The new crossrail railway will deliver world-class services in 2017. The new trains will carry 1500 passengers a train. One of the crossrail stations Canary Wharf recently opened this year. Boasting a retail park, landscape park, with new business. Ippudo London ramen brand new site takes residence at the high tech industrial modern site of Canary Wharf. With it’s global domination, including 80 sites in their home country Japan. Ippudo London offers Hakata style ramen. Flagship store in St Giles street has a total different vibe to Canary Wharf.
Walls are plastered with plastic soupspoons, and dried ramen displayed under a sheet of glass. Decoration the small intimate site is roomy with an open kitchen and space in the corner with a bar.
Invited down to an exclusive preview before public opening I met competitions winners, media, and friends for a taste of the summer menu.
Sake is favoured in the alcohol department, our server was very knowledgeable and knew what to pair the assortment of flavours we had.
The first dish we enjoyed was the thinly sliced silken tofu, served with sprinkles of spring onions, anchovy, and salted kelp. Although Ippudo does not make the tofu, it was still firm enough to grab with two thin chopsticks. The dressing was sharp and refreshing with a touch of black pepper.
I was especially drawn to the Shrimp Mayo, a different take to the usual tempura prawns in Japanese restaurant. The succulent sweet prawn had a teeny coating of batter, splattered with a peppery mayonnaise. To finish off the crunchy dish, there’s a bed of crispy fried noodles.
Next up the highly popular hirata buns, half opened steamed fluffy white buns stuffed with pork belly marinated in Ippudo’s spicy sweet sticky sauce. Finishing off with crisp iceberg lettuce.
The favourite from the starters had to be the chicken kara-age, cooked until piping hot, each piece is fatty bursting with ponzu juice as you take the first bite. The deep-fried chicken is perfectly lightly coated, and the sharp ponzu punches through.
Taki-gyoza is made to share, a gigantic gyoza dumpling in middle of steaming clay hot pot, cooked in Ippudo signature tonkotsu soup.
The night ended with a choice of the diners to cook their own ramen, what’s good about Ippudo is that you can choose the firmness of the noodles. Choosing Akamuru Modern, it’s a bolder version of the original deep pork broth. The Hakata noodles are super thin, and simply delicious. The broth is not as heavy as other places, served with a miniature scoop of umai dama paste. Thinly sliced pork belly chashu, covers three-quarters of the ramen bowl.
Unit CR 28, Level Minus One
Crossrail Station and Retail Mall, 1 Crossrail Place
London E14 5AR
Telephone: 020 3326 9485
Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Sunday: 11:30am – 9:00 pm