ikkousha deserves the title of Ultimate Ramen Champion. Santouka's pork cheek ramen still reigns in my book and I hope to be back to try the other stalls here in the year ahead.
Ramen Champion
201 Victoria Street
Iluma @ Bugis
#04–08/09/10
For the ravenous, a larger serving of the Hakkata Ajitama ramen is available at $15+, and you can ask for kaedama (替玉) ($2+) if you want a refill of noodles.
All in all, this was a decent bowl of ramen but I'm too sure if Ikkousha deserves the title of Ultimate Ramen Champion. Santouka's pork cheek ramen still reigns in my book and I hope to be back to try the other stalls here in the year ahead.
Ramen Champion
201 Victoria Street
Iluma @ Bugis
#04–08/09/10