Ajisen MSG Tanjiro at Bedok Mall
Ajisen at Bedok Mall has recently undergone a transformation, transitioning from its original concept to the new Tanjiro version with an expanded menu. Having visited the previous iteration and not been impressed, I decided to give the revamped restaurant a second chance, hoping that the changes would bring an improved dining experience.
Ambience and Atmosphere
Upon entering, the decor felt more modern and visually appealing than before. The layout was spacious, and the seating arrangements were comfortable. It had a casual family restaurant feel.
Food and Taste
To test if the revamp made a difference in quality, I deliberately ordered a dish that was on the original menu: seafood ramen. The presentation was decent, with an ample amount of seafood, including shrimp, squid, and the Japanese mock crab meat. The broth, however, had a strong taste of MSG, which definitely ruined it for me and left us feeling extremely thirsty afterwards even though we only consumed a small amount. It's important to note that if you have a sensitivity or allergy to MSG, this dish is not for you.
The ramen noodles themselves were cooked well, with a satisfying texture, but they couldn't make up for the heavy MSG in the broth. It was disappointing to find that this aspect hadn't improved from my previous visit. This isn't what you'd expect from a good bowl of ramen.
Service and Staff
The service at Ajisen Tanjiro was prompt and efficient. The staff was courteous and attentive, quickly responding to our requests. The cashier asked us how the food was and we had to tell her honestly, too much MSG!
Overall Impression
While the revamped Ajisen Tanjiro at Bedok Mall has a more modern and inviting ambiance, the food quality left much to be desired, especially in terms of the broth's MSG content. If you're considering trying their ramen, keep in mind that it might not be suitable for those sensitive to MSG. The service is okay, but the ramen is far from it. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I would not recommend ordering ramen at Ajisen Tanjiro.
Darren Loh
2
It's been a while since I last dined at Ajisen, mainly because it's known for its subpar taste despite its relatively high prices compared to other available ramen restaurants. Unfortunately, my recent experience confirmed that even after a rebranding, the food and service remain disappointing.
To start, the side dish labeled "Okonomiyaki" was merely fried chives with dough and tasted slightly undercooked. While the crispy gyoza and mazesoba were decent, the pork chop was dry and tough. The worst part of my experience was with the tom yum ramen set I ordered. Although the promotion was still listed in the system, the staff informed me that it was not available on weekends only after I had started eating. Despite having placed the order and even leaving the order sheet on the table, they did not mention this beforehand. I was then forced to either upgrade or choose a different dish, which led to me reluctantly paying more and receiving only two pieces of char siew.
I usually do not give a place less than three stars, as I understand that occasional lapses in service or food quality can happen. However, this experience was particularly disappointing. I would not recommend dining here, especially when there is a nearby competitor that is open 24 hours, serves better food, and offers more affordable ramen.
Gurunathan Bhat
5
One of the best gyoza I’ve ever had. The food is lovely!
Their unique orange truffle ramen is so delicious! The Corn Cha Shu ramen is also really good!
You can order a set as well, which includes gyoza and a choice of hot or cold tea.
Highly recommended! Love it
Rainie Gan
5
An affordable meal with nice and fresh ramen and soba. We once tried ramen at Orchard Gateway, and it was super awful; the noodles were like instant noodles. Will try again.
Nic Xun
3
A few days back, I ordered the baked rice set. As you can see, there was a tiny hair on the French fries. Perhaps the staff could pay more attention to hygiene. Don't worry, my hair isn't that short, so the hair definitely wasn't mine.
The dish was quite oily, as you can see from the plate after I ate. Not sure if the ramen is better than this.
Otherwise, the place was clean and tidy.