Botan Japanese Restaurant Tasting Session

Botan Japanese Restaurant Tasting Session
37 Pekin Street
#01-01 Far East Square

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm,
Closed Sun


https://www.facebook.com/BotanJapan/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Jennifer Yeo Lifestyle, and Seth Lui.

A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef (SGD $80 for 100g)

Fresh, Premium Japanese Ingredients

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $80++ per person.


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Botan Japanese Restaurant is almost an institution, having been established since October 1999 in the China Square / Telok Ayer area of Singapore. Amongst the forerunners of premium Japanese cuisine in Singapore, Botan Japanese Restaurant is known for consistently serving fresh, quality sashimi and sushi, Grade A5 wagyu beef, and gourmet cuts of Hokkaido pork. Now helmed by one of the pioneers of the Japanese food scene in Singapore, Executive Chef Thomas Kok, since October 2019, Botan Japanese Restaurant remains a go-to place for classic Japanese dining.

Botan Japanese Restaurant Exterior

Botan Japanese Restaurant Interior

Ambience at Botan Japanese Restaurant is casual and relaxed, with a classic Japanese zen vibe. With a quiet elegance in simplicity, the place is closed packed with sturdy wooden furnishings and warmly lit. Touches of Japanese decor, from paintings to figurines, adorn the place. Part of the space features an open counter where customers can interact with the chefs. There's also ample outdoor seating, where groups like to gather for drinks. However, it can get warm indoors when it's crowded.

Service at Botan Japanese Restaurant is polite and efficient, though staff are kept busy attending to tables. There's some semblance of product knowledge about dishes, though the chefs are much more familiar with this, but at least they're aware of the range of drinks. Staff helpfully clear finished plates throughout the meal, especially if more dishes are to be served, and quickly clean up when diners are done. However, attracting their attention during peak periods may take several tries.

Food at Botan Japanese Restaurant is focused on classic Japanese cuisine, in particular, sashimi, sushi, donburi, noodles, and appetizers, all made with fresh, premium ingredients. The result is consistently high quality of taste and presentation for each dish. Since taking over the helm, Executive Chef Thomas Kok has streamlined the menu, and introduced several of his fusion signatures. Portions are sized for either individuals, or communal group sharing. Prices naturally, reflect the gourmet ingredients, budget about SGD $80++ per person for a meal with drinks.

Open Prep Counter

Table Setting

Chopstick Rest

A calming, straightforward Green Tea (SGD $1.50), with warm earthy flavour. This is refillable throughout your meal.

Green Tea (SGD $1.50)

Loved the Fugu Mirin Boshi / Dried Marinated Puffer Fish (SGD $15), which reminds me of bak kwa. The chewy tender texture of the dried marinated puffer fish, with its delicate smoky savoury flavour, pairs well with the creamy dollop of mayonnaise, and juicy globules of briny salty tobiko / flying fish roe. Good!

Fugu Mirin Boshi / Dried Marinated Puffer Fish (SGD $15)

Fugu Mirin Boshi / Dried Marinated Puffer Fish

Chef's signature, the Pitan Tofu / Chilled Tofu Beancurd With Century Egg (SGD $6) features soft wobbly silken tofu beancurd coated in a rich gravy of century egg sauce, finished with gelatinous diced century egg, crisp spring onions, and juicy globules of briny salty tobiko / flying fish roe. Each bite bursts with earthy sweet eggy flavour. Highly recommended!

Pitan Tofu / Chilled Tofu Beancurd With Century Egg (SGD $6)

Pitan Tofu / Chilled Tofu Beancurd With Century Egg

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Fresh slices of sashimi are a highlight here, and the Assorted Sashimi (SGD $Market Price, ~$88++ to ~$158++ for 5 varieties with 5 slices each) is perfect for sharing. The variety of fish sashimi served here depends on which fresh seasonal fish the kitchen has, thus, it may change time to time. Highly recommended!

