Perhaps you do not need to fly to Hokkaido just to try their authentic ramen anymore.

Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen has arrived at Suntec City Mall, and it is also the first Halal-certified Hokkaido-style ramen restaurant in Singapore.

(Click PLAY for highlights of Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen.)

Located at the basement near the Fountain of Wealth, the restaurant serves not only noodles, but an array of donburi, teishoku, sides, desserts and drinks to get you all filled up.

The other good news is, prices are considered affordable and value-for-money, with a bowl of Original Ichikokudo Ramen priced at $9.90. Hard to find in this downtown area.

Ramen has been named as one of the “Hokkaido Heritages” that the Japanese people need to treasure and preserve.

So, you may wonder what is the difference between Hokkaido ramen and say, Hakata style ramen.

While different regions have signature styles, Hokkaido ramen generally has a thick, creamy broth, seasoned with soy sauce, salt or miso-based sauce for those added flavours, whereas the Hakata-style typically has a tonkotsu broth.

To keep the taste of their bowls as authentic as possible, Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen uses noodles produced exclusively using Hokkaido wheat for that the noodles are firm with a pleasant texture; kelp from Hokkaido is used in the soup stock for that added umami; butter directly-imported from Hokkaido; and adds aosa seaweed to evoke the feel of the Hokkaido sea.

The menu is really extensive, so here are some of the 10 recommended items you can try from Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen: (Prices are subject to GST & service charge.)

Ichikokudo Ramen – Original ($9.90)
I like to start with the most basic signature bowl if it is my first time in that ramen shop, and the original Shoyu Ramen happens to be one of my favourites as well.

The rich broth is cooked by slowly simmering chicken bones daily. Sit by the counter as you can see one of their chefs painstakingly stirring the whole container of broth, and smell some of that soup aroma.

Because there is shoyu added, along with that ‘sea flavour’ present in the broth, some diners may find it slightly on the salty side, though the creamy base helps balance that off.

Another component that I enjoyed was the noodles itself – long and thin (my preferred type), with a satisfactory chewy bite. Not too heavy even if you finish an entire bowl.

Hokkai Jigoku Smoked Duck Ramen ($15.90)
“Jigoku-dani” is the name of a famous volcano in Hokkaido, and this ramen is so named to reflect the fieriness of the bowl.

So it came in that vibrant red-coloured soup cooked with spicy miso.

The moment of truth. I actually thought the spiciness was quite manageable, say a level 2 out of 5? If you need to feel that shiok-ness, mix in more of the accompanying chilli powder.

Another reason why there are other vegetable-based ingredients such as corn, black fungus, boiled vegetables, shredded white leek is to balance out the heat.

The noodles used are different – thicker (which reminded me of Hokkien mee), so that it works better with the red-hot soup base.

Other than the original Hokkai Jigoku Ramen, you can choose the recommended Smoked Duck version, or signature “Gifts from The Sea” which is a bountiful bowl with crab leg, shrimps and scallops.

Ichi Beef Ramen ($12.90)
For beef lovers, this Shoyu-based bowl comes with Sukiyaki-styled beef slices and seasoned bamboo shoots (menma), added with a delicious flavoured ajitama egg with a slight-runny centre.

Hokkai Clams Ramen ($14.90)
This was the favourite ramen choice of a couple of friends, reason being that the soup base had this sweet seafood-freshness; and the creaminess of the Hokkaido butter beautifully complemented the flavours.

Have it with clams (there are plenty of them), shrimps, hotate (shell-on-scallops), or “Gifts from The Seas” which includes crab leg, shrimps and scallops.

Daichi Tomato Ramen with Cheese ($12.90)
Compared to the rest, this is the more Western-tasting, and perhaps funky bowl that could remind some of pasta due to the tomatoes.

The soup base is added with tomato puree and fresh tomatoes to provide that tanginess and sweetness, elevated by fried garlic chips.

That is not all. You can choose the ‘safer’ ingredients such as fresh clams or beef; or be unconventional by adding that fluffy scrambled egg (in soup) or the cheese version with shredded cheese, parmesan cheese and chicken chashu.

Japanese Style Beef Yakiniku Don ($12.90)
Since Gyu-Don is one of the trendy food items in Singapore this year.

This bowl contained Japanese-style grilled beef slices, on a bed of Japanese white rice drizzled with a special blend of sweet sauce. Break that runny soft-boiled egg which further moisten the meat.

Hokkai Salmon Ikura Don ($16.90)
For salmon lovers, this contains ‘salmon 3-ways’, including fresh salmon, lightly broiled salmon and salmon roe (ikura).

Also included are pickled ginger, shredded dried seaweed, chopped green onion, shredded white leek and miso soup.

If Ikura is your thing, get the Hokkai Special Ikura Don ($19.90) to satisfy your ultimate roe cravings.

Chicken Cutlet Don ($10.90)
The family-favourite and comforting choice of fried breaded chicken cutlet cooked in a sweet and savoury dashi broth, further thickened with egg.

Japanese Special Tartar Sauce Karaage Don ($10.90)
Other than ramen, Ichikokudo also provides a range of donburi.

It seems like Chicken Karaage is one of their strengths, with the offering of 3 related bowls – Japanese Garlic Karaage Don, Korean Spicy Karaage Don, and Special Tartar Sauce Karaage Don.

Indeed, their deep-fried chicken which is freshly fried-to-order, is more chunky than usual, and rather moist and juicy.

Even if you do not order it in a donburi, I would recommend ordering the Karaage as a side (add on $4.50) to complete the meal.

Other sides available include Boiled Gyoza, Grilled Gyoza, Big Ebi Fry, Hokkaido Butter Clams, and Chicken Wings.

Assorted Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream with Warabimochi and Red Beans ($4.90)
A meal is only complete with desserts, especially when Hokkaido is well-known for its quality dairy products.

Get the trio of Vanilla, Strawberry and Matcha ice cream made with 100% Hokkaido milk, with chewy jelly-like chilled warabi mochi and red beans.

One thing good about Ichikokuko Hokkaido Ramen is that it has quite a large space, to even accommodate families and big groups of friends.

There are also various seating arrangements, from the ramen counter bar where you can watch the chefs in action; the long tables behind; or in the Tatami corner to make you feel like you are in Japan – just remember to remove your shoes!

Ichikokuko Hokkaido Ramen
Suntec City Mall #B1-135 North Wing, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6273 0048
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, Last Order 9pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Ichikokuko Hokkaido Ramen.

The post Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen – 1st Halal Hokkaido Ramen & Donburi Restaurant In Singapore, At Suntec City appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Some of Osaka’s most representative food include Okonomiyaki, Yakisoba and Teppanyaki.

While an Okonomiyaki-dedicated restaurant is not that common in Singapore, there is actually one found ‘hidden’ within Suntec City’s Eat At Seven.

Tsuruhashi Fugetsu hails from Osaka itself, named by Tsunagu Japan as one of the top popular Okonomiyaki restaurants.

(Click PLAY for video highlights of Tsuruhashi Fugetsu.)

This is where you can have authentic-tasting Osaka food without leaving Singapore.

Tsuruhashi Fugestu prides in their Okonomiyaki, added with loads of fresh cabbage and ingredients such as seafood, patiently cooked (so that all sides are even), brushed with special Worcestershire sauce together with mayonnaise, topped with dried bonito.

They call this ”the taste of the Japanese people”.

Items are cooked fresh behind the kitchen (even noodles are produced fresh), and cooking can be performed right there in front of customers (if there are not too many diners at the same time.)

However, the restaurant is not immediately visible, so you have to walk in from Menya Kokoro side or another way would be from the escalator up from the ground floor at Tower 5 (near Pasarbella).

Here are 8 things about Tsuruhashi Fugetsu:

1. More than 80 outlets around the world
Tsuruhashi Fugetsu has 75 outlets in Japan, 3 in Korea, 1 in Taiwan as well as America.

You can find Tsuruhashi Fugetsu at Suntec City’s Eat At Seven, as well as within SORA at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2.

To keep the local joint as authentic as possible, the kitchen is headed by Japanese chefs from Tokyo’s branch, and the décor done up Japanese style with large booth seats and hotplates available on most tables.

2. 6 types of Okonomiyaki, or choose to customise your own
For those of you who are not that familiar with the Japanese dish, Okonomiyaki is a type of savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients.

It originates from Kansai, Osaka, often being described as a “Japanese-style pizza”.

The name is derived from the word “okonomi”, meaning “how you like” or “what you like”, and yaki meaning “cooked”.

Tsuruhashi Fugetsu serves up both cabbage-based, and cabbage + noodles Modan varieties.

Choose from the Fugetsu Yaki Mixed Tama ($22.80), Seafood Tama ($17.80), Pork Kimhi Tama ($15.60), Beef Tendon Tama ($15.80), Grilled Beef Tama ($13.00) and Grilled Pork Tama.

Its signature Fugestsu Yaki Mix Tama ($22.80) contains an assorted of seafood such as squid and prawns, and sliced meats of beef and pork.

Not forgetting the most important ingredient of fresh cabbage, and Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise and bonito flakes.

3. Cabbage can only be cut by Masterchef
The fresh cabbage used at the restaurant can only be cut by one person – the Japanese Masterchef.

Nobody else can do it. (So if he takes a break, you just got to wait. Just kidding.)

That is because the amount of moisture within the cabbage differs depending on the type and season, and there the way the vegetable is cut differs.

The Masterchef will ensure that the cabbage is best cut to retain that crunchy texture and refreshing taste.

You would realise that the restaurant uses a large amount of cabbage, this is also because the cabbage fiber helps to “remove” the oiliness and fats from the rich-tasting food.

4. Takes 20 to 25 minutes to grill 1 Okonomiyaki
If you are in a hurry to go off, order your Okonomiyaki on another day.

This is what I feel – you need to get into the “Okonomiyaki” mode, to patiently wait and watch the ingredients sizzle on the hot-plates, transformed into a giant pancake.

”10 more minutes.”

The Japanese chef told us kan-cheong Singaporean customers with a smile; that nod meant that good things come to those who wait. In the meantime, hear the sizzling to whet your appetite.

Indeed, after a good 20 minutes or so, the savoury pancake was ready, served atop individual teppanyaki plates. This ensures that it remains hot throughout the meal for more enjoyment.

What you get is a piece with slightly crispy exterior and crunchier bottom with that slight appealing.

The inside is fluffy and gooey with the melted cheese; it feels heavy yet the cabbage balances it off.

The Worcestershire sauce is both savoury and sweet with a distinct tang, and provides an interesting taste when mixed with the creamier Japanese mayonnaise.

A hearty meal to have, especially during the cooler weathers.

5. Have the Modanyaki, incorporating both cabbage and noodles
This is the other type of Okonomiyaki served – the Modanyaki, sometimes known as “Modern Yaki”.

This contains both cabbage and yakisoba noodles. (Tama = cabbage-based; Modan = cabbage + noodles).

The name is also said to be a contraction of the phrase “mori dakusan” (盛りだくさん), meaning “a lot” or “piled high”, signifying the amount of food from having both noodles and okonomiyaki.

So you can already imagine that it would be quite a heavy dish, best shared between 2 to 3 people.

I actually preferred this version, so you can taste both the crunchiness of the cabbage contrasted with the softness of the noodles.

It is recommended to top-up with spring onions and egg ($5.50), not only to add colours, but for that added crunch and eggy-gooeyness. Well, egg fried with noodles is always oishii.

6. Specially-made noodles for Yakisoba
Yakisoba 焼きそば literally means “fried buckwheat”, and is a Japanese stirred-fry noodle dish.

Here’s the interesting part: although soba means buckwheat, yakisoba noodles are actually made from wheat flour.

For the yakisoba, Tsuruhashi Fugetsu works in tandem with a factory in Singapore to ensure they are made accordingly to the brand’s traditional recipe.

There are quite a number of Yakisoba options, from Sauce Mix, Salt Mix, Spicy Kimchi & Pork Yakisoba, Negimayo Salt, Omelette Sauce, to Seafood with Soya Sauce & Butter Yakisoba.

One of the newly launched offering is the Negi Mayo Shio-Yakisoba ($19.80, $22.80). It may remind local diners of “Hokkien Mee” due to the frying with squid and prawns.

Though the freshly made noodles are quite different – slightly thick with a pleasantly soft, almost mochi-like texture.

7. Have the Osaka Style Grilled Omelette
While the Osaka Style Grilled Omelette ($9.90 is a side dish, the satisfaction is no less.

Get the version with Grilled Pork ($12.80), which features pan-fried pork slices, laid on fluffy omelette, and added with cheese which would melt for a stringy centre.

8. Teppanyaki-style Starters
Meats and seafood are also available Teppanyaki-style 鉄板焼き, grilled upon-order on an iron plate, presented in sizzling goodness.

Other than Grilled Squid ($14.80) and Grill Squid Tentacles ($8.80), get the recommended Grilled Beef Tendon ($10.80) or Grilled Beef Tendon with Kimchi ($12.80).

9. Steamed food on grill
Not all dishes are grilled here. If you are mood for something soupy, have the Steamed Oyster with Sake ($16.80).

The sake lends a complex profile and aroma to the briny plump oysters, also giving the seafood delicious umami flavour.

Tsuruhashi Fugetsu – Lunch Beer Set Promotion
Get a Mini Beer 220ml + Mini Edamame SET at only $3.80++, available during weekday Mon – Fri, lunch time 11:30am – 2:30pm (Last order).

Tsuruhashi Fugetsu
3 Temasek Boulevard #03-316, Suntec City North Wing (Sky Garden), Singapore 038983
Operating hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/fugetsuSG

* This post is brought to you in partnership with Tsuruhashi Fugetsu.

The post Tsuruhashi Fugetsu – Experience Osaka In Singapore With Authentic Okonomiyaki & Yakisoba, At Suntec City appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

There are people who travel all the way to Changi Airport just to eat.

Now you can check out the revamped Ramen Champion, with a brand-new Hokkaido Paradise concept and section, dishing out Hokkaido-themed dishes at Changi Airport Terminal 3 basement 2.

(Click PLAY for video highlights of Ramen Champion & Hokkaido Paradise.)

The Hokkaido highlights include a Mt Fuji-Yotei inspired Stamina Miso Ramen, Ishikari Nabe Ramen, Seafood Donburi, Hokkaido Curry dishes, and exciting desserts of Hojicha Kakigori and Matcha Brûlée Toast.

The interior is revamped with a garden-like setting, of various seating arrangements from more intimate booth seats, benches to a dessert corner.

Just need to take note of the ordering process, in which diners need to make your orders and pay at the counter, before entering to find a seat.

Here are 10 of the recommended dishes and desserts from Ramen Champion & Hokkaido Paradise:

Stamina Miso Ramen ($16.80)
Hokkaido is famous for being the home of miso ramen, and its indulgent pork base rich with the umami flavours of miso.

Among the new Hokkaido-themed dishes at Ramen Champion is the Stamina Miso Ramen with white miso tonkotsu cooked with Hokkaido milk for a rich and smooth texture.

Inspired by Hokkaido’s Mt Fuji – Yotei Mountain, this bowl of jiro-kei ramen is topped with heap of fresh vegetables including Hokkaido corn, sukiyaki meat, butter, torched pork belly char shu, and ajitama egg (marinated soft-boiled egg a.k.a. ramen egg) with yolk that flows freely when opened.

