Ishinomaki Grill & Sake
390 Orchard Road
#B1-02 Palais Renaissance
https://ishinomaki.com.sg/
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| Sushi Flat Lay |
Luxurious Izakaya With Exquisite Sushi & Kushiyaki
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 9
Value for Money: 4
Spent about SGD $240 per person.
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Founded in September 2014 by Chef-Owner Chi Pin Han and wife Janice, Ishinomaki Grill & Sake is a casual izakaya grill & sake dining concept, offering both authentic robatayaki / kushiyaki and sushi / sashimi, paired with a range of premium sake. Ishinomaki Grill & Sake is named in homage to the city of Ishinomaki, in Miyagi prefecture, Tohoku region, Japan, which is ranked among the top three fishing grounds in the world... until it was devasted by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011.
The owners were inspired while on a mission trip to Ishinomaki, with stories of resilience and love for the local produce, fuelling their courage to open their own business. Today, Ishinomaki Grill & Sake works closely with local Japanese purveyors in the city to procure fresh, high quality, seasonal produce. All this comes at a price though, as dining at Ishinomaki Grill & Sake incurs a price tag akin to a fine dining establishment.
Ambience at Ishinomaki Grill & Sake differs between the 3 areas occupying the large space. At one corner is the classic izakaya style concept, with sturdy dark wooden furnishings packed closely together, illuminated by soft spotlights. Partitions strung with mesh nets lend a maritime feel, while bright colourful flags flank the sushi and sashimi counter. At the other end is the teppanyaki and grill counter, brightly lit and surrounded by comfortable modern furnishings. Here, you can watch chefs grill skewers and other ingredients. In the palatial middle area, is the large open bar counter with spacious high table seating, along with their private rooms behind closed partitions.
Service at Ishinomaki Grill & Sake is befitting of a fine dining restaurant. Staff are polite, enthusiastic, and welcoming, quickly seating guests upon arrival. They display good product knowledge on the menu, and offer astute recommendations of the available seasonal produce, though this can border on over-selling. Staff proactively top up drinks and clear finished plates throughout the meal, commendable observation. I note they clean up quickly when diners leave. I appreciate that they regularly ask for feedback on your dining experience, and introduce dishes upon serving. Requests are performed efficiently. Staff also accord diners fair respect and some measure of discretion.
Food at Ishinomaki Grill & Sake is classic Japanese cuisine, with a focus on sushi, sashimi, robatayaki, kushiyaki, and sake. Ingredients are fresh and premium, sourced primarily from Ishinomaki, as well as other parts of Japan, with the help of partners in Japan Fisheries Cooperatives (JF Zengyoren). Chef-Owner Chi Pin Han and Janice strive to delight customers, and while the kitchen team has inconsistency on occasion, the majority of time, dishes are perfectly executed, positively received by Japanese customers dining here. Portions are sized for individuals. Prices are expensive, more so compared to other Japanese restaurants with similarly good quality, budget about SGD $240 per person for a meal with drinks here.
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| Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Signage |
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| Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Exterior |
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| Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Interior |
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| Decor |
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| Seating |
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| Table Setting |
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| Open Kitchen |
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| Sushi Flat Lay |
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| Sushi Flat Lay |
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| Kushiyaki Flat Lay |
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| Meal Flat Lay |
A refreshing glass of Kori Mizu / Ice Water (SGD $Complimentary), nice. Best with dishes that are heavy on marinades or sauces.
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| Kori Mizu / Ice Water (SGD $Complimentary) |
The Cold Green Tea (SGD $5) is straightforward, with the green tea having a medium earthy flavour. It's free-flow for the standard price, although the standard price is already much higher than elsewhere.
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| Cold Green Tea (SGD $5) |
The Hot Barley Rice Tea (SGD $5) is straightforward, with the barley rice tea having a grainy earthy sweet flavour. It's free-flow for the standard price, although the standard price is already much higher than elsewhere.
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| Hot Barley Rice Tea (SGD $5) |
The Sake Iyokagiya Junmai Ginjo R1BY (SGD $48 for 300ml) is an unfiltered, unpasteurized sake made with Matsuyama Mitsui rice polished to 50%, brewed by the Seiryo Shuzo Co. Ltd. in the city of Saijo, Ehime prefecture, Shikoku region, Japan. The body is crisp, dry, gentle, and pleasant, with aromas and tastes of white rice, mountain spring water, strawberry, and lychee, and vibrant mineral earthy sweet fruity flavours. Served chilled, it's nicely refreshing.
