Japanese Ramen Chef Opens Eatery In Rochor With Mains Under $15—Worth Trying?

Menya Saku has affordable ramen at Sim Lim Square

Ramen is a timeless favourite among Singaporeans, with many ramen eateries sprouting up at a dizzying pace. One such location is Menya Saku in Sim Lim Square, tucked away in a row of restaurants on the second floor. 

Menya Saku is run by Chef Mamoru Kanaya, a veteran of Ramen Champion fame. The Japanese chef had previously served up bowls at Buta God and Menya Kokoro, and now runs his own cosy ramen nook. 

Having heard of Menya Saku’s affordable and authentic bowls, we had to head down to see if their ramen was indeed legit. Here’s how it went!

Food at Menya Saku

The rather lean menu here is divided into four sections: Saku, White, Red, and Black, corresponding to the type of broth used. 

We started with the most popular form of ramen: the Special Tonkotsu Ramen ($15). This came with a mix of pork belly and chicken slices, as well as an ajitama egg, nori, and black fungus. You can get a standard version with less ingredients for $11. 

The tonkotsu broth was rich and thick, but lacked clarity—the pork bone flavours took a backseat to the soup’s milkiness, which didn’t quite evolve. The black fungus also had a strange, processed taste that made the soup slightly bitter. 

The Hakata-style noodles used here were fitting, holding up well in the thick broth, but they were slightly too soft for our liking. 

We were absolutely sold on the chashu pieces here. They had a good amount of fat, torched to a meltingly buttery texture and brimming with flavour. 

The ajitama egg was also well-seasoned with a gooey core. While a touch too salty, it was otherwise cooked to a high standard. 

The Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen ($12) was a step up. The mayu (black garlic) oil added a much-appreciated smoky and intensely savoury elevation to the tonkotsu broth, filling up the gaps left by the original. 

The broth now had a deep richness that made each slurp enjoyable, complemented by the noodles with a more al-dente chew and sturdiness that absorbed the soup better. We highly recommend trying this variation during your visit. 

We also tried their Special Saku Ramen ($13), which uses a chicken-based hybrid of shio-shoyu broth. Unlike the other varieties served here, this version contains no pork or lard.

A sip of the broth revealed a light, slightly oily and savoury start, but the soup lacked depth, leaving the body rather thin and underwhelming. While this might be a good option for those who love lighter broths, we felt that it was missing a great deal of flavour. 

The noodles used here were also a pain point—they had an alkaline, processed texture and taste that was quite cloying, which somewhat blended into the soup as well. 

The chicken pieces were grilled, but that failed to impart the charred flavour we were hoping for. We also thought that the addition of blanched spinach, while unique, felt out of place—its bright freshness did not sit well with the oily broth. 

Ambience at Menya Saku

The no-frills setup in Menya Saku serves very well as a quick ramen stop. A bright interior, along with a kitchen open to view, leans towards an inviting atmosphere, even if the space focuses more on function than form. The space may be rather intimate with its 24-seater dining area, but considering the fast-paced nature of ramen stalls, this does not pose a problem. 

Menya Saku is located at Sim Lim Square, a one-minute walk from Rochor MRT Station.

Menya Saku – Eatbook review

The ramen at Menya Saku may not be the most mindblowing, but for its price and affordability—especially in a central location—we think that you will get quite a lot of value here. Come without expecting the very best, and you’ll leave satisfied with a comforting, nourishing bowl. 

If fiery miso ramen is your thing, I recommend Kikanbo at VivoCity, an extremely popular ramen joint from Kanda, Tokyo. Otherwise, 3 Meals A Day, located right next door to Menya Saku, is also popular for its salted egg rice. 

Address: 1 Rochor Canal Road, #02-03 Sim Lim Square, Singapore 188504
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 8:30pm
Website
Menya Saku is not a halal-certified eatery. 

Photos taken by Paula Formantes.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.