With the “Phase 2” (Heightened Alert) going on in Singapore, dining out at your favourite Japanese restaurants is not possible.
However, you can still sit in the comfort of your own home, and enjoy some of these tantalising Japanese meals delivered conveniently to your door-step.
These range from limited meat-free plant-based ramen from IPPUDO Singapore, ‘Michelin’ Crab Ramen from Tsuta Japanese Dining (look out for their 1-for-1 special), and Double Beef Zen Jyu from Osaka-based ROMAN.TEI at &JOY Dining Hall.
IPPUDO Singapore
5 Wallich Street #01-15, Guoco Tower, Singapore 078883
Opening Hours: Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)
Delivery: https://ippudo.oddle.me/en_SG
Also available on Deliveroo, Foodpanda and GrabFood
Other than the regular IPPUDO signatures, IPPUDO Singapore has introduced a NEW plant-based bowl ramen bowl called Akamaru 1.0. The recipe based on IPPUDO’s current classic global signature – the Akamaru Shinaji, except that all the ingredients incorporate meat-free alternatives.
It is topped with the same medley of special blended spicy miso blend, fragrant garlic oil, black fungus and spring onions.
The soup is created from a combination of mushroom broth, soy milk, IPPUDO’s original kaeshi, and a dash of porcini mushroom oil.
When you take sips, you likely get that soul-satisfying, belly-warming smooth creaminess, though the soy taste was rather apparent (especially if you take soy bean milk all the time).
I found this a note-worthy rendition, especially after mixing in the special blended spicy paste, porcini oil and kaeshi – which is a blend of different soy sauces from Kyushu.
As for the ‘cha shu’ pieces, they are made with premium non-GMO soy – high in protein, cholesterol-free and preservatives-free.
Menya Kokoro
Plaza Singapura #B2-53 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 11am – 9:30pm (Fri – Sat), Last order half hour before closing
Delivery: https://www.menya-kokoro.com/delivery-order
Also available on GrabFood
Menya Kokoro specialises in Maze-Soba, what many people refer to as “Japanese Bak Chor Mee”.
In the heart of this winning dish is Menya Kokoro’s signature secret-recipe minced meat sauce.
Prepared using Japanese techniques through a 4-hour slow cooking process, it has deep flavours that well complement the maze-soba ingredients.
Once tossed, these ingredients – ramen, ground Saba fish, nori, poached egg, green onion, garlic, and chives – deliver a fusion of flavours enhanced by the minced meat sauce.
If you are a first-timer to Menya Kokoro, I would say go for this classic Tokyo Maze-soba bowl or the Zenbu Maze-soba. The Zenbu (which means everything) includes char shu along with ground Saba fish, two eggs (one poached, one onsen), nori seaweed, chopped green onions, minced garlic, chives, and bamboo shoot.
Promotion: $1 Off Premium Emma Drinks
Includes Hojicha Latte with Pearls, Kokuto Latte with Pearls, Kokuto Matcha Latte with Pearls, Lemon Calpis Sencha, Honey Lemon Sencha) with each order of Menya Kokoro main item.
Menya Kanae
275 Thomson Rd, Novena Regency #01-08, Singapore 307645
Opening Hours: 11am – 3:30pm, 5pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Delivery: https://www.menyakanae.com/deliveryorder
Menya Kanae at Novena Regency specialises in rich prawn broth ramen, which is not that commonly found in Singapore.
Satisfy your noodle cravings with Menya Kanae’s specialty prawn broth ramen – the Tokusei Sapporo Ebi Tonkotsu Ramen, featuring a rich and creamy tonkotsu base infused with a blend of seafood flavours.
Prawn heads combined with lobster bisque intensifies the bold taste of this thick pork bone broth which is cooked for more than four hours.
This bowl is loaded with bean sprouts, bamboo shoot, black fungus; then topped with a couple each of tender chashu, flame-seared Tiger prawns, and half an ajitama egg.
Then finished off with a sprinkle of spring onions, crunchy Sakura ebi tempura flakes, and crispy shallots.
If you prefer the thin Hakata-style noodles, then you are in luck. The ones here are QQ springy, though I would personally wish for a slightly-harder bite and less noodles – can be pretty filling.
Promotion: 10% OFF all items for takeaway only
Tsuta
313 Orchard Rd, #01-16, 313@somerset, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, Last order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Islandwide Delivery: https://order.tsuta.com
Free islandwide delivery for orders above $60, no code required.
Takeaway from: 313@Somerset #01-17 and Vivocity #B2-29
Tsuta Japanese Dining at 313@somerset goes beyond ramen and offers an extensive range of new items. There are modern takes on maki rolls, sushi cones, tempura, rice bowls, hamburg, okonomiyaki, and many more Japanese casual dishes.
