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Ramen alert again! Another ramen shop has opened at Orchard Road, and you probably have not heard of it yet. The new Kitakata Rahmen Yamakichi has found a spot at Orchard Plaza, replacing Noodle House Ken at a more dodgy part of Orchard where there are quite a few authentic Japanese food places.
Kitakata ramen? Eaten before or not? (Read Ramen Keisuke Tori King which opened on the same day.)
Singaporeans are definitely fans of tonkotsu ramen styles, but kitakata style noodles remains very unexplored. Kitakata is a city located in Fukushima, in northern Honshū Japan and also mean ‘northern place’.
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The city Kitakata is known for its distinctive style of ramen, said to have the highest per-capita number of ramen establishments in Japan. Word has it that ‘soba’ also refers to ramen here because it is just so prominent here. If you want to order soba there, call it ‘nihon soba’ instead.
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Kitakata Rahmen Yamakichi already looks promising: A hole in the wall, small-cramped place, evenly packed on a weekday night, Japanese sprouting customers, and with two Japanese chefs (Chef Kita and Chef Hiro) behind the counter. This is as authentic as it can get.
But I did not know what to order.
The majority of the ramen are Shio-based, which has a pale and clear broth made with plenty of salt and vegetable. I don’t know about you, but shio ramen is the last thing I would order compared to the other varieties of shoyu, miso or tonkotsu. And the other is ‘Jito’, which simply means ‘local’. AND, there is NO tamago. Huh, no eggs?
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I had the basic Rahmen ($12.00) which arrived with a clear stock with light yellow, slightly thick and curly noodles (which may remind you of instant noodles). Tonkotsu fans who are used to thick, salty and creamy soup bases may get turned off by this version, which is exactly the opposite – thin, simple and plain.
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The Shio Jito Rahmen ($14.00), contrary to its name, is not very salty as well. In fact, I told myself this is the kind of comfort food I would go for if I am not feeling too well. Don’t get me wrong – the soup still taste tasty in its own way.
I just wonder if Singaporeans would take well to this – my guess is not for the moment. Doesn’t sound too good, but I know the modest and unassuming Kitakata Ramen will find its fans.
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Kitakata Rahmen Yamakichi
150 Orchard Road #01-18 Orchard Plaza, Singapore 238841
Other Ramen Entries
Ramen Keisuke Tori King (Amara Hotel)
Menya Musashi Kodou
Uma Uma Ramen (Forum Galleria)
Marukin Ramen (Scotts Square)
Sapporo Ramen Miharu (Gallery Hotel)
