Ippudo

Described as "the most famous tonkotsu ramen shop in Japan", Ippudo is a prominent ramen noodle restaurant chain with outlets worldwide. Also known as Hakata Ippudo, it was founded by Shigemi Kawahara in 1985 in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan, with its name meaning "one wind hall" as a symbolic goal to revolutionise the ramen noodle industry. Ippudo first opened in Singapore in December 2009 and gradually expanded, with 9 full-service outlets across the island at this time. . Ambience at Ippudo is cozy and casual, with earthy warm wood tones. Warm lighting illuminate the sturdy wooden furnishings, while splashes of white, yellow, and red, lend a touch of modernity and offset the traditional vibes. The thoughfully arranged layout lends a sense of privacy to the seats, making it rather cozy. Large paintings, murals, and calligraphy art adorn the walls, drawing the eyes. . Service at Ippudo is said to be restaurant standard, with diners walking away having a hospitable and memorable experience. Staff are indeed polite and friendly, engaging guests readily and quickly seating them (despite the short queue). They display good process knowledge on ordering digitally, but just cursory product knowledge on the menu. I note they proactively offer to clear finished plates throughout the meal, and clean up efficiently when diners leave. . Food at Ippudo is focused on Japanese cuisine, specifically ramen noodles and izakaya bar snacks. Their award-winning tonkotsu pork bone broth is the star, achieving the perfect balance of texture and taste that appeals to the masses. The noodles are made fresh daily, cooked to your choice of doneness. Portions are medium to large for individuals, and may also be shared. Prices command a small premium over other places, prepare to spend around SGD $38 per person for a meal here.

Shaw Centre is the only outlet that offers a veggie dashi (didn’t manage to snap a photo of it before my boyfriend devoured it). Great service and food. It might just be our new favorite Ippudo outlet despite living closer to the one at Tanjong Pagar (which offered a plant-based ramen previously for a limited period of time only though).