Maruhachi : by a true-blue Japanese owner & her husband

A friend told me about this stall. This friend mentioned that a Japanese friend went by to try and said, this stall is run by Japanese. The friend said it is just as good as the restaurant as the cook is Japanese. The stall started on 26 November 2020. 

I was there for lunch and expecting a queue on Sunday but there was just another customer in front. The cashier was a Japanese lady. I decided to go with Black Pig Katsu Set ($14.80) and Tonkotsu Cha Siew Ramen ($12.80). I wanted to order 2 pieces of Ebi Fry but was told not available so I went with Kaki Fry instead, ordered 3 pieces for $5.00 listed as ala carte item on the Ramen menu. All orders are made upon order.

The Black Pig Katsu set reminded me of the Premium Pork Loin that I always order at Hajime Tonkotsu & Ramen. It is served along with authentic short grain and a generous portion of shredded cabbage together with a bowl of tasty miso soup. I was amazed at how it is presented. The taste is similar to what I have eaten in Japan and as good as those served in the restaurants here. 

Kaki Fry, also known as Furai, is actually Japanese Fried Oyster, one of the popular dishes in Japan. It is not so commonly available in Singapore, not even in some of the Japanese restaurants here. I was excited when I saw it on their menu. The oysters were evenly coated with a layer of panko and deep-fried to golden brown and served along with tartar sauce.

I took a piece and totally enjoyed it, it tasted as good as those in Japan. I left the other 2 pieces to eat later and the crispiness still intact and not a bit of greasiness. My dining companion said, "The chef has very good skills in deep-frying. The katsu is equally well done, too."

The Tonkotsu Cha Siew Ramen came with 4 pieces of cha-shu, half-boiled of Ni-Tamago, and seasoned black fungus and seaweed, topped with chopped spring onions. The noodles were cooked to the desired firmness served in the flavorsome pork bones-based soup broth. The texture of the egg was perfect but the chashu was a tad too dry that caused it to break up easily.

Though the prices are slightly steep in a coffee shop, it is cheaper as compared to dining in a restaurant and it is without the usual service charge and GST. Importantly, it did not disappoint and worth it in terms of its quality. This is, in fact, the best hawker-style Japanese stall that I have come across. A stamp card is given, 1 stamp is rewarded for purchase of a main dish, 10 stamps for 5 dollars off, and 5 stamps for 2 dollars off. 

When could not go to Japan, this is definitely good enough. 

MARUHACHI
671 Edgefield Plains #01-01 SINGAPORE 820671
Operating Hours: 10.30 am to 8.30 pm (Closed on Tuesdays)