Warning: This is literally a mountain of ramen, and can probably feed 2 diners (leave some space for sides and desserts).

Hakodate Kaisen Ramen ($18.80)
Served in a hot stone pot, the Hakodate Kaisen Ramen is based on a stock made from chicken and assorted seafood, seasoned with sea salt.

After all, Hakodate is known for its shio (salt)-based ramen. It is also nicknamed “Squid City” so expect to taste the essence of squid among the seafood in the stock.

Very light and simple, the flavourful shio broth gathers together thin white noodles with prawns, scallops, squid and cabbage.

If you prefer a ramen that is lighter on the palate, get this.

Ishikari Nabe Ramen ($18.80)
This dish is inspired by Ishikari Nabe, a Hokkaido local hot pot dish and perhaps the only hot pot dish with a place name.

Served in a stone pot, the Ishikari Nabe Ramen uses stock made from chicken and pork, and achieves creaminess by adding Hokkaido white miso.

For the noodles, it uses yellow curly noodles combined with mushrooms, fragrant butter, and ingredients that are essential to the real “Ishikari Nabe” – salmon pieces and cabbage.

Asahikawa Shoyu Ramen ($13.80)
Asahikawa, located in the prefecture of Hokkaido, is the origin of this ramen’s recipe.

If you’re looking for a ramen with a clear soup, try the Asahikawa Shoyu Ramen with its heart-warming chicken soup and Japanese shoyu.

Adding bulk to the soup are thin white noodles, topped with tender slices of pork collar cha shu, slices of leeks, egg, dried seaweed, and menma, a Japanese condiment made from lactate-fermented bamboo shoots.

Hokkaido Special Double Curry Rice ($19.80)
Curry-lovers, a dish specially made for you.

Come discover what the Hokkaido Special Double Curry Rice ($19.80) is all about. Double your excitement as you will be getting two kinds of curry: Japanese yellow curry and European-style dark curry.

You can either enjoy them separately, on their own, or mix them together until you get your desired taste.

Geek over what’s inside the Japanese yellow curry – pumpkin, onion, carrot, cabbage, potato, ginger, apple, chestnuts, plus a blend of 6 kinds of spices (cumin seed, turmeric, coriander, cumin powder, galangal, masala).

The European-style dark curry is just as loaded, with 10 kinds of vegetables (onion, carrot, etc.), 5 kinds of spices (coriander, cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme), and beef for that dark, earthy, umami goodness.

Tamago Yaki ($7.80)
Tamagoyaki, which literally means “grilled egg”, is a thin Japanese pan-fried omelette that’s rolled into a log using a special rectangular tamagoyaki pan.

This version has a delightfully light texture, mildly sweet and savoury.

The Tamagoyaki can be eaten as is, or eaten with some of the rice dishes, such as the Curry Rice.

Mentaiko Gyoza ($7.80)
The addicting spicy seasoned or brined cod roe (tarako) called mentaiko finds its way to these Japanese pan-fried dumplings.

The coral pinkish mentaiko sauce topping adds a burst of savoury flavour to the ground pork filling inside the thin gyoza skin.

Brûlée Toast ($13.80)
On to the desserts. Enjoy this high-tea dessert, the Hokkaido Brûlée Toast which is an enticing combination of fruit, whipped cream and ice cream.

Its moist pudding-like texture on the inside and the beautifully golden-brown crust on the outside which is torched to achieve a caramelised finish, makes this a sweet treat.

Also available in Matcha, Royal Milk Tea and Milo flavours (all $14.80 each).

Hojicha Kakigori ($12.80)
This Japanese dessert, Kakigori, is made with soft and fluffy shave iced, flavoured with syrup and a sweeter, often condensed milk.

At Ramen Champion, they offer kakigori is 4 flavours: Hojicha, Royal Milk Tea, Strawberry and Milo.

The Hojicha Kakigori and the Royal Milk Tea Kakigori both comes with grass jelly, mochi, fresh whipped cream, and either hojicha or royal milk tea ice.

Fans of chocolate will love the Milo Kakigori, filled with Milo nuggets, Milo powder, Malteser chocolates, fresh whipped cream, and milk ice.

Strawberry Kakigori ($12.80)
For something refreshingly fruity, try the classic Strawberry Kakigori ($12.80) made with fresh strawberry slices, cubes of Japanese Cheesecake, cookie crumbs, a dollop of fresh whipped cream, strawberry sauce, and milk ice.

Ramen Champion & Hokkaido Paradise – Changi Airport Terminal 3
65 Airport Boulevard #B2-58 Terminal 3, Singapore Changi Airport Singapore 819663
Tel: +65 6214 2958
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/RamenChampionSingapore

Ramen Champion – Bugis+
201 Victoria Street, Bugis+ #04-10 Singapore 188607
Tel: +65 6238 1011
Opening Hours: 11am – 10.30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 10:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

Ramen Champion – Clarke Quay Central
6 Eu Tong Sen Street #03-89 The Central, Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6221 2156
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat, Sun, Eve PH, PH)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Ramen Champion.

The post Ramen Champion & Hokkaido Paradise – “Mt Yotei” Ramen and Hojicha Kakigori, at Revamped Changi Airport T3 Outlet appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Great World City has finally undergone a revamp, and looks set to welcome a couple of NEW F&B tenants include Tim Ho Wan, Din Tai Fung, Marvx Coffee Bar, Imperial Treasure Steamboat, Ho Fook Hei Soy Sauce Chicken, Four Seas Fish Grill, and Hototogisu Ramen.

Hototogisu Ramen will probably get some of the limelight, as it is one of the first to open at the new wing.

Its parent shop – Sobahouse Kiniro Hototogisu 金色不如帰 from Tokyo was just awarded a Michelin Star in the Tokyo Michelin Guide.

Its first store in Singapore Konjiki Hototogisu located at CHIJMES, has received quite positive feedback, known for its base cooked using Hamaguri clams and pork broth.

What distinguishes the Great World City outlet is the introduction of “Oyster Ramen”, exclusive to this branch.

There are two versions for this – the clear soup based Oyster Shio Ramen ($15.90) and Oyster Paitan Ramen ($15.90) with creamier broth.

The broth is said to be prepared by slow-cooking oyster consommé at a lower temperature for a number of hours, then added with roasted paprika for a more invigorating base.

When the Oyster Shio Ramen ($15.90) was presented, I noticed many elements going on, from Oyster Paste, Oyster Oil, Wild Rocket leaves, roasted paprika, red onions to garlic lemon butter.

One bowl, many ways of eating.

There are 4 recommended ways of savouring that bowl: from drinking the Oyster Consommé on its own, to trying the Oyster Oil, Oyster Paste, to mixing in the Garlic Lemon Butter.

This is not like your typical ramen, as the soup had varied layers, and indeed quite exciting to the taste buds. Complex yet coming together balanced.

Also, it didn’t feel that heavy, and I had no trouble finishing the entire bowl.

The weakness, as I previously pointed out before, was its Ajitama Egg which could have been more molten and flavoured.

Some diners may find the noodles cooked soft and limp as well, but I didn’t quite mind it.

If you prefer something creamier with more robust flavours, then get the Oyster Paitan Ramen ($15.90), which I suspect is more suitable for those used to Tonkotsu styles.

I also noted a sliced of baked lemon, and it added this interesting zest.

Other ramen items such as the Tonkotsu Original Ramen ($13.90), Tonkotsu Spicy Ramen ($14.90) and Tonkotsu Smoke and Pepper Ramen ($13.90).

In a market saturated with that many ramen stores, I am glad to find a comforting yet unconventional treat of “Oyster Ramen”.

And if you are wondering if there is any of that ‘fishy’ seafood smell or taste, nope there wasn’t.

Hototogisu Ramen – Great World City
1 Kim Seng Promenade, Great World City, #01-143, Singapore 237994

Konjiki Hototogisu – CHIJMES
CHIJMES #01-17, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996 (City Hall MRT)
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10.00pm (Mon – Thurs), 12pm – 10pm (Fri – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Tsuta Singapore (Pacific Plaza)
Kanshoku Ramen Bar (ION Orchard)
Ramen Nagi (Suntec City)
Ramen Keisuke Champon King (International Plaza)
Men-Men Tei (Marina One)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Hototogisu Ramen – Michelin-Starred Ramen From Tokyo, Offering Unique Oyster Ramen At Great World City appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

This is for fans of affordable and flavoursome Japanese donburi.

Aburi-EN is a cosy nondescript Japanese joint for hearty rice bowls, now located in two locations in Singapore – Tanjong Pagar Centre and VivoCity.

It specializes in aburi (literally means “flame seared” or “torched”) meats skillfully grilled over binchotan.

It is also all about that MEAT.

Aburi-EN uses premium beef no less than Japan’s No. 1 champion beef, the Miyazaki Wagyu.

Miyazaki Wagyu won Japan’s “National Wagyu Award” for 3 consecutive times, a prestigious award held every 5 years.

Here you’ll experience A4 and A5 grade Miyazaki Wagyu, with A5 being the highest class of Japanese beef and highest marbling grade.

This intense marbling gives the beef its unique tenderness and umami flavor.

The pork is just as exceptional, using a superior chestnut-fed pork, known to be tastier than normal pork.

It is harvested from carefully selected pigs which enjoys a natural diet that contains chestnuts. This contributes to a tender juicy meat with a sweet nuance.

The use of binchotan in cooking these high-end meats is essential to the Aburi-EN experience. Otherwise known as Japanese white charcoal, binchotan is a type of quality and expensive highly dense charcoal made of high grade oak.

Because of its high carbon content, it is rendered odorless which allows the natural flavours of food to shine through.

Moreover, it burns slowly without flaring unlike lump charcoal and briquettes. This gives a deep smokiness to the meat minus the charred flavours.

For donburi served at Aburi-EN, you get to savour Yamagata Haenuki rice which is one of the best rice from Japan, renowned for its quality taste and texture

Hungry yet? Here are the 10 recommended donburi and sides from Aburi-EN.

Premium Wagyu Jyu ($28)
Get the Premium Wagyu Jyu (rice box set) which comes with Aburi-EN’s pride – premium Miyazaki Wagyu beef that’s well-marinated in a savoury soy based “Miyazaki sauce”.

This original sauce is created by the kitchen team, created using many fruits and vegetables which give it that sweet touch.

This deep flavoured meat along with its full-bodied gravy goes well topped over steamed Japanese rice.

The rather bland taste of steamed rice will soak in all the prime beef goodness

You can’t go wrong with this signature, definitely a treat to meat lovers.

Wagyu Karubi Don ($19)
This top selling dish is made with Miyazaki Wagyu karubi, or boneless short rib/flanken-cut rib, one of the most popular cuts of beef for yakiniku.

Karubi has more marbling than roast cuts do so expect this meat to be very tender and juicy.

Served as a donburi, the tender Wagyu meat rest on top of rice and mushrooms. The accompanying light brown mushrooms are slightly nutty in taste with a sourdough-like aroma.

Add an onsen egg for $1 to mix up with the rice for a silkier texture.

Buta Bara Don ($15)
Another signature item in the menu, Buta Bara Don is made with chestnut-fed pork belly that is imported from Spain.

The expertly cooked pork belly is coated in a specially made sauce, and exudes a slight smokiness from the grilling. With its alternating layers of meat and fat, the belly strip turns out succulent and tender.

Also served as a donburi, the buta bara that comes in the form of 3 thick pork belly slices, is served over a bowl of Japanese rice.

Similarly, you can add an onsen egg for $1 to boost the flavor and texture of the rice.

Buta Don ($12)
Buta Don is another top selling item in the menu, a rather generous portion of grilled chestnut-fed pork for its price.

The meat cut is that of a loin, simmered in a Miyazaki Yakiniku Sauce, a sweet-savoury light glaze.

The rather huge pork slices are arranged neatly in a circular way, resembling a blossomed flower from certain angles. Relish this prime meat’s tenderness as you bite into the juicy pork slices.

Tonkotsu Ramen with Aburi Char Siew ($15)
If you are craving for a comforting bowl of Japanese noodles. The firm and chewy wheat noodles are served in a cloudy pork-based broth made by boiling tonkotsu (pork bones) and other flavourings for several hours.

This long rolling boil, rather than a slow simmer, emulsifies the pork fat in the broth making it rich and creamy.

Served with slices of aburi char siew, this noodle dish also comes with half an ajitama egg (soft boiled egg or lava egg), bamboo shoots, corn, black fungus, and a sprinkling of green spring onions.

Okay, but to be honest, between the donburi and ramen, I would still rather go for the rice bowls here anytime.

Complement your entrées with these side dishes, giving you more options to enjoy that unmistakably grilled umami taste in various types of meats.

Sumibi Chicken Yaki ($8.80)
These binchotan-grilled chicken are classic Japanese appetizers, where the meat can come from the chicken thigh.

Perfect as a side dish or a casual-style snack with drinks.

Salmon Harasu Yaki ($10.80)
A wonderful departure from all the mouth-watering meats, this grilled salmon harasu (belly) will give you a boost of healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

The salt-seasoned fillet is grilled on both sides without overcooking, the salmon is slightly translucent in the centre and opaque outside.

Kurobuta Hoho Yaki ($12.80)
Kurobuta pork hoho (pork cheek or jowl) is a finely marbled thin slab of meat best for fast grilling.

It is grilled until the marbled fat is cooked while leaving a slight char on the edges.

As this is cut into small bite size pieces, you’ll encounter occasional slivers of melt-in-your-mouth fat as you savour this underrated cut of meat.

Definitely my favourite side dish of all those tried.

Unagi Kabayaki ($15)
This unagi (eel) is prepared kabayaki-style, where the scaleless fish is split down the back, gutted, butterflied, and deboned.

The eel is then basted with special Miyazaki sauce. Because of the sugars, this glaze creates a flavourful crispy exterior when cooked.

Apart from the premium donburis, Aburi-EN features an extensive selection of Japanese cocktails, highballs, shochu and sake that complements the array of grilled meats.

This makes it a perfect place to meet up with friends after work. Plus, prices are indeed friendly to the wallet.

Aburi-EN – VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk #01-159/160, VivoCity Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6259 9603
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 10.00pm (Mon – Sun)
Facebook Add: www.facebook.com/aburiensg
Instagram Add: www.instagram.com/aburien.sg

Aburi-EN – Tanjong Pagar Centre
7 Wallich Street, #B2-09, Tanjong Pagar Centre, Singapore 078884
Tel: +65 6214 3570
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 10.00pm (Mon – Sun)

* This post is brought to you in partnership with Aburi-EN.

The post Aburi-EN – “Aburi” Focused Wagyu And Buta Japanese Donburi At Affordable Pricing, At Tanjong Pagar & VivoCity appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

If there are a couple of items Keisuke does well, it would be ramen, eggs and beansprouts. Of course there are more.

No kidding, I am the regular who would look forward to having the complimentary beansprouts starter, along with some of their locally-farmed eggs.

To give them credit, their relatively new Beef Sukiyaki Don Keisuke at Kee Seng Street Tanjong Pagar was also a home-run with its delicious donburi and inexpensive pricing.

