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Tamago-En
it is probably not uncommon to have an all eggs themed restaurant , considering that it is a regularly used ingredient in several dishes. but this Okinawa-based eggs eatery is somewhat special, with focus on the freshness of imported Japanese eggs and their superior quality, the eggs not only radiates an attractive golden-orange yolk, they are so fresh that they can be eaten raw or with this special soya sauce..
Tamago-En is an Okinawa based concept brought into Singapore by the folks who runs the highly successful En-Sakaba. with its only outlet on level 2 of NEX in Serangoon, the store attracts long queues eager to try variants of egg-based dishes. not only are the egg yolks bright, they have mastered the art of the trendy millennial food of cloud eggs - whipping the eggs into a fluffy cloud. the restaurant also introduces to us the Japanese culture of eating really good quality eggs mixed with rice. 
Their specialty dish is the Tamago Kake-Gohan, or Ultimate Egg Rice, essentially the special cloud eggs sitting atop fragrant steamed rice. you can mix it with other ingredients, spring onions and drizzle it with the special soya sauce. Toppings that you can add on include tuna, salmon, chicken or Tsukune chicken balls, to make it a heartier meal. being always a lover of watery fresh egg yolks mixed with rice or noodles, we lapped up this dish with glee. 
i guess being an eggs theme restaurant, you can't go without serving Omu rice or eggs omelette rice. we tried this Salmon Cream Omelette rice which came in very fragrant cream sauce and served with spinach. the omelette wraps the rice perfectly and the salmon was fresh as well. tomato lovers can go for the seafood tomato cream based Omu rice which looked very attractive as well. with a neat range of fast serving comfort food, it is no wonder that this concept is so popular with the customers. 
they have even got egg skewers for variety! we ordered this 5-kind egg skewer set that comes with neatly prepared omelette cubes topped with tomato, seaweed sauce, ikura, crab-meat mayo and salmon flakes. all the omelette cubes are spongy and served warm, with the little dollop of topping giving each one a unique taste. we would recommend this dish for first-timers to the eatery. we do observe several patrons trying out the desserts as well, and we made mental notes to check out their fresh egg-yolk milkshakes. they have a few flavours from original to strawberry, but we were very curious how egg-yolks would fare when mixed as a shake. Thats probably the only drink worth trying, as the other regular drinks were priced a tad too high, making them somewhat unappealing. in all, Tamago-En is a unique concept and makes a good family restaurant. we hope that with the success enjoyed at NEX, they'd be opening more outlets near us soon... 
Tamago-En 23 Serangoon Central #02-K5/K6, NEX Singapore 556083 Opening Hours Daily: 11.30 am to 10 pm eggs go through a process of UV sanitisation for the highest food safety standards, and are SO FRESH they can be eaten raw.. Labels: #japanesefood, #nex, #omeletterice, #omurice, #serangoon, #tamago, #tamagoen, #ultimateeggrice Sushi Jiro (Keppel Bay)
Although Japanese food is not difficult to find in Singapore, top quality Japanese food with an Omakaze option is not that easy to come by. its often a luxury to dine at such a restaurant here and more so to find one with a great view. Sushi Jiro has taken up the space vacated by TCC at Keppel Bay, yes the place down South of Singapore where you can go yacht watching, stroll along the boardwalks and have posh dates. we managed to visit it to celebrate an Anniversary recently and found that it was good value for what it was worth..
The restaurant has the option of being seated at the sushi counter to watch the chefs in action. this not only presents patrons with the showmanship of preparing the sushi and sashimi, but also emphasizes the concept of bringing out the best Japanese dishes through good quality ingredients with minimal seasoning and condiments. the menu is extensive in terms of authentic Japanese food choices, both raw and cooked, including a good selection of wines, beers and fruits. 
we came for lunch where the menu also have curated some signature sets priced between $70 to $100 that brings out the best of their offering. we tried their Sushi and Sashimi Course that comes with a hearty selection of Nirgi Sushi, seafood sashimi, Chawanmushi, Miso Soup and a couple of other dishes. the focus of course was on the sushi, each piece was prepared individually and served one at a time. authentic sushi lovers would enjoy the fact that each piece already comes with the intended amount of freshly-grated wasabi and applied with an ample amount of soy sauce. one can just pick them up to enjoy, tasting the freshness of the seafood which we understood were all air-flown from Japan. 
the course also comes with other dishes such as this bowl of Uni and Ikura with rice, which was essentially fragrant Japanese rice topped with fish roe and sea urchin. these small rice bowls with premium ingredients are probably one of the highlights of the restaurant and once again, the freshness of the seafood was evident. that's practically the key to good Japanese food as they are often served raw without much condiments to spice up their true taste. besides this dish, the warm bowls of Chawanmushi and Miso Soup also went well to accompany the cold dishes. 
perhaps it was due to us celebrating a special occasion but the desserts came with some fanfare, we had Japanese melon and ice cream served in individual martini glasses, presented in a platter of ice. it was a good way to cap off a fine meal, and it was great to taste the premium fruit which can come up to quite a hefty sum if you purchased it from any Japanese grocer. in all, our experience at Sushi Jiro was fantastic due to the excellent service, the very filling lunch sets and the top quality ingredients used to prepare them. probably not the type of Japanese food one can enjoy on a casual dining basis, but certainly one to go for the occasional indulgence. 
