Ramen-ya Review: Hidden Ramen Shop Run By Japanese Chef In Bedok

Ramen-ya has legit tonkotsu and shio ramen in Upper Changi

Tucked in a quiet corner of East Village in Bedok is Ramen-ya. They’ve been open for barely a year, but they’ve already attracted the attention of many Singaporean foodies. With almost 200 Google reviews that average out to a 4.8 rating, their ramen dishes have been touted as the best, most authentic ones you can find in Singapore. Hearing all this fanfare, we just had to go down to try the ramen for ourselves. 

Food at Ramen-ya

The Special Shio Ramen ($13.80) seemed popular among many diners, so we ordered a bowl to try. 

The broth was definitely the star of the show. It was incredibly rich and thick, and seemed to get even thicker as time went on . Thankfully, the chef was kind enough to offer a broth top-up so we had enough to enjoy with the rest of our noodles. Flavour-wise, the shio broth leaned salty, and was almost clean-tasting despite how full-bodied it was. 

Submerged in the broth were Sapporo-style ramen noodles. They were cooked to a nice firmness, and remained mostly al dente even after soaking up the broth. 

To top it all off, the dish came with four slices of fatty, torched chashu and a hanjuku egg. The chashu was extra tender with a subtle smokey flavour, and the hanjuku egg was almost perfectly cooked, with a deliciously gooey centre. 

Although the Special Shio Ramen was a stellar dish, my colleague and I preferred the Special Tonkotsu Red ($14.80) for its bolder flavours.  

The tonkotsu broth was similarly gao, but with a more full-bodied taste compared to the shio one. Served with a dollop of chilli paste that’s meant to be mixed into the broth, it also has an added spicy kick that was absent from the shio ramen. 

As for noodles, this version features smoother, Hakata-style ramen noodles. Compared to the Sapporo-style ones, these got soggy a little faster, so make sure to dig in fast. 

The chashu slices served in this bowl were thinner and less fatty than the ones in the shio version, but they were no less flavourful and tender. Likewise, this bowl also came with a well-cooked hanjuku egg.

In addition to the ramen, we ordered a plate of Gyoza ($6). For the price, you get five pieces of pan-fried dumplings stuffed with minced pork, cabbage, and spring onion.

It was a decent plate of gyoza. The dumplings were not a showstopper by any means—that title’s reserved for the ramen—but they were well-seasoned with delicate skin, and work as a great complement to your meal. 

Ambience at Ramen-ya

Located a 12-minute walk from Tanah Merah MRT Station, you’d think there would be less of a crowd at Ramen-ya, but the opposite is true. When my colleague and I arrived at the shop right when it opened, there was already a line of customers giving their orders to the waiter. When we left, the length of the line had almost doubled. 

Most shops at East Village occupy pretty small spaces, and Ramen-ya is no different. With only eight seats and a narrow layout, it gets cramped when the shop is at full capacity. It’s a far cry from the large, established ramen restaurants we’d often see in malls here, but Ramen-ya’s squeezy space ironically adds to its authentic vibe. Its counter-only seating and fast, no-frills service make it feel like a hole-in-the-wall ramen shop you’d more commonly find in Japan. 

The verdict

Despite its relatively ulu location, Ramen-ya’s nett prices and authentic taste make it a stall worth travelling for. The only turn-off might be the potentially long queues you’d have to bear with just to secure a seat in the small diner. 

For more good eats nearby, check out our Bedok Mall food guide! Otherwise, head down to Takashimaya for legit Japanese sandos from Ebisu Sando Kyoto. 

Address: 430 Upper Changi Road, #01-03, East Village, Singapore 487048
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 9pm
Ramen-ya is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Kaedynce Chew.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.