World’s First Michelin-Starred Ramen is Coming to Singapore

A tiny nine-seater noodle shop in Tokyo, Japan made international headlines in December 2015 after earning a star from the highly respected Michelin Guide. Next month, Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta, the first and only Michelin-starred ramen eatery in the world, will open its first branch in Singapore.

Tsuta Singapore is aiming to duplicate the success of the original store in Tokyo, which sees a long queue of customers hours before it opens. Tickets are sold to patrons as early as 6 am, which are quickly sold out by 8am, three hours before the 11 am opening.

A variety of soup bases are available to choose from: shoyu soba which features a soy broth; shio soba, which has a salty broth made from Okinawan sea salt; and miso.

Founded by ramen master Yuki Onishi, the Soba Noodles Tsuta noodle shop is home to meals prepared with freshly-made noodles and carefully selected ingredients. He is set to oversee the Singapore branch to ensure that similar standards are maintained, reports the Straits Times.

According to Michelin Singapore, the proposal to expand the business in Singapore began with one stranger’s message on Facebook. It read: “We would love to tell the world about your ramen. Have you ever thought about opening a restaurant outside of Japan…in Singapore?”

Chef Onishi recalled what piqued his interest, “I had never particularly thought of expanding abroad, but what distinguished the Singapore partner was simply the fact that he came, got in line, and actually ate my food. The other people who said they were interested in Tsuta didn’t do that.”

His partners from Singapore turns out to be his from the same firm that partnered with one-Michelin-starred Hong Kong dim sum chain Tim Ho Wan.

The new Soba Noodles Tsuta, which is set to house 18 seats, will be situated at the Pacific Plaza, at the heart of Singapore’s shopping district.