The good value continues with Omurice Keisuke at Bugis+ Level 4. (Incidentally, my GRAB driver wasn’t quite aware of the mall building, until I mentioned… ”Used to be called Illuma?)

What? $9.90 for Omurice?

And $12.90 for the Omurice Combi with pan-fried rice with chicken, spaghetti and salad. And those beansprouts.

With such pricing, no wonder the queue is that long. Singaporeans love our cheap and good things.

The eatery is only a 22-seater, so it can be rather cramped and therefore I would recommend you to go off-peak period to avoid the potentially overly-long wait.

The Omurice comes with a choice of one of four sauces – demi-glace, chilli tomato, wafu (soya base) and creamy white sauce.

The Chilli Tomato seems to compliment the fried rice best without being overly jelak (rich) and heavy, and is thus a likeable choice.

You can also request for additional cheese sauce at $2, which would be prepared table-side to the delight of those who love to take some handphone videos.

Then pour the cheese over the rice to your liking. If you finish pouring that entire thing, do plan to head to the gym.

While I won’t say that this Omurice is “gourmet” quality, this offering is right for its target audience (the Bugis+ young crowd) and provides both a satisfying and filling meal.

The outer coating of egg was creamy and fragrant, though I found the rice lacking in that ”wok-heat” and flavours.

So pretty much about everything else would boil down on the sauce you choose.

Be aware that this is a carb-heavy set, as there is either Mentaiko Spaghetti or Neapolitan Spaghetti provided.

NS boys should have no problem finishing this, but those waiting your weight please just go for the regular option.

Even though you can up-size for free.

Do an add-on – I would recommend the Teriyaki Chicken Hamburg ($3.00) because some meat would help balance out the meal.

Omurice Keisuke
201 Victoria St, #04-01 Bugis+, Singapore 188067
Tel: +65 6634 4558
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Beef Sukiyaki Don Keisuke (Kee Seng Street)
Unagiya Ichinoji Dining (Suntec City)
Kogane Yama (Jem)
Gyu Nami (Orchard Gateway)
Kohaku Tendon 天丼琥珀 (Suntec City)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Omurice Keisuke – $9.90 Omurice with FREE Upsize, $12.90 Set With Spaghetti. At Bugis+ appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Unagi VS Salmon is a casual Japanese-style eatery at Icon Village that serves healthy dining options with its grain and poke bowls.

What makes it popular among the working crowd is that it’s healthy, filling and affordable at $9.90 per bowl.

Also, if you cannot decide between Salmon OR Unagi on your bowl, you can now have both.

Boasting one of the freshest ingredients, they use only Norwegian salmon and unagi that is delivered fresh daily. Even the sauces, marinades and sides are all freshly handmade.

You can build your own bowl by choosing from a wide selection of bases, protein mains, and add ons. Base options include mixed red rice, buckwheat soba, salad greens, and fussili pasta.

For a basic bowl of a base and a main, prices start affordably at $9.90.

For the mains, there are 8 staple choices: Salmon Sashimi, Salmon Mentaiko, Salmon Poke, Spicy Garlic Poke, Teriyaki Salmon, Grilled Unagi, Unagi Mentaiko, and Unagi Tamagoyaki.

Recommended to start off with their popular choices: mixed white and red Japanese rice as base, then topped with any of the following: salmon with mentaiko, grilled unagi, or spicy garlic poke (homemade chilli mixed with mayonnaise).

A good non-rice base is the cold buckwheat soba, topped with unagi mentaiko.

If you can’t pick whether to have unagi or salmon, order the Unagi VS Salmon ($15.90), a dish that highlights the best of both meals.

It is infused with grilled unagi glazed with homemade shoyu sauce, salmon sashimi, salad, cold buckwheat noodles, avocado and onsen egg.

Between the two, I actually liked the Unagi better, grilled with just a slight layer of char, glazed with a delicious sweet teriyaki-style sauce, and was rather thick.

However, this bowl is only available with soba noodles as a base, and I thought it would be great if white could have been an option.

Unagi VS Salmon
Icon Village, Gopeng & Tras Street, #01-46 Singapore 079717
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 12pm – 8pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

Other Related Entries
Kogane Yama (Jem)
Chirashi King Kong (Millenia Walk)
Unagiya Ichinoji Dining (Suntec City)
Gyu Nami (Orchard Gateway)
Kohaku Tendon 天丼琥珀 (Suntec City)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Unagi VS Salmon – Japanese Grain Bowls Priced Affordably At $9.90 Onwards, At Icon Village appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

What happens when two tsukemen masters join forces for the Ultimate Tsukemen Collaboration?

You get unique ramen dishes that are worth your time, attention and taste buds.

This significant event came about when Ramen Champion invited Chef Nozomi Ohashi and Chef Tetsuya Tomiyama from Japan to create a special set of tsukemen dishes for the ramen-loving foodies of Singapore.

(Click PLAY for highlights of Ramen Champion’s exclusive ramen.)

Tsukemen is a type of Japanese ramen consisting of noodles which are eaten after dipping in a separate bowl of soup. It is a dish invented in 1961 by Kazuo Yamagishi, a restaurateur in Tokyo, Japan. It became a very popular in Tokyo and throughout Japan.

While Tsukemen has not really gained traction in Singapore compared to say Tonkotsu Ramen, I thought that this special bowl is worth a try especially when you have yet to try it before.

Some introduction of the two chefs: Chef Nozomi Ohashi is the owner of popular Menya Sho, a well-loved Tokyo-based ramen house, and the champion of Dai Tsukemen Haku 2015, the biggest tsukemen competition. He’s also part of Menya Koji Group, bringing great ramen to the rest of the world. This is the first time he’s bringing his popular ramen to Singapore.

Chef Tetsuya Tomiyama, likewise a passionate master of tsukemen, joined famous tsukemen ramen shop Taishoken right after his graduation. At age 33, he opened Taishoken Tetsu, which has become a very well-known ramen house in Japan.

For the first time ever, both tsukemen masters team up to present Kani Tsukemen (Swimming Crab Tsukemen), a special item exclusive to Singapore, plus two more limited-edition ramen dishes at Ramen Champion.

Kani Tsukemen (Swimming Crab Tsukemen) ($17.80++)
A dish originally created in 2016 for Dai Tsukemen Haku, which won 2nd place in this biggest tsukemen competition.

It is a special collaboration of the two tsukemen masters with Ramen Champion’s Head Chef Horikawa, who trained under Chef Yamagishi a.k.a. Japan’s “God of Ramen”.

The Kani Tsukemen ($17.80++) is made with signature Chubuto-men Straight noodles, a type of non-curly ramen noodle that’s medium thick, with a noodle width of 1.5 mm.

These ramen noodles are served with slices of tender cha shu and a wedge of lemon. Soup is served in a separate bowl, made with a rich tonkotsu base and blended with umami crab broth.

The tsukemen sauce with crab extract is broiled for two days, then enlivened with garlic, sesame and secret spices.

I found the hot tsukemen sauce to be brimming with robust seafood flavours; you just need a light dip with the chewy noodles to experience its deliciousness.

Served with a small amount of spicy paste on the side, which you can add into the broth for that fiery flavour.

Exclusively available at Ramen Champion Central at Clark Quay, the Kani Tsukemen will be a permanent item in the menu so you can enjoy it any time.

Available from 15th of Jan at Ramen Champion Central at Clarke Quay, limited to 20 bowls per day.

Chef Horikawa Maze Soba ($12.80++)
This dish is created after a 3-way collaboration between Chef Tomiyama, Chef Ohashi, and Chef Horikawa from Ramen Champion.

Chef Horikawa uses his original maze soba sauce blend to bring the authentic taste of classic Japanese maze soba.

Mazesoba, which combines “mazo” (mixed) and “soba” (thin buckwheat noodles), is a type of soup-less ramen that’s popularly eaten during summer. (Although there is “soba” in the name of this dish, it technically uses wheat noodles albeit minus the soup.)

This limited-edition Chef Horikawa Maze Soba ($12.80++) comes with a spicy kick, and is available at Teppan No Hoshi.

Accompanied with sliced spring onions, spicy minced pork, matchsticks of nori seaweed, creamy mentaiko, a dollop of mayo, and topped with an onsen tamago.

Break the runny egg yolk to make your maze soba creamier and milder in spice. Toss the ingredients together to create a gloopy mix before you dig in.

Enjoy a generous portion of chewy, springy noodles mixed with the medley of ingredients.

Available from 15th of Jan at Ramen Champion at Teppan no Hoshi stall in Ramen Champion Bugis+.

Double Rich Ikkyu Tonkotsu ($16.80++)
The 3rd ramen is co-created by the two tsukemen masters.

The Double Rich Ikkyu Tonkotsu ($16.80++) features the tonkotsu oil used in the original Ikkyu Tonkotsu Ramen, which won over 5 other ramen brands in Ramen Champion’s Tasting Competition in 2015, and was said to be created on the request of Hong Kong celebrity, Eric Tsang.

Thin ramen noodles are generously topped with cha shu made using pork collar cooked in the Western sous vide style.
Made from boiling pork bones over high heat for long hours, the broth has a hearty pork flavour and a rich, milky consistency.

What makes the broth so creamy is that the soup and oil are mixed well and don’t separate.

Available from 15th of Jan at Ramen Champion at Ikkyu stall in Ramen Champion Bugis+.

Ramen Champion – Bugis+
201 Victoria Street, Bugis+ #04-10 Singapore 188607
Tel: +65 6238 1011
Opening Hours: 11am – 10.30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 10:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
https://www.facebook.com/RamenChampionSingapore

Ramen Champion – Clarke Quay Central
6 Eu Tong Sen Street #03-89 The Central, Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6221 2156
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat, Sun, Eve PH, PH)

Ramen Champion & Hokkaido Paradise – Changi Airport Terminal 3
65 Airport Boulevard #B2-58 Terminal 3, Singapore Changi Airport Singapore 819663
Tel: +65 6214 2958
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Ramen Champion (Changi Airport T3)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Ramen Champion.

The post 1st Ever Swimming Crab Tsukemen Launched In Singapore, Created By Japan’s Ramen Masters appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Singaporeans are typically fond of their tonkotsu-style ramen, and some may still be unfamiliar with Mazesoba. Some people describe this as ”Japanese Bak Chor Mee” – not that wrong either.

Mazesoba, literally translated as “mixed noodles” is a type of broth-less ramen, particularly popular during the hotter summer months.

So even though there is “soba” in its name, the dish is technically “ramen”.

To me, the appeal in the noodles is about the mixture of all toppings and sauces. Even though there are many ingredients and so much going on, when all are mixed together, they create this complex but blended flavour with satisfying mouthfeel.

Mazesoba can be explained as dry Japanese ramen (or Japanese gan mian), in which “maze” means “to mix”, and “soba” means “noodles”.

Here are 8 Best Places To Get Your Mazesoba Fix in Singapore:

Menya Kokoro
3 Temasek Boulevard # 03-313 Suntec City Mall Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6235 3386
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/menyakokorosg/

Japan’s Most Popular Mazesoba Chain Opens In Singapore At Suntec City
The Japanese dry ramen brand has opened 27 outlets worldwide within a short number of years, including Japan, Indonesia, Spain, Thailand and Vancouver, and looks set to expand further.

The local store in Singapore is helmed by the founder Chef Takuma Ishikawa himself, who trained under the originator creators of Mazesoba, and once won the Best Mazesoba Award in Japan. Therefore, you will be assured of the ‘Japanese-quality’.

The five types of Mazesoba on Singapore’s menu range from the original Tokyo Maze-Soba, Cheese Maze-Soba, Curry Maze-Soba, Spicy Maze-Soba and Vegan-Maze-Soba, together with some Singapore-exclusive creations

The Spicy Maze-Soba ($11.80++) is my favourite bowl, but the spiciness is likely to divide people. Some of us shared this bowl – a couple enjoyed the kick, the shiokness which result in some sweat to break out.

There were others who thought this might have been too fiery for their liking.

And here I am, asking them to add more of those spicy oil. When the spices and meat sauce coat the noodles, the sensation was like having a good-old bowl of comforting Mapo-Tofu. Menya Kokoro (Suntec City)

Kajiken 油そば専門店 歌志軒 – Novena
10 Sinaran Drive #02-03 Square Two Singapore 307506 (Novena MRT)
Tel: +65 6904 4714
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Kajiken – Tanjong Pagar
Orchid Hotel #01-07, 1 Tras Link Singapore 078867 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 82260199
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3:30pm, 6:00pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 9:30pm (Sat – Sun)

1st Mazesoba Specialty Shop In Singapore
Kajiken at Orchid Hotel is the first shop dedicated to selling just Mazesoba in Singapore.

Its signature dish is Mazesoba Nagoya Style ($12.80), in which dry ramen noodles is mixed with spicy minced pork, soft boiled egg, seafood and chopped vegetables.

The mix of sauce reminded me of the Taiwanese style of Dan Dan Mian, with a mild level of spiciness that doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. Yet added with that umami mouth-feel as you take bites.

I liked the addition of chopped vegetables and egg – one provided the occasional crunch and refreshness; the other a layer of stickiness between the noodles.

Even though the wheat noodles seemed moderately thick, the combination was well-balanced and didn’t feel too heavy. Kajiken (Novena Square 2)

Ramen Champion – Bugis+
201 Victoria Street, Bugis+ #04-10 Singapore 188607
Tel: +65 6238 1011
Opening Hours: 11am – 10.30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 10:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
https://www.facebook.com/RamenChampionSingapore

Mazesoba Created By 3 Ramen Masters
The Chef Horikawa Maze Soba ($12.80+) is created after a 3-way collaboration between Tsukemen Masters Chef Tomiyama and Chef Ohashi from Japan; and Chef Horikawa from Ramen Champion.

Chef Horikawa uses his original maze soba sauce blend to bring the authentic taste of classic Japanese maze soba.

Accompanied with sliced spring onions, spicy minced pork, matchsticks of nori seaweed, creamy mentaiko, a dollop of mayo, and topped with an onsen tamago.

Break the runny egg yolk to make your maze soba creamier and milder in spice. Toss the ingredients together to create a gloopy mix before you dig in.

Enjoy a generous portion of chewy, springy noodles mixed with the medley of ingredients. Available at Teppan no Hoshi stall in Ramen Champion Bugis+. Ramen Champion (Bugis+)

Kaneta Shoten
133 New Bridge Road, B1-44/45 Chinatown Point Singapore 059413 (Chinatown MRT)
Tel: +65 6443 8366
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Mon – Fri), 11:00am – 10:00pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

Truffle Mazesoba At Chinatown Point
The signature Kaneta Mazesoba ($13.90) is a truffle scented dry ramen with special sauce.

I find the pricing reasonable (some ramen are quite ridiculously priced nowadays), especially when this comes free up size, free eggs and free flow pickled spicy pineapple.

There was a good mix of flavours and texture, from the spicy minced pork and soft mushrooms. The truffle does not ‘hit’ you immediately, but comes as a subtle aroma upon every bite.

