WHAT WE ATE
- Hokkaido-Ya, 60/100 (11 May 2025, (Punggol Coast Mall)
Tucked away in malls like VivoCity and Thomson Plaza, Hokkaido-Ya is a fast-casual Japanese eatery in Singapore known for its affordable and satisfying Hokkaido-style ramen. Created by the team behind Sushi Tei, it blends quality ingredients with tech-savvy ordering—think self-service kiosks and speedy efficiency. Their ramen menu features comforting bowls in Paitan, Miso, and Spicy broths, perfect for slurping on a rainy day. If you’re searching for wallet-friendly Hokkaido ramen in Singapore, Hokkaido-Ya hits the sweet spot.
Chashu Ramen (Miso) – 60/100
Noodle: 20/35
The noodles are a bright yellow, medium-thick, and straight. They’ve got a firm bite, but the texture leans doughy rather than springy. I was hoping for that signature mochi mochi chew you get with good Sapporo-style ramen, but this doesn’t quite hit the mark. Flavour-wise, there’s a light savoury wheat note—probably from soaking up the broth—but it’s fleeting. What lingers instead is a mildly bitter, alkaline aftertaste from the kansui. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely distracting.
Soup: 20/35
Visually, the broth doesn’t scream “miso”—it looks like it’s more stock than miso paste. On first sip, there’s a nice, mellow miso umami that transitions into a subtle spicy kick. The heat builds gradually and stays balanced, never overpowering the bowl. It’s pleasant and easy to drink, but ultimately feels thin. There’s not enough of that deep, aged miso funk or complexity to keep you coming back for more. Functional, but forgettable.
Meat: 15/20
The chashu is hands down the best part of this bowl. Medium-thick rolled pork with a nice mix of fat and lean. It’s firm, but brittle—crumbles easily when picked up. The fatty parts melt beautifully, while the lean sections, though a bit dry, carry a clean, meaty flavour. The marination is just savoury enough to enhance the pork without drowning it out. Solid, satisfying, but not show-stopping.
Topping: 5/10
Minimal toppings, but at least what’s there is decent:
- Bean sprouts add a clean, vegetal crunch, and it’s a nice touch that they trimmed the heads and roots.
- Sweet corn brings a juicy pop of natural sweetness.
- White sesame is in there too, but barely noticeable—if it added anything to the broth, I couldn’t tell.
- Negi was a little dried out and lack punch.
Summary: This bowl plays it safe and lands somewhere in the middle. The soup has potential but lacks miso depth, the noodles are serviceable but marred by kansui bitterness, and while the chashu lifts things up, the overall experience feels like it’s missing soul. Functional, yes. Memorable? Not really.
DISCLAIMER
One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
Find out more about our palettes and how we evaluate our ramen here. 😉
