A Taste of Japan: Machida Shoten at Wisma Atria

I have never been to Japan, but ever since I watched the movie Ramen Girl, I was always fascinated at just how good ramen can be. I've been to many Japanese restaurants since, and have tasted a variety of ways that ramen is cooked, but as I haven't been to Japan, I won't judge it by authenticity; as always, I judge by how well I am fed.

Wisma Atria along Orchard Road is home to a new "Japanese Street" on the Food Republic level. As the name suggests, there are bunch of Japanese restaurants offering a variety of Japanese cuisines. There's even one that proudly claims to have a Michelin star. We have yet to try that one, but we've been to one restaurant twice already. 

Machida Shoten is the second store on your left once you enter the Japanese Food Town at Wisma. You can't miss it.

We tried Machida Shoten for a second time recently, with the first one during their soft opening in September. It's a small restaurant that specializes in ramen. They proudly claim to serve freshly prepared and hand-made ramen, with prices varying based on the toppings you put in. While there are a variety of other dishes on their menu (greens, rice, buns, and sides), the ramen is mainly why we went to visit the second time. 

Ton-kotsu Spicy Miso Special Ramen (SGD 19.00++)

The dish was plated beautifully that it's almost a shame to mix it all up. After having their basic one last time around, I opted for the Ton-kotsu Spicy Miso Special Ramen, the ramen that had all toppings on it. You can choose the thickness of the noodles and the richness of the broth, but I decided to go with how they usually do it. 

Noodles are placed on a bowl, with four dried seaweed strips (nori) are carefully placed to stick out of the bowl. My toppings included chasu (pork), spicy minced pork, seasoned egg, and spring onions. I think there were some cilantro leaves in there as well. I'm not certain if they have a spicy base or they just add spicy oil on their miso base for this one, but either way, it produces a moderately spicy soup. 

It was a happy feeling when I saw the owner appreciate my empty bowl the first time around, so I made sure to empty this one as well. 

Personally, I didn't think the cilantro added to the dish. Everything else blended well though. I don't remember having it on my dish the first time around, so I'm not sure if it's a Spicy Miso exclusive topping. I remember wanting more of the soup last time, but with all the toppings I had for this dish, the soup was just right. I had the nori strips with the cilantro to mask the off-taste I was getting. The seasoned egg remains a mystery for me; how do they half-cook the yolk? While the soup is as rich in flavor as they promote it, I think the regular option might be too rich that some may not be able to finish it. Getting a lighter broth could be the best way to fully enjoy this meal. 

Come for Seconds: Definitely. I don't think it's overpriced, and flavors are just right. I'm not sure if my belly can try ordering other stuff on their menu because the ramen alone can fill it up, and I am most definitely going back for the ramen.