Supa Ya Ramen

For all of its dressed up corn on the cob and chilli-stained, deep-fried blooming onions, there is the unmistakable sense that what Supa Ya Ramen excels at is what is in its name. Rich, layered, nap-on-the-sofa bowls of ramen. What was once an east London supper club is now a casual, in-and-out, two restaurant micro empire with this, the second location, in Peckham. 

Like its east London counterpart, this spot on Rye Lane has a purposefully basic and transitory feel about it, built for laid-back slurping couples or head-down solo diners. It is, essentially, an IKEA-ish pine wood canteen, but one that has clear and easy steps to having a bit of fun. Whether that comes from a bowl of cheeseburger mazesoba, a couple of pints of house lager, or the glittery hyperpop playlist depends. One thing is for sure: the endearingly bodged setup works for a room that’s often full of pre or post night out Peckham fashionistas eyeing up noodle-flavoured ice cream.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Accoutrements are one of Supa Ya’s great pulls and in its ramen they bob about, hide in broth, and shimmy around your tongue. Chilli corn, garlic oil, and bread and butter pickles feature across different bowls and all give thwacks of flavour. There are more left-field inclusions—like a lively Cumberland sausage tantanmen or that soupless smashed beef patty and American cheese creation—but the chewy handmade noodles are always of perfect texture. The fun of the self-described ‘traditionally inauthentic’ ramens doesn’t quite extend to the smaller plates. There’s a heavy-handedness with miso and OTT condiments, but it’s perfect for an hour tops, in-and-out, flavour-packed £15 bowl with your mates or on your phone.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Blooming Onion

There’s much to like about this deep-fried onion—it’s deep-fried and it’s an onion—but it’s verging on too much unless a few of you are sharing it. The sweet crispy onion leaves are delicious alone but have been drowned in kewpie mayo, pear hot sauce, and miso mustard. Plus a handful of chilli powder, a suspicion of blitzed Cheetos, and some kind of corn thing going on as well. It’s decent for two or three bites.

Roast Corn On The Cob

Prior to that kid, we would’ve said there’s no one who enjoys and appreciates the virtues of corn more than us. Unfortunately this one is drowning in miso butter, honey, and yuzu sesame. There’s too much going on to enjoy that sweet, sweet juicy corn.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Cumberland Sausage Tantanmen

Of all of Supa Ya’s bowls of ramen this is the hottest, in every sense of the word. But leave it to cool for five minutes or so and you’ll be able to appreciate how much is going on here. The familiarity of the sausage is a brilliant curveball in a broth that looks like it could’ve been made on Mars. The house chilli paste is a slow burner and you might want to get an extra fudgy egg—aside from being gorgeously yolky, it’s also a little respite from the oomph of heat. Noodle-wise, Supa Ya is always on point: these are as bouncy as anything.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Roast Chicken And Corn

This is Supa Ya Ramen’s signature bowl and you can taste why. The chicken broth could put the most antsy individual into a lazy stupor and the combination of tender roast chicken slices with a drizzle of roasted garlic oil and kernels of buttered chilli corn is, well, a 10/10 winner. As far as £15 bowls of ramen go, this one is very good.