I’ll skip all the cliche blabber about the heritage of Ippudo(which countless can attest to) and jump straight to what we’re here for: THE GRUB! This bowl of Akamaru Shinaji arrived piping hot, with alluring dark immiscible swirls of garlic oil snaking across the tonkotsu surface. Two generous cuts of fatty chashu lay half-bathed in the broth, beckoning coyly to be consumed...

I must confess: the first overly eager gulp scalded my tongue!! But every cloud has a silver lining; by slowing down, I could really allow the creamy and silky broth to fill my mouth and infiltrate my senses...rich, warm, and highly addictive - the way the fat globules slithered across my tongue was almost sensual. If anything, the garlic oil added a mild kick, which only enhanced the overall texture. The “medium-done” ramen noodles were just the right level of springy, granting some oomph to each bite without leaving an uncomfortable doughy feel. In a split second, I found myself abandoning my anti-carb philosophy and slurping up the entire bowl of delicious goodness!

Sitting at the wooden table, enveloped by the aroma of tonkotsu and warmth of my family, I was brought back to my cold hobo days in Japan, where even the cheapest bowl of train-station ramen brought me immeasurable joy. To evoke such vivid memories, I dare say this is as close to the authentic Japanese experience as you’ll get!