Known to be the first Michelin-starred ramen in the Singapore, Premium Char Siu Shoyu Soba included with balsamic truffle sauce with delicate yet full bodied taste. But its bold-flavoured Crab Soba has become one of my favourites to have.
Served with a slice of Iberico pork belly and Kurobuta pork loin, this specialty also comes with a crab shell carapace generously filled with flame-torched Japanese snow crab meat – with that distinctive tender sweetness. Pick the crab meat to eat on its own, or soak it in the soup.
The broth retained the crab essence as it is cooked with fresh mud crabs over a few hours.
When I took a sip of the soup, I found it having that complex seafood flavour yet still well-balanced. It reminded me of crab bisque but without that rich-thickness, still delicate with umami.
Promotion:
1-1 Promotion: From now till 13 June 2021, order from https://order.tsuta.com:
1-for-1 Michelin-starred Ramen or Don from $18
1-for-1 Michelin-starred Ramen/Don Set for 2 from $38, which includes 2 ramen/don, 1 maki roll, 1 appetiser and 2 drinks
10% off deliveries with min $40 spent from now till 31st May with promo code “TSUTAMAY”
20% off takeaways, no min spend from now till 13 June with promo code “TAKEAWAYTSUTA”
Tomo Izakaya
Clarke Quay Blk A #01-14, 3A River Valley Road, Singapore 179020
Opening Hours: 5pm – 11pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Delivery: https://order.tomoizakaya.com.sg/
Islandwide delivery available with free delivery for orders above $50. (amount may differ for further areas)
The Japanese izakaya restaurant at Clarke Quay offers sushi, bento boxes, grilled specialties, and small-plates such as yakitori, sushi and karaage.
Ingredient such as the raw fish sashimi are air-flown twice weekly from Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji Market to showcase the best of the seasons.
The bento boxes (from $20) come with a choice of main dish along with choice of sides such as Karaage, Gyoza, OR Agedashi Tofu, along with Gohan.
As for the mains, pick from Gyu Nira Bento (stir-fried beef with chives and bean sprouts), Ebi Chilli (stir-fried prawns), Buta Soki (braised pork soft bone with soya sauce), Salmon Teri Bento (grilled salmon teriyaki sauce) and Salmon Fry Bento (breaded salmon).
Kuriya Japanese Market
Waterway Point #B1-20, 83 Punggol Central Singapore 828761
Tel: +65 6385 8347
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Delivery: https://kjmonline.oddle.me (Min order $45. Free delivery above $120)
Available on Grab/Deliveroo/Foodpanda
Kuriya Japanese Market is known to be a one-stop shop for Japanese food items including fresh sashimi, sushi, sake, frozen food items, sauces, seasonings, and condiments.
Looking for one near you? The market has outlets at Waterway Point, Great World (within &JOY Dining Hall), Jurong Point, Nex (within Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street), Causeway Point, JEM, Tampines 1, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Northpoint City and AMK Hub.
It is also the exclusive retailer for Gyomu Super, a popular 800+ supermarket chain of outlets in Japan.
With a wide range of dry items, frozen foods, and plenty of snack items with everyday low prices, you can be quite spoilt for choice.
What’s noteworthy to mention is that you can get the freshest sashimi as premium fish and seafood are air-flown to Singapore from Japan such as the Osaka Central Wholesale Market thrice a week.
Yet compared to other dine-in restos, sashimi prices are at least 30% cheaper.
The Wakasa Sushi Platter (In-store $59.80, Online $65.80) features 40 pieces of Kuriya Japanese Market’s best-selling items in a single plate.
These include a combination of Tuna, Yellowtail, Sea Bream, Salmon, Egg & Crab Stick, BBQ Eel, Salmon Roe, Scallop, Mini California Maki, and Spicy BBQ Eel Maki.
Promotion: 10% off store pickup
&JOY Dining Hall
1 Kim Seng Promenade, Great World #B1-133 Singapore 237994
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Delivery: https://order.njoydininghall.com.sg (Min order $40. Free delivery above $120)
Available on Grab/Deliveroo/Foodpanda
&JOY Dining Hall first opened at Jurong Point, followed by another location at the revamped Great World basement.
The multi-brand concept offers unique Japanese specialties all in one destination. It also offers delivery, takeaway, a retail grocery store and a bakery.
My favourite brand there is ROMAN.TEI, a Japanese casual dining concept serving an array of yakiniku grilled meats and beef jyu (rice box).
Known as a meat specialist from Osaka, it specialises in tender beef steak over rice.
Their signature savoury beef steak is juicy and flavourful, sporting a memorable taste and a “golden ratio” of rice and tender beef steak.
The best-seller here is the Double Beef Zen ($17.90). Get twice the value with two kinds of beef in one dish, a duo of beef steak and sliced beef.
The thick juicy cuts of beef are served atop fluffy Japanese rice in jyu boxes. A special homemade sauce adds flavour and silkier texture to the rice. Make it ochazuke by pouring dashi over your rice, topped with pickles, umeboshi (salted Japanese plums), nori, furikake and sesame seeds.
