Ramen has long been a favourite among many Singaporeans, as seen from the steady stream of new ramen eateries opening each year. Unfortunately, good ramen isn’t always easy on the wallet, as a bowl easily exceeds $20 in Singapore. That’s why we were in disbelief when Kyoto Ramen Hachicken rolled out a $4.90++ ramen. Better yet, the eatery is conveniently located in the CBD at Chinatown Point.
FYI, the restaurant is a sister brand of the renowned Hachiki-an, a popular restaurant in Kyoto that’s been around for over 50 years!
We started with their $4.90++ ramen, available in two classic soup bases: Shio and Shoyu.
For the uninitiated, shio ramen features a clean-tasting broth that’s lightly seasoned, while shoyu ramen comes with a clear, soy sauce-based broth, usually made from chicken or pork bones.
What really stood out to us was how much value we got for just $4.90++. Each bowl came filled to the brim with springy ramen noodles and robust soup, topped with a generous serving of spring onions, chopped red onions, and a tender slice of chicken.
The noodles were cooked al dente for a QQ and springy texture, soaking in the broth really well.
Besides the $4.90++ options, we enjoyed the Miso Ramen Special ($10.90++), a miso ramen topped with Ajitsuke tamago, three slices of tender chicken, a chicken meatball, chopped onions, and fresh spring onions. What we initially mistook for minced beef turned out to be a mix of crushed peanuts and chilli neatly balled up!
A collective favourite was their Oyako Don ($10.80++), which came with miso soup on the side. The lightly beaten eggs, chicken, onion, soy sauce, mirin, and dashi mix were a winning combination for us. The egg component of this dish was especially memorable, as it was melt-in-your-mouth soft and incredibly fragrant without being too eggy.
There’s also the hearty Chashu Don ($5.80++), featuring tender pieces of chicken atop Japanese rice, seaweed strips, and a drizzle of soy sauce.
The don is served with piping hot dashi too. When you’re about halfway through the dish, pour the broth over your rice to turn it into a comforting ochazuke.
With every ramen order, you can top up for sides such as Karaage ($3++ for two), Takoyaki ($3++ for three), or Chawanmushi ($3++). Our favourite was the Karaage as it was well-seasoned and retained its slight crunch even after being left out for some time.
Otherwise, there are a la carte side dishes too, including the Spring Roll ($3.90++ for five), Karaage ($6.90++ for five), or Chashu Salad ($4.90++).
Kyoto Ramen Hachicken is a cosy 30-seater restaurant at Chinatown Point. What caught our eye upon entering was its stunning interior, designed to resemble Kyoto’s iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Chinatown Point is located right outside Chinatown MRT Station, making it a great lunch or dinner spot for those working in the area.
Check out our review on Instagram!
For more eats in the area, check out our Chinatown food guide. Alternatively, check out our Museum of Ice Cream feature for unlimited ice cream in flavours such as chendol and black sesame!
Address: 133 New Bridge Road, #01-51, Chinatown Point, Singapore 059413
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Website
Kyoto Ramen Hachicken is not a halal-certified eatery but serves no pork or lard.
Photos taken by Tan Tao Zhi.
This was a media tasting at Kyoto Ramen Hachicken.
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