Assorted Sashimi (SGD $Market Price, ~$88++ to ~$158++ for 5 varieties with 5 slices each)

Assorted Sashimi

The Maguro Otoro / Tuna Belly has a tender, moist, succulent chew to texture, with rich fatty fish taste and savoury sweet flavour. The tuna fish belly is served over an earthy herbal shiso / perilla leaf, very clean-tasting and fresh. Good!

Maguro Otoro / Tuna Belly

Maguro Otoro / Tuna Belly

The Shake Harasu / Salmon Belly has a tender, moist, succulent bite to texture, with delicate fatty fish taste and sweet savoury flavour. The salmon fish belly is served with juicy globules of briny salty tobiko / flying fish roe, very clean-tasting and fresh. Good!

Shake Harasu / Salmon Belly

Shake Harasu / Salmon Belly

The Kanpachi / Greater Amberjack / Yellowtail has a firm, juicy slippery chew to texture, with bright meaty sweet savoury flavour. I like pairing the greater amberjack fish / yellowtail fish with a bit of light soy sauce for added salty notes. The Nama Hotate / Fresh Scallop has a bouncy, juicy slippery bite to texture, with delicate sweet savoury flavour. The sprinkle of lime juice lends a zesty tangy sour citrus note, while the pairing of big juicy globules of ikura / salmon roe complements the scallop with a sharp burst of briny salty flavour. Good!

Kanpachi / Greater Amberjack / Yellowtail

Kanpachi / Greater Amberjack / Yellowtail & Nama Hotate / Fresh Scallop

Nama Hotate / Fresh Scallop

Love the gourmet cocktail presentation of the Botan Ebi / Peony Prawn. These peony prawns / shrimp have a big juicy crunch to texture, with sweet savoury shirmpy flavour. Oddly, 1 of the pieces I had was rather slimy, though the other piece was decent.

Botan Ebi / Peony Prawn

Botan Ebi / Peony Prawn

The exquisite Hirame Burakku Toryufuru / Olive Flounder With Black Truffle (SGD $Market Price, ~$80++) is a seasonal item. The earthy notes of the black truffle shavings complement the thinly sliced olive flounder fish with its delicate meaty sweet savoury flavours. I find it best to roll these, so each bite gets you a cross-section of the flavours. Good!

Hirame Burakku Toryufuru / Olive Flounder With Black Truffle (SGD $Market Price, ~$80++)

Hirame Burakku Toryufuru / Olive Flounder With Black Truffle

Served whole, the Isaki / Japanese Grunt Fish (SGD $Market Price, ~$80++) is a seasonal item. A rather uncommon fish for sashimi, the Japanese grunt fish has a meaty moist chew to texture, rather like a tender piece of meat. There's a distinct sweet savoury flavour, with a pleasant fatty fish taste that carries a hint of the ocean. Good!

Isaki / Japanese Grunt Fish (SGD $Market Price, ~$80++)

Isaki / Japanese Grunt Fish

There's apparently a sequential order to consume the sashimi in, starting with those that have more delicate flavours, before moving on to those with bolder or more intense flavours.

Plate Of Sashimi

Plate Of Sashimi

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What I like most about the Assorted Tempura Moriawase (SGD $25) is the light, crisp, non-greasy tempura batter coating the ingredients. This retains its light crunch even after dipping in the tempura sauce. The assorted medley of vegetables includes string beans, chili, brinjal / eggplant / aubergine, sweet potato, and pumpkin, all with a soft moist chew and bright vegetal earthy sweet flavours. But the star is easily the large juicy kuruma ebi / king prawn / Japanese tiger prawn, which has a refreshing succulent bite and bold sweet savoury flavour. Good!

Assorted Tempura Moriawase (SGD $25)

Assorted Tempura Moriawase

Assorted Tempura Moriawase

Assorted Tempura Moriawase

The Kuruma Ebi Mentaiyaki / Grilled King Prawn With Mentaiko Sauce (SGD $18) is a luxurious treat. The large juicy kuruma ebi / king prawn / Japanese tiger prawn has a refreshing succulent bite and bold sweet savoury flavour. The dressing of creamy mentaiko / pollock fish roe sauce lends robust briny salty flavour, yet doesn't overwhelm the natural flavour of the prawn. Lightly torched to give it a smoky aroma. Highly recommended!