Ichiban Sushi
AMK Hub #02-01, 53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Singapore 569933
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)
Delivery: https://order.ichibansushi.com.sg/ (Min order $39. Free delivery above $120)
Ichiban Sushi has rolled out a revamped menu for 2021. You will be spoilt for choice as they have added a whopping number of 28 new items, including a variety of sushi, a la carte, mains, and a brand-new cheese range.
The new chiizu Ichiban Sushi dishes to look out for include the Salmon Cheese Tanuki Roll, Cheese Buta Kimchi Don, Unagi Cheese Chirashi Don, Cheesy Tori Karaage, as well as Cheese Mentai Buta Udon..
Other new (non-cheese) items include Black Pepper Gyoza, Pirikara Beef Salad, Spicy Unagi Roll, Aburi Beef Roll, Spicy Salmon Gunkan Sushi, Beef Steak Mentai Don, Aburi Mentai Kaisen Don, Lobster Salmon Don, and Spicy Bara Chirashi Don.
The Mentai Tamago Unagi Don is recommended rice bowl for eel lovers. Relish this satisfying mix of grilled freshwater eel, fresh cucumber, spicy cod roe mayo, and flying fish roe served atop sushi rice. Accompanied with a side of miso soup.
The unagi’s bold caramelised flavour and smoky aroma enhance the grilled fish’s superb fatty taste.
The other interesting component was the tamago or sliced Japanese sweet omelette further topped with torched mentaiko sauce arranged in a circle around.
SENS Sushi & Grill
118 Holland Ave, #B1-12/13 Raffles Holland V Mall, Singapore 278997
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Delivery: https://senssushiandgrill.oddle.me
Also available on GrabFood, Foodpanda and Deliveroo
SENS – defining flavour in Japanese, will whisk you away to Japan with its wide repertoire of contemporary Japanese cuisine including sashimi, sushi and teppanyaki.
This unique dining concept in Singapore showcases cuisine from the different regions of Japan and redefines quality dining for all palates.
Its sets includes Tempura Noodles ($19.32), Kurobuta Katsu Udon ($20.47), Curry Udon ($21.62), Gindara Takayaki Tempura ($40.83), Salmon Soft Shell Crab ($26.22), Sashimi Tempura ($34.27) and more.
Known for its maki, the favourite is the Sugoi Maki ($17.82) which is drenched in moreish century egg sauce and studded with tobiko, also featuring salmon, scallop and king fish.
Sun with Moon Japanese Dining & Café
501 Orchard Road, Wheelock Place #03 – 15, Singapore 238880
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Islandwide Delivery: https://sunwithmoon.oddle.me
Also available on GrabFood (islandwide delivery), Foodpanda and Deliveroo
Do you know that ‘Sun’ represents the main dishes, while ‘Moon’ appeals to the other and softer side – the desserts?
The Japanese fare at Sun with Moon Japanese Dining & Café created by Executive Chef Toshio Sawai offered here is quite extensive, from Sun Original Kamameshi, Bento sets, Kobachi, Sushi, Sashimi, Washoku combinations, to Steak dishes.
At SUN with MOON, savour signature Kamameshi Sets from $24.40, Sushi Rolls from $20 to Chirashi Sets from $29.70.
Else feast in SUN’s Platter at $50 for 2 pax with Spicy Aburi Salmon Roll and Grilled Miso-marinated Gindara among others, or the Sushi Hors d’oeuvre at $68, which feeds 4 persons, showcasing Crispy Shrimp Mango Roll, Nixon Roll and more.
Yakiniku-GO – The Seletar Mall
The Seletar Mall #01-49/50/51/52/53, 33 Sengkang West Ave, Singapore 797653
Tel: +65 6242 5939
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, Last order: 9.15pm (Mon – Sun)
Delivery: https://yakinikugo.oddle.me (Min order $40. Free delivery above $120)
Yakiniku-GO is known for its Jyo Karubi – Beef Short Ribs with even more marbling, matched with delicate taste and tenderness. Pop a slice in the mouth and let it melt within.
For those who want to dabao something back home for your WFH, there is also a wide range of takeaway and delivery bentos priced from $9.80 nett onwards.
The boxes collectively feature grilled jyo karubi, gyutan and angus ribeye steak, finished with tare sauce and condiments, and come complete with rice, kimchi and edamame.
Recommended options include Angus Ribeye Steak Jyu, Karubi With Kinshi Tamago Jyu and Karubi & Negi Shio Chicken Jyu.
Customers can order takeaway bentos in-store.
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with &Joy Dining Hall, Kuriya Japanese Market, Ichiban Sushi, IPPUDO Singapore, Menya Kanae, Menya Kokoro, Tsuta Singapore, Yakiniku-Go.