My first bowl at Ichiban Ramen was a few years ago at their 1st Avenue outlet, and honestly, it did not go well.
My first bowl at Ichiban Ramen
The Sunshine Central outlet of Ichiban Ramen Japanese Kitchen, a casual halal Japanese ramen spot in Penang.
I ordered the Rich Chicken Ramen with ajitama, and it was simply too much for me.
The broth was heavy and overly strong, to the point I could not eat it.
That experience stayed with me and quietly pushed Ichiban Ramen out of my usual ramen rotation.
Over the years, I tried plenty of other ramen spots.
Some were forgettable, some decent, and a few truly memorable.
One bowl was spectacular enough to justify the long drive to Queensbay Mall the moment the carving hits.
Menya Miyabi Hokkaido Ramen really raised the bar for Japanese ramen for me.
After that bowl, and many other repeat bowls I genuinely thought I was done with other lesser ramen shops.
One more bowl?
A close-up of the original Ichiban Ramen, featuring springy noodles and a lightly seasoned chicken broth.
Then came a grocery run at Sunshine Central Farlim.
I noticed a stand banner advertising a cheap and quick ramen lunch.
I slowed down, looked at the banner, and thought, okay, maybe one more bowl won’t hurt.
Ichiban Ramen was not exactly calling out to me, but curiosity has a funny way of winning.
Especially when you are already hungry.
This Ichiban Ramen outlet sits at B1 and feels very much like a place designed for mall shoppers.
It is a halal Japanese kitchen with ramen built around chicken-based broths, miso, and shoyu.
They do serve other familiar Japanese dishes, but ramen is clearly the main focus.
Since I was alone, I didn’t want to lose focus and just eat ramen.
The place is usually quiet, almost surprisingly so.
Today, there were a few tables occupied, enough to give it some life without feeling crowded.
They have lunch set promotions listed on a separate menu.
The ramen at Ichiban Ramen
The Ichiban Ramen lunch set: ramen with char siew, matcha tea, and fresh watermelon slices for RM17.90.
I went with the original Ichiban Ramen, which came with unlimited matcha tea and some watermelon slices.
At RM17.90 net, it felt fair for a mall lunch.
The bowl that changed my mind a little
As usual, I took a few quick photos before eating.
If my companions were with me, they would already be hovering, ready to dive in the moment the bowl hit the table.
At that point, all I wanted to know was simple.
Was this bowl going to work for me, or was I repeating history?
This time, the ramen was more enjoyable than I expected.
The noodles were springy and bouncy, holding their texture well even after photo time.
No sogginess, no limp strands.
That first bite already told me this was going to be a better experience than my last visit to Ichiban Ramen.
The broth was a better match for my taste.
Lightly seasoned, not oily, and not overwhelming.
Compared to my first experience at Ichiban Ramen 1st Avenue, this bowl felt more restrained, in a good way.
The roasted chicken char siew was sliced thin and tasted fine.
It did not steal the spotlight, but it played its part.
The soft-boiled egg was decent, not outstanding, but acceptable.
Wrapping it up
Service was quick and friendly.
Seating was comfortable, and the place was clean and easy to navigate within the mall.
It worked well as a quick lunch stop between errands, the kind of place you can walk into without thinking too much.
Taste-wise, this is where expectations need to be realistic.
The ramen is decent, but it does not have the depth or punch of Menya Miyabi Hokkaido Ramen.
That set the benchmark for me.
But to be fair, that also comes at almost double the price.
This is the compromise that comes with halal ramen.
The broth does not hit as hard, but it remains drinkable and easy on the palate.
For RM17.90, you get springy noodles, a broth that’s easy to enjoy, and a quiet spot to sit while running errands.
It’s not going to knock your socks off, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Ichiban Ramen isn’t trying to impress seasoned ramen hunters—it’s just a simple, reliable spot for a quick, halal lunch while shopping.
Ichiban Ramen Japanese Kitchen
B1, Sunshine Central, Kampung Melayu
11500 Air Itam, Penang
Business Hours: 10:30am to 9:30pm
Google Map
Blog Disclosure: This blog is written independently. No compensation, free meals, payments, or services have been received from any featured establishments. All reviews are based on the editor’s personal visits with friends while exploring Penang.
