**All pictures below taken with iPhone 5
Tokyo’s top ramen specialist arrives in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year! With over 60 outlets across Japan, this Tokyo-based Bankara Ramen, a noodle chain, has taken its international expansion into our city centre finally.
Bankara is famous for its “Impact Taste” philosophy was developed over 15 years by Kusano-san in Japan.
They offer 4 distinct style of ramen, each with its own distinct broth and noodle: Bankara Ramen from Tokyo, Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen, Saporo-style miso ramen and Tsukemen.
This is definitely something great for the patrons to explore as they are not just stuck with choices of only Hokkaido or Hakata styles ramen. We are able to savour the more expressions of each type of ramen with each delivering a different multilayered taste experience.
Experimenting with the garlic press tool. Do add some into your bowl of ramen & it will change its broth’s character for sure!
Bankara Ramen is their signature ramen. Special pork bone broth infused specially with refined shoyu, served with medium thickness Tokyo style noodles. Lightly salted with a hint of sweetness, this ramen is best served with their signature braised pork belly. However, I was recommended by their attentive staff to order Assari Bankara instead of the original or the kakuni version as I was told it will be less oily compared to those 2.
Very thoughtful of her as she noticed that I’m pregnant and better not to take too much oil. Kudos to their team.
Bankara Original – RM21
Medium sized noodle served with Chashu, bamboo shoots, dried seaweeds & Japanese onions
It was mildly sweet & fatty-tasting though and flavoursome. Great for patrons who want a more luxurious texture. The downside might be it’s fatty-taste as we find the broth kinda oily actually. Noodles texture and taste wise was alright.
Assari Bankara – RM21
Similar to Bankara Original but served in lighter soup base. Like what I had, this version is less oily compared to the original version. I personally loved it 🙂
Kakuni Bankara – RM30
Bankara Original topped with their signature kakuni (braised pork belly). The braised pork belly was soft and delicious but then again, the oily portion could be one sinful order. Haha. Some people might not like it. Like my mom. LOL.
And as for their Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen, they employed a slow boil technique to create a milky & rich in flavour pork bone soup. Smoothness of the soup is the defining character that one could find.
Tonkotsu Chashu – RM28
Thin noodle in milky pork bone soup served with 4 pieces of chashu, jew’s ear mushroom, spring onion & seaweed. Very different from that sharp taste of Bakara’s signature, their Tonkotsu is lighter and creamier.
Goma Ice Cream – RM6
I just gotta fulfil my cravings for this scoop of black sesame ice cream which is filled with sesame seeds in every spoonful!
Will be checking out their Saporo-style miso ramen and Tsukemen next! 🙂
*NON-HALAL*
Bankara Ramen Malaysia
Lot 2-7, Level 2,
Avenue K, 156, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-2181 8618
Opening hours: Mon – Sun: 11am – 10pm
