I’m sure everyone’s seen at least one video of a peculiar ramen restaurant that lights its noodles on fire in front of their customers. That restaurant is Menbaka Fire Ramen, hailing from Kyoto, Japan!
Menbaka was previously located at Cineleisure but has made its new home at Centrepoint. Despite the change in location, their menu of ramen, sushi and other dishes remains equally varied.
Dark But Stylish Interior
When you first enter the space, you are greeted by the iconic bar where you sit to enjoy the fire ramen. It’s an open-concept kitchen, so you can peek as the chefs prepare your noodles.
The outlet in Centrepoint has a darker, almost pub-like interior design, complete with colourful neon lights and traditional Japanese lanterns. Compared to its previous space at Cineleisure, it’s slightly smaller but holds the same stylised design.
Menbaka Fire Ramen Menu
The menu at Menbaka is varied, with an assortment of ramen, sushi, rice bowls (don) and more. Some other dishes you can get include:
- Aburi Chashu Don ($10.90)
- Salmon Trio Nigiri ($6.90)
- Tonkotsu Ramen (from $13.90)
Ultimate Fire Ramen
The viral online dish is the Ultimate Fire Ramen ($17.90 for Lite, $19.90 for Regular), which comes with a bowl of their signature Shoyu ramen plus the fire show. You can also change the broth to a Tonktosu or Karamiso (spicy miso) broth for an additional $3.
When you’re ready for the flames, the staff will guide you to the counter where you’re given a disposable bib. If you’re looking to capture the moment, there are selfie sticks available on the counter that you can use to record the performance.
It was our first time here and we have to say – it was an experience. The flames were quite substantial and we felt the heat only inches away from our faces! The staff are also open to helping you take photographs so you have plenty of pictures to look back on.
The flames are actually made from lighting negi (Japanese green onion) oil, creating a unique smoky flavour that you can taste in the broth. The restaurant also uses a special 228-year-old soy sauce from Japan for deep umami. Those who enjoy a lighter flavour might find it a bit heavy, but it pairs well with the chewy noodles and char siew.
Salmon Batayaki
Aside from the ramen, there’s another dish that also gets a taste of the flames – the Salmon Batayaki ($58.90). The dish is a 700g salmon fillet basted in a shoyu and sake sauce before being lit on fire and garnished with bonito.
There was a pleasant sweetness from the charred sauce on the outside that paired well with the salmon! This was a substantial portion and can easily feed 2 to 3 people. Do note this is only available for dinner.
Ahirureba Onsen Kanpai
Menbaka also serves some unique appetizers, starting with the Ahirureba Onsen Kanpai ($5.90). It featured a runny onsen egg in a light dashi broth, ikura and a piece of fried foie gras. The combination of the savoury dashi with the creamy egg made for a great starter!
Watermelon With Umami Kawaebi Sprinkles
Another refreshing starter is the Watermelon With Umami Kawaebi Sprinkles ($5.90), that came chilled. This had a unique flavour from the salty shrimp sprinkles, complementing the sweetness from the watermelon.
Omakase Sumiyaki Skewer Set
In theme with its fiery concept, Menbaka has launched new kushiyaki sets, featuring items grilled over a Japanese Binchotan grill. The ingredient selection includes pork belly, and chicken thigh with leek along with other seafood options.
We got to try a selection of their skewers (7 for $22, 10 for $33) and the highlights were definitely the Unagi and Bacon with Enoki. Each skewer had a smoky char from the Binchotan grill, making for a perfect pairing with alcoholic drinks. You can also get skewers a la carte from $2.90 each!
Sushi And Maki Sushi Rolls
The menu also includes a variety of sushi and sashimi you can enjoy. The Sakura Maki ($9.90) features a whole tempura prawn garnished with pink sakura flakes for a novel experience.
Those who prefer sashimi can try the Swimming With Rainbow ($8.90), an ornate sushi roll that comes with a colourful array of salmon, takuan, Tai, avocado and tuna. There’s also the Island Party ($6.90) that features Saba fish on a bed of seasoned sushi rice and tobiko.
Matcha Beer
Kyoto is famous for its matcha, and you can have a taste of it at Menbaka! They offer the unique Kyoto Matcha Beer ($12.90) and Kyoto Matcha Latte ($8.90 for Hot, $9.90 for Ice). Those who enjoy sweeter matcha will enjoy their offerings.
Seasonal Hana Mochi
End off your meal with a sweet treat, including a selection of mochi, ice cream and more. We tried the green tea and red bean Hana Mochi ($3 for 2 pieces) that had a soft, chewy exterior and a green tea cream with red beans.
Fire Ramen In Centrepoint
For those uninitiated, we recommend trying Menbaka Fire Ramen at least once! The videos you see cannot beat the experience in real life. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook for more information.
Menbaka
#01-53 to 56, The Centrepoint Food Street, 176 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238843
Monday-Thursday: 12pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11.30am-11pm
Sunday: 11.30am-10pm
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