Ramen @ Menya Kotetsu, One City , Subang Jaya

From one Subang eatery to another, this is another place I was longing to write for a very long time since I have been somewhat of a regular here. As you may know, my favourite noodle places in Subang are located in One City which are Like Mee and Kuching Noodle House. And some time ago, a ramen-ya opened at the new One Space block in One City. 

Cozy

A simple establishment with simple interior, the place is managed by actual Japanese owners, who are the chefs there as well. So rest assured that the flavour is very authentic. The menu is also very distinctively Japanese, whereby the only focus on their main star with a few add ons on the sides. Mainly focusing on noodles and soup, there are only three variants: miso, spicy miso and tonkotsu. Each bowl comes with a serving of seaweed, pickled bamboo shoots and a slice of charshu. Additional toppings like onsen egg, an extra slice of charshu, or kakuni braised pork (角煮)  can be added as well, with an additional surcharge. 

A bowl of happiness? Not quite but sure darn close.

I have already tried all three soup types that is in store and I can easily say that all of them are satisfying. However, if I need to choose one, then the tonkotsu would be my pick. The broth is very dense and porky. A savoury concoction from start to finish, it is a bowl that I could take on easily, leaving little behind. The broth in itself is very thick, probably due to the long cooking process which breaks apart pork collagen and marrow and integrating it into that intoxicating soup. Tonkotsu is notoriously known for having a labour intensive cooking process and you can actually taste the effort in this soup. Truly an amazing bowl. 

Spicy star maker

If you are a chilli addict, do not fret as you are not left out. The spicy miso is definitely many levels higher than the average Japanese threshold. Reminiscent of laksa, this spicy bowl has a unique flavour profile that the tonkotsu, which is due to the spicy bean paste the flavour is based upon. And with strands of dried chilli topped with it, it would be a spicy ride that is somewhat unexpected, but something a Malaysian would pleasantly welcome. It does not blow your tongue out like some laksa places, after all this is a ramen shop. But nonetheless, a solid bowl of spicy noodles that is worth slurping down.

The toppings are not to be outdone as well, as the charshu has been cooked to perfection and the kakuni is fatty and moist. Both meat toppings flake easily and are very tender. The pickled bamboo adds a saltiness very different than all the other ingredients but provided a nice contrast and a slight crunch not present in the other part of the bowl. 

The menu of this fine establishment

The price range of a basic bowl starts out at RM22, whereby things becoming more pricey depending on the soup and the additional toppings, which is available for all types of soups. And if you are really hungry, you can opt for the deluxe special which has the whole arsenal of goodies in it. Being their version of an "all in meal" it is about RM30, again depending on the soup you choose.  Regardless of what is in your bowl, the ending will most probably be the same, which is an empty one!

Just too easy!

A highly recommended place to have your ramen fix on, this is an establishment worth trying. I personally think this is better than most places around. And I have already tried big players like Bankara and Ippudo but they really cannot compare to the flavour and of course, the value of what Menya Kotetsu can provide. They do open during lunch time, but I so far I have visited the place during the evenings for the time being. 

Do give it chance and you would not be disappointed.  The address is as follows:

 Lot 40-42, Ground Floor, One Space @ The Square, One City, Jalan USJ 25/1C, One City, 47100 Subang Jaya

Front of the house