Compared to Kanshoku Ramen Bar, this uses thicker noodles and has a more ‘complicated’ overall taste. Think each will have their own following. Kaneta Shoten (Chinatown Point)

Uma Uma Restaurant & Bar
9 Raffles Boulevard #02-06, Millenia Walk Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 12am (Mon – Sat), 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Sun)

Mazesoba at Forum Galleria and Millenia Walk
A brief background of Uma Uma Ramen: A ramen chain from Fukuoka Japan, established n 1953, its name a play on “umami”, and Singapore’s Forum Galleria outlet is its first venture overseas.

The Mazesoba ($17) contains springy noodles added with chasiu, bamboo shoots, leek and sprinkling of spring onions. You may get hooked on the sauce.

There is also a vegetarian option with chasiu at $15.

Menya Sakura
1 Tras Link Road, #01-07, Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867
Tel: +65 9469 3366
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm, Last Orders 10:00pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun, PH

Nagoya Style Ramen and Mazesoba At Tanjong Pagar
Menya Sakura at Orchid Hotel Tanjong Pagar (previously at 64 Boat Quay) is the group’s first outlet in Singapore, and it specialises in Nagoya-style ramen.

Its Abura Soba ($9.90) is affordably priced, containing cubes of pork char siew, bamboo shoots, spring onions and ajitama egg. There is also a Spicy Abura Soba version ($10.90).

The special blended sauce at the bottom is made with 3 different soy sauces, and tasted refreshing and ‘clean’.

As for the noodles, they are cooked quite el dente with a delicious chewy bite. Overall, the mixture is not that heavy. Menya Sakura (Tanjong Pagar)

Menya Sanji Singapore
1 Tras Link, #01-14 Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867
Tel: +65 6604 8891
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Dry Ramen With Spicy Miso Sauce
Another ramen store found at Orchid Hotel. Menya Sanji serves up Japanese style Sanji Mazesoba ($9.80++) topped with stir-fried pork, half and egg and vegetables.

Its special components are the tasty soy sauce base, mixed along with spicy miso sauce.

The accompany soup is said to be cooked for 20 hours in Kagoshima before being imported into Singapore.

Daily Noodles
Amoy Street Food Centre, #02-130 Singapore 069111
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 3:00pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Mazesoba Found at A Hawker Centre
It is not that common to find Mazesoba sold in a food centre. The stall-owners behind Daily Noodles wanted to sell their noodles at a price range in which everyone can enjoy.

”I recall a ramen master once said that ramen should be sold at a price point where a convenient store part-timer’s one hour salary can afford.”

Their Nagoya Dry Ramen is sold at an inexpensive $6.00, containing springy noodles, toppings of minced meat, fried shallots and runny egg. Tip: add a sprinkling of vinegar, and it would taste even more like ”Bak Chor Mee”.

I would personally recommend the Chashu Mazesoba ($6.50) which includes slices of pork belly with smoky flavour.

Other Related Entries
10 Must-Try Ban Mian In Singapore
7 Modern Japanese Restaurants In Singapore
5 Best Unagi Restaurants In Singapore
12 Best Gyudon In Singapore
10 NEW Ramen Shops In Singapore

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post 8 Best Mazesoba aka “Japanese Bak Chor Mee” In Singapore, including A $6 Mazesoba Found At Amoy Street Food Centre appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

There is no stopping of Japanese cafes opening up in Singapore.

Some are established dessert brands, such as Pablo Cheese Tart and Hattendo (There are a couple of big Japanese names opening up in Singapore in 2019, so look out for them.)

Not forgetting about the coffee drinkers, Omotesando Koffee and Baristart Coffee have also set foot in Singapore near the CBD.

Some are home-grown brands we should be proud of, such as Hvala and Matchaya, both known for their matcha latte and desserts.

Those in this list are a combination of cafes that originate from Japan, feature Japanese style food and desserts, or are helmed by Japanese chefs. There is a list of20 Japanese Cafes In Singapore おいしいです:

(Click PLAY for video highlights of Baristart Coffee Singapore.)

Baristart Coffee Singapore
65 Tras Street Singapore 079004 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/Baristart-Coffee-Singapore-239801243463838

Popular Hokkaido café Baristart Coffee has arrived in Singapore, and it is not difficult to understand why it would be a hit with both coffee and Japanese food lovers.

Other than using Hokkaido milk of exceptional quality for its coffee, matched with beautiful latte art; its food and desserts – such as the Shiro Kuma Hokkaido shaved ice is worthy venturing to Tanjong Pagar for.

It is the first café here to offer coffee using the popular Brown Jersey Milk from Biei, a small town in Hokkaido, Japan.

Biei Jersey Milk is an ultra-premium milk prized for being rare, as there are only about 800 Brown Jersey cows left making up 1% of the total cow population in Japan. Baristart Coffee (Tras Street)

Matchaya
Icon Village Gopeng & Tras Street, #01-72
Tel: +65 9767 9811 / 9837 3187
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 7pm (Sat – Sun)

Matchaya is a Japanese tea shop serving authentic Japanese-inspired beverages and sweets.

All premium ingredients, such as matcha and houjicha, are painstakingly sourced from different prefectures in Japan and blended exclusively.

Hand-brewed from their own sources of tea, the Matchaya Exclusive Blend which is a bottled Japanese Milk Tea is a crowd favourite.

Try the bestsellers Cold-Whisked Milk Tea which consists of 2 flavours of Extreme Uji Matcha; and Houjicha Milk ($6.50 each) with roasty, nutty and notes of Koffee.

Hvala CHIJMES
CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

A Japanese teahouse located within the walls of the 19th-century built chapels at CHIJMES.

The space has a minimalist touch with wooden elements incorporated into every single details, yet brought out the beauty and the simplicity in the design. (Reminds me of Peace Oriental Teahouse from Bangkok.)

The tea apparatus and tableware are all neatly displayed at the bar counter, from the mini stone mill grinder, pour over apparatus, tea scoop to the whisk.

This is probably the best spot to witness all the actions and effort in preparing every cup of tea. They have recently expanded their space, and certainly feels more “zen” now. Hvala (CHIJMES)

PABLO Cheese Tart Singapore
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, 435 Orchard Road #01-02/38, Singapore 238877 (Orchard MRT)
Tel: +65 6835 9269
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

The first-ever Pablo Cheese Tart Café in Singapore is situated at Level 1 of Wisma Atria, Orchard Road.

Pablo fans claim that their Cheese Tarts are the best ever, and is branded as “The most famous cheese tarts from Japan”.

This Singapore café carries many cheese-based products including the Signature Pablo Freshly Baked Cheese Tart, Pablo Mini Cheese Tarts, Pablo Smoothies and Pablo Soft-Serve Ice-Cream.

The iconic big 15-cm Cheese Tarts come in flavours of Original Cheese ($15), Matcha Cheese ($18), and Chocolate Cheese ($18).

Unfortunately, the Original Cheese Tart only comes with the “Medium” option for Pablo outlets outside Japan. In Japan, you get the “Rare” version which is more molten and flowy. This is so as to keep quality consistent, as they said.

The custardy mousse-like fillings were well, predictable with a mousse-like cheese filling, glazed with apricot jam. Pablo Cheese Tart Café Singapore (Wisma Atria)

Pancake Cafe Belle-Ville
Bugis Junction #01-01B, Towers 230 Victoria Street Singapore 188024 (Bugis MRT Exit C, facing Victoria Street, under the giant TV screen)
Tel: +65 6255 5456
Opening Hours: 8am – 8.30 pm (Mon – Sun)

Suddenly Japanese pancakes are getting back in trend in Singapore, with the opening of Pancake Cafe Belle-Ville at Bugis Junction, and Riz Labo Kitchen.

Pancake Cafe Belle-Ville originated from Osaka Japan, with its popular flagship store located at Umeda Whity. This Singapore branch is its first overseas outpost.

The pancake café is known for its meringue made-to-order millefeuille (French for “thousand layers”) pancakes, included with homemade whipped Hokkaido cream, stacked from 2 to 8 layers.

Priced from $11.90 to $16.20, varieties include Strawberry and Mixed Berry Pancake, Mango Pancake, Grilled Apple with Homemade Caramel Pancake, Matcha with Rice Ball and Red Bean Pancake, and Chocolate with Grilled Banana Pancake. Belle-Ville (Bugis Junction)

Hoshino Coffee
Chinatown Point #02-47/48 Singapore 059413
Tel: +65 6244 2028
Opening Hours: 11.30 am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Hoshino Coffee takes pride in its hand-drip coffees, made with roasted 100% premium Arabica coffee beans. These beans are carefully selected by Hoshino Coffee’s very own coffee blend specialist Master Kanno.

To pair with your coffees, you may order any of their popular soufflé-style pancakes – baked fresh upon order (allot 20 minutes waiting time) and served with whipped butter and your choice of syrup (maple or honey).

Their signature Pancakes Souffle Style is priced $9.80 for single and $12.00 and double. The special matcha variant is at $13.50 for single and $16.80 for double.

Aside the hand-drip coffee and pancakes, Hoshino offers spaghetti with various toppings (its signature is Hoshino Spaghetti with Eggplant, Bacon, Shimeji & Sausage, $14.00), rice dishes (the Fuwa-Fuwa Hoshino Souffle on Porcini Cream Rice with Bacon is a must-try), meat plates (go for the Hoshino Angus Beef Steak Plate, $21.80), and side dishes (Hoshino French Fries with Wasabi Mayo, $6.00).

Japan Rail Café
5 Wallich Street, #01-20/21 Tanjong Pagar Centre, Singapore 078883 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), 11am – 8pm (Sun, PH)

Rail pass ticketing, retail and Japanese style cafe. This is the first overseas venture by East Japan Railway Company, located on Level 1 of Tanjong Pagar Centre.

Walking in, the first thing you may notice is a convenient rail ticket service for Japan rail passes.

You can purchase exchange orders for JR passes before their trips at the instore rail pass ticketing counter operated by JTB Pte Ltd.

Food wise, the menu did feel rather ‘Western-Japanese’, with a selection of burgers ($19 – $22), sandwiches ($15 – $18) and rice plates ($16 – $18). There is a selection of pastries from Asanoya Bakery.

Asanoya Bakery Singapore
Wilby Central, 15 Queen Street, Singapore 188537
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon-Thurs), 10am – 10pm (Fri), 8am – 10pm (Sat), 8am – 8pm (Sun)

The Asanoya brand is 81 years old, founded in 1933 in Karuizawa Japan. The bakery is known for its rustic Japanese-style bread, with a European twist and baked in a traditional stone ovens (modern ones in Singapore).

Their top few bake include the Fruits Rye, a mixture of fragrant orange peel, rum infused raisins, lightly crushed walnuts and almonds mixed into a delicate rye bread.

Hattendo Singapore Cafe
Tanjong Pagar Centre #01-05, 7 Wallich Street Singapore 078884
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 8pm (Sat – Sun, PH)
Reserve Online Now

Japanese soft cream buns Hattendo are available in Singapore as a café concept at Tanjong Pagar Centre.

The cold cream bun by Hattendo looked so unsuspectingly simple, like a plain white round dough smaller than a child’s fist.

Although this would remind some of a choux puff, the layer of fluffiness was “not a puff”, but had a bread-cake texture, soft like an expensive good quality pillow. Hattendo (Tanjong Pagar)

Tsujiri
176 Orchard Road #01-101 The Centrepoint Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6238 8224
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Other branche: The Central @ Clarke Quay

Probably one of the most known Japanese green tea café in Singapore. Tsujiri is said to be a 155-year-old traditional Japanese tea brand serving the highest quality Matcha with a contemporary twist.

However, do not confuse them with Japan’s Gion or Saryo Tsujri – which the Japanese are more familiar with.

The O-Matcha Latte ($5.60, $6.20) is a customer favourite, made using matcha harvested from Tsujiri’s own plantation in Uji, Kyoto. I found the latte slightly sweeter than the usual Japanese style, but was still a smooth, refreshing drink.

Tachihara Coffee
9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-96 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 9:30pm Daily

Pullman Bakery, famous for their Hokkaido curry buns and other Danish pastries, is a name that Japanese bread lovers should recognise.

Do you know that it first started off as “Tachihara Bakery” way back in 1978 in Hokkaido Japan?

I noticed that there is matcha in EVERY section of the menu, and ordered the Matcha Cream Toast ($3), Ice Matcha Latte ($4.50), and Matcha Cup Dessert ($3).

The Ice Matcha Latte ($4.50) was relatively sweet, overpowering everything else. As a matcha lover, I would have preferred more distinct notes of green tea. Tachihara Coffee (Millenia Walk

Maccha House Singapore
Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, #B1-40, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)

Maccha House specialises in traditional Maccha beverages and desserts created from this fine green tea powder, all sourced from Kyoto Japan.

While they also serve hot food items, most are really here for their desserts, such as the Maccha Soft Serve Anmitsu with Rice-flour Dumplings, and Maccha Parfaits which come with rice flour, chocolate or soy milk pudding.

While the palm-sized Maccha Tiramisu ($7.99) seems ordinary, it contained a layer of premium Kyoto’s “Morihan” matcha powder with more than 170 years of history, carefully dusted on top.

They serve the Hot Maccha drink the traditional way – whisked with a bamboo chasen out of a bowl. Their Maccha Latte is considerately not as bitter, so some may like this version? Maccha House (Orchard Central)

Café & Meal MUJI Paragon
Orchard Paragon, 290 Orchard Road #04-36 Singapore 238859 (Orchard MRT)
Tel: +65 6735 0123
Opening Hours: 10am – 9:30pm (Mon-Sun), Full menu available only after 11am, Last order 9:45pm

Lifestyle Japanese brand MUJI has finally opened its first “Café & Meal MUJI” in Singapore at L4 Paragon Orchard. Die-hard MUJI fans will be sooooooo excited.

After shopping for those ‘no-brand’ home accessories, you can rest your legs at the café for some Caramel Pudding ($4.90) and Roasted Tea Pudding. There are electrical sockets if you need to work on your laptop.

For a filling meal, Japanese style ‘cai peng’ is available. A selection of 1 hot and 2 cold deli with choice of white rice or bread is at $12.90, while the 2 hot and 2 cold combination is at $16.90. An additional $1 can be topped up for Ten Grain Rice – Niigata Koshihikari Japanese white rice mixed with multi-grains. The dishes taste, em, healthy. (Read: Café & Meal MUJI Paragon Orchard)

Doutor Coffee 株式会社ドトールコーヒー
Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3, #01-05, 12 Marina Boulevard Singapore 018982
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 9:30am (Mon-Fri), 8:30am – 4:30pm (Sat-Sun)

I suspect not many know there is actually Doutor Coffee in Singapore. Doutor is a popular Japanese retail company specialising in coffee roasting and coffee cafes, with over 1200 outlets around the world. My favourite branch being the one at Ginza.

CBD executives would come for breakfast with options of Ham & Egg Sandwich ($7.80), Pancakes with Choco Banana ($6.80) and localised Kaya Toast with Azuki or Egg ($4.80).

In between meetings, I like to wind down at a quiet corner here. Its Crepe Cake and Matcha desserts are great for a relaxing afternoon bite.

Patties & Wiches
391 Orchard Road Takashimaya Shopping Centre #03-10A Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872 (5-10 min walk from Orchard MRT)
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 9.30pm (Mon-Sun)

We can imagine Japanese tai tais loving the space here. Patties & Wiches (the shop’s name comes from burger-patties and sand-wiches) serves an agglomeration of Japanese pastries from various Japanese F&Bs in Singapore such as Asanoya Bakery and Chef Yamashita. Plus a Western twist.

