RamenPlay, Holland Village
RamenPlay is an offshoot of the uber successful Breadtalk Group. And like Breadtalk, this chain of casual, izakaya-styled ramen eateries have somewhat exploded onto the dining scene. In a short span of just 3 years, there are about 12 outlets set up around the island. That's an average of 4 a year! (If you're a marketer/economist/entrepreneur, that statistic should blow your socks off.)
What sets this ramen chain apart from everyone else is that the classic Japanese ramen has been given the "Breadtalk treatment", i.e. a local twist on the traditional Japanese style of ramen. While it's a refreshing concept, I thought RamenPlay should master the classics before trying to be innovative. The stock bases here were generally vapid, lacking in body and texture.
Take the Spicy Minced Pork Tonkotsu Ramen ($12.80) with added Corn ($1.50) for example. The pork bone broth, while appearing cloudy with collagen, was insipid. The sweetish sambal chilli paste was a life-saver though. It lent much needed sweetness to the stock.
The Vegetable Uobushi Tonkotsu Ramen ($11.80), a blend of shoyu and tonkotsu broths, was equally uninspiring. Vegetables, when simmered, are supposed to make a soup stock really sweet. But this was still weak. The Corn ($1.50), straight out of a can and into the soup, wasn't buttery or sweet; the bamboo shoots were sliced way too thick so it was like chomping on a bark; the beansprouts were tasteless although they were hardworkingly relieved of their heads and tails.
The Vegetable Miso Ramen ($12.80) was nicer than the veggie tonkotsu shoyu version, as it'd been blended with a smidgen of that sweet sambal chilli paste. Here, thick flat noodles, the Japanese version of mee pok, were used. All the better to scoop up the vegetables with.
The Miso Soup ($2.80) was generically nice, and uniquely loaded with tau pok.
The Super Yuzu ($4.80), a refreshingly citrusy soda pop really helped to cut through the grease and carbs.Definitely the best part of the meal.
RamenPlay
253 Holland Ave #01-01
Tel: 6463 7277
Open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 10.30pm
Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 11pm
Website: www.ramenplay.com.sg
What sets this ramen chain apart from everyone else is that the classic Japanese ramen has been given the "Breadtalk treatment", i.e. a local twist on the traditional Japanese style of ramen. While it's a refreshing concept, I thought RamenPlay should master the classics before trying to be innovative. The stock bases here were generally vapid, lacking in body and texture.
Take the Spicy Minced Pork Tonkotsu Ramen ($12.80) with added Corn ($1.50) for example. The pork bone broth, while appearing cloudy with collagen, was insipid. The sweetish sambal chilli paste was a life-saver though. It lent much needed sweetness to the stock.
The Vegetable Uobushi Tonkotsu Ramen ($11.80), a blend of shoyu and tonkotsu broths, was equally uninspiring. Vegetables, when simmered, are supposed to make a soup stock really sweet. But this was still weak. The Corn ($1.50), straight out of a can and into the soup, wasn't buttery or sweet; the bamboo shoots were sliced way too thick so it was like chomping on a bark; the beansprouts were tasteless although they were hardworkingly relieved of their heads and tails.
The Vegetable Miso Ramen ($12.80) was nicer than the veggie tonkotsu shoyu version, as it'd been blended with a smidgen of that sweet sambal chilli paste. Here, thick flat noodles, the Japanese version of mee pok, were used. All the better to scoop up the vegetables with.
The Miso Soup ($2.80) was generically nice, and uniquely loaded with tau pok.
The Super Yuzu ($4.80), a refreshingly citrusy soda pop really helped to cut through the grease and carbs.Definitely the best part of the meal.
RamenPlay
253 Holland Ave #01-01
Tel: 6463 7277
Open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 10.30pm
Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 11pm
Website: www.ramenplay.com.sg
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