I like Santouka’s pork cheek ramen so much that I won’t think twice about where to get my ramen fix whenever a craving hits. But I sometimes find myself at other ramen places following the whims and fancies of my ramen-obsessed friend, who brought me to the newly-opened outpost of the Fukuoka noodle chain Uma Uma Ramen.
The menu here is limited to two ramen varieties- the original Uma Uma ramen and a spicy version- as well as a small selection of side dishes and drinks. Do note that the ramen does not come with tamago- I should have perused the menu more thoroughly before ordering, sigh.
As characteristic of Hakata-style ramen, the noodles here are straight and skinny, with a soft and silky bite. They're not my favorite type of noodles though- I like mine thick and firm or springy. The fall-apart tender chashu was pretty decent as well, but could have been more flavorful.
The soup was, however, a let-down for me. I relish the heartiness of a full-bodied tonkotsu broth, and Uma Uma's version was somewhat lacking in depth of flavor and richness. Perhaps those who usually find tonkotsu soup too thick and salty for their liking will take a liking to Uma Uma’s broth.
No comments about the spicy chashu ramen since I'm not usually a fan of anything with chilli.
Whether you'll like Uma Uma probably boils down to your preferences. It's worth a try if you're curious about their noodles...but I personally prefer good ol' Santouka.
583 Orchard Road, Forum the Shopping Mall, #01-41/42/43
Singapore 238884
Singapore 238884
Opening hours 11:30am-3:00pm, 6:30pm-10:00pm (Mon-Sat); 11:30am-sold out (Sun)
Tel: 6235 1088