BAZAAR Tries: Minamo Ramen Brings a Touch of Japan to KL

Ramen is always a good idea.

Here’s a fun fact. Did you know that most famous ramen shops in Tokyo are known for their chicken broth? Let us introduce you to Desa Sri Hartamas’ new ramen joint in KL – Minamo Ramen.

Minamo Ramen was created and founded by Chef Miyazaki, who is listed in the Tokyo Michelin Bib Gourmand. With 11 years of experience, Chef Miyazaki considers himself an avid ramen fan. Having reviewed over 6,000 different types of ramen, his love for the hearty dish started at the age of 15. While many ramen shops in Malaysia use pork-based broth, Chef Miyazaki wanted to bring high-quality Japanese chicken ramen for every Malaysian to fall in love with. At Minamo Ramen, we can be assured of the use of high-quality ingredients in every dish.

minamo ramen

Our experience at Minamo Ramen

Minamo means “Everybody” in Japanese, setting the tone for everyone in Malaysia to enjoy its authentic recipes. When we stepped into the restaurant, it felt like we were visually transported to Tokyo for a few hours. With its open-kitchen concept, we got to experience the beauty of what goes into making the hearty yet mouth-watering ramen. As we were shown to our table, we were given a menu featuring three signature ramen dishes and appetisers. Don’t be surprised by their limited menu, as this is their way of delivering high-quality meals.

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Chef Miyazaki plans to add more items to the menu and elevate the experience further by introducing a new recipe every three months—keep an eye out for that.

AKA Ramen

What’s on the menu

If you’re a fan of creamy, extra-rich broth, be sure to order the SHIRO (RM30). For something light with a clear soy sauce broth, aim for the SHOYU (RM30).

Let’s face it—we Malaysians can’t resist a little heat. The AKA (RM33) is a spicy soup made with house-mix spices, chili peppers, and tomatoes.

We kicked off our journey with three appetisers: Grilled Gyoza (with minced chicken and vegetables, a perfect blend of savoury and juicy), Fried Chicken (crispy on the outside, tender on the inside), and Kale Salad (a refreshing and healthy start to our meal). We absolutely loved the fried chicken so much that we just had to order a second round.

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A memorable taste to our palette

During our visit, we had two ramen: AKA and SHOYU.

Every slurp took us by surprise at how full-bodied the broth was, making us fall in love with the dish at every bite. The SHOYU at Minamo Ramen offers a delightful and light option for those seeking a satisfying meal. As for the AKA, it provides just the right amount of kick, and we personally feel that it’s not as spicy as we initially anticipated.

Don’t worry if you can’t handle a little heat – you might be pleasantly surprised!

This experience was unlike any other. Our ramen arrived with its toppings placed on the side, and there’s a reason behind this. To enjoy the ramen, we were advised to slurp on the soup first to savour the pure flavours of the broth. Once that is done, we should add each topping one by one while slurping on the broth to fully indulge in the flavours, as each topping changes the full-bodied flavours.

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This unique serving style adds an element of surprise and excitement to the dining experience, allowing us to customise our toppings for our next visit.

You’ll be pleased to learn that everything at Minamo Ramen is made in-house, from the noodles to the broth. Each broth is simmered for about 5 hours or more, ensuring that every slurp will leave a lasting impression.

In our opinion, it definitely did, and trust us, we went back to Minamo Ramen for more. Only this time, bringing our loved ones to fall in love with Minamo Ramen just like we did.

Address: 38-G, Jalan 24/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

 

 

Amalina Anuar is the Digital Director of Harper's Bazaar Malaysia. From covering the latest runway trends to the hottest happenings in Kuala Lumpur, she also delves deep into all things lifestyle and beauty.