Miharu Sapporo Ramen, The Gallery Hotel
Monday, March 13, 2006
Date: 25 Feb 2006
Venue: Miharu Sapporo Ramen, Robertson Quay, The Gallery Hotel
Menu: Tokusen Miso - Special Blend Miso Ramen ($12.5), Tokusen Tonsio - Salt Flavoured Broth ($12), Cha-Mayo Don - Charsiew Mayo Rice ($4.5), Cha-Shu - Charsiew Extra Serving ($4)
The Experience:
My first visit to Miharu Sapporo was marked by a remark that it was very expensive. Indeed it is. But quality comes at a price. Ramen specially flown in from Sapporo, made with natural spring water from the Sapporo region.
You can instantly taste the cleanliness of the noodles and excellent texture. Springy and yet soft and flavourful. Ramen never tasted better. My only quip is that its on the salty and oily side. Although, the staff are ever willing to provide you with clear dashi stock to dilute your soup. As for the oil, we found out that you could request the omission of it. Apparently, the oil is supposed to make the noodles smoother. I prefer it without the oil.
Add the clear dashi stock and you're on your way to ramen heaven. The miso version, chosen by my sis, is smooth, fragrant and honestly, nothing like the miso soup you get from a packet or a Japanese restaurant. It compliments the noodles perfectly. I stuck to the salt version, savouring every bit of the subtle flavour of what salt really tastes like. Salty with a tinge of sweetness and ocean fragrance.
Accompanied by a slice [or 2 if you're lucky that day] of tender charsiew, a heaping of sweet corn and spring onions, a half-boiled egg cooked in spring water [the yolk is squidgy and bright orangy yellow], it's definitely a treat. The long queues of Japanese families waiting to get in the restaurant is a clear testement of where this is heading.
Cha-Mayo don involves the end bits of the char-siew mixed with Japanese mayo served on a small [half portion] bowl of rice, a seaweed and a heap of spring onions. Delicious.
Total bill for 3: $38.12
Quality never comes cheap. But for something so sublime and authentically Japanese, worth a visit or two.
benjamintanjm at 6:57 PM |
