Sadly, they oversold their offering. At most, the recipe ranks only at food court level. I felt sad that the panko breading was not as light and fluffy as expected, but rather like dense bread crumbs. The curry sauce was Japanese, but it lacked the dark roux that Japanese curry is typically made with. They might as well just use instant curry cubes.
I was appalled by their tiny serving of cabbage compared to the mountains of shreds I was expecting. To be fair, they did not undersell me on the vegetable serving; it's just a very inauthentic Japanese serving of shredded cabbage. 😁 The only saving grace was the soothing music, the quiet environment, and the lack of a service charge. To salvage their reputation, it may require a major price revision or massive recipe improvement. I wish them the best, as I am unlikely to be a returning customer.
The food was slow to arrive, and the quality didn't meet restaurant standards. We ordered the Tori Karaage and Pork Katsu set and found a hair on the Karaage when picking it up at the counter. The staff didn't apologize, just told us to wait, and it took over 20 minutes for a replacement, bringing the total wait to over 30 minutes. The Katsu was room temperature, and the Miso soup and Karaage were too salty as well. Improvements are definitely needed in terms of both food quality and service.
Here's the lightly edited review:
What we tried:
1. Pork Chili Dumplings
- Needs more spice.
- Tasted better elsewhere.
- Skip this side dish unless you're really craving for it.
2. Beef Shank Noodle, Authentic Soup, Ramen x 2
- Good: The beef shank was tender and fell apart easily – well done on texture.
- Improvement: The soup lacked depth – more soy sauce than beefy richness? There was salt in there for sure...
Overall thoughts:
Maybe our taste buds have changed, but we’re fairly certain this isn’t the same flavor we remembered from years ago.
Our first LeNu experience was at VivoCity, and the broth back then was bold, beefy, and made an impact—the kind that sticks in your memory and brings you back.
This time, sadly, it didn’t live up to that nostalgia.
It was also quite expensive ($$$$).
If you enjoyed it, that’s great—food is subjective after all.
But for us, maybe it's time to move on.
It looks like with every new mall opening, either a LeNu or LeShrimp outlet will definitely establish a foothold. I've dined at almost all of their outlets. I'm back to order the very first set meal I tried at their original Vivo outlet: the mixed beef noodles soup and their chili oil sauce. It comes with the usual side dish of braised tofu and grape juice 😋.
As a noodle enthusiast who's always hunting for broth that actually slaps, Lenu at Punggol Coast Mall absolutely delivers. The beef broth is deep, umami-rich, and layered — clearly simmered for hours, not some watered-down nonsense. The beef? Fall-apart tender with fatty bits that melt on the tongue. And the noodles have perfect chew — no soggy nonsense.
Tried the braised combo bowl and was not ready for how good it was. Even the side dishes like the century egg and tofu are dialed in — not just filler, but well thought out.
This place understands balance — salt, spice, fat, texture — everything is in check. Portion size is generous without being overkill, and prices are more than fair for the quality.
If you’re a serious foodie who appreciates technique in a casual bowl of noodles, this spot deserves a place on your rotation. Solid 10/10. No regrets. Will slurp again. 🍜🔥
Wah lao eh, this beef noodle soup is shiok! The broth is so flavourful, the beef so tender, and the noodles just the right texture. Definitely worth the queue! Will come back again, for sure. 😋