This Hidden Japanese Restaurant In Balestier Has Legit Ramen And Chashu Don Below $10+

Menya Aoi has affordable ramen and Japanese rice bowls

Affordable ramen joints are hard to come by in Singapore, which is why Menya Aoi, a Japanese restaurant offering ramen bowls below $10+, caught our attention. They’ve already got a spot at Novena’s United Square, and have most recently opened a new outlet at Shaw Plaza in Balestier.

Prices here are budget-friendly, ranging from $8.90+ to $15.90+ per bowl. You can also choose your soup base: tonkotsu, shoyu, or miso.

Additional ramen toppings are available for a fee, including Chashu ($1.50+), Aburi Chashu ($2+), and Seaweed ($1+).

While waiting for your ramen to be served, munch on complimentary bean sprouts to whet your appetite. They’re free-flow too!

Image credit: @MenyaAoiSingapore

Menya Aoi’s star offering, the Tonkotsu Ramen (from $10.90+), features springy noodles in a white soup base, topped with chashu, aji tamago, seaweed, and black fungus. The broth is made by simmering pork bones for multiple hours, resulting in a milky, rich flavour.

While online reviews mention that the soup here leans towards the salty side, this may not be an issue for ramen lovers who prefer a more robust flavour profile.

Image credit: @MenyaAoiSingapore

Alternatively, try Menya Aoi’s Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen ($11.90+) or Shogayaki ramen ($12.90+). The former stars a savoury garlic-infused broth, while the latter comprises a lighter soup base crowned with stir-fried pork slices.

Image credit: @MenyaAoiSingapore

The restaurant’s Balestier outlet features two outlet-exclusive flavours: Shoyu Ramen ($8.90+) and Chashu Don ($7.90+), which comes with chashu slices and ajitsuke tamago sitting atop a bed of aromatic Japanese pearl rice. We also recommend their Karaage Don ($9.90+), served with crispy karaage, an onsen egg, and a dollop of Japanese mayonnaise.

Image credit: @MenyaAoiSingapore

Get some sides to share too—Mapo Tofu ($5.90+) and Cheese Fries ($4.20+) are some customer favourites, as well as Mapo Nasu ($7.90+), comprising fried eggplant with a piquant mapo sauce.

For more Japanese food, check out our list of best Japanese curry rice in Singapore. Otherwise, read our WOKE Ramen review for collagen ramen and more at Changi Airport.

Novena
Address: 101 Thomson Road, #B1-04/05, United Square Shopping Mall, Singapore 307591
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 8:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 9pm
Tel: 6015 0363

Balestier
Address: 354 Balestier Road, #02-17, Shaw Plaza, Singapore 329781
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Website
Menya Aoi is not a halal-certified eatery.

Feature image adapted from @MenyaAoiSingapore