Weets Eats: Celebrity chef helms new ramen joint
Menya Sakura is one of the newest ramen restaurants to open here. You may ask "yet another?", but it has a pedigree.
It started in 2010 as a nine-seater in Showa-ku, Nagoya, and grew into a chain of 15 ramen restaurants in Japan and seven in Indonesia.
The outlet in Boat Quay is the first in Singapore.
The dashing Sho Naganuma - former executive chef at Hide Yamamoto - returns to Singapore to helm this outlet. If you find him familiar, you may have seen the Nagoya-born chef hosting his own travel shows on the Asian Food Channel.
Menya Sakura specialises in Nagoya-style ramen, which is characterised by hearty soups brewed from meats and seafood. An example is the Chuka Soba ($10.90).
It is the Japanese version of the Chinese egg noodles, which Chef Naganuma said is difficult to find in Singapore or even Tokyo.
LIGHT BROTH
The light broth, made from chicken and fish dashi, is best described as clean and simple. Some may find it salty, but I enjoyed it tremendously.
The Tonkotsu Tsukemen ($14.90) turned out to be the popular choice at the restaurant.
The cold thick noodles are dipped into a warm and full-bodied dipping soup made from pork bones and seafood.
I tasted more seafood than pork in the dip, but the intensity of it did not overwhelm the sturdy noodles. This is a good choice if you are ravenous.
Menya Sakura has a selection of side dishes to go with its alcohol, but a lot of the side dishes are good on their own.
My favourite is the one-bite Ajitama Devil Egg ($4.90). It is as tasty as it is pretty, and it is simple - just a halved hard boiled egg with an aromatic paste over it.
The paste is more spicy than it looks though, so manage your fiery expectations.
Also delicious is the Truffle Egg Rice ($6.90). The egg and truffle combination is hardly new but it is a winning one. The success is repeated here.
I have a weakness for chives, so it is hardly a surprise that I responded favourably to the Minced Pork with Moyashi Sprout ($6.90). It also comes with scallions, seaweed and bonito powder. Just mix them up and you are good to go.
Menya Sakura Singapore
69, Boat Quay
Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 10.30pm
Tel: 9469-3366
Bites
AROUND THE WORLD
Pacific Marketplace (Pan Pacific Singapore, Tel: 6826-8240) refreshed its all-day dining menu with 20 international dishes including from Pacific Lobster Laksa (right), French Black Mussels, Hummus and Baba Ganoush. Prices start from $12.
DURIAN PIZZAS
Durian on your pizza? Tino's Pizza Cafe (at The Centrepoint, Tiong Bahru Plaza, and Resorts World Sentosa) thinks it's a good idea. The two new pizzas - D24 (from $16.90) and Mao Shan Wang (from $21.90) - are available now.
LOCAL ONIGIRI
7-Eleven Singapore has two interesting local-themed onigiri. The Chilli Shrimp Onigiri ($2.50) comes with blue flower rice parcels and chilli shrimp, while the Nasi Lemak Onigiri ($2.50) has sambal ikan bilis, tamago and peanuts.
MICHELIN FESTIVAL
The Michelin Guide Street Food Festival will be held on April 14 and 15 at Resorts World Sentosa, with food from Michelin-starred eateries. You'll need to buy $20 worth of food coupons via guide.michelin.sg for entry to the event.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
