WHAT WE ATE
- Tori Paitan Negitama Ramen with Kaarage, 35/100 (11 Jun 2025, CompassOne)
Yoshinoya isn’t just about beef bowls anymore. The Japanese chain recently announced it’s officially venturing into ramen — a move that might surprise some, but not me. I actually tried their ramen a few years ago at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, back when that was the only Yoshinoya outlet in the world serving it. Fast forward to now, and you can find ramen on the menu across all Yoshinoya outlets in Singapore.
If you’re hunting for easy, no-fuss ramen in Singapore, this new addition is worth a try. It’s a fast-food twist on the usual classics like tonkotsu and miso, so don’t expect a craft ramen experience — but for something convenient, warm, and comforting, Yoshinoya’s take on ramen might be just right around the corner.
Tori Paitan Negitama Ramen with Karaage: 35/100
Noodle: 10/35
Thin, straight noodles with a pale yellow, slightly translucent appearance. Firm and al dente when first served, but they bloated far too quickly. Bite was weak, with only a subtle stickiness that didn’t help much. The noodles didn’t bring any real flavour of their own — just a bland filler that didn’t carry the soup or stand on its own.
Soup: 10/35
First impression wasn’t promising — thin, semi-cloudy broth that looked more diluted than rich. The taste was just as light: mellow, salty-savoury chicken with a faint sweetness tucked in. It didn’t have a body to speak of — no richness, no grip. The ending was fleeting, nothing that lingered or drew you back in. With stronger elements like karaage and egg in the mix, the soup was easily overshadowed. Even adding condiments like marinated ginger or shichimi couldn’t save it — the base was just too thin and lacked the structure needed for balance.
Meat: 10/20
Three pieces of chicken karaage made up the protein portion. To be fair, the texture was decent — crispy on the outside, moist enough inside. The crunchy batter was the best part, with its savoury, salty marination carrying through nicely. The meat inside was seasoned all the way through too, but with everything else falling short, it couldn’t carry the bowl.
Topping: 5/10
Minimal effort here.
- The marinated egg was a standout — runny yolk, deeply savoury with a sweet undertone. Marination was solid, flavourful but not overpowering. Genuinely appetising.
- The negi, however, was a miss — dried out, fibrous, and lacking that fresh, piquant zing it’s supposed to bring.
Summary: Here’s the revised Summary with your edits incorporated while keeping your tone consistent:
Summary: A bowl that struggled on almost every front. The soup lacked depth, the noodles didn’t hold up, and while the karaage and egg tried to make up for it, the overall balance just wasn’t there. The price point isn’t exactly cheap either — for what you’re paying, you’d probably get more value from other budget-friendly spots like Ajisen or Takagi.
DISCLAIMER
One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
Find out more about our palettes and how we evaluate our ramen here. 😉
