Kogane Yama is shaking up the donburi scene with its new rice bowl offerings, and that includes tantalising Wagyu Truffle Don and Negitoro Salmon Ikura Don.
The modern Japanese eatery with outlets at Bugis Junction and JEM, specialises in affordable Japanese tendon (tempura rice bowls) and donburi.
For those who prefer to stay at the comfort of your homes, Islandwide delivery is also available via https://koganeyama.beepit.com. (Min order $35, Delivery fee starting from $8 based on distance from nearest outlet.)
Kogane Yama (literally “golden mountain” in Japanese) is known for serving hearty heaps of tempura over steamed rice. Each bowl is custom-made, depending on your choice of carb base, toppings, and sauce.
The menu has expanded to offer a larger selection of donburi, including Original Wagyu Don, Wagyu Mentai Don, Duroc Pork Kakuni Don, Grilled Unagi Don and Pan-fried Salmon Mentai Don.
All tendon and donburi can be made into a set by topping up just $3 for homemade Chawanmushi and a bowl of Miso Soup.
Ready to try their new dishes? Here’s more:
Negitoro Salmon Ikura Don ($16.90)
Power fish tuna and salmon join forces in this donburi, combining negitoro (minced tuna belly) with cubes of salmon and its ikura (salmon roe).
Together, they offer a burst of umami and savoury flavours and a smooth mouthfeel. You can see this as an ‘upgrade’ of the usual Bara Chirashi.
Additional toppings – crunchy cucumber, soft tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette), and crispy tempura flakes – provide interesting textures in the bowl.
Original Wagyu Don ($19.90), Wagyu Mentai Don ($21.90)
Taste Kogane Yama’s special in-house shoyu blend in this don, featuring US Wagyu short beef ribs.
Grilled only upon order, the meat promises a rousing juiciness and a smoky char once it gets to your bowl.
Dig in and bite into the robust yet tender beef, complemented with Shimeji mushrooms sautéed in teriyaki sauce. Also comes with Hanjuku egg and pickles.
Choose the Original version or make it richer with the addition of blow-torched Mentai (cod roe) mayonnaise sauce with a touch of spiciness.
Wagyu Truffle Don ($22.90)
Probably one of my new favourties. Indulge yourself with this top-of-the-line don, elevating your don experience even further.
Wagyu beef gets a splash of truffle flavours.
Not only will you be sinking your teeth into tender cuts of premium beef – you are in for a treat with an aromatic truffle whipping cream sauce and real black truffle shavings.
Kakuni Don ($16.90)
Meet Kogane Yama’s two-hour braised pork belly, cooked with Duroc pork specially bred from chestnut-fed pigs (Duroc is known for its all natural, mouthwatering, rich flavored pork with more superior tenderness and juiciness.)
This melt-in-your-mouth fattiness is meant for those who fancy pork in all its glory.
Savour this succulent meat marinated in a special shoyu blend made in-house.
The result is a deep flavour, with light caramelisation from a blow-torch finish. Served over rice with jelly-yolk Hanjuku egg, teriyaki shimeji mushrooms and pickles to complete the bowl.
Grilled Unagi Don ($18.90)
A well cooked eel is hard to resist, teasing you with its smoky aroma, dark sweet teriyaki sauce glaze, and tender grilled meat.
Enjoy your unagi topped over a bowl of Japanese steamed rice, together with tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette) and diced cucumber.
Pan-Fried Salmon Mentai Don ($16.90)
For the protein lovers who just had a gym workout, Kogane Yama also offers their rendition of salmon mentai, prepared with salmon fillet seared on a hot pan.
Creamy mentaiko sauce is spread over it, then blow-torched for that toasty flavour.
As a finishing stroke, it is topped with fish roe for a savoury touch.
Other than the NEW Donburi, here’s a revisit of some of Kogane Yama’s classic favourites:
Tendon – Mixed Bowl ($15.90), Chicken Bowl ($12.80), Prawn Bowl ($13.80), Vegetable Bowl ($11.90)
Kogane Yama’s signature bowl of Tendon offers options of Mixed, Chicken, Prawn and Vegetable.
All options include an identical assortment of vegetable tempura; lotus root, long beans, carrot, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, sweet potato and seaweed – deep fried in an aromatic mix of deep-soybean and sesame oil.
I would say just go for the Mixed Bowl, which includes chicken, prawn, along with the vegetables. Customise the bowl with a choice of house-made blend, available in non-spicy and spicy options.
Bara Chirashi Don – Assorted ($16.90), Salmon only ($13.90)
The classic Bara Chirashi don with diced raw salmon, tuna, swordfish, scallops, steamed prawn, ikura (salmon roe), tobiko (flying fish roe), cucumber and tamago (Japanese omelette) on a bed of sushi rice.
The base used is of premium Koshihikari short-grain rice, fluffy and has a natural sweet taste.
There is also a Salmon-only version with cucumber and tamago.
Aburi Salmon Mentai Don ($14.90)
Compared to the Bara Chirashi, this will appeal to those who love more flavours such as the spiciness of cod roe, along with that creamy mouth-feel.
What you get include cubed salmon pieces which would be ‘aburi-ed’ (flame seared), added with torched mentaiko-mayonnaise sauce, added with tobiko, cucumber and tamago.
Pork Belly Shogayaki Don ($12.90)
“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.
Tori Karaage Don ($11.90)
The bowl popular with youths and children. The karaage chicken chunks are rather large and succulent, tastier when it has absorbed some of the sauce.
To add more variety to the rice bowls, pair with sides of Pork Mentai Gyoza ($8.90 for 6 pcs), Fresh Sashimi ($6.90 for 6 pcs), Salmon Salad ($10.90), and Chawanmushi ($2.00).
Kogane Yama – Bugis Junction
Bugis Junction #02-50, 200 Victoria Street, Singapore 188021
Opening Hours: 11am – 9.30pm Last Order 9pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/koganeyamasingapore
Islandwide Delivery: https://koganeyama.beepit.com
Kogane Yama – Jem
Jem #01-16, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm Last Order 9pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Kogane Yama.