Food Court Dining: Japanese Udon Noodles Goen

I have always associated curry with Indian food but since coming to Singapore, I have learned that the Japanese also have their version of curry. As someone who watches anime, this discovery helped me make sense out of some of the food I see on their shows.

I didn't know I liked curry until I came to Singapore; both the Indian and Japanese versions appeal to my taste buds. It's not a taste for everyone, but again, you'll never know if it's for you if you never tried it at least once.

Food courts are pretty much the hawker stalls of malls. They offer a variety of affordable meals, including the staple Chicken Rice. I was lucky enough to spot my favorite Japanese Curry shop in two locations last week.

Japanese Udon Noodles Goen branch in Wisma Atria

When I enjoy a certain type of food, I would probably keep talking about how tasty my dish is while my mouth is full. The first time I tried a dish from this franchise, I distinctly remember my wife laughing at how much I kept doing that.

Japanese Udon Noodles Goen is a franchise that can be seen in food courts. So far I know of three branches - Vivo City, Wisma Atria, and Bugis Junction. While I've frequented Vivo and Wisma, the Bugis branch was a new discovery.

They offer curry on rice or noodles, with chicken, beef, or tonkatsu as protein. While I'm a bit adventurous when it comes to trying food, I usually prefer having my go-to dish if there is one.

Japanese Tonkatsu Original Curry Rice (SGD 7.90)

For this shop, I have a go-to dish; the Japanese Tonkatsu Original Curry Rice. A huge serving of rice is a staple in this shop, with customers asked to ask the server for less if needed. A prepared tonkatsu meat is chopped and put over the rice, before their signature curry sauce is poured over everything.

Can't go wrong with a go-to dish.

The curry in itself can be eaten with the rice. Or that's just me. I almost treat it like soup, similar to what I do with the Chicken Curry at Queensway. The tonkatsu is usually lean, and while it's not life-changing amazing, it goes great with the curry sauce.

Beef Original Curry Rice (SGD 8.90), greens optional add-on.

On a different day, I wanted to look for a new place to eat at the Bugis food court, but I was drawn to the branch I didn't know was there. This time, I tried the Beef Original Curry Rice for the sake of trying something new. Personally, I didn't think the beef looked appetizing; sure, it was thinly cut, but it looked too pale in color that I almost thought it was raw. I'm pretty sure that the curry is a staple in all their branches, so I was a disappointed to see how my curry sauce looked like here.

The greens were cilantro, which I remembered I didn't like too much on ramen. Here, the flavor was masked by the curry.

While the flavor was there, it definitely didn't have a the same visual appeal as the other branches. Personally, it wouldn't have been a favorite of mine if this was my first experience. The rice isn't served as much as the other branches, but that's not too much of an issue as it is for the appearance of the curry.

Come for Seconds: For Wisma and Vivo, I have and I will again and again. For Bugis though, I'm not sure. If only for the flavor, I'd definitely eat if I see another branch nearby.

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.