Kuruma Ebi Mentaiyaki / Grilled King Prawn With Mentaiko Sauce (SGD $18)

Kuruma Ebi Mentaiyaki / Grilled King Prawn With Mentaiko Sauce

Kuruma Ebi Mentaiyaki / Grilled King Prawn With Mentaiko Sauce

The Assorted Sushi (SGD $Market Price, ~SGD $68++ for 14 varieties with 1 piece each) features premium cuts, gently placed over sticky chewy vinegared sushi rice which has a delicate grainy sweet sour flavour. Especially notable is the Bafun Uni / Horse **** Sea Urchin, this luxurious morsel is creamy and grainy in texture, with a fresh delicate taste of the ocean. I also had the Maguro Akami / Tuna Fish Loin, and Shake Rosu / Salmon Fish Loin, both of which were decent.

Assorted Sushi (SGD $Market Price, ~SGD $68++ for 14 varieties with 1 piece each)

Assorted Sushi

Assorted Sushi

Assorted Sushi

The Foie Gras Chawanmushi (SGD $25) is a rich bowl of steamed egg custard folded with foie gras, giving this wobbly soft blend a distinct earthy savoury sweet eggy flavour. Completed with shreds of fresh deshelled crab, whose tender meat lend a lovely sweet savoury flavour to the dish.

Foie Gras Chawanmushi (SGD $25)

Foie Gras Chawanmushi

Love the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef (SGD $80 for 100g), the seared wagyu beef cubes are so succulent, juicy, and tender, with a light chew that releases all the lovely smoky meaty fatty savoury salty flavours within. A touch of sea salt lends greater depth of taste. Served with a side of addictively crunchy garlic chips, which burst with pleasant herbal spice notes. Highly recommended!

A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef (SGD $80 for 100g)

A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef

A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef

Said to be a popular post-drinking / hangover dish, the Nagasaki Sara Udon / Nagasaki Plate Noodles (SGD $16) resembles the Chinese Sang Mee, except this version is both hearty and healthy. The thin crisp noodles are coated in a rich vegetable gravy, upon which is ladled a medley of vegetables, all stewed till soft, including cabbage, carrots, choy sum / Chinese flowering cabbage, black fungus / cloud ear fungus, bean sprouts, and narutomaki / kamaboko / cured fish surimi. This has robust vegetal earthy sweet savoury flavours, and the overall dish is light on the palate. Pure comfort food. Good!

Nagasaki Sara Udon / Nagasaki Plate Noodles (SGD $16)

Nagasaki Sara Udon / Nagasaki Plate Noodles

The Hokkaido Aisukurimu / Hokkaido Ice Cream (SGD $7 per scoop) has the quality you expect of this dessert, with smooth creamy texture and bright flavours, underpinned by a milky taste. The Matcha Aisukurimu / Green Tea Ice Cream holds robust grassy earthy notes, while the Kuro Goma Aisukurimu / Black Sesame Ice Cream has deep toasty earthy sweet flavour. Felt some Shiro Goma / White Sesame would complement this. The Yuzu Shabetto / Yuzu Sorbet has a lovely delicate tangy zesty sour citrus flavour. Good!

Hokkaido Aisukurimu / Hokkaido Ice Cream (SGD $7 per scoop)

Matcha Aisukurimu / Green Tea Ice Cream

Kuro Goma Aisukurimu / Black Sesame Ice Cream

Yuzu Shabetto / Yuzu Sorbet

Enjoyed the dining experience at Botan Japanese Restaurant, with their casual ambience, friendly service, gourmet quality Japanese food, and good range of drinks. While prices naturally reflect their high quality, Botan Japanese Restaurant remains a good choice for after-work dinner and drinks.


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