Ramen Marutama @ The Central, Clarke Quay

With a few hours to spend during the evening, before the sky goes dark and the party starts; it was decided that Clarke Quay should be the next stop. The area to eat, pub and club till you drop and i suppose a haven for someone like me.

Step inside "The Central", i expected lots of shopping action but instead it was filled with restaurant after restaurant! From the front to the hidden corners and at every floor! Dedicated to Japanese cuisine as you can satisfy your craving for ramen, fast food, dessert and fusion cuisine too!

After touring the place, the temptation was too great with the sight of a japanese making ramen in his open kitchen. Dinner was almost 3 hours away, so it was an easy decision to step in before a rather long crowd appeared outside the small humble dining area.

A menu that didn't look out of place except that it was Singaporean dollars instead of Yen. Serving 3 kinds of ramen and a few ala carte dishes, this was a specialised place, after all do what you do best!

Yaki Char Siew; the only thing that resembled Char Siew was the cut of meat being used. Cookingwise, it was deepfried but succulent. (SGD 6)

The Gyoza was served with soya sauce, vinegar with a bit of chilli oil, a recipe to whet up any appetite. Sourish and not spicy, the dumpling was had a generous stuffing. (SGD 5)

Just before the Ramen came, the Kakuni aka Pork Belly. Distinct layers of fat and meat, braised and as a result full of flavour in each bite. Literally sent us to heaven if not for the fact that we shared the plate.

Aka Ramen (SGD 15)

The noodles had a similar texture to our local wanton mee which came with a nice bite. With a squeeze of lemon, the acidity magnified the sourish soup base. The home made chicken balls were a first and was surprisingly tasty. Overall, especially with the rainy weather that day, this was the perfect tummy warming dish, one could find.

Address and contact details

#03-90/91 The Central
Clarke Quay
Tel: 65348090
Fax: 65348077

Verdict: I am finding myself lost for words, as i find myself rating this another 4 stars out of 5 stars. Is good food really abundance in Singapore? Simple ramen with tasty side dishes, this is a perfect place for a bite before going down the streets of pub and night life. Don't convert the prices to RM, and you should be able to sleep peacefully after the meal.