Ramen lovers in Singapore have a new reason to rejoice.
Hanamaruken Ramen 花丸軒, the beloved chain hailing from the bustling streets of Osaka, has opened its doors in the heart of the city.
It can be found at the Lazada One building – just next to Bras Basah MRT station and opposite SMU (SMU staff and students get a discount too).
If you have been to Osaka before, you might have come across this beloved ramen shop.
The story of Hanamaruken Ramen began in 1982 in Osaka. Takaku Arakawa, of the Arakawa Pork Company, founded this shop to showcase the pork products of his company and to share his newfound ramen recipes.
In the ramen capital of the world, where eateries jostle for space and attention, Hanamaruken has stood out as a beacon for ramen enthusiasts.
At its core, Hanamaruken is all about straightforward ramen made special with quality pork ingredients.
Simmered for over 8 hours, the signature Tonkotsu broth is blended with shoyu, creating a rich and flavourful base that has made Hanamaruken one of the most popular ramen shops in Osaka.
Here are some of the recommended dishes from Hanamaruken Ramen Singapore:
Signature Happiness Ramen ($22.80 for regular, $19.80 for junior)
Available in two sizes, this dish features springy long and thin noodles soaked in a creamy tonkotsu broth, topped with a hearty portion of braised marbled soft bone pork rib.
The massive piece of pork was quite a sight to behold and a flavour to savour, cooked to the point of tenderness.
It was very eye-catching, and impossible to ignore once it arrived with the ramen. The pork rib is slowly stewed for almost a day, making the cartilage so tender it can be easily cut by chopsticks.
The tonkotsu broth simmered for hours had an umami depth and lingering savouriness that would invite you to explore it further with every spoonful. However, I do need to say the soup needed some getting used to as we are more familiar with the cloudy style of tonkotsu broth, but this had an added flavour of shoyu within.
Accompanying the meats and broth are freshly-made noodles with thin and springy texture, absorbing the flavours of the Tonkotsu broth while maintaining a pleasant bite.
The bowl is further complemented by shoyu-flavoured tamago egg and fresh garnishing.
The signature nori with an edible inscription which can mean “great auspiciousness” or “opening fortune” and can be found in all Signature Happiness Ramen bowls.
Double Happiness Ramen ($19.80)
Double Happiness Ramen at Hanamaruken is a dish designed for pork lovers, and delivers precisely what it promises – a double dose of joy in a bowl.
These are the succulent cuts of pork soft bone and chashu.
The soft bone torokotsu is slow-cooked to a tender texture that nearly melts in your mouth.
And I really liked the chashu. There was this delicate balance of fat and meat, and I would say take time to slowly savour and let the piece melt in your mouth.
Tan Tan Ramen ($15.80)
Other than the above, there are other choices including Tan Tan Ramen ($15.80), Chasyu Ramen ($18.80), Miso Ramen ($15.80), Tonkotsu Ramen ($12.80), and Shio Ramen ($12.80).
For the Tan Tan Ramen, it was topped with fried minced meat. The spiciness was not overpowering but added a gentle warmth to the dish.
However, if this is your first time to Hanamaruken, I would recommend going for the signatures.
Chahan Japanese Fried Rice ($9.80)
Cooked with Japanese pearl rice and choice ingredients, this plate was quite flavourful.
The seasoning had a tasty blend of savoury and eggy notes, though I might have personally wished that the grains were more separate.
Pork Belly Don ($12.80)
If you are a rice lover, available are Happiness Don ($13.80), Pork Belly Don ($12.80), Tempura Don ($13.80), Karaage Don ($12.80), Gyoza Don ($12.80), and Chasyu Don ($12.80).
I had the Pork Belly Don which had tender pieces of pork belly being stir-fried with onions and seasoning, then topped on fluffy rice.
Chicken Karaage ($8.80 for 4pcs, $10.80 for 8pcs)
Hanamaruken’s Chicken Karaage was a crispy delight. The exterior was fried to achieve a crunchy texture, while the inside remained juicy and tender. Not bad.
Gyoza ($8.80 for 6pcs, $15.80 for 12pcs)
The Gyoza at Hanamaruken are actually hand-made (not pre-packed from somewhere else).
These pan-fried dumplings strike a good balance between the crispy outer wrap and the juicy, tasty fillings inside. An appetizer you can order.
Artisanal Sparkling Tea ($6.80)
Other than the usual drinks, what interest me was the Artisanal Sparkling Tea available on tap.
The Osmanthus Squirrel was recommended, a floral joy with smooth notes from golden osmanthus and oolong.
There are also the “Unknown Fragrance” (Bu Zhi Xiang) which is a fragrant and light blend of Oolong tea leaves.
The Chinois brewed from Lychee Red Tea, provides a mildly sweet taste derived from lychee, dried fruits, and honey, leaving a refreshing aftertaste.
For both locals and visitors, Hanamaruken Ramen at Bras Basah is a destination that offers not just a meal but a dining experience of Osaka’s celebrated ramen culture.
Hanamaruken Ramen Singapore
Lazada One #01-07, 51 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189554 (Bras Basah MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Hanamaruken.
The ramen is soaked in thick collagen broth ! Super love it !