The highlights include a $55 Wagyu Burger, Chef Yamashita’s Mont Blanc, and the must-try Fumi Araya Chou-Pop ($3) which comes in 5 different flavours. I may have liked this place better if there are more unique bakes, also because I have always tried those from Yamashita. (Read: Patties & Wiches Orchard)

Watanabe Coffee
350 Orchard Road Shaw Centre, Swiss Cottage Estate, Singapore 238868 (Orchard Road MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)

After Patties & Wiches, Japanese tai tais can take a stroll down to Shaw Centre for Watanabe Coffee.

I was excited about their selection of matcha (finely grounded green tea leaves) desserts and drinks: Matcha and Ogura Shibuya Toast ($16.80), Japanese Matcha Parfait ($13.80), Matcha Pudding ($8.20), Matcha Shake ($9), Matcha Latte ($7.80) and Matcha Roll Cake ($8.20). The original branch seems better in terms of food and service though. (Read: Watanabe Coffee Orchard)

Nana’s Green Tea Café
The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura 68 Orchard Road #03-80/82 Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT) Tel: +65 6684 4312
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm

With more than 30 branches in Japan, Nana Green Tea is sometimes termed as the “Japanese Starbucks”.

Although Nana’s Green Tea is known to be a café, it also sells several main courses such as dons, udons and sushi rolls, with a more localised menu quite unlike the ones in Japan.

Desserts such as its Matcha Anmitsu ($8.80), are definitely its strength. It may not blow you away but makes a decent afternoon tea-time treat, with its azuki red bean paste smooth and satisfying.

St. Marc Bakery & Bar
Parkland Green @ ECP 920, East Coast Parkway #01-09/10, Singapore 449875
Tel: +65 6342 1786
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Tue – Fri), 9am to 10pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
Other branches at Raffles City Shopping Centre, Vivocity, Marina Square

Japanese dessert Café Saint Marc has a few star items – Choro Cro pastry, Little Fuji and Geisha Waffle Cone. No doubt, I am a fan.

Few would know they opened a restaurant concept with much larger space at Parkland Green, East Coast Parkway. Dining at a Japanese café by the beach sounds like a great weekend activity. However, while The East Coast St. Marc may provide a fuller menu, the experience at other branches felt better. (Read: St Marc Bakery & Bar Parkland Green)

Omotesando Koffee
6A Shenton Way #04-01, The Work Project, Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon to Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

This a take away store tucked away in a corner of Level 4 of Downtown Gallery as part of office space “The Work Project”, but that did not hider coffee fans from finding their way to this secluded part of building.

Over here, the menu is kept simple with Hot or Iced selections.

Hot coffee include espresso based Omotesando Koffee Hot (Regular $4, Large $5), Hand Drip Koffee ($6) Latte and Cappuccino (Regular $4.80, Large $6).

The popular choice is the signature Iced Cappuccino (Single $7.50, Double $8.50) capped with layer of bubble foam and topped with cocoa powder. Omotesando Koffee (Downtown Gallery)

Kagurazaka Saryo 神楽坂茶寮
VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-59, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Known to have 9 outlets in Japan with 14 years of history, Kagurazaka Saryo has opened its very first flagship store right in Singapore at VivoCity.

Brought into Singapore by Japan Food Holdings who owns eateries such as Ajisen Ramen, they have replaced existing Fruit Paradise outlet (Oh bye bye, Fruit Paradise!) with Kagurazaka Saryo.

Fans of fruit tarts from Fruit Paradise need not worry as the tarts are still available for purchase in slices or in whole at Kagurazaka Saryo.

The menu offers a selection of signature matcha desserts such as their famed Matcha Fondue with Assorted Sides ($14.90) and Matcha Frozen Smores ($9.90).

However, the matcha ice cream was milky and sweet, and the taste of green tea was not as distinct as expected, especially when this brand is supposed to comes from the land of matcha. Kagurazaka Saryo 神楽坂茶寮 (Vivocity)

Other Related Entries
40 Amazing Matcha Desserts In Singapore
12 Japanese Restaurants & Cafes At Suntec City
11 Must Try Japanese Restaurants At Millenia Walk
10 Japanese Cafes In Singapore
12 Best Sushi Rolls In Singapore

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape.

The post 20 Japanese Cafes In Singapore – To Satisfy Your Matcha, Pancakes And Japanese Desserts Craze appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

While ramen continues to enjoy widespread popularity in Singapore, I feel that more can be talked about udon – which is still quite under-the-radar.

Talking about “under-the-radar”, other than Kohaku Tendon and Menya Kokoro at Eat At Seven, perhaps it is time to venture further inside this Japanese dining enclave at Suntec City.

(Click PLAY for video highlights of Udon Kamon.)

Udon Kamon, an udon specialty house just opened at Eat At Seven – the food cluster consisting of 7 top Japanese food specialist concepts including Unagiya Ichinoji Dining.

Helmed by Executive Chef Kamogi Noriyuki, Udon Kamon specialises in Sanuki udon, the most popular type of udon in the Shikoku region.

It is also found in the neighbouring Kansai region and throughout Japan.

If you are wondering what “Sanuki udon” is, the noodles are characterised by its square shape and flat edges, made with Japanese wheat flour, salt and water.

At Udon Kamon, all noodles are homemade and made fresh daily.

Another key selling point is that this Japanese concept offers different types of udon broths, the widest range available in Singapore.

These include Kyoto-style dashi soup broths, tonkotsu soup broths, a spicy Tom Yam soup broth, and an equally intense spicy Magma broth. If you are at lost at what to order, the signature dishes at Udon Kamon include:

Prawn Tonkotsu Udon ($14.80++)
This signature udon dish takes the tonkotsu broth to the next level.

Prawn paste and homemade prawn oil are added to the hearty bowl of creamy broth made with white miso and pork collar, creating a dish imbued with mildly-rich prawn flavour.

Topped with tiger prawns and Sakura-ebi, half an aji tamago, chopped green onions, bamboo shoots, and wood ear mushrooms.

The flat-edged udon noodles are perfect in picking up this type of broth.

What’s special is also the addition of Sakura ebi, which gives that bit of crunch and more layered taste to the broth.

Tom Yam Spicy Udon ($13.80++)
Don’t think you get many Tom Yum Udon in Singapore.

Served in a hot marbled stone bowl to maintain the heat, the Tom Yam Spicy Udon with spicy-sour broth inspired by the flavours of northern and central Thailand.

Made with the aromatic tom yam spices, this spicy udon dish leans more on the sour side than spicy.

This soup is brimming with treasures of the sea like tiger prawns, mussels, sliced rings of squid, and Asari clams aka Manila clams or Japanese cockles.

Also features sliced straw mushrooms to add more texture, and chopped green onion to impart freshness to your palate. A potentially addictive item.

Magma Spicy Udon ($13.80++)
Like the Tom Yam Spicy Udon, this dish will satisfy those with a penchant for spicy soups.

Also served in a hot stone bowl to keep the dish piping hot, the Magma Spicy Udon combines the bland tasting Sanuki udon with the intense flavours of red chili peppers that make the broth bright red.

It is not called Magma Spicy for nothing.

Generously topped with Black tiger prawns, Kampong chicken, bamboo shoots, half an aji tamago, and chopped green onions.

Between the two spicy udon, I would personally prefer the Magma as it had stronger, more intense fieriness overall.

Smoked Duck Udon ($11.80++)
Duck lover gourmands will find this signature item irresistible, as it features thin slices of smoked duck especially air-flown from Italy.

The pinkish-coloured duck meat thankfully didn’t taste too gamey, with succulent layer of fatty duck skin. Delightful proteins to add heft to your meal.

The Sanuki udon noodles sit on a light and refreshing broth, a traditional wafu broth made with dashi stock.

Aside from the smoked duck toppings, it has aged Kagoshima bonito flakes, kombu (an edible Japanese kelp), kamaboko (a type of cured surimi), chopped green onions, and a bit of yuzu peel that imparts a citrusy aroma.

Special mention goes to the accompanying freshly shaved bonito flakes (which is seldom given emphasis).

Udon Kamon imports premium bonito (katsuo fish) from Kagoshima that has been aged for at least two years, which imparts a light smoky-savoury accent to the light broth.

Beef Udon ($11.80++)
That same bonito flakes can be added to the Beef Udon.

Dashi broth serves as a base, while the aged Kagoshima bonito flakes, kombu, narutomaki, chopped green onions, and bits of yuzu peel build up to add subtle flavours to the broth.

The firm and chewy udon noodles are smoothly slurped with this type of broth combination.

As for the protein, the beef in Shabu Shabu cut is marbled with some fat and rendered tender to the bite.

Apart from the soups, Udon Kamon offers a selection of rice dishes, including the Spicy Minced Pork ($4.80), Beef Rice ($6.80), Pork Rice ($6.80), Mentai Takana ($4.80), and a special Daily Rice ($4.00).

As for side dishes, you can pick from any of these 9 items: Healthy Tofu Salad ($4.80), Pork Shabu Shabu Salad ($5.80), Beef Plate ($6.80), Deep Fried Chicken ($5.80), Takoyaki ($5.80), Deep Fried Oysters ($6.80), Deep Fried Prawns ($5.80), Chicken Wings ($5.80), and Edamame ($3.80).

The Chicken Wings are worth the order.

Udon Kamon 1-For-1 Opening Special
Get 1-for-1 Udon at Udon Kamon Eat At Seven, from 21st to 23rd Feb (Thurs – Sat)

T&C:
– Minimum 2 diners to enjoy 1-for-1 promotion.
– Lower priced udon dish will be discounted.
– Limited to dine-in only. Not valid for split table receipts.
– The offer is not valid in conjunction with other discounts, offers, promotions, privileges, and vouchers.
– This promotion is valid from 21st Feb (Thurs) to 23rd Feb (Sat) 2019 (both dates inclusive).
– The management reserves the right amend these terms and conditions without prior notice.

Udon Kamon
Eat At Seven, 3 Temasek Boulevard #03-315, Sky Garden Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6266 5338
Opening Hours: 11:30pm – 3:00pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Kohaku Tendon 天丼琥珀 (Suntec City)
Menya Kokoro (Suntec City)
Unagiya Ichinoji Dining (Suntec City)
Tsuruhashi Fugetsu (Suntec City)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Udon Kamon.

The post Udon Kamon – NEW Udon Restaurant With Widest Range Of Broths In Singapore. 1-For-1 Udon From 21-23 Feb 2019 appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Compared to ramen, udon does not get as wide-spread popularity in Singapore, and I thought it is about time someone does a listicle specifically on UDON.

Udon うどん is a type of thick wheat flour noodle used frequently in Japanese cuisine, served in both hot and cold versions depending on the season.

Interestingly, even though Singapore is summer all year round, we find more hot soupy versions such as the Kake Udon – the simplest form of noodles in hot soup. This is usually topped with ingredients such as tempura, tofu-pockets, or meat slices.

Sanuki Udon is probably one of the most commonly found types of Udon noodles found here, characterised by its square shape and flat edges.

Tamoya Udon Singapore たも屋うどん-シンガポール
177 River Valley Road, Liang Court Shopping Centre, #01-32, Singapore 179030
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Founded in 1996 in Kagawa prefecture, Tamoya’s udon propelled to fame after it won the “Best Udon Maker of Kagawa Prefecture” in a television champion show in Japan.

Good to know (and see) that its udon dishes are handmade on site with ingredients imported from Japan, from flour to shoyu to bonito.

The noodles blend 3 types of different flour, and will change their combination ration by the seasons depending on the temperature and humidity.

Therefore, you would find it having more bite and chewiness unlike some others who can be soggy or just plain rubbery.

As for udon items, the ever favourite are the Beef ($10.80) and Pork Udon ($9.80), with prices still remained UNCHANGED from opening days of 2013.

You can also try the Curry Niku Onsen ($12.20 for beef, $11.20 for pork) which contains mildly spicy (more to the sweet-savoury side) Japanese curry topped with sliced meat. Tamoya Udon (Liang Court)

Marugame Udon & Tempura Singapore 丸亀製麺
2 Orchard Turn #B4-67/68 ION Orchard Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6732 0687
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Daily

Marugame Udon & Tempura, known to be the No. 1 Udon noodle restaurant chain in the world, can be found in Singapore at ION Orchard basement 4.

Those who frequent Japan should have seen this brand around, also known as Marugame Seimen 丸亀製麺.

The brand is known for its freshly made Sanuki-style Udon at affordable prices, starting at $5.90 for a classic regular Udon. Inexpensive considering ION Orchard is at the heart of town.

Similar to the Japan restaurants, Marugame Udon & Tempura in Singapore operates in a self-serve style where you first can choose the Udon, then add your preferred tempura.

After paying, there is a toppings seasoning bar to further customise your bowl. Choose from coriander, spring onions, grated ginger, wasabi, and agedama – deep-fried batter bits from cooking tempura.

Get the Udon with Seasoned Cod Roe & Half Boiled Egg ($11.90, $12.90) – one of the best sellers and my personal favourite is a dry udon with mentaiko and seaweed strips.

After mixed together, the roe imparted a layer of complex salty-sweetness, while the egg helped to balance the dish.

You still get to appreciate the chewy texture and mild flavour of the Udon noodles. Marugame Udon & Tempura 丸亀製麺 (ION Orchard)

Udon Kamon
Eat At Seven, 3 Temasek Boulevard #03-315, Sky Garden Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6266 5338
Opening Hours: 11:30pm – 3:00pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

Udon Kamon, an udon specialty house just opened at Eat At Seven – the food cluster consisting of 7 top Japanese food specialist concepts.

All noodles are homemade and made fresh daily.

Another key selling point is that this Japanese concept offers different types of udon broths, the widest range available in Singapore.

These include Kyoto-style dashi soup broths, tonkotsu soup broths, a spicy Tom Yam soup broth, and an equally intense spicy Magma broth.

The Prawn Tonkotsu Udon ($14.80++) is topped with tiger prawns and Sakura-ebi, half an aji tamago, chopped green onions, bamboo shoots, and wood ear mushrooms.

Prawn paste and homemade prawn oil are added to the hearty bowl of creamy broth made with white miso and pork collar, creating a dish imbued with mildly-rich prawn flavour.

The flat-edged udon noodles are perfect in picking up this type of broth.

What’s special is also the addition of Sakura ebi, which gives that bit of crunch and more layered taste to the broth. Udon Kamon (Suntec City)

Fu-Men Japanese Udon
16 Raffles Quay, #B1-17/18 Hong Leong Building Singapore 048581
Tel: +65 6224 1134
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 2:30pm (Sat), Closed Sun

Fu-Men serves up Hakata-style Udon from Fukuoka, characterized by mildly thick, soft and tender noodles.

The noodles are slightly slimmer as compared to the Sanuki style more commonly found in Singapore.

It is officially Halal-certified, and half size portions are available for those watching your carb-level.

Varieties such as Tempura Udon ($15), Big Fish Cake Udon ($12), Bean Curd Sheet ($8), Chicken ($12) and Premium Beef ($15) are available.

I went for the signature Gobo ($12) which came topped with Burdock Tempura, reminding me of the exceptional Zagin Soba from Hong Kong.

