BEST RAMEN IN KL

Sure you can feast on a platter of roti canai's from Valentine, lick your fingers after ploughing through a plate of Mollagaa's banana leaf, fornicate with your reflection at the bottom of an empty laksa bowl, or simply lie prostrate shoving fatty charsiu in your gluttinous cavity, but after days/weeks/months of doing that, surely you'll crawl to the mirror on a day of self-introspection, see the loss washing over your eyes like cheap paint, and realise that ramen is exactly what you need to wipe clear the cataracts of doubt and fill you with truth once more.

Having readers all over the world that are also bonafide Ramen-addicts, we find ourselves waking up to a barrage of texts every morning "Where is the best ramen in KL?", "Authentic Ramen in KL?", "Who does the best ramen in Malaysia?". 

As a bonafide broth-martyr, The Mouth editor took it upon himself to carry the cross of noodles down the soupy streets of menma strewn depravity, tasting twenty different temples of potential truth, and filtering them up into false prophets and stomach profits. 

In a country where pork is generally seen as soul death, the term guilty pleasure is even more apt. Having said that, inclusivity is our thing and we'll add a couple of halal options for good measure.

#THEMOUTHSCHOICE

MENYA APPARE

The subject of much confusion since it's located at the Gardens Mall, but inside the Isetan store on the 3rd floor, this monument to Japanese comfort food stands as the beacon of hope to all non-halal addicts. Their spicy tonkotsu ramen is both fatty, yet not overly "coat your mouth" oily. The pork is silky tender, the egg perfectly cooked, and despite the chef recommending thin noodles, we go for the thicker noodles to coat all that soup.

TOWZEN

This Malaysian branch of the highly reputed Kyoto based vegan ramen is an absolute joy to behold. Naysayers and vegan-avoiders, eat your pride and sit down at these fabled chairs and sip divine broths of heavenly reaches.

MENYA HANABI

Not technically "Ramen" in the noodle-soup-bowl understanding, this rabidly popular counter-style shop in Sri Petaling is always full. The heavy but extremely addictive mazesoba will have you napping for a week after, but its worth the indulgence.

Remember to hand the waiter your bowl so he can fill it with rice to soak up all the last dregs of broth.

BARI UMA

A Japanese chain that has multiple shops around KL, we had to include Bari Uma based solely on their pork. This is some next level tender slices, apt to make you break out in a sweat that a curious diner witnessed you shedding a tear on first bite. The broth, egg and noodles are all pretty standard, but that pork... oh that pork.

KANBE RAMEN

We haven't visited the brand new branch at the uber fancy TRX mall, but went to the old skool location in Mont Kiara. Locals seem to love it, and everything was solid but didn't quite hit the heights of the three above it.

MARUTAMA-YA

Halal ramen doesn't get as much love as it should. Whilst we're not really a fan of Seirock-Ya, finding it too thick and heavy, this shop does a very passable chicken version.

MARUKI

Great homemade noodles, umami rich shoyu broth, decent egg and slightly dry chicken. The sum of the bowl is great than its parts, and the service is very friendly.

RAMEN BANKARA

Not quite as epic as the Bangkok branch at The Manor, but nevertheless one of the better places to get your Tonkotsu Ramen cravings satisfied in KL. Beware of ordering the Bankara Special, if you are sensitive to fatty soups, because there are literal icebergs of chunky cholesterol floating on the surface. We stick with the regular Tonkotsu (pictured above).

But you do you.

TABUSHI RAMEN

The Mouth was a big fan of the OG Branch of Tabushi in Koenji, Tokyo, and this place was quite close but no cigar. Pursuants drop by for the Miso ramen in the basement of Lot 10, but inside the Japanese store Isetan. The broth and additions are all solid, the only issue we had the three times we visited were the noodles were overcooked.

TORIGEN

Halal celebrators rejoice! Yet another option for your dining pleasure. Where is it? You guessed it: the top floor of Lot 10. Kagura used to be our favourite Tori Paitan ramen in town, but lately they have dropped the ball and Torigen have snipered in and stolen their thunder.

This is some heavy soup for being chicken based, so if its a hot day you'll need a nap afterwards.

RAMEN KUMO

One of the newer additions to the LOT 10 top floor Japanese invasion, if you want a milky tonkotsu style (thinner broth than Bari-Uma and Bankara) then head here. Their fish oil tonkotsu is famous for those who can handle the funk.