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| Niigata Shoyu Ramen with Special Full-topping (5 slices of aburi char shu, bamboo shoots and seaweed) $16.80 |
When it comes to Ramen, there are many regional variations and specialities within Japan itself. Ramen in Hokkaido are famed for their miso ramen topped with a generous heap of corn and a slab of butter, while Ramen from Kyushu features thin white noodles accompanied with a tonkotsu (pork bone) soup base.
But today's Ramen hails from the Niigata prefecture, found along a row of shops at Holland Village.
Opened less than a month ago, Sanpoutei Ramen is something of a mish-mash of ramen featuring certain characteristics from each individual region. They use thick yellow noodles similar to Hokkaido Ramen, a clear soup broth normally associated with the Kyushu style, but flavor it with shoyu, something more common in Tokyo.
One unique aspect however, is the addition of fish, or in this case, sardines, as one of the signature ingredients in their soup base. The taste of the soup has a strong attack on the palate, the flavours from the sardine, chicken and and pork bones coming bold and fast, but does not linger on to the point of being uncomfortable. The noodles (which are all made in house with a machine, so credit to them) are thick and slightly chewy, able to carry more soup when picking them up with chopsticks. Just the way I like it.
The Char Shu was excellent in my opinion. Pleasantly smoky, flavourful and tender almost to the point of breaking apart at the slightest touch of my chopsticks. If I were being pedantic, I would wish it would not be that tender as I want the whole piece of meat to end up where it belongs (i.e. my mouth) but other than that, it was very well done.
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| Butariki Niigata Rice Mini-Don $4.00 |
Whenever "Niigata" is mentioned, the word "Koshihikari" often comes to mind, which actually refers to the rice that is grown in the region. Factors like the optimal weather and temperature, coupled with sufficient rainfall per year have turned Niigata into a specialist of the highly coveted Japanese short-grain rice. Niigata rice is highly prized both in Japan and globally and most top-end sushi restaurants choose to use Niigata rice as the foundation of their sushi.
So it was with great excitement when I saw that they were featuring the very same rice in Sanpoutei Ramen. The Pork mini-don was perhaps the show stealer of the night! Thinly sliced marinated pork with an egg yolk blanketing a scoop (or three) of that wonderful, heavenly and delicate rice.
This is Japanese rice as I remembered from my previous trips to the country, and I was so happy that it totally hit the spot and quelled my incessant lamentations of why countries in Southeast Asia are using long grain rice. And for just $4? This is a great cheap thrill.
The restaurant was a little cramped, just like how it is in Japan, but still comfortable enough to eat in. Service was polite, brisk and my food arrived promptly without fuss.
With other more famous ramen chains falling short of my expectations and failing to displace Santouka from my Numero Uno spot, I was pleasantly surprised by Sanpoutei's Ramen. Though very different in terms of character, it had its own merits and is definitely able to hold its own against the other giants like Ippudo and Keisuke. This place definitely warrants a trip especially if you are looking for something a little different, but that is still able to qualify as comfort food.
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Sanpoutei Ramen
253 Holland Avenue #01-01
S278982
6463 7277
Operating Hours:
Daily from 11.30am - 11pm
Nearest MRT Station: Holland Village
Link to their website
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