Asia’s First IPPUDO Beyond Flagship Store: IPPUDO at Mandarin Gallery

IPPUDO is a big household name in the ramen world. Their tonkotsu bowls have queues snaking out the door in Japan, New York, and even here in Singapore. So when I heard that the Mandarin Gallery outlet had transformed into IPPUDO Beyond — Asia’s first flagship of its kind — I knew I had to check it out. This wasn’t going to be just another bowl of ramen; it promised an expanded menu of ramen exclusives, Japanese tapas, and mains that stretch beyond the classics. So we went down to find out if IPPUDO could really pull off dishes beyond their ramen specialty.

IPPUDO Beyond is more than just ramen

IPPUDO Beyond is a brand new dining concept designed to elevate your IPPUDO dining experience and to bring people together. It features a specially curated menu of exclusive ramen creations, sharing plates, appetisers and mains which are only available exclusively at this IPPUDO at Mandarin Gallery.

The Interior

The ambience at IPPUDO Beyond is modern yet warm, with red noren curtains at the entrance, walls lined with ramen bowls as décor, and a striking chandelier overhead. The wooden tables paired with the open kitchen creates a space that feels both stylish and inviting.

Located at Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road, the restaurant is easy to find and just a short walk from Somerset MRT, making it an accessible stop whether you’re here to shop or simply craving ramen.

What We Tried

Their new refreshed menu features sharing plates, appetisers and mains available only at this flagship location. We tried some of their Japanese tappas, mains and ramen.

Drinks

The Pink Citrus Fizz ($6), made with grape juice and lime, was refreshing at first but finished with a slight bitterness from the grape juice. It’s an interesting flavour, though probably best for those who enjoy something less sweet. On the other hand, the Pineapple Floral Tea ($7) was spot on. The pineapple purée added both body and a strong, natural sweetness that complemented the jasmine green tea beautifully. Light, refreshing, and balanced. I preferred this over the Pink Citrus Fizz.

Japanese Tapas

Japanese tapas at a ramen restaurant? Fritters, pan puri and vegetable dip for appetizers? That was unexpected. IPPUDO is certainly stepping out of their comfort zone to provide more menu offerings for their customers but are they worth a try?

Black Pork Charcoal Fritters ($3/pc, min 3 pcs)

This was hands down one of my favourite dishes. The fritters came piping hot, with a perfectly crisp shell that gave way to juicy, tender pork inside. Simple, comforting, and executed really well.

This was just a dish that hit the spot surprisingly. I’d happily order this again without hesitation.

Pani Puri ($3/pc, min 3 pcs)

I appreciated the creativity of this Japanese-Indian fusion bite. Each puri was generously filled with fresh salmon and creamy avocado, which made for a rich and satisfying mouthful. That said, the ratio was a little off — the avocado was overpowering, and its creaminess caused the delicate puri shell to soften and turn soggy quickly. Flavour-wise it was pleasant, but it felt like a lot was happening in a bite.

Red Vegetable Dip ($14)

It was a dish I had mixed feelings about. Visually, it’s stunning — a crimson platter of beetroot, radish, peppers, and strawberries, served with three dips. Taste-wise though, it might not be for everyone. The harissa miso leaned salty, the cranberry cheese was more cheesy than fruity, and the soy milk mayo was the most balanced of the three as it was lighter. The beetroot and radish had a strong raw flavour, so I found myself relying on the dips to enjoy them. It’s a creative idea and fun to try once, but probably not something I’d go back for.

Mains: Pan-Seared Sea Bream ($18)

The sea bream was served with grains, edamame, and a creamy white miso sauce. The fish itself was decent, though I wished it was softer and flakier so it could melt more easily in the mouth. What really carried the dish was the white miso sauce — rich, savoury, and just addictive enough to make up for the slightly underwhelming fish. It’s not a bad choice, and I wouldn’t mind getting it again.

Ramen: Uma-Rich Shoyu (From $21)

The Uma-Rich Shoyu ramen is described as a broth layered with pork, chicken, and clams, blended with five different soy sauces. On paper, it sounded like an umami powerhouse, and the first sip of broth did deliver on depth, though it was slightly too salty for my liking. The noodles, which I requested medium, were cooked perfectly with that bounce I always look for.

Toppings were generous as there were bamboo shoots, mitsuba leaves, and four cuts of chashu which includes choice cuts of pork shoulder, duck breast, roast beef and pork loin. The pork loin and shoulder were fine, the duck breast had a duck taste that was a bit too strong for me. Overall, it was satisfying enough, but not spectacular.

Final Verdict –Sticking to IPPUDO’s Ramen or Going Beyond?

Personally, I think IPPUDO’s new Beyond dishes had creative ideas, but the execution didn’t always land. Some plates looked exciting on the menu but fell short in flavour or balance. In the end, I still enjoyed their ramen more — especially for the noodles, which had that perfect bounce. That said, an honourable mention goes to the Black Pork Charcoal Fritters, which were easily one of the most satisfying bites of the night.