Tampopo's ramen is listed Top 10 in Singapore in 2006...outside the restaurant showcases several of its awards. Raved by reviewers..the power of advertising made Tampopo a must go place on my list. I dragged R there, despite the ERP. (Yes, ERPs are a major deterrent.) Nested on the ground floor, it's quite hard to miss it.
The staff are friendly, but somewhat curt at times. The waiter took our orders and left us to continue browsing the menu when we weren't quite finished.
I ordered their 人气 (Number one best seller, the Japanese have a thing for number one dishes in the restaurants) Shabu Shabu Ramen ($13.80), using "ramen imported from Kyushu, topped with thinly sliced Black Pig matching with pork bone soup which is cooked for 2 days." The ramen's not quite your usual maggi noodle like mee, it's thin...came across looking like angel's hair pasta. The bamboo shoots and cabbage slivers were crunchy, nice bite indeed. The broth's thick and not oily, I actually slurped quite a few mouthfuls greedily. I'm not a soup/broth drinker in all honesty, I found this very flavourful and definitely NO msg! One of the few ramen dishes I've ever had that did not have a strong MSG taste nor aftertaste. The thinly sliced Black Pig (reminded me of shabu shabu, hence its name?) was tender and chewy. I actually liked it and swallowed fat and meat down. Another rarity on my part. The chilli powder however did not quite pack a punch. I ordered and extra "tasty egg ($1.20)" to go with the ramen. Somewhat on the sweet side, the yolk was a delightful yellow and in the right tendency.
R had the Tonkatsu ramen ($15.80) and salmon maki (which you top up $5 with every ramen order, think it's got 6 pcs?). I stole a bite of the pork katsu, very crispy and tender. Not too oily either. Much better than Waraku's...but a far cry from Tonkichi. [I got a lil confused between Tom Ton @ Central and this..the former's the place to go for tonkatsu cuisine!] The salmon maki's very fresh, the salmon was a thick slice unlike your usual Sakae bits and ends of sashimi.
The highlight of the meal was the way the salmon maki was served; via an automated conveyor belt; a first outside Japan! I was quite tickled by it...pity I missed the whole "order arriving" process...they prompt you to pick up the plate after arriving. Novelty!
$42 for 2 pax, I say..it's on the steep side for just ramen. I wanted so bad to try their famous chiffon cakes...pity they were mostly sold out at Tampopo Deli just downstairs, silly me forgot that Tampopo serves them too! Ahhh, next time I figure, just desserts and sushi though. I'll jump ship to Tom Ton for Tonkatsu...
http://www.cfc.com.sg/tampopo.htm
Tampopo Restaurant
177 River Valley Road #01-23/24
Liang Court Shopping Center
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