Monday, September 28, 2009

Dining at Yoshimaru Ramen Bar


(above, Yoshimaru Ramen courtesy of Camembaru Food Blog)

This weekend, we went to have ramen at the Yoshimaru Ramen Bar at Playground @ Big Splash. Yoshimaru Ramen Bar is an established ramen bar in japan brough to Singapore by the Jumbo Seafood people. It serves Hakata ramen that originated from Hakata, Kyushu. The most distinctive difference about Hakata ramen from others is that the noodles are much thinner and firmer in texture but which adds up to a very fuifilling meal. While the menu is limited in it's offerings, the prices are reasonable and the ramen offering reasonably good.


The soup base(above) has a rich stock being boiled with collagen extracted from pork bones but yet has a mellowed flavour so the array of condiments on each table is there for a purpose for each one to individually spice up their soup.Personally, me and Gayle felt that health conscious people may like it as it was not salty but for us, condiments are needed to give the soup some kick and salt.

A novel way to keep the diners occupied is to provide each with a bowl of sesame seeds and a pounder so that diners can throw in some condiments and mix and pound it with the sesame seeds and then throw it into the soup when the ramen arrives. Yoshimaru Ramen Bar's design provides for a chic and cool place to slurp japanese noodles in comfort although we felt that the music video being played was a little too loud as a background music.

As this was our second visit there, we could use the discount coupons given on our first trip which entitles you to $10 off every $25 spent which is quite worth it. I ordered the Shabu Shabu beef ramen while Gayle ordered the traditional Hakata ramen.


My shabu shabu beef ramen(above) had strips of soft and really juicy and tender beef slices which helped to add to the sweetness of the soup.


The ni tamago- seasoned egg(above) was so soft, tender with the yolk literally melting in the mouth. Gayle's Hakata ramen(below) has thin tender and juicy slices of pork slices.



There are side dishes available but personally, we felt that the richness and good texture of the ramen and soup made for a substantial meal.2 Full bowls of ramen cost us $29 with GST but we paid only $19 after the $10 discount. It is worth a visit there or two if you want to have a reasonably good bowl of Hakata ramen.

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