Review: IPPUDO’s New Grand Menu With 11 Tasty Starters To Complement Your Ramen!
Top row (left): Japanese Iburi Gakko Potato Salad, Torikawa Ponzu, Umakara “Super Hot” Konnyaku
Second row (left): The Japanese Aji Fry, Takobutsu, Homemade Butano Kakuni
Third row (left): “Sauteed” Sunagimo Itame With Mushroom, Salmon & Ikua Don. IPPUDO Style Unagi Roll
Source: IPPUDO
IPPUDO- a premium ramen restaurant reputed for their authentic, artisan Hakata Tonkotsu ramen. Their new grand menu serves to spice up your ramen dining experience with new appetisers and sides created from the innovative use of classic ingredients such as konnyaku, daikon, unagi and more. Choose from a variety of umami hot dishes, rice bowls, to wholesome salads to complement your choice of IPPUDO’s signature ramen!
We tried 9 out of the 11 starters from the new grand menu and they certainly teased our palates, in anticipation for our main course- ramen! There were classic dishes such as Salmon & Ikura Don and The Japanese Aji Fry as well as innovative creations such as Umakara “Super Hot” Konnyaku and Japanese Iburi Gakko Potato Salad. Another standout dish is “Sauteed” Sunagimo Itame With Mushroom, an acquired taste featuring chicken gizzard with mushroom.
Japanese Iburi Gakko Potato Salad ($6.90)
Imagine your favourite Japanese potato salad elevated with smoked pickled daikon, offering a smoky flavour and extra crunch. We recommend this wholesome appetiser for sharing, and to satisfy any picky diner, young and old alike!
Umakara “Super Hot” Konnyaku $7.40
Fans of spice and mala should try this bite-sized konnyaku jelly braised in an oil-free dashi stock, seasoned with shichimi toragashi seven-spice chilli. We enjoyed the gummy texture of konnyaku jelly served with extra heat and spice!
PS: Bite into one of the chilli if you would like your dish EXTRA HOT!
Sautéed Sunagimo Itame with Mushroom $13.80
This stir-fried chicken gizzard with garlic and kinoko mushrooms is dressed with a house-made Japanese style shiokoji sauce. New to chicken gizzard? Think dark chicken meat, but a bit more intense. This savoury chicken dish can double as a drinking snack too, if you are in for some booze after work.
IPPUDO Style Unagi Roll $15.80
This innovative sushi roll is a combination of IPPUDO’s handmade fried noodles with Japanese omelette and thick slices of grilled unagi, finished with mayonnaise and unagi sauce. We did not find the fried noodle topping to be crispy or crunchy, perhaps some noodle bits could also be added within the sushi roll for more texture. Nevertheless, the unagi was nicely grilled and worked well with the rest of the dish components.
The Classics
If you prefer no-frill appetisers to start your meal, check out Takobutsu $14.90 – just simple, thick cuts of boiled octopus legs served with soy sauce, leek, spring onion and a dash of wasabi. A classic fried delicacy is Japanese Aji Fry $9.80 - a deep-fried whole horse mackerel, served with a house-made sauce, shredded cabbage and Japanese mustard.
Homemade Butano Kakuni $15.80 - a remake of the classic Kyushu dish- a thick-cut pork belly slow-cooked in IPPUDO’s original sauce until meltingly tender and juicy. Indeed, the tender meat burst with umami as it melted in our mouths.
On days when you crave for extra carbs, order the Salmon & Ikura Don. This would make a perfect kids meal too, if you are bringing a little one to IPPUDO.
Other novel dishes on the new grand menu include Torikawa Ponzu $6.90 – boiled chicken skin sweetened with grated radish and tangy citrus sauce, IPPUDO Otsumami and Salmon Carpaccio.
Ramen
Source: IPPUDO
Not sure which IPPUDO ramen to go for? Here’s a quick introduction of IPPUDO signature ramen.
Shiromaru Ramen boasts their original tonkotsu pork broth made with IPPUDO’s signature dashi, served with thin noodles topped with pork belly chashu, sesame kikurage mushrooms, menma, red pickled ginger and scallions. Akamaru Ramen presents a bolder ramen rendition with an addition of IPPUDO’s secret umami dama miso paste. Like your ramen spicy? Go for Karaka Spicy Ramen served with an extra kick of IPPUDO’s special blend of hot spices.
(Do check with the restaurant on the prices of the ramen and other dishes.)
IPPUDO’s Monthly Sake Tasting Day
Did you know IPPUDO offers an authentic Japanese otsumami (having alcohol with snacks) experience on every first 4 Wednesdays of the month? Enjoy limited-time premium sake pairings with delectable Japanese dishes at selected IPPUDO outlets.
This March, savour Hon Maguro (Bluefin Tuna) 3 ways – marinated with avocado and wasabi, soy-marinated tuna and paired with natto. Visit IPPUDO official pages for more information!
Read our full review of their premium bluefin tuna sashimi here.
IPPUDO Outlets
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*This is an invited media tasting event.
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