Sushi Jiro (Keppel Bay) 2 Keppel Bay Vista #02-01 Marina at Keppel Bay Singapore 098382 Opening Hours Daily: 11.30 am to 2.30 pm; 6 pm to 10.30 pm only top quality Japanese produce that’s set to satisfy palates.. Labels: #japanesefood, #keppelbay, #premiumjapanesefood, #sashimi, #sushi, #sushibar, #sushijiro, #uniikuraricebowl Sumo Bar Happy
Japanese styled Sake and sashimi bars are extremely popular in modern day Tokyo, a common after work quick chill for the fast paced city dwellers. over here, the culture usually ties after work chill out celebrations to certain occasions, and usually with it comes a more laid-back mood. Inspired by the very successful Tanuki Raw and Standing Sushi Bar, the owners have decided to open another similar joint, focusing on Ramen and Tachinomi Sake.
tucked in a corner under one of the pioneering public housing blocks along Waterloo Street, Sumo Bar Happy is essentially a bar-top dining concept with few table seats. everyone crowds around the square bar to enjoy alternative interpretations of Ramen, Sushi and drinks - with the benefit of watching the bartenders in action. while we think the target crowds should be PMETs, we did spot a few Japanese families even bringing their kids along. i guess back home, these concepts are mainstream culture already. 
the highlights of this place are their beef bowl Ramen as well as unique interpretations such as this Sashimi Mazemen, replacing a typical Chirashi Don by using dry Ramen over rice to go with the fresh seafood. there's Shoyu on the side to either dip the Ramen like how you'd eat Soba, or some people will blend it into the dish which also comes with a very watery Onsen egg and Ikura (fish roe). 
because it is also a Japanese tapas bar concept, there are many interesting sides to choose from as well. These Lobster Taiyaki Sliders will give any lobster sandwich a run for their money. with chunky lobster filling stuffed into a Japanese fish-shaped pancake with some greens. the outer pastry is soft which complimented the crunchiness of the lobsters. do also look out for Happy Hour bar bites that the staff will gladly introduce to you. we went for a couple of unique sushi combinations such as the spicy Miso Char Siew sushi and the spicy salmon sushi, all good pairings for Sake and cocktails. 
Drinks are also a highlight of Sumo Bar Happy, with the bartender mixing the drinks in front of you - show kitchen style. we tried this Passionfruit Sake that comes with a very attractive outlook. the drink is smooth, sweet and easy on the throat, which can be potent since its technically Sake. for the less adventurous, there's still typical warm Matcha and normal Sake as well. In all, a very different Japanese experience, we enjoyed the food tremendously and would certainly feel like coming back again soon. 
Sumo Bar Happy 261 Waterloo Street 01-24 Waterloo Centre Singapore 180261 Opening Hours Mondays to Thursdays: 12 pm to 11 pm Fridays & Saturdays: 12 pm to 12 am Sundays: 12 pm to 10 pm (closed on public holidays) a focus on one-cup sake and tonkotsu ramen with beef toppings.. Labels: #japanesefood, #japanesesashimibar, #japanesetapas, #ramenandsakebar, #sakebar, #sumobarhappy, #waterloostreet Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru
any restaurant who chooses to serve Japanese food at Liang Court would need alot of gall, there is a steady Japanese community who'd visit the place and the restaurants that do well here would certainly have to prove their worth. Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru takes the deepest end of the basement, adjacent to the Meidi-Ya Supermarket that draws scores of Japanese based in Singapore daily. their fish are imported from Numazu fishing port in Shizuoka, Tokyo and they pride themselves for delivering fresh and authentic sushi to the masses.
the interior houses a conveyor belt sushi bar, with individual tables by the sides as well. the restaurant serves more than 80 types of sushi and for good quality Japanese food, the menu is reasonably priced. you should expect a queue for dinners especially on fridays and weekends as they have developed a strong following since it gained popularity from 2012. 
