Mazesoba— often called dry ramen — is rapidly gaining love in Singapore. Unlike classic ramen in soup, bowls of mazesoba focus on thick noodles drenched in rich sauce, minced meat, spring onions, and toppings, all mixed before eating.
Here are the city’s best mazesoba spots, each unique in style, taste, and following.
1. Ramen Matsuri – Cozy Raffles Place Gem with Free Upsize
Address: 7 North Canal Road, Singapore 048820 • Tel: +65 6533 0845
Tucked near Raffles Place MRT, Ramen Matsuri is beloved for its Nagoya-style mazesoba — fiery minced pork, spring onions, seaweed, and onsen egg nestled in chewy noodles and sauce. Diners rave: “Very very good Mazesoba — tastes same if not better than in Japan” and praise its generous portions, friendly staff, and free noodle upsize, rice, miso soup, and fried garlic with each bowl.
The space feels lived-in and unpretentious, making it perfect for slurping down serious noodles without pretense. Their full menu also offers Torikoku chicken broth ramen and speakeasy-style Gyoza Bar upstairs. But mazesoba remains their headline grab—rich, flavourful, and unapologetically messy in the best way.
2. Kajiken – Focused Flavour & Free Noodle Upsize
Address: 1 Tras Link, #01-03 Orchid Hotel (Tanjong Pagar) Singapore 078867
Singapore’s original mazesoba pioneer, Kajiken delivers dedicated dry ramen bowls day in, day out. Their Taiwan Mazesoba Nagoya Style is a masterpiece—spicy minced pork, spring onions, bamboo shoots, nori, char siu, and a jammy onsen egg. Customers are instructed to mix for 20 seconds before diving in, a ritual that guarantees perfect sauce coverage.
Kajiken’s portions are particularly generous—and they let you upsize noodles at no extra cost. For adventurous diners, menu highlights include Grilled Cheese with Cod Roe, Hokkaido Salmon Roe & Butter Bowl, and Original Char Siu Mazesoba. Expect a lunchtime queue, but fans say it’s worth every minute for balanced, slurp-worthy bowls.
3. Menya Kokoro – Award-Winning Precision in a Japanese Chain
Address: Suntec City 3 Temasek Blvd #03-313; 100AM Mall #02-10; Plaza Singapura B2-53
Born in Tokyo and repeatedly named Tokyo Ramen of the Year, Menya Kokoro brings that pedigree to Singapore with its signature Mazesoba—whole-wheat noodles cooked precisely 8 minutes 40 seconds, topped with slow-braised chashu, minced meat sauce, saba fish powder, nori, garlic, bamboo shoots, and egg. They provide mushroom kombu soup and rice at no extra cost too.
Reddit and social platforms constantly praise their texture, layering, and the addictive sauce that clings to every noodle. For diners who like clean, refined mazesoba with maximum complexity, Menya Kokoro delivers depth and consistency across branches.
4. Menya Horikawa at Woodleigh Village – The Hawker Mazesoba Standout
Address: 01‑40 Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre, 202C Woodleigh Link
An inspired pivot from waffles to mazesoba, this hawker stall runs at accessible price points (S$6.90–10.90). Rick Tan, its founder, trained under a Tokyo chef to bring authentic dry ramen to a hawker centre. Their Spicy Mazesoba with minced pork, nori, chilli-aviated sauce and soft egg is a spicy crowd favourite.
Reviewers admire the modern hawker-centre vibe, fast service, and how the dish bridges Japanese technique with Singapore’s love for chili and vinegar-laced noodles. A neat, well-priced entry point for curious newcomers.
Why Singaporeans Love These Spots
Ramen Matsuri shines in boldness and customer service: complimentary upsizes, pre-mix garlic bits, and consistent portions. Kajiken offers exacting technique and exotic flavour combos, perfect for a splurge lunch or ramen connoisseurship. Menya Kokoro brings Japanese award-level execution, from noodle cooking timing to proprietary sauces and rice add-ons. Menya Horikawa proves that a hawker concept can deliver mazesoba with fiery heat, onsen egg, and local touches—without breaking the bank.
Real Feedback From Reddit & Diner Reviews
On Reddit, users consistently mention Ramen Matsuri as one of the best mazesoba options—not quite ramen, yet rich and addictive with free extras. One comment: “It’s A++…deserve much more recognition.” Another user praised Yokohama style ramen and its mazesoba similarly, highlighting its thin but firm noodles and friendly service.
Fans of Kajiken describe lingering bowl-cleaning urges—saucy, savoury, and satisfying. And Menya Kokoro’s signature bowl garners recurring praise for its “flavour explosion” and noodles that grip sauce beautifully. Each bowl earns love not just for taste, but for the texture-taste interplay and slurp-happiness factor.
Mazesoba Tips for First-Timers in Singapore
- Mix thoroughly—noodle mixing time is vital to coat every bite.
- Always go for free noodle upsizes (Ramen Matsuri, Kajiken offers this).
- Customise with vinegar, chilli oil, or soft-boiled eggs available at many stalls.
- Go lunchtime early or late—kajiken and Ramen Matsuri get busy.
- Expect minimal or no soup—bring chopsticks and your mixing arm!
Final Thoughts on Mazesoba in Singapore
Whether you’re craving rich, fiery dry ramen or a budget bowl that hits right, Singapore’s mazesoba scene is thriving. Ramen Matsuri delivers generous goodness in a cozy spot with strong extras. Kajiken elevates mix ramen to high-tech Japanese precision. Menya Kokoro brings global award status. Menya Horikawa makes spicy mazesoba accessible in hawker form. Daily Noodles gives top value and nostalgic vinegar-slurps.
If you love bold noodles, drippy sauce, and the joy of mixing before each bite, pick a bowl from this list and prepare to slurp happy.
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