3 words: pork rib ramen. Go straight for their signature Boss Rib Ramen ($13.90) - superbly tender pork ribs slow-cooked for 24 hours, glazed with yakitori sauce and perfectly charred, served with a rich tonkotsu broth that's been cooked for 8 hours. For something a little different, try their Beer Belly Ramen ($18.90) that comes with a pork belly slice grilled in yakitori sauce and served in a tonkotsu broth made with Sapporo beer, or their Black Garlic Dry Ramen ($10.90). If you still have stomach, and can't get enough of their delicious pork belly, order their Grilled Kakuni Buns ($4.90 with every ramen order)!
Boasting tasty ramen in an excellent location in the bustling Holland Village, Sanpoutei sets itself apart from most other ramen restaurants through its unique ramen broth. Their signature stock is clear and made with a mixture of vegetables, chicken, pork bone and 2 kinds of dried sardines imported directly from Japan. The addition of fish into their broth adds a definitively different flavour as compared to the purely pork-based broths of many other competitors. What's more, their noodles are made in-house with a special noodle-making machine. Go for their signature Niigata Shoyu Ramen, or the Rich Tori x Spicy Miso Ramen if you're in for a spicy kick!
This super popular ramen chain from Japan has been pretty well received in Singapore. Known for their garlic tonkotsu broth, their signature Arashi Genkotsue Ramen and unique Ginjiro Ramen with a tonkotsu and bonito broth are crowd-pleasers. For garlic-lovers, they also offer freshly pressed garlic at the table for you to make sure your ramen packs the right amount of garlicy punch. According to Tastemaker Alain, 'This Arashi Genkotsu Ramen, with secret Tonkotsu broth was full of natural sweetness and thickness. One of the best selling ramen, a must try!'
After making huge waves in Thailand, this ramen restaurant originally from Japan has come to Singapore, and now has outlets conveniently located in 313 Somerset, and Tampines 1. We like that they recognise varying stomach capacities, offering ramen in two portion sizes, with 'upsizes' available at additional cost. Not surprisingly, their tonkotsu broth is made from hours of simmering pork bones to achieve its rich flavour. $11.90 for a large portion of their signature Tonkotsu Ramen makes it affordable and filling. If you have the space, their gyoza is worth ordering too!
Claiming the title of Singapore's Ramen Champion two years in a row, it's probably no surprise that Ikkousha made the list. When in doubt, order the Special Tonkotsu ($16) which comes with chashu, flavoured egg, seaweed, fungus and spring onion in favourful pork broth. As Tastemaker Poh Peng remarks, 'the broth was excellent and this two main aspects were good enough for me to give them the thumbs up! The charshu was pretty satisfying with varying taste with each slice'. To suit a more Singaporean tastebud, they also serve a spicy tonkotsu variation ($13.50).
You know you've come to the right place when close to 80% of the diners are Japanese. The word of Miharu's almost life-changing ramen has been spreading quietly, but rapidly. The comfortable, quiet, calming vibe of Miharu sets the perfect tone for the salty, creamy, luscious broth, and chewy Sapporo ramen. Go for #11, the Tonkotsu Miso ramen - you'll be licking your bowl down to the last drop.
This second branch of the famed Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery earned the name "Tao" due to their collaboration with the Tao drum performance group. If you already love Ippudo, you'll love Ippudo Tao even more with their larger menu, longer opening hours, and best of all - you can make reservations to avoid queuing. If you like broader noodles, go for the Tao Kuro, a tasty bowl of Shoyu Tonkotsu broth. For thinner, curly noodles, order the Tao Aka. You will be so glad you chose to eat here.
Having gained a small but loyal following, Bario is one of the more unconventional stalls of Ramen Champion. Served in a large bowl with a huge portion of thick, flat noodles topped with a mountain of bean sprouts, an egg and 3 slices of chashu, this is one formidable bowl. The broth is ultra-rich with the addition of bits of fat that give the soup a mindblowingly unforgettable taste. This is a bowl of ramen for men. Please go hungry.
This humble 20-seater ramen shop may just serve you the best bowl of tonkotsu broth you've ever had. Arguably one of the best in town, you will feel transported once you step in to this cosy space. There are 3 flavours to choose from - Original, Black Spicy (recommended!) and Red Spicy. You may also indicate light, normal or strong soup. Go for the Tonkotsu Ramen Special with all toppings! The free-flow bean sprouts and hard-boiled eggs are just the cherry on top ;) Be prepared to queue!
