Akira Back

Akira Back
30 Beach Road
Level B1M, JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

https://www.akiraback.com/

Sushi Moriawase (SGD $58 Set Lunch)

Exquisite Modern Japanese, Korean, American Fusion Experience

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 9
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 9
Value for Money: 9
Spent about SGD $70 per person.

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Chef Akira Back was born in South Korea, grew up in the United States Of America, and trained as a chef in Japan and Europe. From being a professional snowboarder (appearing in extreme sports competitions and movies) to a 1 Michelin star celebrity chef (appearing on Iron Chef America, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, United Tastes Of America, Success Mentor), Chef Akira Back brings his international culinary experience to each of his 19 restaurants worldwide. His first namesake restaurant opened in the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity in November 2013, while the Akira Back Singapore outlet opened in the South Beach area in December 2016.

Ambience at Akira Back has a sophisticated, elegant eclectic energy. Designed to channel the vibes of Las Vegas, the long and wide seating area is spacious, with warm lights, lush black and grey carpets, and wooden furniture in colours of red, white, and wood, all lined in neat rows. Feels like a cross between a casino and a hotel ballroom. Along the wooden and mirrored panelled wall is a row of cushioned booths. At one end, a communal dining hall faces a television screen wall with colourful endulating patterns, and offers a view of the open kitchen. At the other end, a terraced tier of booths offer private dining. Feels welcoming and smart casual, suitable for business dining or romantic dates.

Service at Akira Back befits a fine dining establishment. Staff are polite and friendly, quickly welcoming guests and showing them to seats. I note they speak a variety of languages, besides English and Chinese Mandarin, they have staff who speak Japanese, Korean, and Filipino Tagalog. Staff display good knowledge of the menu, being able to describe dishes, however, they only do this if asked, instead of proactively. They quickly and efficiently clean and clear away finished plates throughout the meal, before serving the next course. Staff accede to requests to take photos for diners, but I wish they'll proactively top up drinks regularly. Generally, staff do create a memorable dining experience.

Food at Akira Back is Modern Fusion, with influences from Japanese, Korean, and American cuisine. Flavours are traditional and familiar, but combined and presented in new, novel ways. Expect fresh, premium ingredients, and bold, punchy flavours in dishes. The menu isn't extensive, but the focus lends well to producing consistently high quality. Portions are nicely sized for individuals, though each individual dish isn't substantial on its own. The set meals are more satisfying and value for money. Budget about SGD $70 per person for a meal without drinks here, and about SGD $110 per person if you do have drinks. Reasonable for an upper mid-range, fine dining establishment run by a 1 Michelin star chef.

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Akira Back Signage

Akira Back Exterior

Akira Back Interior

Seating

Seating

Private Booth

Private Booth

Open Kitchen & Communal Dining Area

Chefs At Work

Belated

Meal Flat Lay

The Yamabudo-Shu Umeshu (SGD $21) is a umeshu brewed by Nanbubijin Sake Brewery in Ninohe, Iwate prefecture, Tohoku region of Japan. It has a deep ruby red colour, with aromas and tastes of green grapes, plum, black cherry, and white rice. The body is velvety smooth, balanced, and gentle, with bold fruity earthy sweet flavour. This umeshu is unique because it's essentially a junmai sake infused with fresh fruits, with no added sugar, deriving its taste naturally.

Yamabudo-Shu Umeshu (SGD $21)

Yamabudo-Shu Umeshu

Yamabudo-Shu Umeshu

Yamabudo-Shu Umeshu

The house signature cocktails are all named after emotional states. The Cocktail Peace (SGD $25) is inspired by the rhythmic drumming of the Korean janggu (a 2-sided hourglass-shaped drum), and features a blend of The Botanist Islay dry gin, Honjozo sake, Noilly Prat sweet vermouth, lemon juice, yuzu juice, egg white, and a shiso / perilla / beefsteak plant leaf garnish. Refreshing and bright, this has a calming herbal sweet earthy boozy flavour. Nicely thirst-quenching and aptly peaceful, I wanted more!

Cocktail Peace (SGD $25)

Cocktail Peace

Cocktail Peace

The non-alcoholic Lavenade (SGD $15) is the house signature lemonade, a blend of lemon juice, soda water, and lavender essence. This creates a floral sweet sour tangy zesty flavour to the beverage. Great thirst-quencher on warm days!

Lavenade (SGD $15)

Lavenade

The Mini Toro Tartare (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch) has light soy sauce marinated cubes of chewy tuna tartare and creamy avocado on thin crunchy slices of cucumber, dressed with a light sesame sauce and micro-greens. Has a bold meaty vegetal sweet salty flavour, helps to open the appetite. Creative combination of tastes and textures. Good!

Mini Toro Tartare (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch)

Mini Toro Tartare

Mini Toro Tartare

Mini Toro Tartare

The Cod Fish Tempura (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch) has small chunks of tempura flour battered cod fish fillets, plated over a crunchy pickled vegetable salad of carrots, red onions, and daikon radish, which has bright sweet sour flavour. The tempura cod fish has a light crunch to the exterior, and a moist tender flaky interior, with delicate sweet savoury flavour. Dressed with a thick, almost syrup-like lemon and yuzu sauce, which lends a bright tangy zesty fruity sour note. Gone too soon. Good!

