Review: Liu Lang Mian Noodle Bar skillfully executes a Japanese fusion menu

In a city brimming with Japanese eateries, it might sometimes feel like you’ve seen and tried it all. At first glance, Liu Lang Mian Noodle Bar might seem like just another Japanese-style establishment, much like the other noodle bars that already dot the island. But a closer look unveils a refreshing synthesis of flavours and techniques. 

Here, you won’t find typical soba dishes with noodles made with buckwheat flour. Instead, Liu Lang Mian’s adopts a literal wholesome twist, working with whole wheat ramen noodles. Though a seemingly minor tweak, it gives the dishes a fusion edge that’s further enhanced by distinct Chinese influences on its menu. 

Despite its relatively inaccessible location — it’s a solid 20-minute walk away from the nearest MRT station — Liu Lang Mian’s tantalising noodles somehow made a splash in the local food scene online, luring crowds to its humble front door, in spite of the distance.

The backstory

Liu Lang Mian is the realisation of chef Hubert Arnold’s long-held dream to open his own noodle bar in Singapore. The journey to Liu Lang Mian started with Soba25, a home-based noodle kit business launched from Hubert’s own kitchen, which laid the groundwork for Liu Lang Mian. (In fact, fans of this former home-based business might even recognise popular flavours from Soba25 in Liu Lang Mian Noodle Bar’s menu.)

As demand for home-based kits dwindled after the Covid-19 pandemic, Hubert pivoted to pop-up events instead. It was during this phase that the name Liu Lang Mian, which translates to “vagabond noodles”, was born, since Hubert was roaming around doing pop-up events. Deciding it was time to realise his dreams of owning a noodle bar, Hubert invested a substantial amount of his savings to open his physical store on Jan 10 this year.

The nondescript eatery can be found parked on the periphery of Alexandra Central Mall and you could easily miss it, if you weren’t looking for it. It also doesn’t have an entrance from inside the mall, so you’ll have to circle the mall’s perimeter to find its unassuming signboard. 

Its intimate space is reminiscent of food stalls you’ll find in quiet Japanese alleyways. There are limited seats, with most of them lined against the walls. If you’re looking for a spot to have proper face-to-face conversations, this might not be the most conducive environment.

Our verdict 

Having studied noodle-making under a famous Japanese culinary school, Hubert churns out dishes that are rooted in traditional Japanese techniques and flavours. However, the chef also incorporates his own refreshing spin on things, which gives Liu Lang Mian the edge that helps it stand out against other Japanese eateries in Singapore. 

Arriving at 7.30pm on a Wednesday, we found the cosy eatery packed. 

Nevertheless, the kitchen was handling the orders well. After being seated and placing our order via the QR code system, our first side dish arrived in about ten minutes, despite the crowd.

With prices starting at S$13.80 for a hearty bowl of noodles and S$6.80 for sides, Liu Lang Mian is relatively affordable given the high quality of its food. A bonus, too, is that there is no GST or service charge, adding to its already winning appeal.

What it’s good for

Since its Soba25 days, the grilled duck soba (S$13.80) has been a standout signature dish — this rendition at Liu Lang Mian features the same salted duck and niboshi (small, dried sardine) broth that is the foundation of the soup-based offerings at Liu Lang Mian. 

This broth is far richer and more robust than the average soba broth: At first sip, you’ll be hit with a smoky depth that remains balanced and satisfying throughout the meal. There was no overpowering MSG or lingering powdery aftertaste that left us feeling parched — just pure, well-crafted umami flavours. 

The duck itself was perfectly cooked — a tantalising bright pink, tender and salted to perfection — making it the perfect complement to the al dente noodles.

The lor bak soba (S$13.80) shares the same broth base, but swaps out the duck protein option for melt-in-your-mouth braised lor bak (pork belly). This menu option is definitely the more indulgent option between the two and can get a tad heavy after a while. 

We also tried the DBJ chicken mazesoba (dry noodle dish, S$13.80), which swaps the broth out for a bold DBJ or doubanjiang (fermented bean sauce) base that’s stir fried with minced chicken. This dish is a relatively new addition and wasn’t previously on Hubert’s Soba25 menu.

The result is a perfect balance of spice and earthy umami, with the noodles soaking up the sauce beautifully. Stirring in the onsen egg added a luscious creaminess that further elevated the dish. 

Surprisingly, the real genius was the unexpected addition of crispy wonton crisps, which we crushed into smaller bits to enjoy with our noodles. It brought a satisfying crunch and textural contrast to the otherwise silky and rich noodles — a welcome twist that kept each bite exciting. 

Liu Lang Miang’s sides, also a new addition since Soba25 days, lean more heavily into Chinese culinary flavours; you’ll also see elements of spicy and tart flavours throughout its dishes. 

From the scallion pancakes, to pork and chives wonton and Ah Mah’s ngoh hiang (S$6.80 each), these small plates all made for great starters before the main course.

It’s hard to pick a favourite among the three we had, but my vote goes to the scallion pancakes. Paired with century egg and chilli crunch, each bite had a crisp, pleasant tang. 

I appreciated that the spice of the chilli crunch was mild — it coats the palate as you’re going through the dish, providing a gradual numbing spice, without overwhelming your taste buds.

And who wouldn’t love Ah Mah’s ngoh hiang? Not overly oily, the meat rolls were easy to bite through and an enjoyable munch, while waiting for the mains to come. 

The pork and chives wonton were also a crowd-pleaser, though the tender meat could have used a touch more seasoning. Thankfully, the accompanying chilli oil helped bring the dish to life.

What is could improve on

Every dish here feels like it has its own merits, so your choice of order is really up to personal preference. If I were to be seriously nitpicky, I’d say that the truffle miso shroom (S$14.20) feels out of place, compared to its more unique counterparts on the menu.

It is the only vegetarian option on the menu, and while it was light and refreshing, there wasn’t anything about this dish that was particularly interesting. It’s not a bad dish by any means, but after trying the many standout options, this one fell a bit short. 

Our biggest gripe, which has nothing to do with its dishes however, would be the smell. While we adore the poster-plastered interior of Liu Lang Mian, we’d much prefer its outdoor seating, which is more ventilated. 

While dining at Liu Lang Mian, I didn’t immediately sense an issue with the indoor seating. But after leaving the restaurant, I was hit with an overwhelmingly strong scent that clung to my clothes — the type that you’ll get when you sit in a poorly-ventilated barbecue joint. 

Thankfully, this was the only negative aspect of my dining experience. If you’re sensitive to lingering food odours, I’d strongly recommend sitting outside.

Our quick takes 

Is it conducive to conversation? Yes, but only for smaller groups. The space is quite small, with most indoor seats lined facing the wall, making it difficult to hold conversations amongst larger groups. 

Is a reservation necessary? Liu Lang Mian doesn’t accept reservations, it’s walk-ins only. 

How to get there? It’s a 20-minute walk from the nearest MRT stations, Queenstown and Redhill. So unless you’re looking to get steps in, we’d recommend taking bus 198 from Commonwealth station — it’s just a quick five stops. 

HungryGoWhere paid for its meal at this restaurant for this review. 

If you’re having the munchies, check out this noodle shop in Tanjong Pagar with 12 different Korean noodle dishes or just head to our newest openings compilation. 

Liu Lang Mian Noodle Bar is on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offers free delivery (up to S$3 off with GrabUnlimited). 

Do explore the GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals. 

You can also book a ride to try Liu Lang Mian Noodle Bar for yourself.