Bariuma hails from Hiroshima, and sits in a quiet corner of Tanglin Shopping Centre. This (somewhat) hidden gem serves richly flavoured tonkotsu shoyu soup, and thick slices of chashu . A must-try is the Ajitama-Uma ($15), with thick cut flamed chashu, uncut egg and shoyu soup. If you like spice, the Kara Uma ($16) soup is known to be one of the spiciest. You must order a side of Aburi Charshu ($9), pork that has been grilled to melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Seriously, you'll want more.
Fondly known as the "volcano ramen", the signature Kazan ramen is served in a hot stone bowl, and is covered with a conical red lid after the soup is poured in, causing an eruption of steam. If you're still hungry after finishing the noodles, add the bowl of rice into the still hot soup. The noodles are broad and flat, as they believe it does not turn soggy as fast as thinner noodles. Go for the Kazen Kaisen-shio, a tonkotsu broth full of seafood.
Located in the heart of the CBD, Ramen Bar Suzuki sees a long queue and a full restaurant at lunch times. There are 5 flavours to choose from, and you may customize the toppings and texture of noodle. Go for either the Pure White (standard) or Jet Black (squid ink and roasted garlic) Tonkotsu Ramen. There's a station of free rice (at lunch), bean sprouts, eggs, garlic chips, sesame and fried pork lard. Every lunch and dinner, there are specials limited to the first 10 bowls! If you do get a chance, try the tsukemen.
The robust tonkotsu broth, springy thin noodles and tender chashu easily make Santouka one of Singapore's best places for ramen. Go for the Shio (salt-based) version of the Pork Cheek (Tokusen Toroniku) Ramen, the real star being the pork cheek. Braised to perfection and served in perfect slices, it is so tender it's been compared to Toro, or fatty tuna. It is no wonder the queues are so long.
Although not a restaurant dedicated to ramen, Tampopo has made a name for itself with their Black Pig Shabu Ramen, a must-order here along with their Crispy Salmon Skin as a side. You will get to enjoy the best of both worlds - flavourful ramen and mouth-watering tonkatsu. Did you know the owner of Tompopo was one of the early pioneers to introduce Singapore to the delectable Tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet)? If you still have space after your ramen, try the Scoop Cake for a truly satisfying dessert.
A couple of talented Singaporeans decided that ramen can be served at hawker prices, $5/6/7, and created this delightful version. Think springy wanton noodles coated in a garlic, ginger, onion infused oil, wantons, soy-flavoured hot spring egg, slices of melt-in-your-mouth chashu, and shrimp wrapped in crispy potato. This creative dish certainly is half the price, but easily as satisfying. Of course, don't expect this to replace your usual ramen!
Baikohken serves Asahikawa style Ramen Known as one of the most generous bowls of ramen, the chashu comes in 5 thick slices that cover the whole bowl, even the bamboo shoots are huge! The broth is a great blend of chicken, pork bone and fish dashi, with springy, curly noodles. Go for the Shoyu flavour. If you're a real chashu lover, this is definitely a place to try. If you're up for it, go for their Charshu don too!
At only $5.50 for ramen soup and $3 for dry noodles with minced meat, these brothers have found a way to serve you great ramen at low prices. The chashu is well marinated and tender, the pork broth is flavourful, and the Kyushu-style noodes are thin and chewy. Add a beautifully stewed egg for only 50 cents. The best part? These brothers are actually bakers, so you can pick up some really good cookies to go after lunch. It's no wonder the queues are so long at lunchtime!
Most ramen places serve tonkotsu (pork bone) or shio (salt-based) broth, but Marutama makes magic happen with chicken broth of a gorgeously milky consistency. A lighter and less oily option compared to the usual tonkotsu broth. Get the signature Marutama Ramen - springy Hakata-style noodles, a slice of tender chashu, and an amazingly molten soft-boiled egg. Add a few slices of fried garlic to the soup, and order a side of Yaki Char Siu - grilled roast pork that you will regret not trying.
Yoshimaru may not come to mind when discussing the best ramen in town, but it certainly is very decent. Simply satisfying and perfect for a quick dinner, their Hakata Ramen is a no-frills dish at $11. Hakata noodles are straight and thin, in a bowl of milky pork broth. If you're feeling a little adventurous, try the Spicy Cold Ramen or the spicy Yoshimaru Tan Tan Mian with peanut sauce and chilli oil.
Known for their Hakata-style ramen, Uma Uma serves only 2 types of ramen, the Uma Uma Ramen ($14) and the Spicy Chasiu Ramen ($16). The noodles are thin, straight and silky, and the tonkotsu broth is thick, dark, rich, and salty. If you have space, their Chasiu Rice is super tasty!