we got fairly good value for money with this Sashimi Mori platter, with 5 types of sashimi served with lemon and wasabi on the side. it was pretty good, but i guess with the "imported directly from Japan" reputation to carry, must say that we've tasted fresher and sweeter seafood. then again, at the affordable price-range, this dish would do well to satisfy the general sashimi craving that comes up. in any case, the Bara Chirashi Don (sashimi cubes with Japanese rice) was alot better, with a generous serving of sashimi to top it off. 
we also tried some of their deep fried dishes off the ala carte menu. this Madako Karaage or deep fried octopus was surprisingly addictive. i'd have hated any octopus dish if it was rubbery in texture and difficult to bite through, but this one was fried well and would become a fast-moving snack to dip with the mayonnaise that was given. if there's another opportunity to come back, we would like to try the Kyoto-style grilled mackerel, which was another independent dish that was popular amongst the locals there. 
for those who'd just come for side dishes and sashimi, there are also some good carbs that can go well with them. we had the Tsukimi Udon, which comes with raw egg dropped on top of our noodles. the Udon is thin based, abit like ramen, which was a term that i later learnt that some Japanese food purists refused to adopt (since ramen comes from a Chinese word). so to pure Japanese, thin noodles can also be called Udon. with the egg topping and seaweed, the noodles made good accompaniment to the other dishes we had.. 
in all, Ikeikemaru is able to address the Japanese and local palette without burning a hole in your pocket. certainly not high end Japanese dining but good value for money quality that would leave you satisfied. with beers, sake and sochu on offer as well, this is one place where a whole group can enjoy a hearty and complete meal. Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru 177 River Valley Rd Liang Court Basement 1 (At MEIDI-YA Supermarket) Singapore 179030 Opening Hours Daily: 11 am to 10 pm 全国各地の漁師の至宝を感謝を込めて握ります Labels: #ikeikemaru, #japanesefood, #liangcourt, #ryoshisushiikeikemaru, #sashimi, #sushi En Sakaba (Capital Tower)
this Japanese tapas bar has been drawing the crowds at its first outlet at Orchard Central. focusing on its sashimi, small japanese bites and its sakae, the restaurant fuses the Izakaya concept (Japanese bar-top concept) with that of a full-fledged sashimi joint. A couple of other outlets at JEM and Clarke Quay later, En Sakaba opened its Singapore flagship at Capital Tower in Tanjong Pagar recently. being located near the office, we went to check out this increasingly popular concept by the EN Group.
the fit-out of this outlet is in chic gold, a very attractive proposition from the outside and since its opening, always bustling with activity from the CBD faithful. the offerings range from the conventional Donburi and sashimi sets, to the recommended pairings of tapas and their wide selection of sakae. we had a big group on the day and managed to try several of their popular dishes. 
The litmus test of all sashimi-grade seafood would probably be the salmon sashimi. We tried the Sokyu Salmon Don where the fish was proven to be fresh and sweet. served with ikura and on vinegared rice, it would be no question that this ought to be a safe and regular choice for most patrons. we tried other interpretations such as the Buri Sashimi Don (yellowtail sashimi rice bowl) and enjoyed the same quality of freshness. 
for those who preferred cooked rice sets, the Wakatori Teriyaki Don stood out for its generous portions, well-marinated chicken thighs and poached tamago egg. all rice sets came with salad and a bowl of miso soup to complete the dish, making each set a pretty hearty offering. also with grilled freshwater eel being all the rage these days, En Sakaba has their own Tororo Unagi Kinsi Tamago Don or grilled eel with shredded egg and grated yam rice bowl, which was very good as well. 
there are several Japanese tapas dishes available that would make good wine and beer pairings, particularly popular at their Clarke Quay outlet. the more popular one includes this deep fried camembert or breaded cheese bits. other well-received dishes include chicken wings, scallops and the Okinawa pork belly skewers. these options bring about good variety for patrons who would like to enjoy their sakae with different Japanese small bites and against the backdrop of En Sakaba's setting, makes it a very pleasurable experience indeed. 
En Sakaba (Capital Tower) 168 Robinson Road #01-10 Capital Tower Singapore 068912 Opening Hours Mondays to Saturdays: 11 am to 11 pm (closed on Sundays) offering a variety of Japanese influenced tapas that are best paired with sake and beer.. Labels: #capitaltower, #donburi, #ensakaba, #ensakaba.sg, #japanesefood, #japanesetapas, #sashimi Kaisen Tei
in the small country of ours, when a little trend catches on, it gets replicated pretty quickly. of late, many stores have sprung up selling poke-bowls or the similar Japanese donburi bowls with sashimi cubes. Kaisen Tei is a new concept brought in by the folks behind Ministry of Food (MOF), it specialises in Kaisendon (rice bowls with seafood sashimi) and also allows customers to create their own DIY pokebowl.