Cod Fish Tempura (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch)

Cod Fish Tempura

Cod Fish Tempura

Cod Fish Tempura

The Lemon Espuma & Yuzu Zest (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch) is served as a palate cleanser. Consists of lemon infused espuma foam, garnished with mini pieces of yuzu zest. Refreshing with tangy zesty sour sweet flavour. Good!

Lemon Espuma & Yuzu Zest (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch)

Lemon Espuma & Yuzu Zest

The Coconut Espuma & Lemongrass (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch) is served as a palate cleanser. Consists of coconut water infused espuma foam, garnished with tiny shreds of lemongrass. Has a refreshing earthy floral herbal sweet flavour. Good!

Coconut Espuma & Lemongrass (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch)

Coconut Espuma & Lemongrass

Felt the Garlic Fried Rice (SGD $5) was just decent. While the texture of the rice is fluffy with a dense sticky chew, the savoury salty spice herbal flavour wasn't as pungent or as fragrant as I'd like. Have had better elsewhere. Could be improved.

Garlic Fried Rice (SGD $5)

Garlic Fried Rice

Garlic Fried Rice

Garlic Fried Rice

The Wagyu Beef Tri Tip (SGD $48 Set Lunch) features a triangle steak, cut from premium A4 wagyu beef. With excellent marbling and a full beefy meaty flavour, it's cooked till nicely medium, having a tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth texture. Incredibly succulent, with big robust savoury salty meaty flavour.

Served with tender braised daikon radish, which has a natural vegetal sweet flavour. Dressed with beef braising jus, which gives the plate a rich deep meaty flavour. Very satisfying. Highly recommended!

Wagyu Beef Tri Tip (SGD $48 Set Lunch)

Wagyu Beef Tri Tip

Wagyu Beef Tri Tip

Wagyu Beef Tri Tip

Loved the Pan-Seared Flounder Fish (SGD $36 Set Lunch), which was well-executed and fresh. Features a medium sized fillet of flounder fish, pan-seared, with a slight crisp edge and a tender flaky moist soft texture. Good sweet savoury flavour to the fish. Plated over a creamy smooth cauliflower puree, which has a vegetal earthy sweet flavour. Crunchy shreds of marinated and seasoned kelp seaweed accompany, lending a sour earthy sweet flavour. Finally, a salty tangy sour herbal gravy of light soy sauce, garlic, and ponzu (yuzu, white vinegar, sugar, mirin rice wine) is poured over tableside, lending a delicious depth of flavour. Highly recommended!

Pan-Seared Flounder Fish (SGD $36 Set Lunch)

Pan-Seared Flounder Fish

Pan-Seared Flounder Fish

Pan-Seared Flounder Fish

The Sushi Moriawase (SGD $58 Set Lunch) features 9 pieces of fresh sashimi, hand picked by chef. All sliced in thick cuts, with tender bouncy textures, and bright natural sweet savoury flavour. I had shake / salmon fish, toro / fatty tuna fish, hotate / scallop, botan ebi / sweet shrimp, tamago / rolled egg omelette, mikan tai / citrus-fed sea bream fish, kinmedai / golden eyed snapper fish, and hirame / flounder fish. Oddly, there was a slice of soft fluffy Japanese cheesecake as well, although I don't consider this sashimi. Wish they gave me hamachi / yellowtail fish, ika / squid, or tako / octopus instead.

Served with a slab of sticky fluffy vinegared sushi rice, which has delicate sour sweet grainy flavour. Accompanied with crunchy house made pickled ginger which has a tangy sour sweet flavour, soft caramelised white onions which have a deep vegetal sweet flavour, and grainy grated wasabi which lends a sharp spicy note.

Sushi Moriawase (SGD $58 Set Lunch)

Sushi Moriawase

Sushi Moriawase

Sushi Moriawase

Sushi Moriawase

Sushi Moriawase

Loved the Chocolate Banana Tart With Almond Ice Cream (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch), which is so pretty. The warm crisp pastry tart shell, with delicate buttery flavour, crumbles easily, revealing the luxurious filling within. The rich creamy thick dark chocolate ganache paste, airy light white chocolate foam, and soft tender banana chunks within complement so well, with bold fruity chocolatey bitter sweet flavour. The almond ice cream has a creamy smooth texture, and a bold nutty sweet flavour, with diced peanuts lending a contrasting nutty crunch. Highly recommended!

Chocolate Banana Tart With Almond Ice Cream (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch)

Chocolate Banana Tart With Almond Ice Cream

Chocolate Banana Tart With Almond Ice Cream

Chocolate Banana Tart With Almond Ice Cream

Loved the unique Rock Melon Gazpacho, Honey Ice Cream (SGD $- Part of Set Lunch) dessert. The thick, chilled rock melon soup, with its fruity sweet flavour, is complemented by the creamy smooth honey ice cream with its floral sweet flavour, and the juicy seasonal fruits (blueberries, strawberries, honeydew melon, blackberries, pear). A crunchy almond biscuit and wobbly pieces of honey infused jelly complete this beautiful summer dessert. Highly recommended!