Hey Hive!
Now that it's been quite a while since Singapore has has been out of lockdown, or what our government has termed "circuit breaker", restaurants have been operating pretty much as usual aside from implementing safe distancing measures. We've also been eating out more and trying new places!
And one of these new places is Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen!
Since it's located in the basement of Suntec City (i.e. Sean's favourite hangout), we've passed by this restaurant quite a few times. But it was always pretty crowded and we assumed it was fairly expensive (compared to a $5 plate of rice from Encik Tan) since it's a ramen place in Singapore; where the average price for is about $16 for a bowl.
But, we were actually pretty surprised to find that their signature ramen is only $9.90! We were quite intrigued so we decided to check it out. Also since ramen is typically made with pork broth, this restaurant being halal made me curious to see if there was a difference in taste.
I guessed their specialty was in seafood ramen since it was from Hokkaido but apparently all their broths have some seafood in them, like bonito, mackerel and kelp all the way from Hokkaido!
But they had many different types of toppings other than seafood (except pork) like duck and cheese. They also had some very unique ramen like this daichi tomato ramen where they added tomato puree and fresh tomatoes to give the broth a sweet acidic edge. I'm not a fan of tomatoes but I thought it was pretty unconventional and distinctive.
Anyway, after waiting for a bit, we were showed to our table. The interior of the restaurant was actually really nicely designed. There was a long counter like the ones at Ichiran where you could have solitary meals for those looking for a quick bite alone. The stools kinda resembled those you'd see in Japanese bathhouses though.
Just opposite that were these open booths on a wooden platform with benches and curtains. I like that they made sure people took off their shoes before sitting there. It's probably easier for them to clean as well.
And of course there are more regular tables and chairs in the back, which was where we sat. I really liked the huge Kanagawa Wave mural they used. And the dark blue walls coupled with the metallic furnishings and grey walls on the other side gave it a modern, industrial aesthetic. It surprisingly fits well despite the more Japanese wood decor at the front.
Overall, it was quite cozy and comfortable, and the whole aesthetic was very pleasant and inviting imo. The colour scheme was also quite consistent throughout the whole restaurant.
Anyway, after sitting, we were handed a tablet where we could place our order.
Sean ordered the Ichi-beef ramen, which had sukiyaki-style beef slices, flavoured egg, seasoned bamboo shoots, woodear mushrooms and topped with chopped green onions.
And I of course ordered the $9.90 Ichikokudo ramen with clear broth. The menu says that it has the signature flavour of ichikokudo with reduced oil and a clean yet layered taste, light enough to finish the entire bowl. It's topped with flavoured egg, chicken chashu, shredded white leek, seasoned bamboo shoots, and spinach.
I was also handed the wrong bowl of ramen initially; I think the waiter gave me the Ichikokudo ramen with original broth instead of the clear broth.
But this was quickly rectified before I even touched the bowl so it was alright. This was my actual order, which we also made into a set; which included grilled gyoza and watermelon slices.
I think we were given an extra plate of gyoza by mistake, which we absolutely did not mind at all.
The ramen itself was alright. It had been quite a while since we've eaten ramen, but I'd say it's kinda average. My broth was okay; I wouldn't say it's plain, it's nothing too spectacular, but not bad either. I'm glad I ordered the cheapest one though, since Sean's beef wasn't that much better. His broth was good though iirc. We did exchange meat so we could try each other's, but I wasn't too impressed with the beef.
The gyoza was a little cold though, and it wasn't crispy so it was definitely prepared beforehand and kept warm somewhere. It was still alright.
Overall it was a pretty okay meal. The only gripe I have was that someone else must've ordered one of the seafood ramen that was emitting quite a pungent odour. It did not smell like fresh seafood; maybe because of the ramen broth or something. But the fact that we could smell it a few tables away was a little cause for concern, and kinda affected our appetite if I'm being honest. It wasn't that strong like gag-inducing, but we could smell it for the whole meal and it wasn't the most pleasant.
Anyway, after we finished our meal we quickly left since Sean can't stand the smell of seafood. Thankfully, we couldn't smell it near the front of the restaurant where the payment counter was.
I think if you can only eat halal ramen, or you're price conscious, Ichikokudo would be a good option since I don't know of many other halal ramen chains, and their prices seem quite reasonable. But if you're a ramen aficionado I'd say pass on this one because there are definitely better ramen restaurants out there.
Thanks for reading!
To find out more about me, check out my intro post here!
[//]:# (!pinmapple 1.295448 lat 103.858748 long d3scr)
Check out my previous post in this series!