As for burdock, I do not think many diners in Singapore are that familiar with it yet, as they are typically used in soups and can have an overly-earthy taste.

Surprisingly, the tempura burdock was deep fried with a light, not-too-greasy batter, with a soft crunch and retained its unique woodiness. Fu Men Japanese Udon (Hong Leong Building)

Idaten Udon
Changi City Point #B1-12/13 5 Changi Business Park Central 1 Singapore 486038
Tel: +65 6636 1736
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Other branches at NEX #B1-02, Jurong Point #B1-75, CityLink Mall #B1-21, Tampines 1 #B1-07, IMM #02-52

Idaten is a Udon restaurant where you can mix and match smooth udon, sides and tempura.

Customising your own udon bowl is fun, and I noted they have Original, Matcha and Japanese Pepper Togarashi flavoured Udon.

If you like the more ‘original’ taste, go for their specialty Kamatama Udon which comes with a half-boiled egg. Complete the Udon Meal with a choice of tempura for below $12.

My recommendation would be the Spicy Miso Pork Udon ($9.20) which has a kimchi soybean broth, and Seafood Udon ($10.80) generously added with tiger prawn, scallop, crabstick, and oyster mushroom.

Inaniwa Yosuke
435 Orchard Road Japan Food Town #04-45 Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Singapore 238877
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

This eatery found within Japan Food Town at Wisma Atria Shopping Centre specialises in Inaniwa Udon.

This style of noodles is thinner than the conventional udon and are slightly chewy in texture. The making technique is said to be passed down the Sato Yosuke family line for hundreds of years, known as one of Japan’s best udon noodles.

The menu revolves around the Inaniwa Udon, with both chilled and hot versions.

Hot udon includes Kake Udon ($18.30), Hot Udon with Tempura ($29.80), Beef Udon ($24.80), Japanese Curry Udon ($22.80), Carbonara Udon ($24.80); while the cold versions are Bara-Kakiage Udon ($21.80), Onsen Egg Udon ($16.80), and Zaru Udon ($49.80 for 400g, meant for 3-4 pax).

My favourite was the Tempura & Ajikurabe ($34.60) – comprising of both hot & cold noodles, served with 2 types of Tare: Soy sauce with wasabi and Sesame based with ginger.

The former tasted similar to our usual style of eating soba whereas the latter was richer and more flavourful Oishii!

Other Related Entries
Tamoya Udon (Liang Court)
Marugame Udon & Tempura 丸亀製麺 (ION Orchard)
Udon Kamon (Suntec City)
Fu Men Japanese Udon (Hong Leong Building)

The post Best Udon Shops In Singapore – From Tamoya Udon, Marugame, Udon Kamon, To Idaten Udon appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Nestled at Changi Airport Terminal 3 is Terminal M, its first aviation-themed gourmet food hall featuring a mix of Asian fare from 5 stalls all under one roof.

And the good news is, Terminal M implements a “No Pork, No Lard” policy, and its Halal Certification is in-process.

You may find the names of the stalls familiar, as these are are spin-offs of the best brands under the Ministry of Food (MOF), such as Yu Long Quan (Ju Hao), Hanssik (Ssiksin), Café Papa (Café Mama), Ten-ya (Tensho) and Kaisen-ya (Kaisen-Tei).

You can say it is a “sister food court” to Platform M at Paya Lebar SingPost Centre.

What makes the 150-seater Terminal M a potential winner is its dining practicality, combined with a relaxing ambiance.

With prices that start from $3.50 with no service charge, expect restaurant quality and quick meals at affordable food court prices.

Stop by and delight in varied cuisines, including Korean, Chinese and Japanese. Here are what to expect at the 5 stalls from Terminal M:

Yu Long Quan (Chinese Cuisine)
Start off your gustatory journey with Yu Long Quan, for a taste of Northern Chinese fare (This is the spin-off of Ju Hao, known for its La Mian and dumplings.)

Their Signature Xiao Long Bao aka steamed soup dumplings, are handmade and made fresh on the spot by a team of dexterous staff.

Yu Long Quan’s version is filled with chicken and come in 6 different Singaporean flavours: Black Pepper, Salted Egg Yolk, Chili Crab, Teochew Herbs & Spices, Laksa, and the Original Chicken flavour.

Get 6 pieces of the original Chicken Xiao Long Bao for $8.50, and $14.00 for 10 pieces. Just add $0.30 to get the 6-in-1 flavours. It may get some getting used for the chicken meat, otherwise the broth was sweet and skin still suitably thin.

If you are on the look-out for Singapore-meets-Hakka style Yong Tau Foo, with a number of fried food items in a thick braised sauce, you can find it here.

All ingredients are fresh and springy, and the braised sauce with mushroom and minced chicken (a secret MoF recipe) was quite enjoyable.

For fried rice, try either the Fried Rice with Chicken Cutlet ($12.50) or Fried Rice with Prawn ($11.50). Both are classic comfort food, wok-fried, prepared Chinese-style.

While I liked the crispiness of the chicken cutlet, I thought that there could be more wok-hei for the fried rice.

Not forgetting to end the meal with a ‘dessert’ of Red Bean Pancake ($8.80), of crispy sesame-d outer layer with soft and sweet red bean wrapped within.

Hanssik (Korean Cuisine)
Relish a variety of Korean cuisine from rice-based dishes to noodles, soup, stews, and hotpot at Hanssik.

Just for the rice dishes alone, choosing could be tough: bibimbap (mixed rice), fried rice or deopbap (Korean rice bowls with toppings)?

If you picked bibimbap, go for the sizzle. For an extra $2.00, get your Beef Bibimbap ($12.00) or Chicken Bibimbap ($11.00) in a hot stone pot for a heightened dining experience.

The Kimchi Pancake ($11.80) is a classic Korean snack you shouldn’t miss, also available in Seafood ($10.80) and Chives ($12.80) flavours.

If you get tired and chilly at the airport, warm up with a bowl of Ginseng Chicken Soup ($15.80) to boost your energy, Seafood Soybean Stew with Rice ($13.80), or the more filling Beef Bulgogi Hotpot ($33.80).

Got kids in tow? Get them a Corndog for only $5.00. Let them choose from Hotdog, Mozzarella, or Ddeok/Rice Cake Corndog. Even the adults should enjoy a Korean snack or two.

Café Papa (Korean Casual)
If Hanssik is not enough to satisfy your Korean cravings, right next to it is Café Papa, a more casual joint that likewise offers authentic Korean fare like the classic Dosirak aka “Shake Shake” Rice.

Get the spicy Chicken Bulgogi Dosirak ($10.90), which comes with rice, chicken bulgogi, fried egg, seaweed, kimchi, and seaweed soup.

If you are hankering for noodles, go for the Budae Jjigae (Army Stew Spicy Ramen) Speciality Myeon ($10.90). I loved that there are individual portions for this, as the Army Stew is typically served in large family-sized portions in restaurants.

This should satisfy your appetite with its medley of ingredients served in a heavy cast iron bowl, including noodles, slices of luncheon meat, mini chicken sausage, slivers of dried seaweed, an onsen egg, shredded vegetables like carrots, cabbage and green onion, and melted cheese.

Enjoy the cheese with the noodles, or blend it into the broth to create a creamy soup.

Café Papa’s Budae Jjigae also comes in bigger portions, good for sharing among 3-4 persons, and available in traditional, fishcake, chicken, beef, and seafood variants. The Beef Budae Jjigae ($37.90) is a hot pot filled with beef, assorted mushrooms, cabbage, and noodles in either clear or budae jjigae broth.

If you are feeling nibblish, the Fried Chicken Platter with Cheese Dip (starts at $16.90 for 6 pieces) is perfect for group diners, and comes in 6, 10 or 16 pieces.

These succulent chicken pieces are fried till crisp golden brown and glazed with an in-house Korean-style sauce, available in original, soy, spicy or a mix.

The chicken platter also comes with fried topokki (Korean rice cake), fries, crisscut fries, and onion rings.

Need a quick snack-on-the-go? Get the Kimbap ($8.90) in kimchi, tuna mayo, chicken sausage, or Korean fishcake filling.

Ten-ya (Japanese Tendon)
This stall is a Japanese specialty tendon restaurant that provides wholesome tempura donburi at affordable prices.

The Ika Tendon ($13.80) is a brand new dish that has squid, French beans, pumpkin, shiitake mushrooms, eggplant, and onsen egg.

Two other recommended signature dishes are Anago Tendon ($15.80), with sea eel, ebi, onsen egg, and vegetable tempura, and Ebi Lover Tendon ($14.80) with 4 pieces of prawns, onsen egg, and vegetable tempura.

All Tendon dishes are served atop Japanese rice.

Ten-ya also serves Tempura Udon/Soba Sets. Diners can choose between prawn and vegetable tempura, paired with either soba or udon noodles served either hot or cold. Try the Tempura Cha Soba Set or Tempura Udon Set (both priced at $13.80 each)

If you prefer tendon to go with your noodles, order the Mini Tendon Set with Cha Soba or Udon for $13.80.

As needed, you can upgrade to Set Meal for $3.00 which adds Chawanmushi and Miso Soup to your order. And don’t forget the special Ten-ya sauce to liven up your meals, available in Original or Spicy.

Kaisen-ya (Japanese Donburi)
Finally, there’s Kaisen-ya, a friendly and casual dining concept where you can personalise your donburi with fresh sashimi cubes, salmon, seafood and vegetables on top of soft fluffy rice.

The Kaisendon is a complete rice bowl, a perfect healthy takeaway meal for diners on the go.

With 11 kaisendon bowls to choose from, start with the Signature Kaisendon ($16.30), Aburi Salmon Mentai Mayo ($15.20), and Aburi Maguro Mentai Mayo ($15.20) for they are the really popular ones.

The Signature Kaisen Salad ($16.30) is another top pick if you’re watching your calories. You get the flavours of the fresh toppings and light seasoning minus the sugar from the rice.

Kaisen-ya also offers its Signature Cold Udon with Mix Sashimi, Maguro or Salmon in Sesame Sauce ($16.30).

Consistent with its aviation theme, there are 6 free-seating First-Class cabins complete with comfy booth seats and phone charging ports. Recharge your gadgets while recharging your tummies.

If you are a first-timer to Terminal M, just a note that ordering has to be done at the electronic boards outside, and you would wait for your orders to be called on the “flight information board”.

You get a “flight number” upon order at the kiosk, so look out for the “gate” and “flight status” on the panel. Don’t wait till it’s “Last Call”!

Are your taste buds ready for take-off? Head out to Terminal M at Changi Airport T3 and see, taste and experience what it is all about.

Terminal M
Changi Airport Terminal 3 #B2-32, 65 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819663
Tel: +65 63823550
Opening Hour: 11am – 10pm Last order 9:15pm (Sun – Thurs & PH), 11am – 10:30pm Last Order 9:45pm (Fri, Sat, Eve of PH)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Terminal M.

The post Terminal M – 1st Aviation Themed Gourmet Food Hall at Changi Airport T3 With XLB And Budae Jjigae, Halal Certification Pending appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Quite a bit has been written about Tendon and Gyudon in Singapore, that I thought it is time to venture to Butadon 豚丼 aka Pork Donburi.

The Butadon is a Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of rice topped with pork slices, generally simmered in a mildly sweet sauce or grilled.

Aburi-EN – VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk #01-159/160, VivoCity Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6259 9603
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 10.00pm (Mon – Sun)

Aburi-EN – Tanjong Pagar Centre
7 Wallich Street, #B2-09, Tanjong Pagar Centre, Singapore 078884
Tel: +65 6214 3570
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 10.00pm (Mon – Sun)

The Buta Don ($12) is a top selling item in the menu, a rather generous portion of grilled chestnut-fed pork for its price.

The meat comes from a superior chestnut-fed pork, known to be tastier than normal pork.

It is harvested from carefully selected pigs which enjoys a natural diet that contains chestnuts. This contributes to a tender juicy meat with a sweet nuance.

The meat cut is that of a loin, simmered in a Miyazaki Yakiniku Sauce, a sweet-savoury light glaze.

The rather huge pork slices are arranged neatly in a circular way, resembling a blossomed flower from certain angles. Relish this prime meat’s tenderness as you bite into the juicy pork slices. Aburi-EN (VivoCity)

Chalong
One Raffles Place #B1-18, Singapore 048616
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:00pm, 5:30pm – 8:00pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 2:00pm (Sat), Closed Sun, PH

Chalong is a modern fusion kiosk inspired by Thai flavours serving charcoal grilled meat rice bowls, and has recently opened in the basement of One Raffles Place.

The pork is sourced from free-range Iberico pigs in Spain that are fed 100% on acorn.

Go for the 18hr Sous-Vide Iberico Jowl ($12), a signature dish made with in-house premium Iberico pork cheek/jowl marinated in a special combination of Thai spices to impart a uniquely balanced flavour to the meat.

The gloriously charred and tender pork jowl is sliced and served with Chalong’s in-house specialty Chilli Sauce that is smoky, sour, sweet and spicy. One Raffles Place Food Guide

Kogane Yama – Jem
Jem #01-15, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549
Opening Hours: 11am-10pm Last order at 9.30pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 11pm Last Order 10.30pm (Sat – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/koganeyamasingapore

Kogane Yama – Bugis Junction
Bugis Junction #02-50, 200 Victoria Street, Singapore 188021
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Mon – Fri), 11am-11pm Last Order 10.30pm (Sat – Sun)

The Pork Belly Shogayaki Don ($10.90) from Kogane Yama is pretty affordable, if you have donburi cravings at Jem or Bugis.

“Shoga” means ginger, while yaki refers to grilling or frying. Do you know that “shogayaki” is the second most popular pork dish in Japan after Tonkatsu?

This consists of thin slices of pork belly browned in the pan, then stir-fried with enoki mushrooms and ginger sauce.

Served simply with rice and onsen egg, this makes a flavourful, comforting dish that may just remind you of (a Japanese) mum’s cooking. Kogane Yama (Jem)

Baristart Coffee Singapore
65 Tras Street Singapore 079004 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

A dish that originated from Tokachi, Obihiro, the Obihiro Butadon ($18.80) is a specialty rice bowl that comes with premium pork.

The grilled slices of Hokkaido Kurobuta pork belly are basted in a soy-based marinade and leans more on the sweet side.

Generously served on top of steamed white short-grain Japanese rice, and glazed with a special teriyaki sauce.

Perfect for an everyday lunch. Baristart Coffee (Tras Street)

Tokachi Tontaro – Downtown Gallery
6A Shenton Way Downtown Gallery #03-20 Singapore 068815
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Tokachi Tontaro which specialises in Buta Don, has opened by both Plaza Singapura and OUE Downtown Gallery.

It features bowls of grilled pork cooked in a Hokkaido speciality tare sauce and served atop premium Hokkaido Yumepirika rice.

Available are the Premium Butadon ($22.80, $25.80) which uses Japanese Kagoshima Pork; or Regular Butadon ($11.80, $13.80, $16.80) which is topped with American pork coated in a signature tare sauce.

The regular version offers you other flavours of Spicy Tomato and Miso Butadon.

The Regular Butadon ($13.80) was an acceptable bowl, and as straight-forward as it gets – 5 slices of grilled pork on rice.

