Beef short ribs paofan-style ramen ($11.90)!
Orchard chain — beef short ribs ramen in golden pumpkin broth, sliced beef, crispy rice/fish floss, scallions, chilli paste on side. $11.90.
Lunch today: beef short ribs ramen at an Orchard chain, $11.90. The paofan-style bowl. 😋
What was on the table ($11.90):
- A golden, creamy broth (pumpkin or salted-egg style) in a hot stone bowl.
- Sliced beef short ribs, clustered to one side.
- A pile of crispy floss.
- Chopped scallions on top.
- A side ramekin of chilli paste.
This is the modern paofan (泡饭) style turned into a noodle bowl. Paofan traditionally means rice steeped in broth, often with crispy puffed rice that crackles as the hot soup hits it, and here the same idea is built around ramen noodles instead. The broth is the star: a thick, golden, creamy soup (the colour points to a pumpkin or salted-egg-yolk base) that’s far richer and more savoury-sweet than a clear ramen stock, the kind that coats every strand.
The sliced beef short ribs are tender and just-cooked, soaking up that creamy broth, while the crispy floss scattered on top adds a savoury, melt-in-the-mouth texture against the soup. A dab of the chilli paste on the side cuts the richness if it gets too heavy. A comforting, contemporary Chinese fusion bowl.
Overall: 4.2 / 5. The golden broth had real richness, the beef short ribs were tender, and the crispy floss added texture. Modern Chinese comfort food. 😋👍🏼
