73@Hillcrest Review: Michelin Bib Gourmand Ramen From Osaka And More At This Kopitiam-Cafe

Even so, hearing about a unique coffee shop-bistro bar in the heart of the Hillcrest residences, I knew I had to go and check it out. Michelin Bib Gourmand Ramen From Osaka And More At This Kopitiam-Cafe Food at 73@Hillcrest The Japanese stall is opened by the folks behind Enishi ramen, a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner from Kobe, Osaka. We decided to order the UMAMI Ramen with Egg ($12) , which came with a ramen egg and two chashu pork slices.

The noodles were a little thicker than your average ramen and was slightly overcooked. While some may prefer their noodles to be softer, I would have liked mine to have more bite to it.

There was a slight sweet undertone to the soup, but none of that umaminess found in tonkotsu broth. From the Chinese stall, we went for the Traditional Liver/Kidney Mee Suah ($7.50) , or what most people will know as yo ji mee sua .

For an additional $2.50 , you can choose to add XO Cognac to your noodles. While some may enjoy how easy they disintegrate in your mouth, I found that the starchiness from the noodles was not particularly delectable. The liver had a slightly powdery texture, and did not excite me to go for another bite.

If you are one of those who love offal, this may just be the dish for you. Lastly, we ordered the Angus Bacon Burger ($13.90) from the Western food stall.

Biting into it, the burger was bursting with umami and was well-complemented by the flavours of all the other elements. I was expecting the bacon to be hard upon bite, but it was soft and tore apart easily.

I understood why the patty was slightly underseasoned, as the saltiness from the bacon strips would have made the burger too salty otherwise. Crispy on the outside and soft of the inside, there was a strong truffle savour that was not too overpowering. The fries were also seasoned with a hint of salt and parsley flakes, and was not overly greasy.

The owner recommends going for the 73 Burger ($17.50) for a more zhng-ed up version of the this burger. This order is the most popular order from the Western stall per to him.

Ambience at 73@Hillcrest Nestled within a cluster of private houses, 73@Hillcrest is located in Bukit Timah, with the nearest MRT station being Tan Kah Kee. While the food may not be the best I’ve had, the atmosphere is one that keeps people coming for more.