16 Comments » The last time I blogged about Ramen Santouka, I received recommendations for two outlets that are supposedly better — Tampopo and Marutama.
I tried Tampopo. I think Santouka is still better.
I tried Marutama. I think Santouka is still better!
Still, I was impressed by Marutama for its free-flow fried garlic.
I am very embarrased to say that our guys finished the whole container and then some. We had to ask for another.
People told me I had to try the chashu if I ever ate there, so I ordered the Marutama Ramen (non-spicy chicken broth with basic ingredients) and added extra toppings of chashu and seasoned boiled egg.
The chashu is, indeed, very good, comparable to Santouka’s. Melt-in-your-mouth, buttery, utterly sinful.
But the soup and ramen are terrible.
The soup has a thick, frothy texture, which makes you feel like the inside of your mouth is bubbling all the time. The taste is mediocre, quite salty, and I wouldn’t want to have it again.
The ramen texture is really blah.
It doesn’t have the firm QQ-ness that I love in ramen but I suppose it’s still edible. It’s mainly the soup that spoils it for me.
Oh, and there’s all that dodgy green stringy stuff which really spoils it. I don’t know what it is! It has the colour of spinach, the texture of seaweed and the taste of slop.
If I were to visit Marutama again, I’d order the grilled chashu. It’s good! But it’s quite salty so eating it by itself is not advisable.
We shared a bunch of other side dishes but nothing did it for me. Probably my favourite thing that night was the seasoned boiled egg. Haha. I love boiled eggs in Japanese restaurants. They always do it so well!
Stewed pork leg (or something):
Mediocre. The chashu is definitely better.
Stewed radish:
I didn’t like it because I found that the sauce tasted weird. But Minou loved it.
Sweet omelette:
Doesn’t have the fragrant eggy taste I love in tamago. It doesn’t taste bad but doesn’t taste too good, either. Texture fail, because it feels like the egg has been folded onto itself layer by layer and each layer is kinda thin and dry.
People:
LOL. Just trying to show how popular the place is. The queue was neverending. I really dunno why. The ramen not very nice leh? All my friends agreed that Santouka is much better.
The queue:
Despite our visit to Marutama not being too satisfactory, I don’t regret eating there. It’s good to be able to say you’ve tried it, especially when people won’t stop raving about it!
Everyone says the logo looks like a basketball. It’s a stylised Japanese character, pronounced “tama”, which has a zillion definitions but mainly meaning ball or jewel.
(It’s also the Chinese word for jade.)
And here are the addresses cos I know people sure ask!!
Marutama Ra-Men
#03-09/91 The Central
Ramen Santouka
#02-76 The Central
Don’t waste time with Marutama, stay on the second floor and eat Santouka.
If you like japanese ramen, you should really try Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery, Level 4. Its the closest authentic ramen that you can get in Singapore but expect to queue for at least an hour on weekends.
Now I’m hungry…
@Albert – Haha okay. I am inclined to agree with you.
@Gary Yang – Ahhh another recommendation! Will make a note of it. :)
@Mince Pye – I’m sleepy… after a big KFC lunch… :P
you probably won’t go back to Santouka after u have tried Ippudo. -_-lll
Haha. Okay. Will definitely try it. Always good to find better food!
You should consider trying Baikhoken. I believe it is on par or better than Santouka, depending on your preference:
http://yum.sg/?component=view_restaurant&restaurant_id=2825
One of the reviewers said the noodles is not as good as other places. What do you think? I’m very particular about the noodles. It has to be the right consistency! :)
Tried both too. Agree that overall Santouka is better, but Marutama’s free flow garlic can’t be beat! :P My friends work in UOB plaza and go there at least once a week for lunch. *envy*
Santouka’s cold noodles are pretty good too! Try it the next time you’re there.
Don’t you get good ramen in HK? :P I probably won’t try the cold noodles though. Not my bowl of noodles!
Hi! Have you tried Miharu before? @ 1 Nanson Road. I find that they make some of the best Hokkaido ramen around.
BTW – Nice posts and candid blogging!
Santouka for the winz!
@Chris – Nope haven’t tried it. Have made a note of it. Thank you! :)
wow. thanks for the the tip. My wife always wanted to try Marutama cause she heard a lot of people say it’s nice.
I guess different taste. Maybe your wife will like it. :P But now you’ve got other recommendations to try too.
HK ramen is good but can’t compare with sg – where I can get good ramen and good company! :D:D:D