Gonpachi Ramen Review: Hidden Ramen Eatery In Hougang With Ramen Below $8

From stocking up on instant ramen to rewarding myself with Michelin-starred ramen , this dish of springy noodles dunked in savoury, creamy broth is something I’ll never get tired of. Gonpachi Ramen is one to keep in mind for days you want to have ramen without burning a hole in your pocket.

The dish had springy Japanese ramen swimming in a hot miso broth, and was topped with marinated cha shu, black fungus, bamboo shoots, spring onions, half a miso-marinated soft-boiled egg, and a spoonful of sweet corn. It had a melt-in-your-mouth texture, and paired really well together with the hot miso broth.

The soup was packed with miso taste, and had a tinge of milkiness at the back of my throat. The next dish we got was Seven Wonder Ramen ($7.80) .

Inspired by the Seven Wonders of the World, this dish consists of seven main ingredients: corn, egg, marinated chicken, prawn, bamboo shoots, spring onions, and their special house-made sauce. The components were simple and nothing to shout about, but considering its rate and quantity, it offers a bang for your buck. As the sauce was very intense in flavour, it ended up overpowering the rest of the components, including the broth.

I was squirming in my seat when Spicy Minced Chicken Rice Bowl ($6.80) arrived. It carried a strong fragrance of lemongrass, and I was stoked to try it.

It had a large piece of chicken thigh laid atop fluffy white rice, and other components such as half a miso-marinated egg, salad, a spoonful of corn, and their house-made sauce. Upon first bite, the chicken was tender and succulent with a hint of lemongrass.

This dish was also paired with their house-made sauce, which I wasn’t fond of – it was just too overpowering. The chef first deep-fries the baby squids, then tosses them in a sauce made from dark soya sauce, rock sugar, fried shallots, and their house-made chilli paste.

We got Green Tea Smoked Duck ($4) , which is one of the more popular items on their menu. The duck was cut into coin shapes, lined across a bowl, and drizzled with a house-made sauce that tasted like a mixture of minced garlic and Thai sweet chilli sauce. The duck had the right ratio of meat to fat, making each bite juicy and satisfying.

All I could taste was the intense kick of garlic and sweet chilli, but hardly any green tea taste. Though using two different types of green tea leaves in the process of smoking the duck sounds unique and novel, it was disappointing in terms of taste.

Ambience at Gonpachi Ramen Situated under a block of flats along Hougang Street 21, this family-friendly restaurant is great for a fuss-free meal.