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.
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