There wasn’t anything really bad about it, but lacked that special something that would keep me excited. Tokachi Tontaro (Plaza Singapura)

Gochi-so Shokudo
One Raffles Place #B1-30 Singapore 048616
Tel: +65 65366447
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 9pm (Sat, Sun)

Located at the corner of the basement of One Raffles Place is Gochi So Shokudo, an under-the-radar eatery that focuses on the premium pork rice bowls, with prices targeted at the office crowd.

Despite being affordable, Gochi-so Shokudo uses only the most premium Iberian pork from Spain. The pork is charcoal grilled to bring out the best flavours from the meat.

Popular items in the menu include the Charcoal Grill Iberico Jowl Don ($13.80), made with tender Iberico pork jowl grilled over flaming charcoals for that amazing char-grilled smoky flavours.

Topped with a creamy onsen egg atop steamed Japanese fluffy white rice, the broken egg yolk adds a velvety texture over the whole don.

The Iberico Pork Belly Don ($10.00) is one of its most value-for-money menu options. It comes with a generous portion of thinly sliced Iberico pork belly, a perfectly executed onsen egg, seaweed strips, and sliced spring onions atop a bowl of hot, fluffy rice. One Raffles Place Food Guide

Bazuka Yakibuta バズか 焼豚
Great World City #B1-12A, Kim Seng Promenade Singapore 237994 (Takeaway only)
Tel: +65 6735 1398
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 8:00pm (Mon – Sun)
Outlets at One Raffles Place and OUE Downtown Gallery.

This is Singapore twist’s to the Japanese Donburi, topped with roast pork or char siew, accompanied with an onsen egg, pickles and crispy homemade shallot chilli.

The menu is kept lean, with options of Caramel Roast Pork Donburi ($8.80), Crackling and Caramel Roast Pork Donburi ($10.80).

Their caramelised roast pork took three days to make from a secret recipe, brushed with honey and crisped in the oven. Lean yet tender, sweetish tasty.

However, the crackling pork was slightly disappointing, somehow a tad tough.

Other Related Entries
12 Best Gyudon In Singapore
12 Best Tendon In Singapore
10 Unexpected Salted Egg Fusion Food In Singapore
10 Awesome Brunch Places In Singapore To Satisfy Your Cravings
10 NEW Ramen Shops In Singapore

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Pancakes are happy food, they can temporary make you forget about the stress from work. Okay, not when you got to wait a long time for them.

Belle-Ville Pancake Cafe from Osaka Japan has opened at 100AM Mall, which joins the other Japanese counterparts such as Don Don Donki, Nadai Fujisoba Ni-Hachi, Ramen Keisuke Tori King and Monster Curry.

It replaced the space previously occupied by Tsujiri.

The OLs working around let a gasp of ”Pancakes!” when they walked past, with their brighten eyes of curiosity, and this should certainly pack in the crowds during peak hours.

Have a ramen, buy some snacks from Don Don Donki, bread from Pullman Bakery, and end with pancakes from Belle-Ville.

Such is a ‘Japanese’ life there.

The pancake café is known for its meringue made-to-order mille-feuille (French for “thousand layers”) pancakes, included with homemade whipped Hokkaido cream, stacked from 2 to 8 layers.

Offerings include Strawberry and Mixed Berry Pancake, Mango Pancake, Grilled Apple with Homemade Caramel Pancake, Matcha with Rice Ball and Red Bean Pancake, and Chocolate with Grilled Banana Pancake, priced from $11.90 to $16.20.

What makes their pancakes so fluffy include the usage of fresh milk, and they are made fresh-to-order.

I had the Chocolate and Grilled Banana Pancakes ($12.20 for 4 pieces, $16.20 for 8 pieces), topped with light torched bananas and chocolate sauce.

A word of caution that IF you are in a rush for the next meeting, then you would want to consider coming another time.

Even though the café was not that crowded when I ordered, my pancakes still took about half an hour to arrive (plus my order was wrong).

Order the 8 and they would be stacked up like a column of fluffiness, though mine quickly leaned to the side like the Tower of Pisa.

These pancakes were indeed moist and soft, with bananas blended into the batter, the interesting part was a half-cooked centre.

Ah, that warm, soft, fuzzy feeling.

Even though I added ice cream, I thought the scoop could be fuller as there was not enough chocolate sauce and nuts to go with the stack.

There are many pancake cafes in Singapore, and I do think Belle-Ville does offer some of the best out there. If only they can improving on their speed and system.

Belle-Ville Pancake Café – Tanjong Pagar
100AM Mall 01-14b, 100 Tras Street, Singapore 079027
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 9pm Last Order 8.30pm (Mon – Sun)

Belle-Ville Pancake Cafe – Bugis
Bugis Junction #01-01B, Towers 230 Victoria Street Singapore 188024
Tel: +65 6255 5456
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
20 Japanese Cafes In Singapore
Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory (Raffles City)
Pablo Cheese Tart Café Singapore (Wisma Atria)
Café & Meal MUJI (Plaza Singapura)
Haritts Donuts ハリッツ (Havelock Road)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Tokyo] While Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world, you still can find affordable eats, even in the heart of Shinjuku.

Let me direct you to Tatsuya, a hole-in-the-wall eatery specializing in Gyudon (¥350) which is simmered beef on rice, and Katsu Don (¥450) – pork cutlet with egg on rice.

¥350 is only about SGD4.30, or USD3.15.

To find Tatusya, it is a short 5 minutes’ walk or so from Shinjuku Sanchome, with an inconspicuous sign that wrote “たつ屋 since 1969”.

Items on the menu include Oyako Don (¥400) – Chicken and Egg Bowl with egg; Chicken Bowl (¥400) – deep fried chicken cooked with special soy sauce; and Beef and Pork Cutlet Bowl (¥550).

If you would like something simpler, you can choose and Egg Bowl (¥350) with deep fried tofu and naruto.

Ask for an English menu as there are no pictorial ones available.

When in doubt, get the Gyudon (“gyu” means cow”, while “don” is short for “donburi” or “rice bowl”) which consists of a bowl of steaming fluffy rice topped with beef and onions simmered in a mildly sweet sauce.

The staff strength is lean, but the friendly elderly cooks will whip up warm bowls of donburi, complete with tender slices of beef.

You would love it if you enjoying something slightly wet and comforting. The beef was not exactly superbly tender or of top-notch quality, but for the price, you are getting quite a substantial portion.

The other popular choice is the Katsu Don (¥450), in which you get deep-fried pork cutlet – it was not melt-in-mouth soft but still tender; runny egg and onions cooked in a savoury and sweet broth placed over steamed rice.

Again, this seems to be a saucier and wetter version, perhaps it is easier for diners to gulp down their food.

Tatsuya appears to be popular with salaried workers in the vicinity, who comes, completes the meal, and goes in quick succession.

Tatsuya たつ屋 新宿店 牛丼餐廳
35-2, 3chome, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿３丁目３５−2
Tel: +81 3 3354 0611
Opening hours: 10:00am – 9:00pm (Mon – Fri, Sun), 8:00am – 9:00pm (Sat)
Google Maps – Tatsuya たつ屋

Other Related Entries
10 Must Eats At Shinjuku Tokyo

Click HERE for other Tokyo Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Tokyo] It is not uncommon to queue up for food, especially at the famous establishments.

But my experience for a bowl of Michelin-starred Soba at Tamawarai 玉笑 was one which stretched my patience (and perhaps friendship).

Tamawarai is a small 14-seater non-descript one Michelin starred Soba place located in Shibuya-ku of Tokyo.

Using only the freshest ingredients, the restaurant to known for making both hot and cold Japanese Soba in a traditional style using age-old grinding techniques.

This place is a little hard to find, as it is seriously buried in one of the small streets off Harajuku.

Google Maps does a pretty decent job of getting you there, just keep a lookout for a restaurant with a wooden exterior and white curtains billowing above it with 玉笑 written on it.

If you did not see a line outside, you might not have guessed that there is a restaurant within.

As I counted about 10 to 12 patrons waiting outside, I figured that soba would be more-or-less a quick meal, and shouldn’t take that long.

I was entirely wrong of course, and the entire process till I finally landed up inside the dining area (not inclusive of ordering and even more waiting), was no less than 2 hours. (Therefore, if you really intend to come for this, make sure that the people you come with can stand this test of friendship.)

That’s if the food is not sold out yet. Imagine that you are on your way in (after 2 hours), only to be told ”No more left.”

Another note: diners have to queue up on a flight of stairs. What they do not say is there is ANOTHER waiting room after you make it, and it a claustrophobic space with 6 peoples within. I was so bored I took their Japanese magazines to read, and it is bad manners to make loud conversations.

The sign of relief when I finally made it in.

The interior is of minimalist design, with traditional Japanese décor and style. The main dining room is quite dim and small – 7 counter seats, a table for 4 and 2 tables for 2.

On the menu includes section of both cold and hot soba, with choices such as Cold Soba with Grated Daikon Radish (¥1300), Cold Soba with Herring and Grated Daikon Radish (¥2200), Cold/Hote Soba with Vegetable Tempura (¥2500, ¥2600), and Hot Soba in an Egg Soup (¥1300).

¥1300 is about SGD15.90 or USD11.70.

I could imagine anyone would be hungry after that wait, so you can get a couple of side dishes such as Tofu (¥700), Omelette (¥800), Baked Prawn (¥1200 for 2), or Boiled Fish Paste with Wasabi (¥900).

I ordered the Soba topped with Natto (fermented soybeans) and raw egg (¥1500), which was unlike any other soba I ever tried.

When I mixed everything up, there was that sticky texture of raw egg and musty taste of natto which was supposedly to complement the plainer flavour of the cold soba.

I could imagine this would be a love-or-hate thing: love for the intricacies and effort need to produce that ‘perfect’ soba with pleasant bite; hate for that acquired taste.

Therefore, the Hot Soba with Egg Soup (¥1300) was a safer choice, and I enjoyed most for the freshness and bite of the soba.

The unfortunately thing was, I remembered this meal more for everything else but the taste of the Soba.

Tamawarai 玉笑
5 Chome-23-3 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 150-0001, Japan (8min walk from Meiji-Jingumae station)
東京都 渋谷区 神宮前 5-23-3
Tel: +81 03 5485 0025
Opening Hours: 6:30pm – 9pm (Tues), 11.30pm – 3.30pm, 6:30pm – 9pm (Wed – Fri), 11:30am – 8pm (Sat), 11:30am – 5pm (Sun), Closed Mon
Google Maps – Tamawarai

Click HERE for other Tokyo Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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If you love your Japanese curry rice and Shibuya toasts, the good news is Monster Curry has opened two more outlets – at Punggol Waterway Point (#02-25) and 100AM Mall (#02-17).

The size of their curry size is indeed living up to its name.

Monster Curry serves Japanese style curry rice meals in humongous 41-cm plates, featuring its signature “demi-glace” curry sauce, perhaps the only one of its kind in Singapore.

Made with up to 14 different spices and vegetables, this gourmet curry sauce is slow-cooked close to boiling point for 48 hours to fully bring out its umami flavour.

What follows is a 24-hour period where the sauce “rests” and acids evaporate to achieve a smooth consistency.

Its deep brown colour, rich texture and balanced salty-bitter taste make it the canvas for Monster Curry’s variety of ingredient pairings.

Choose from a selection of golden-fried pork, chicken or seafood paired with rice, egg, and of course, the famed curry sauce.

Not to be missed is their in-house hot sauce that melds the flavours of chili padi, garlic, ginger and celery, a recommended complement to their trademark curry sauce. (Tip: Look out for the heart shaped icon on the curry – that’s the hot sauce. Recommended to mix thoroughly, and please do not eat it on its own. You have been warned.)

You can also set your desired level for all Monster Curry dishes: normal, extra, very, super and monster hot.

Signature dishes include the Monster Combo Curry in an outrageous portion that can serve up to 2 or even 3 persons. Composed of sliced crisp-fried pork katsu, pork shabu shabu, crunchy shrimp tempura, and fried fish fillet on top of the rice and sauce. Comes with grated cheese for that extra salty creamy taste in your meal.

Their latest menu offerings focus on Hokkaido, Japan’s largest and northernmost prefecture and its deep, cold oceans.

Known for its abundant fresh seafood, Hokkaido’s best ingredients – scallops, salmon and jumbo oysters – find their way to Monster Curry’s dishes. These are 3 NEW seasonal Hokkaido Curry dishes to look forward to:

Hokkaido Jumbo Oyster Omelette Curry ($16.80++)
Featuring just Hokkaido jumbo oysters, this dish caters to those who prefer to relish a singular, specialised taste.

You get 4 pieces of these jumbo oysters laden on a bed of omelette, rice, and a pool of Japanese curry.

What’s special with these oysters is how they are bred in low temperature waters due to Hokkaido’s extremely cold climate.

Rather than breeding them for the usual 1 year, Hokkaido oysters go beyond and are bred for 2 years.

So what you’ll see on your plates are jumbo oysters that are 1.5x the size of the usual oysters.

Pop one into your mouth (be careful when it’s HOT), and you would be surprised to feel the sensation of crunchy batter contrasted with plump, juicy interior. Oishii.

Hokkaido Seafood & Jumbo Ebi Omelette Combo Curry ($28.80++)
This mega curry meal is a seafood lover’s dream as it has everything from the Hokkaido oysters, scallops, fried salmon to the jumbo tempura prawns, served with steamed white rice, fluffy omelette, and its signature Japanese curry.

A serving includes 2 pieces of each, all deep-fried to a wonderful crunch: Hokkaido scallops, Hokkaido salmon fillets, Hokkaido jumbo oysters, and jumbo prawns.

Those who are concerned about the ‘seafood-y’ taste of oysters, need not worry. Let the sweet, rich taste of Hokkaido oysters spread in your mouth.

You could also dip the tempura seafood pieces into some of the curry, which is thicker in texture, mildly sweet and full of flavour.

Hokkaido Scallop & Salmon Omelette Curry ($16.80++)
This seafood curry version combines the highly sought-after Hokkaido sea scallops, one of the most recognized scallops in the world for its distinct quality and sweetness, with the equally famous Hokkaido salmon.

A tandem that scores high in succulence and healthy fats.

Order this and get 3 pieces of Hokkaido scallops, 2 pieces off fried Hokkaido salmon fillets with the rice-omelette-Japanese curry combo.

Matcha with Azuki Beans Honey Toast ($10.80++)
Also look out for the desserts here, as not many customers may know that they actually offer Shibuya Toasts.

Monster Curry’s Shibuya-style Honey Toast is a snack/dessert item served a la mode with Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream, fresh fruits and sauce, and available in 5 variants.

Try the new Matcha with Azuki Beans Honey Toast, combining sweet blocks of buttery crisp French toast with fresh strawberry halves and Azuki beans, then topped with a scoop of premium vanilla-flavoured ice cream drizzled with matcha green tea sauce.

Available 2pm onwards, the Honey Toasts are also available in smaller takeaway portions for only $6.50/$5.80.

Other fruity choices include Mixed Berries ($10.80++), a duo of strawberries and blueberries; Tangy Mango ($10.80++), using fresh mango cubes and a sweet tart mango sauce; and Chocolaty Banana ($9.80++), with sliced bananas and a classic chocolate fudge.

