As countries in the Northern Hemisphere enter the cooler days of autumn, Singapore remains in the throes of its perpetual hot and humid summer. If it’s an especially scorching day outside, refreshing chilled noodles are a perfect and scrumptious way to combat the heat.
While hot noodles may be more common, you’ll find a gamut of cold noodle dishes in the city-state spanning various cuisines – including zingy Korean naengmyeon, slurp-worthy Japanese soba, and artfully plated Italian pasta. Here are some of our picks.
Naengmyeon – thin, spindly and chewy noodles submerged in an icy cold, slightly tangy broth – is a quintessential Korean summer dish. And Noodle Star K in Tanjong Pagar makes arguably one of the best renditions in Singapore. The noodles are crowned with shredded cucumber, pork slices, crunchy daikon wedges and half a boiled egg, and there’s also a spicy version for those who can take the heat.
Noodle Star K is at 58 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088479, tel: 6224 6061. Visit its website for more information.
This hole-in-the-wall restaurant at Icon Village specialises in traditional and authentic soba, with a dizzying selection of types to choose from. Our pick is the classic concoction of zaru soba: chilled buckwheat noodles dusted with seaweed and served with a savoury dipping sauce – best accompanied by ice-cold Japanese beer. As there’s limited seating, we suggest visiting during off-peak hours.
Tokyo Soba is at 12 Gopeng Street, #01-12/13/14, Singapore 078877, tel: 6410 9353. Visit its Facebook page for more information.
Tucked away on the first floor of Goldhill Plaza, Da Luca Italian Restaurant is a cosy spot that’s a favourite among the area’s residents. Regulars flock here for the chilled angel hair pasta. Al dente strands of capellini are coated in a fragrant truffle emulsion and plated up with decadent scallops and a generous dollop of uni. Pair it with sides like calamari and burrata and end your meal on a sweet note with tiramisu.
Da Luca Italian Restaurant is at 1 Goldhill Plaza, #01-19/21, Singapore 308899, tel: 6258 4846. Visit its Facebook page for more information.
This Parklane Shopping Mall eatery is the sister restaurant of the beloved La Jiang Shan Hotpot, situated just down the street. While hot noodles dominate their menu, they also make a stellar spicy-sour cold noodle dish that features la mian, tender marinated chicken chunks, cucumber shavings, century egg and a smattering of spring onions and coriander. It’s a well-balanced creation that’ll have you licking your bowl clean.
Jiang’s Noodle House is at 35 Selegie Road, #01-10, Singapore 188307, tel: 6530 3100. Visit its Facebook page for more information.
Need to satiate your zaru udon cravings in a pinch? Head down to Idaten Udon, which has locations at Nex, Jurong Point and Changi City Point, among others. The established udon chain is known for its chewy, supple and thick-cut noodles, and you can supplement your main dish with a portion of oden or assorted deep-fried items including prawn tempura, sweet potato tempura, enoki mushroom tempura and chicken gyoza.
Idaten Udon has multiple locations in Singapore. Visit its website for a list of location or more information.
At popular cafe Hello Arigato’s Upper Thomson and Joo Chiat outlets, you’ll discover perhaps the most creative offering on this list. Their Tom Yum Somen – somen, Hokkaido sashimi scallop, blue swimmer crab, ikura and kaffir lime leaf swimming in a wonderfully tangy, slightly spicy and refreshing chilled tom yum broth – marries Thai flavours with Japanese ingredients, and goes well with the signature matcha latte.
Hello Arigato is at 227 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574359, tel: 8772 3778, and 314 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427565, tel: 8889 5657. Visit its website for more information.
Although it may not have the most appetising name, the Cold Noodles Skin from Chinese eatery chain Qin Ji Rougamo — which has outposts at the likes of Guoco Tower, Alexandra Retail Centre and Paya Lebar Square — makes for a solid pick if it’s scorching outside. The simple, satisfying dish comes with chewy flat noodles, cucumber slices, beansprouts and squishy gluten squares doused in a spicy and garlicky dressing. What’s not to like?
Qin Ji Rougamo has multiple locations in Singapore. Visit its Facebook page for more information.
If you feel like splurging at Torasho Ramen & Charcoal Bar, go ahead and order the premium Cold Stupid Ramen. This gargantuan, colourful and Instagram-worthy bowl of dry noodles has langoustine, king crab, amaebi, uni, ikura and aromatic truffle kombu, making for an umami-laden feast. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the Hokkaido soft serve with your choice of a Milo or matcha topping.
Torasho Ramen & Charcoal Bar is at 32 Tras Street, Singapore 078972, tel: 6970 5055. Visit its website for more information.