SIN: Tampopo {MOVED}
One of the best ramen in Singapore with black pork slices?
UPDATE (26/05/2020): With the closure of Liang Court, the restaurant has moved to #B2-33 Ngee Ann City at 391B Orchard Road.
I've been hearing for quite some time that Tampopo (lit. dandelion) at Liang Court Shopping Centre serves not only one of the best ramen dishes in Singapore, but also over 200 items for its patrons. Not knowing where to go on a Sunday evening, my BFF and I decided to hunt it down.
UPDATE (26/05/2020): With the closure of Liang Court, the restaurant has moved to #B2-33 Ngee Ann City at 391B Orchard Road.
I've been hearing for quite some time that Tampopo (lit. dandelion) at Liang Court Shopping Centre serves not only one of the best ramen dishes in Singapore, but also over 200 items for its patrons. Not knowing where to go on a Sunday evening, my BFF and I decided to hunt it down.
My little bear was a bit overwhelmed by the colourful food on the table. Pretty, don't you think? Oh, that melon ought to be flown directly from Japan, which can be bought at Meidi-Ya Supermarket downstairs, coming with a hefty price tag.
Grilled Hotate with Mentaiko Cheese Sauce S$12.80
Taste: 7/10
Even though this particular dish was the last to arrive on the table, I suppose it's better to talk about it first before jumping into the main courses. Scallops, cod roe and cheese - the dish definitely couldn't go wrong, could it? I enjoyed the richness of it. The only reason why it doesn't get a higher rating is the fact that it wasn't that moist.
Beautiful roe, no? Hidden underneath the layer of cheese were onion slices that lent a nice degree of sweetness to the overarching savoury taste.
Tampopo Black Pork Shabu Ramen S$14.50
Taste: 6.5/10
It was then time for the main taste test. The appearance was indeed interested, but not so the taste. The thin noodle wasn't as nicely chewy as I thought it'd be, while the seemingly rich soup was actually so-so. The pork slices were tender though. In short, I found it to be nothing special. Pika's advice: For an additional S$2.00, you can get the deluxe version with a runny egg and corns as shown in the menu.
Kaisen Deluxe Box S$23.80
Taste: 8.5/10
A better option would be the assorted seafood tray. The fish cubes on top of the rice might look pale, but they were pretty much melt-in-the-mouth delightful. The fried seafood fritters were good too, but kinda greasy, but the warm and tasty miso (Japanese fermented rice, barley and/or soybean) soup was there to wash it down. Lastly, the presumably expensive Japanese musk melon was indeed dreamily sweet.
Milk Tea Pudding S$5.00
Taste: 6/10
As I was waiting for the dessert to come, my mind was wondering. Would it taste like Taiwanese milk tea? Apparently, the concentration of the tea was so small compared to that of milk that it was essentially a cup of milk pudding. It didn't taste great either as it wasn't that creamy.
Mikkabi Orange and Wine Vinegar Drink S$6.00
Taste: 7.5/10
My BFF is one who always likes to try this and that beverages, so it was no surprise that he decided to order an interesting drink made of freshly squeezed mandarin orange and wine vinegar. While it was quite refreshing, I found it hard to really fall in love with it with every sip. A glass of orange juice by itself is enough for me.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 7/10
Ambience: 8.5/10
Service: 4/10
Overall: 6.5/10
I was really disappointed, especially with the ramen and the milk tea pudding. Would I come back? Maybe, but not likely.
Tampopo
177 River Valley Road
#01-23/24 Liang Court Shopping Centre
Singapore
(Daily: 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6.00pm - 10.30pm)
*Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge and 7% GST.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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