taking an open-concept space within 313@Somerset, Kaisen Tei brings the fun of designing your own bowl of chirashi don. patrons can customise everything from their bowl size (affects the number of allowable toppings), their base of rice or salad, their seafood toppings and the sauce to go with it. if this becomes too much of a hassle for some, the restaurant also offers some default bowl combinations where you could order off the menu. with the bowls being affordably priced, this store will give other sashimi outlets a run for their money. 
a DIY rice bowl can actually have quite a varied range of combinations, depending on whether you'd like to go healthy or if you're a sashimi lover. with 6 types of sashimi cubes to choose from, be it the ever-popular salmon sashimi to mini hotate (scallops), the typical sashimi offerings are all present for selection. some cooked toppings are available at a slightly premium price if one would like to add on some salmon roe, jelly fish, eels or the like. the more health conscious ones amongst us would have gone for the salad bowls. 
the default signature Kaisendon, will come with a mixture of eggs, salmon and tuna sashimi cubes, together with a sprinkling of greens. whilst the food and colours make the dishes very Instagrammable, the plastic bowls and plates does tend to make this appear somewhat 'low budget' and unlike most sashimi bars where the cold cuts are only prepared when you've ordered, the food here seems to be prepared earlier. no big issues on freshness, and we still managed to enjoy some wholesome bowls. not the best chirashi dons we've eaten nonetheless. 
if raw food is totally not your thing, Kaisen Tei offers curry rice sets as well. now, the white disposable plates does make this appear pretty make-shift and the tempura choices being served separately from the curry does make the dishes somewhat dry. we're not too big fans of this selection and would recommend that visitors stick to the sashimi rice bowls. in all, this concept is synonymous with other MOF restaurants, offering quick, simple and affordable Japanese meals. the chain was once very popular in the early 2000s and this could allow them to spark a mini-revival again. 
Kaisen Tei 313 Orchard Road #03-41 313@Somerset Singapore Opening Hours Daily: 11.30 am to 10 pm perfect as a healthy takeaway meal for diners on the go.. Labels: #313somerset, #chirashidon, #japanesefood, #kaisendon, #kaisentei, #pokebowl Kuro Maguro
Japanese sashimi restaurants are increasingly commonplace today, but finding one with extremely fresh and good quality cuts are not quite as common. especially after you've tried the real thing in Japan and crave for something that comes close. A new joint at the recently open Tanjong Pagar Centre has made a phenomenal following in a short time. having underestimated its popularity by trying to make a walk-in visit on random weeknights, we soon found out that reservations are absolutely a must for this restaurant in the CBD.
Kuro Maguro celebrates tuna (Maguro is Japanese for tuna), various cuts of it imported directly from Misaki port in Japan. Many dishes revolves around the Maguro theme and beyond the sashimi styled servings, some dishes are even prepared grilled or stewed. The restaurant is actually a pretty compact space, probably only a few tables and a long sashimi bar counter. the place is popular among the working faithful where they get to see the chef in action while tucking into their sashimi rice bowls. 
The specialty of this restaurant is obviously their cold cuts. patrons can select from different parts of the tuna for a 3 cut or 5 cut sashimi, or like us, they can go for an Omakase styled mixed seafood dish. All the various seafood slices were fresh, well-cut and surprisingly sweet. it was a little bit bordering on fine dining though, with only 2 slices for each type of seafood. 
and then moving on to the lunchtime favourites, the sashimi rice bowls. with poke-bowls being all the rage these days, Kuro Maguro's delivery of these combinations are top-notch. We tried the Kaisen Meshi, which is an assortment of mixed seafood, including fresh prawns, salmon and tuna. while the lean tuna went into the sashimi, the chef suggested that we tried their daily special, stewed fatty tuna or Maguro Toro Kakuni. turns out to be the surprise package of the evening, with the tuna stewed to a soft, chewy texture, and the savoury (albeit salty) broth going well with the cold cuts. 
the classic Chirashi Don with a twist, this bowl is called Barachirashi - an assortment of sashimi cubes in a rice bowl. a very interesting dish with hearty portions of fish. the restaurant also serves sochu, Asahi beer and a seasonal selection of sakes (Japanese wines). Quality Japanese food will not come on the cheap, though Kuro Maguro is considered reasonably priced. the crowds that come here are a testimony of its quality and for those with a more discerning tastebud, the premium donburi sets will certainly cap their experience here. 
Kuro Maguro 7 Wallich Street #01-04 Tanjong Pagar Centre Singapore 078884 Opening Hours Daily: 11.30 am to 2.30 pm; 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm from the fishermen’s hands to the dining table.. Labels: #donburi. #sashimi, #japanesefood, #kuromaguro, #tanjongpagar, #tanjongpagarcentre |
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