Japanese ramen chain Ippudo has made its first plant-based ramen in Singapore, inspired by its signature dish the original pork-based Akamaru Shinaji. This new vegan-friendly version is called the Akamaru 1.0 (right in pic). It’s priced a dollar higher, at $16.85, than the OG Akamaru Shinaji (left in pic) and will be available from May 4.

The original Akamaru Shinaji features a pork bone broth enhanced with blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil. In the limited-edition 1.0 rendition, this has been replaced with a mushroom soup enriched with soy milk, Ippudo’s original kaeshi (a blend of different soy sauces from Kyushu) and a drizzle of porcini mushroom oil.

Meanwhile, the skinny noodles are eggless and made with whole wheat flour. And in place of the usual pork belly chashu is a version using non-GMO soybeans — we’re told by Ippudo’s PR rep that it tastes somewhat like chicken chashu. The bowl is then topped with the same spicy miso blend, fragrant garlic oil, and finally garnished with black fungus and spring onions.

The Akamaru 1.0 is available from May 4 till June 30 at all eight Ippudo outlets, including #04-22/23 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd, S228208. www.ippudo.com.sg