IPPUDO Ramen @ I12 Katong Review : Worth the hype?

 

IPPUDO  has arrived in the East!

IPPUDO is a Japanese ramen restaurant chain founded by Shigemi Kawahara, with locations worldwide. Well known for its Tonkotsu Ramen, it has been acclaimed as the Number 1 Ramen in the world due to the founder's reputation as the Ramen King. It's an accolade backed by his winning as 'TV Champion-Ramen Master Chef Championships' 3 consecutive times.

It has opened since December 2021, when i12 Katong reopens its doors. We had always wanted a visit, but the queues were too long. We finally managed to find a table on a weekday.

The decor of IPUUDO is surprisingly simple. Clad in warm tones, it does not give an impression of an upmarket Ramen joint. 

There are spaces indoor and outdoor for you to choose from. Despite its simplistic outlook, Ramen dishes come at a higher price than most  Ramen restaurants.  

Shiromaru Motoaji Special

Shiromaru Motaaji Special

There are different varieties of Ramen to choose from. We decided to try the Shiromaru Motoaji Special. It comes in 3 different sizes, Chashu, Tamago and Basic. The difference would be the addition of seaweed, eggs and the number of Chashu slices.

The Shiromaru Motoaji is served with umami egg, pork belly and seaweed with IPPUDO's signature creamy tonkatsu broth that it is famous for. You can also opt for the thickness of the ramen for this classic Hakata Style Ramen.

You can immediately distinguish it from 'normal' ramen with the first bite. While the dish may look simple, the taste is simply divine. The best word to describe it is 'Shiok'!

Akamaru Shinaji Special

Akamaru Shinaji Special

The other ramen we tried is the Akamaru Shingaji Special. The main difference is in the broth. The Akamaru Shinaji is served with the original creamy tonkatsu broth, enhanced with a specially blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil.

This gives it a richer blend with more oomph than the Shiromaru.

If you cannot tell the bowls apart, the Shiromaru comes in with (Shiro), and the Akamaru comes in red (aka) bowls. There are other versions, such as Karaka-Men Special, which comes with spices.

Takayuki ( 5 Pcs)

We recommend indulging in a few side dishes to complete your meal. The Tokayki and the Grilled Pork Belly would make excellent choices in our opinion.

Grilled Pork Belly (3 Pieces)

Verdict

Ippudo i12 Katong

Is the famed IPPUDO Ramen worth a visit?

If you have not tried their Ramen, we think it would be a decent experience to check out the world's number 1 ramen. For the prices, we would think this would be where we decided to treat ourselves rather than a regular weekend destination.

Nonetheless, for a taste of Japan, IPPUDO does it well!

Disclaimer

The views on this post are based on personal experiences and opinions. It may differ from your own. #notsponsored