A newbie’s take on Ramen Mob—what makes it so popular and is it really worth the hype?

Who doesn’t love a good bowl of Japanese ramen? Whether it’s the rich, flavourful broth, the perfectly chewy noodles, or the satisfying toppings, ramen has a way of hitting all the right spots (especially on a rainy day). If you’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Ramen Mob in Taman Desa, you’re not alone.

With nearly 1,500 Google reviews and a solid 4.5-star rating, this ramen spot has quickly earned a reputation as one of the must-try spots for ramen lovers. As a first-timer myself, I decided to see if Ramen Mob really lives up to the hype.

Ramen Mob’s expanding empire

Image Credit: Alden Joshua on Google Review (left), Ray Chua (right)

Ramen Mob started out in Taman Desa bringing its rich, flavourful Hakata-style ramen to the masses, and it’s quickly became a local favourite. They’ve expanded to two more locations—one in Taipan USJ and another in PJ SS4—and both outlets have earned impressive ratings of 4.8 and 4.7 stars, respectively. With tons of glowing reviews and a loyal fanbase, it’s clear Ramen Mob’s doing something right. In just a few short years, they’ve really blown up.

What sets this ramen shop apart from the many ramen spots in the city is the customisation. Ramen Mob lets you have a little fun with crafting your ramen. Here’s how it works: You start by choosing your soup base from eight different options, each packed with a rich, savoury flavour that’s bound to make your taste buds sing. Then, the fun begins. Unlike most ramen spots where you pick between chashu pork or yakibuta pork, Ramen Mob gives you six meat toppings to choose from. Of course you can stick with the classics like chashu and yakibuta, but you can also switch things up with something like their Buta Katsu, a crispy chopped pork cutlet, or Buta Shogayaki, stir-fried pork slices. They also offer Tori Karaage and steamed gyoza as toppings.

Now, if you’re the kind of person who isn’t into broth but still craves that ramen goodness, Ramen Mob has you covered with their Mazesoba—a dry ramen that has no soup, but all the flavour. Originating from Nagoya, Japan, this style of ramen has roots in a Taiwanese recipe dating back to the 1950s. At Ramen Mob, you’ve got six Mazesoba options to choose from, and they’ve even recently introduced a brand-new Carbonara Mazesoba. While this might be a limited-time item (for now), it’s got that creamy, indulgent vibe similar to those viral carbonara ramen videos I’m sure we’ve all seen on TikTok.

More than just a ramen mob

Image Credit: Wai Hou Chong on Google Review (left) Ramen Mob Taman Desa (right)

Ramen Mob isn’t just about ramen. If you’re in the mood for something different, their menu is full of delicious options. You’ve got 10 types of donburi and a whopping 22 different sides to choose from. It’s easy to make a whole meal out of the appetisers alone—I mean, who doesn’t love a good mix-and-match?

Ramen Mob isn’t just serving up tasty bowls of ramen; they’ve created a whole experience. Whether you’re customising your ramen to perfection, diving into a creative Mazesoba dish, or exploring the variety of sides, it seems there’s something for everyone at this ramen hotspot.

MFT’s Review

Kuraka Ramen

Image Credit: Qian Yee Lui on Google Review

I decided to try the Kuraka Ramen, which combines black garlic oil and spicy chili miso oil. Garlic and spice? Honestly, that’s a dream combo for me. The base for this ramen is Ramen Mob’s signature Shiro soup, known for its intense porky flavour—no surprises there since the stock is made by boiling pork bones for a solid 16 hours. I chose Buta Shogayaki as my meat topping, and let me tell you, the pork stole the show. It was perfectly balanced between fatty and tender, with no overwhelming porky taste. Savoury, juicy, and just right.

Now, onto the broth. As someone who loves spice, I was hoping for more of a kick, but sadly, the broth didn’t have the spice level I crave. I ended up reaching for the chili on the table to spice things up to my liking. Also, the soup wasn’t served piping hot, so I found myself eating a bit of a colder ramen than I would’ve liked. The broth itself was thick, savoury, and rich, but I didn’t find it leaning heavily into the garlic or spice flavours like I was expecting. It was still a good bowl of ramen, and I get why people love it, but I have other ramen spots I’d choose over this one. Hey, each to their own, right?

Endless sides to choose from

My friend and I also ordered a couple of sides to try. We went for the Buta Cheese Roll (RM15.90)—deep-fried pork stuffed with cheese—and the Yangnyeom Karaage (RM16.90). The Buta Cheese Roll was juicy, crispy, and packed with cheesy goodness, kind of like the cheese stuffing in a pizza crust. The Yangnyeom Karaage was spicy and when dipped in the ramen broth, it was extra tasty. We also got a plate of pan-fried gyozas. They were pretty standard but still tasty, though the sauces that came with them didn’t add much. Overall, the sides weren’t anything life-changing, but they made a nice addition to the ramen.

In the end, Ramen Mob serves up a solid bowl of ramen and some tasty sides. I had a satisfying meal, but personally, it’s not quite up there as one of my top ramen spots.