Lunch at Nantsuttei leaves me with mixed feelings primarily because it reminds me so much of Japan -it's a temporary escape but also leaves a slightly bittersweet aftertaste when you realise that nothing can totally replicate the authentic Nippon experience. Japanese ramen shops always have this alluring charm, especially when its nondescript, tucked away in secret corners -yet the queues always seem to be long, and the eatery, packed. Nantsuttei is definitely popular with the local crowd here as the queue was snaking! Their menu offers black mayu in their ramen broth, which is quite honestly one of their hugest selling points. That thin film of roasted garlic oil looks horrifyingly greasy and gross at first sight, but after the first spoonful, I can fully understand why there is a queue that forms during lunchtime without fail.

Greeted with noisy, lively greetings of "irashaimase!" and a string of other Japanese words that i frankly do not recognise but find quite heartwarming, I find myself liking this eatery instantly. The shopfront is just cloth drapes with calligraphy, and a large signboard that presumably reads 'nantsuttei' in Japanese wording.Everything about this place reeks Japanese (well, if not for the Singaporean staff i would have thought I was magically transported to a small Tokyo ramen shop in a subway!) -the calligraphy plastered all over the walls in the shop. The wooden seats, especially by the bar counter, are reminiscent of Japan's ramen bars.The ramen ($12) was served within 10 minutes. A generous serving of noodles, beansprouts and spring onion, with soup filled nearly to the brim, made me a very happy girl. I'd advise that you give the garlic oil a good mix-in, if not that thin film of oil will forever be surfacing at the top of your soup which gives the whole ramen a very different (overwhelming) flavour. At first taste, the soup is light compared to many other ramen places, given its deep blackish colour. The tonkotsu stock is distinct and aromatic, heightened by the garlic oil. I say it's light in comparison because this version of ramen broth does not have fatty bits like in Ippudo and the flavours don't hit you as strongly. The noodles are still springy and even til the end of my meal it didn't overcook -which was a pleasant addition.

The charsiew however, was slightly disappointing. It wasn't tender and the gravy it was braised in did not fully permeate the meat, resulting in a slightly dry and unflavoursome charsiew. Nevertheless, the meat was fresh and it complemented the strong taste of the spring onions. The crunch of the beansprouts were also a welcome contrast to texture.

The ramen choices also include dragon ramen ($15), which is spicy, and spicy miso ramen ($16) which is a miso based ramen with varying levels of spiciness. You also have the option to add on items, such as their spring onion (air flown in from japan!!) -although we don't exactly recommend it because it's $3 additional for just spring onion with mileage.... Other add ons include an egg ($1) as well as side dishes such as Gyoza ($6).

Nantsuttei is nothing fanciful, but there are bits of this place that really won my heart -the decor and the whole ambience was heartwarmingly Japanese and it had an air of familiarity. The menu includes a section that provides the nutritional facts/value of their ingredients used in the ramen (complete with adorable illustrations -but I didnt get an opportunity to snap a photo!), and the walls have interesting calligraphy on it. There are quaint touches and the service is warm yet brisk. I would recommend their ordinary ramen, but for those who are meat lovers, please consider the Charsiew ramen ($16). That comes with extra servings of charsiew. If you're here for lunch, go early or risk having to queue while watching other diners slurp up delicious ramen as you peer into the glass walls along the queue line!