Review: Menya Kokoro Unveils New Iekei Ramen and Singapore's First Lava Ramen From $15.80++
You might be no stranger to Menya Kororo- Tokyo’s famed mazesoba joint, winning numerous "Best-Selling Mazesoba Awards" since 2015. This month, get ready to spice up your dining experience with their new Ieikei Ramen and Lava Ramen, served with homemade noodles. When I heard about their latest menu, I was thrilled to give it a try as I am a fan of their mazesoba.
This casual mazesoba joint exudes a cozy and welcoming vibe, decked in a minimalist interior featuring wooden furniture and lit with warm lights.
Iekei Ramen
Originating from Yokohama, Japan, this bowl of Iekei Ramen ($15.80 for Regular/$17.80 for Large) is a treat to the taste buds! Served with tonkotsu and shoyu broth, homemade noodles, tender chashu, ajitama, and seaweed, topped with spinach greens, alongside a bowl of rice. We were told that there are 3 ways to enjoy this bowl of goodness:
1. We start by savouring the broth with their homemade noodle. The broth is so comforting, packed with rich umami flavour, and the noodle is so thick and springy.
2. Second way to enjoy this dish is by dipping the seaweed into the broth and enjoying it with a scoop of rice. The rice balances out the saltiness of the broth and seaweed perfectly.
3. Last, we added a scoop of Dou Ban Jiang (spicy bean sauce), which elevated the flavours of the broth and gave it a spicy kick.
Lava Ramen
We also got to try their Lava Ramen ($16.30 for Regular/$18.30 for Large), which comes with a stack of pork belly slices, lava-red soup prepared using their house-special mildly spicy miso paste with tonkotsu, thin housemade ramen noodles, then topped with beansprouts, chives, seaweed sprinkled with chili powder, Japanese sansho pepper, and a drizzle of chili oil and black garlic oil. They also served a lava onsen egg on the side.
The broth is wonderfully flavourful, and it reminds me of Szechuan mala. As I savor this dish, the spice gradually kicks in, which does not hit you right in the face. The pork belly is incredibly tender and goes perfectly well with the broth and thin bouncy noodles.
Final Thoughts
Once again, Menya Kokoro never failed to impress me. The dishes were also value-for-money as the regular-size portion was so generous, allowing you to share it amongst two or three people.
On 18th and 19th February 2023, bring your loved one to enjoy 1-for-1 Lava Ramen, available exclusively at Menya Kokoro's 100AM outlet only!
Click here to find out more.
Menya Kokoro (100AM outlet)
Location: 100 Tras Street, #02-10, Singapore 079027
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11am to 3pm & 5pm to 9pm | Friday, 11am to 3pm & 5pm to 9.30pm | Saturday , 11am to 9.30pm | Sunday, 11am to 9pm
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