Kanada-Ya, Orchard: A perfectly satisfactory ramen joint to have on-hand

There is no mistaking Singapore as a nation that is governed by food. The burgeoning chains that appear on our shores is a testament to this fact. Therefore, one shouldn’t be surprised that one of London’s famous ramen chains, Kanada-Ya, has found a home on our sunny island.

In fact, we gave them such a warm welcome, Kanada-Ya has now opened their fourth outlet in Paragon. With outlets already in PLQ Mall, Change Alley Mall, Marina Square—their award-winning ramen bowls will now be at your fingertips.

This 55-seater outlet at Paragon is furnished simply with that trademark minimalist, clean Japanese design that puts you at ease instantly. All you need is chilly, rainy weather to tuck into your steaming bowl of ramen.

What I tried

It’s not a stretch to declare that most people would dub ramen as one of their favourite dishes, making it kismet that Kanada-Ya is known for their authentic Tonkotsu ramen. A pork bone broth simmered over a stove for 18 hours, with a secret sauce mixed in for that umami—I can’t help but smack my lips when I think about it. With credentials like that, you know you’re in good hands.

For an authentic Kyushu ramen experience, I would suggest Kanada-Ya’s Kotteri Tonkotsu Ramen (S$14.90), which features Kanada San’s original recipe.

I, on the other hand, would opt for London’s favourite, the Truffle Ramen (S$26.90).

This special bowl comes with three slices of truffle belly chashu, black truffle jelly, asparagus, hanjuku egg and a flashy sheet of tokudai nori.

That way, everyone would know you’ve opted for the Special version of the Truffle Ramen. Right off the bat, the intense scent from the truffles hit you, and I wondered how these two intense flavours would play off each other.

With ramen, everything hinges on the broth. Kanada-Ya did not disappoint; in fact, they might have done too good a job. I appreciated the creamy, velvety texture of broth; however, it teetered on the edge of being too rich for my liking.

Though I must say, the addition of truffles was not as intrusive as I imagined, I quite liked how the truffles’ fragrance melded with the robust pork broth.

Next, come the ramen noodles. These are made with a special kind of flour that has been enriched with a particular protein and alkaline salts so that it stays springy and al dente. After all, there is nothing worse than soggy ramen noodles.

The tender slices of chashu and gooey ramen egg are just icing on top of a tasty cake. Just so you know, each outlet is limited to 20 bowls daily, so I suggest you grab them before they run out.

While the English love the Truffle Ramen, the Black Garlic Ramen (S$20.90) is the top choice for Hong Kong diners. Here, most of the elements are the same as the previous bowl save for the addition of crunchy wood ear fungus, spring onions and the most obvious dollop of black garlic.

With little specks of black garlic, the broth takes on an almost smoky, charred flavour. Again, it could be down to personal preference, but the broth was just a little too rich and too fatty for my liking to enjoy this bowl thoroughly.

However, ramen preferences run the gamut, and I like my broth a little lighter. So, if you like your ramen this way, Kanada-Ya’s ramen fits the bill.

Besides ramen, Kanada-Ya also has a variety of dons to suit your fancy. A crowd-favourite and new addition to the menu would have to be the Gyu Don (S$14.90).

This comes with tender ribbons of marinated beef topped with a wobbly egg—a reliable bowl for dinner when you want something satisfying and won’t break the bank.

Of course, the Oyakodon (S$12.90) is another dependable choice. With pan-seared pieces of chicken thigh in between silky folds of egg sitting atop a bed of pearly, starchy Japanese rice—there is nothing more you could want. These two Japanese classics are sure to satisfy when you want to change up your usual ramen selection at Kanada-Ya.

You’ll definitely want sides to accompany your order at Kanada-Ya, and the Chicken Karaage (S$6.90) is a moreish little number that you’ll want. After all, one can’t go wrong with any fried chicken.

If not, the ever-quintessential Takoyaki (S$5.90) and also one of Kanada-Ya’s most popular sides is sure to satiate. Made with minced octopus and showered with bonito, this takes me back to the streets of Japan greedily feasting on a plate of takoyaki of my own.

Final thoughts

When it comes to ramen, we have no shortage of places when those pesky cravings hit. Kanada-Ya presents as a satisfactory joint if you ever need a serving of tonkotsu broth and tasty Japanese sides, which is always great to have in your back pocket.

Well, ramen certainly tastes better with a couple of promotions thrown in. From 31 December to 4 Jan 2021, get one complimentary plate of Chicken Karaage with any two regular bowls of ramen ordered. It’s the best time of the year, alright!

Expected Damage: S$14.90 – S$30 per pax

*This post is brought to you in partnership with Kanada-Ya.