A non-fruit option is Caramel with Marshmallows ($9.80++), a fun blend of marshmallows, walnuts and luscious caramel sauce.

With a monster-sized appetite, you might need some extras. Don’t worry, Monster Curry offers 11 items in its menu as sides.

Popular ones to try are Sausages ($4.50 for 3 pieces), Tori Karaage ($4.50 for 3 pieces), and Fried Shrimps ($4.50 for 3 pieces). All sides are served with finely shredded fresh cabbage.

Monster Curry
100AM Mall #02-17, 100 Tras Street Singapore 079027
Tel: +54 64420 3988
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Fri)

Other Monster Curry outlets:
OUE Downtown Gallery: Downtown Gallery #01-03, 6A Shenton Way, Singapore 068815
Tel: +65 6221 3933

ION Orchard: 2 Orchard Turn #B4-52, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 4555

NEX Serangoon: 23 Serangoon Central #B1-08, Singapore 556083
Tel: +65 6634 2168

VivoCity: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #02-126/127/129, Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6221 3308

Jurong Point 2: 63 Jurong West Central 3, Jurong Point 2 #03-57, Singapore 648331
Tel: +65 6316 6319

Tampines 1: 10 Tampines Central 1, #02-09/10, Singapore 529526
Tel: +65 6509 9968

Suntec City: 3 Temasek Boulevard #02-377/378, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6358 2377

JEM: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #02-06, Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 6734 2123

Bugis Junction: 200 Victoria Street #B1-04, Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 6266 1708

Northpoint City: 1 Northpoint Drive #B1-102, Singapore 768019
Tel: +65 6778 1102

Velocity@Novena Square 238 Thomson Road, #02-78/79, Singapore 307683
Tel: +65 6250 8235

Waterway Point 83 Punggol Central #02-25 Waterway Point Singapore 828761
Tel: +65 6245 8879

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Monster Curry.

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Hold your breath, cheeseoholics!

The 1st-ever “Mega Cheese Festival” has arrived at Kushikatsu Tanaka, tempting you with all things cheesy.

Did you know that out of the 221 Kushikatsu Tanaka outlets worldwide, only the Singapore outlet will have the special “Mega Cheese Festival” menu?

Kushikatsu Tanaka is a renowned Japanese food chain famous for its Osaka-style kushikatsu (fried cutlet skewers) and signature dipping sauce.

Its Singapore outlet is located at Clarke Quay.

Not to be confused with Yakitori, Kushikatsu, combining kushi (skewers) and katsu (deep-fried meat cutlet), is a street food-style delicacy made of lightly breaded skewered meats or vegetable deep-fried to a crisp.

Made from a secret family recipe using Japan-sourced ingredients, the Kushikatsu uses fine homemade panko crumbs, fried in a way that doesn’t leave an overly greasy taste.

A mix of corn oil and beef fat blend is used, giving these fried cutlets a light, clean taste.

Expect Kushikatsu Tanaka’s already lively atmosphere to be twice as fun when cheesiness invades its menu, offering you brand-new cheese kushikatsu skewers, mains, bentos, and bar snacks.

Here’s what to expect at Kushikatsu Tanaka’s “Mega Cheese Festival”:

Mega Cheese Chikuwa Kushikatsu ($6)
Making its debut at Kushikatsu Tanaka, this giant skewer (read: 15-cm!) is made with savoury chikuwa (bamboo-shaped surimi or Japanese fish paste) filled with mozzarella cheese, and coated with fine panko crumbs.

Once deep-fried, the mozzarella melts and turn gooey, giving you that trademark cheese-pull once you bite into it when it is hot.

It is prepared in limited quantities every day. Promo available for dinner only.

Unagi Kushikatsu ($2.50)
After its appearance in a limited-edition menu, the Unagi Kushikatsu became so popular it’s now back in the line-up.

A rectangular piece of skewered grilled eel is basted in a traditional sweet soy sauce, then dredged in the signature breading.

Once fried, the hot and crisp outer shell will encase the fatty and sweet fish meat.

Believed by the Japanese to impart a cooling effect on the body, unagi is best eaten during summer. But when it’s transformed into Kushikatsu, eat it whenever you want.

Hanpen Kushikatsu ($1.50)
Another fish in the Kushikatsu range of skewers is the soft and fluffy triangular-shaped steamed fishcake made with white fish.

Its delicate flesh is given more body once coated in the signature batter and deep-fried until lightly crispy outside.

Inside, the fish remains tender.

Mini Taiyaki Kushikatsu ($2)
This mini traditional taiyaki (literally “baked sea bream”) is a Japanese fish-shaped pancake stuffed with a sweet red bean filling made from sweetened Azuki beans.

Cute and too adorable to eat, this Kushikatsu is great as a sweet snack or dessert.

New Kushikatsu Dipping Sauces (Comes in a set of 3 for $4, or $2 for each sauce)
Try the new flavours of their dipping sauces and have fun pairing them with your favourite golden-friend skewers.

For a local-inspired taste, you can’t go wrong with the Chili Crab flavoured dipping sauce, which complements seafood skewers.

The Japanese Curry flavour is a classic and can mingle just fine with any of your preferred Kushikatsu.

Lastly, the creamy Nacho Cheese dipping sauce is the probably the sexiest of the 3.

Ketchup and mustard are also available upon request at no extra cost.

Cheesy Chiritori Nabe ($18) – Choice of Beef, Pork or Chicken
Introducing the Chiritori Cheese Nabe, one of the highlights of the Mega Cheese Festival menu.

Give in to your cheese cravings and try this dish, which comes with your choice of beef, pork or chicken, a special stock and grated mozzarella cheese.

Served on a hot square pan over a table-top stove, the magic begins once the cheese melts into a rich, creamy sauce.

Stir in into marinated meats until each juicy piece is coated in the luscious sauce.

You can also dip your kushikatsu into the cheese sauce if you like.

DIY Takoyaki ($10, $11, additional $3 with cheese)
Fancy making Takoyaki balls yourself?

A popular choice in the menu especially among couples and groups, the DIY Takoyaki Set lets you become a Takoyaki-master-in-the-making as you make your own Takoyaki.

It is not as difficult as it seems, but to make perfect round ones… practice makes perfect.

Your choice of toppings (or should I say, filling) includes ebi (prawns) ($10), tako (octopus) ($10) and unagi (eel) ($11).

Here’s the best part, though. For $3.00, get an extra topping of mozzarella cheese for the ultimate cheesy Takoyaki.

Tip: You can also enjoy a 2-hour free-flow Takoyaki with accompanying side dishes and Kushikatsu sticks for only $25. Reservation required.

Cheese Peiyaki ($8)
Osaka-style pan-fried eggs filled with mozzarella cheese, topped with spring onions, sweet sauce mayonnaise. If you enjoy the unique Okonomiyaki sauce, you can’t wrong with this.

Aside from the cheese-ccentric dishes, Kushikatsu Tanaka offers these new additions to the menu…

Tonkatsu Bento ($17)
A newcomer in the bento line up is Tonkatsu Bento, crisp deep-fried pork cutlet skewer served with a mini signature sliced beef soup, marinated egg, daikon zuke and Japanese rice.

Other value bento sets include Chicken Teriyaki Bento ($15), made with bite-sized chicken thigh in a sweet, smoky soy glaze and Buta Kimuchi Bento ($18), featuring sliced pan-fried pork with kimchi.

You have the option to change the rice to beef udon for only $4.

Kushikatsu Tanaka Singapore
3A River Valley Road, Merchants’ Court Clarke Quay Block A #01-01B Singapore 179020
Tel: +65 6258 3789
Operating Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 12am (Mon – Thurs), 12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 2am (Fri, Eve of PH), 11am – 2am (Sat), 11am – 11pm (Sun), 11am – 12am (PH)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Kushikatsu Tanaka Singapore.

The post Kushikatsu Tanaka – Japan’s No.1 Kushikatsu Chain In Singapore, With DIY Takoyaki And “Mega Cheese Festival” appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

There are many Japanese donburi shops in Singapore, but this promises a variety of interesting bowls at prices that are wallet-friendly.

Sora Boru is a brand-new Japanese dining concept serving a variety of wholesome one-bowl meals to hungry diners at 313@somerset.

Its name “sora boru” is a tongue-in-cheek adaptation of how Japanese people pronounce ‘bowl’. (Okay, admit it. You did say boru out loud a la Japanese, didn’t you?)

Operating as a quick-service restaurant, it allows you to order and quick pay for your meal over the counter fast-food style, or via its self-service ordering kiosk.

It specialises in DonBoru (rice bowls), CurryBoru (curry rice bowls), ChirashiBoru (sashimi bowls) and Noodles, sold at price points that won’t dent your budget.

Almost all the mains here are available in two sizes: Regular and Mini.

The Regular is good for a standard lunch or dinner, while the Mini is recommended if you are in the mood to sample many different dishes at once.

If you have kids in tow, likewise get them the Mini bowls (starts at $4.90) as these are kid-friendly in portion.

Also look out for the Sora Boru x DFD exclusive promo at the end of the post, to get a FREE Mini Bowl with every purchase of a Regular Bowl)

Here are some of the recommended dishes at brand-new Japanese fast-casual restaurant Sora Boru:

Volcano Beef Don ($7.50 for Mini, $11.90 for Regular)
A dish with the word ‘volcano’ inevitably conjures excitement.

Sora Boru’s Volcano Beef Don will tease you with spicy “lava” running down its sides.

These come with a serving of steamed Japanese rice, your choice of either stewed cabbage or seasoned bean sprouts, and a heap of succulent flame-grilled slices of beef.

As for the “lava”, this is an in-house concocted sauce that reminded me of the Korean gochujang with its complex, earthy flavours – though the chefs said they were not quite the same.

For spicy-food lovers, this might be a walk in the park; but for others it would add that tinkling bit of shiokness.

Snow Beef Don ($7.50 for Mini, $11.90 for Regular)
You may have tried Snow Deep Fried Chicken before, and this is a one-of-a-kind Beef Donburi.

The Snow Beef Don is dressed with grated parmesan and a special sweet-savoury sauce made from whipping cream.

It is hard to decide which I prefer between the two, but the sweetish-creamy sauce comes across as more unexpected, and surprisingly works enjoyably well together as an entire bowl.

On an additional note, if you love your bean sprouts (or stewed cabbage), this has heaps of it – working like the Korean banchan for that refreshing crunch and fibre.

Other rice bowls to get include Salmon Teriyaki Toji Don (Mini $7.50, Regular $13.90), Chicken Teriyaki Toji Don (Mini $4.90, Regular $8.50) and Ebi Vegetable Tendon (Mini $4.90, Regular $9.50).

CurryBoru (Curry Rice Bowls)
Each bowl of curry rice features Sora Boru’s signature homemade Japanese curry, made using a secret recipe that has been tweaked and perfected for several months.

The curry’s spice level is on mild but you can switch it up a notch or two upon request. I think even a Level 2 is still quite manageable.

With its subtle fruity taste, the rich curry won’t give you I-can’t-take-it-anymore feels.

Taste this special curry with either the deep-fried breaded Chicken Katsu (Mini $6.50/Regular $10.90) or the Breaded Ebi (Mini $6.50/Regular $10.90).

Both provide a wonderful textural crunch to contrast and complement the creamy curry sauce and soft fluffy rice.

Breaded Ebi with Shabu Beef ($12.90, available in Regular size only)
Upgrade your CurryBoru meal and go for the two-protein-combos, which is not that commonly found in Singapore.

The Breaded Ebi with Shabu Beef is your surf n’ turf style curry rice, mixing seafood and beef together. So you get a bit of crispiness from the tempura prawns, and juiciness from the thinly sliced meat.

Another option is to pair your Shabu Beef with the heart-friendly salmon instead of the prawn.

The Breaded Salmon with Shabu Beef (Regular only $11.90) is equally filling and satisfying.

ChirashiBoru (Sashimi Bowls) ($6.50 Mini, $11.90 Regular, $16.90 Large)
Unleash your creativity as you prepare a design-your-own Chirashi bowl in 6 steps. You are in control as get to select your preferred size, base, raw fish, add-ons, sauce, and garnishes.

The Chirashiboru comes in 3 sizes and priced accordingly. Each size comes with its own number of base, raw fish, add-ons, sauce, and garnish.

As for dressing, decide whether you want a light and creamy dressing like the Sesame Sauce, something spicy, or the recommended house blend Shoyu Sauce. Note the Spicy Sauce is for rice-based ChirashiBoru only.

I liked that there is a Salad option, for days when you would just want something more guilt-free and yet substantial enough.

Bara Chirashi Ebimayo Aburi Don ($9.50 for Mini, $16.90 for Regular)
Another recommended ChirashiBoru is the Bara Chirashi Ebimayo Aburi Don a rice bowl topped with assorted fish and seafood cubes of salmon, tuna and baby scallops; tamagoyaki and cucumber blanketed in blow-torched shrimp roe mayonnaise.

Cha Soba
Don’t limit your one-bowl meals to just rice as Sora Boru also offers noodles like Cha Soba.

Can’t decide if you want some hot or cold? Worry not.

The Cha Soba is good whether served chilled or in a bowl of hot soup. Relish it with sides like Ebi Vegetable Tempura (Regular – $12.90; Mini – $7.50) and Chicken Karaage (Regular -$10.90; Mini – $6.50).

Soba with Vegetable Tempura ($6.50 for Mini, $10.90 for Regular)
Another noodle dish is Soba with Vegetable Tempura, tailor-made for vegan and vegetarians as the soba noodles come with an assortment of vegetables.

Lightly-battered pieces of eggplant, carrot, sweet potato, and shiitake mushroom are prepared tempura style.

Side Dishes
To complete your meal or fill-in those hunger gaps, choose from a bevy of side dishes like the Yasai Corn Tempura with Tartar Sauce ($5.50), a crunchy way to snack on sweet corn kernels clustered in a light batter and deep-fried ‘til crisp.

Other choice picks include Salmon Sashimi ($5.50 for 5 slices), Chicken Gyoza ($8.50 for 6 pieces), and Crispy Salmon Skin with Egg Mayo Dip ($8.50).

Add bells and whistles by adding a Chawanmushi, Miso Soup and Drink to your main.

Pay an extra $2.90 for the Japanese steamed egg custard with either miso soup or a drink; or $3.90 for all three items.

Sora Boru X DanielFoodDiary.com (DFD) Exclusive Promotion
Buy 1 Regular Bowl, and Get 1 Mini FREE. From 21 March (Thurs) to 3 April 2019 (Wed).
Terms & Conditions
– Valid for dine-in only
– Orders and redemptions must be made at the cashier
– Promotion is valid for any Regular and any Mini ChirashiBoru / DonBoru / CurryBoru / Noodles
– This offer cannot be stacked with any other promotions or discounts
– Flash DanielFoodDiary’s corresponding Facebook / Instagram / or this blog post to redeem

Sora Boru
313@somerset #B3-19/20, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 11pm (Sat – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/SoraBoruSingapore/

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Sora Boru.

The post Sora Boru – 1st Snow Beef and Volcano Beef Don In Singapore. Buy 1 Regular Get 1 Mini Bowl FREE appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.