Kyuu Kei Soba x Udon – Newest Japanese Noodle bar in Marina Bay Link Mall

Kyuu Kei Soba x Udon is the latest Japanese noodle bar in Marina Bay Link Mall. Opened for less than a week, they serve delicious udon and soba either soup or dry with a variety of broths. 26-year-old owner Julius Chen studied in Le Cordon Bleu Sydney and fell in love with Menya Mappen in the CBD area. Hence, he decided to bring the concept back and opened Kyuu Kei with his army friends.

Here’s how it works. First, choose between udon ($1.80) and soba ($1.80). Then, pick from 7 types of broth – Mentaiko ($5), Soba Dipping Sauce ($2.20), Miso Butter ($3), Japanese Curry ($3.70), Creamy Sesame Dressing ($3), Ginger Shoyu ($3.70) and KyuuKei Dashi ($3). While other soba shops only offer a limited variety of broth, I like it that they have a wide variety and all of them were made in house.

My recommendation is to go for the Mentaiko Sauce, Creamy Sesame Dressing or KyuuKei Dashi. The mentaiko sauce i tried that day was a little too thick, but when mixed well with the udon, it gives a creamy and indulgent aftertaste. Another creamy option, the sesame dressing works as it is nutty and smooth. If you prefer something light to go with the soba, KyuuKei Dashi is a good choice. They don’t make their own noodles.

Once you have selected the broth, top the noodles with freshly cooked ingredients under the heat lamps such as Buttered Shimeiji ($3), Edamame Peas ($2), Charshu ($5.50) Kakiage ($3), Sweetened Tamago ($3), Ebi Fry ($2.50), Yakitori Chicken & Leek ($3), Yakitori Bacon Asparagus ($3.50) and Yakitori Bacon Enoki ($3.50). Catering to the healthy lunch crowd, you realized that there are no deep-fried items here but serious cooked dishes. Especially the well-seasoned chashu, it was flavourful and comes with a good bite. The yakitori we tried that day was a little bland, but it’s understandable because it was the first day opening. Nothing remains stationary for long though, so you can ensure freshness in your noodle bowl.

Note: This is an invited tasting.