WHAT WE ATE

• Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen, 45/100 (21 May 2022)
• Truffle Tonkotsu Ramen, 35/100 (21 May 2022)

Udon and Tempura? You wouldn’t typically associate these with a ramen joint, but prepare to be pleasantly surprised, as Tamoya actually serves some decent ramen. Upon entering the establishment, I couldn’t help but notice a resemblance to Yoshinoya, perhaps due to the color scheme and self-serve operations. However, Tamoya offers much more than meets the eye, and there are numerous aspects to appreciate about this place.

BLACK GARLIC TONKOTSU RAMEN 45/100 points

Noodle – 10/35

Unfortunately, the noodles in this dish didn’t meet my expectations. They were overly mushy and lacked the desired bite. While the taste was acceptable, there was nothing particularly distinctive or interesting about them.

Soup – 25/35

The soup had a noticeable sweetness from the garlic, which paired well with the savory broth. A generous topping of tempura flakes added a hint of fried flavor without making it too greasy. However, the flakes tended to become soggy quickly. Despite this, the resulting broth was surprisingly flavorful and layered.

Meat – 5/20

The meat had a good savory flavor, but the fatty bits were chewy and difficult to tear off. Additionally, there seemed to be an excessive amount of fat in the meat compared to what I’m accustomed to.

Toppings – 5/10

The eggs were properly done and not overly marinated, complementing the meal nicely. As for the other toppings, I would have given them a higher score if not for the soggy tempura flakes, although some may enjoy them that way. The seaweed and scallions were present mainly for visual appeal, but what made a difference was the slightly pungent bamboo shoots. They provided a pleasant sour aftertaste that complemented the meal quite well.

TRUFFLE TONKOTSU RAMEN 35/100 points

Noodle – 10/35

They used the same noodles as in their other dishes. They were overly mushy and lacked the desired bite. While the taste was acceptable, there was nothing particularly distinctive or interesting about them.

Soup – 15/35

Unfortunately, I encountered a similar issue with the soup here. The truffle flavor overpowered the base, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste. Even with the presence of corn to balance the flavors, I remained unconvinced. It felt more like I was eating truffles rather than experiencing a harmonious blend of tonkotsu and truffle.

Meat – 5/25

The chashu was identical to what I had in their other dishes. The meat had a good savory flavor, but the fatty bits were chewy and difficult to tear off. Additionally, there seemed to be an excessive amount of fat in the meat compared to what I’m accustomed to.

Toppings – 5/10

The toppings were also the same as in their other offerings. The eggs were properly done and not overly marinated, complementing the meal nicely. As for the other toppings, I would have given them a higher score if not for the soggy tempura flakes, although some may enjoy them that way. The seaweed and scallions were present mainly for visual appeal, but what made a difference was the slightly pungent bamboo shoots. They provided a pleasant sour aftertaste that complemented the meal quite well.

CONCLUSION

Its pretty good for a place that seems to operates like a fast-food joint. And whats interesting is the variety of sides they have – I’ve ordered so much that I almost regretted after picking it up. Is it a ramen that I will want to revisit? Very likely.

DISCLAIMER

One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
Find out more about our palettes and how we evaluate our ramen here. 😉