Marutama Ramen

With an orange logo reminiscent of basketball and a name which sounded like "his/her mother" in Chinese, Marutama Ramen opened its 1st branch at Central in 2007. My dining companions and I tried it many years ago, not long after it opened. Recalled how we were not seated until all of us had reached the restaurant on the 3rd floor though the only one yet to be in the queue was already exiting Clarke Quay MRT Station when it was our turn. Marutama Ramen has a simple menu with limited choices and serves Hakata thin noodles in chicken broth. Vaguely remembered I liked its springy ramen though another dining companion prefers Santouka, located on the 2nd floor within the same shopping mall. More branches had since opened at Liang Court, Suntec City and Killiney Road (note that the one at United Square has closed). Chanced upon the latter, not listed on its website, on a weekday evening and there was no queue.

Though I stepped in wanting to verify if the Japanese noodles was still as springy, was tempted by the menu at this branch. In addition to ramen, there are rice items including curry rice as well as mizutaki (hot pot with chicken and vegetable, similar to steamboat) and à la cart items like salad. Ordered ebi ramen – topped with fresh prawns and greens such as coriander, seaweed and spring onions. Light chicken soup was not too salty while the slice of char siu was tender, flavourful and not too fat. I also tried its kaisen ankake don, which reminded me of seafood mui fan from local zichar stall. Am not impressed with these 2 dishes and would not be back unless it is to try for example, the aka ramen that uses the same chicken stock but with 7 additional types of ground nuts. While I rather have my Japanese ramen in pork broth, would recommend Ramen Keisuke Tori King at 100AM if chicken broth is your preference.

Update: The branch at Suntec City has closed.