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| Sake Iyokagiya Junmai Ginjo R1BY (SGD $48 for 300ml) |
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| Sake Iyokagiya Junmai Ginjo R1BY |
The Sake Tamagawa Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu Ice Breaker (SGD $48 for 300ml) is affectionately nicknamed 'Penguin', and is an unfiltered, unpasteurized sake made with Nihonbare rice polished to 60%, brewed by the Kinoshita Brewing Company in the city of Kyotango, Kyoto prefecture, Kansai region, Japan. The body is smooth, dry, thick, and rich, with aromas and tastes of white rice, cocoa, cream, and hazelnuts, and deep mineral spicy milky sweet flavours. Served chilled, feels like drinking a snowball drizzled with maple syrup, nice.
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| Sake Tamagawa Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu Ice Breaker (SGD $48 for 300ml) |
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| Sake Tamagawa Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu Ice Breaker |
The Sake Sawaya Matsumoto Shuhari Omachi (SGD $55 for 300ml) is made with Omachi rice polished to 55%, brewed by the Matsumoto Shuzo Brewery in the city of Kyoto, Kyoto prefecture, Kansai region, Japan. The body is gentle, jammy, and bright, with aromas and tastes of honeydew melon, green grapes, grass, and glutinous rice, and crisp fruity earthy sweet herbal flavours. Served chilled, it feels complex and heavy, lingering on the palate.
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| Sake Sawaya Matsumoto Shuhari Omachi (SGD $55 for 300ml) |
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| Sake Sawaya Matsumoto Shuhari Omachi |
The Sake Mutsu Hassen Black Label Junmai Ginjo (SGD $48 for 300ml) is made with Hanafubuki rice polished to 55%, brewed by the Hachinohe Shuzo Sake Brewery, in the city of Hachinohe, Aomori prefecture, Tohoku region, Japan. The body is light, refreshing, and clear, with aromas and tastes of peach, kumquat, pear, and liquorice, and rich fruity earthy savoury bitter sweet mineral flavours. Served chilled, it feels elegant and well-balanced, with a long lingering finish.
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| Sake Mutsu Hassen Black Label Junmai Ginjo (SGD $48 for 300ml) |
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| Sake Mutsu Hassen Black Label Junmai Ginjo |
The Sake Hakushika Kijuro (SGD $28 for 220ml) is made with Hyogo Yumenishiki rice polished to 70%, brewed by the Tatsuuma Honke Brewing Company, in the city of Nishinomiya, Hyogo prefecture, Kansai region, Japan. The body is well rounded, light, and dry, with aromas and tastes of pine leaves, pebbles, toasted malt, and spring water, and bold woody earthy mineral herbal sweet flavours. Served warm, it's refreshing and comforting, relaxing the mind.
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| Sake Hakushika Kijuro (SGD $28 for 220ml) |
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| Sake Hakushika Kijuro |
The Sake Ichinokura Mirai E Tsunagu Baton Tokubetsu Junmai Genshu (SGD $48 for 300ml) is made with Kuranohana rice polished to 60%, brewed by the Ichinokura Co., Ltd., in the city of Matsuyama, Miyagi prefecture, Tohoku region, Japan. The body is light, smooth, and rich, with aromas and tastes of steamed rice, green apples, young papaya, and mountain dew, and delicate fruity earthy mineral sweet flavours. Served chilled, it's very pleasing. Proceeds go towards continuing care for children living in the areas affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami (the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011), supporting their education until they reach 20 years in age, under the Hatachi Fund (https://www.hatachikikin.com/en_about).
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| Sake Ichinokura Mirai E Tsunagu Baton Tokubetsu Junmai Genshu (SGD $48 for 300ml) |
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| Sake Ichinokura Mirai E Tsunagu Baton Tokubetsu Junmai Genshu |
The Mijingiri Shake / Minced Salmon (SGD $Complimentary) was described to me by staff, as consisting of "minced salmon, eggs, onions". Tastes like a simple salmon mayonnaise, flaky and chunky with sweet savoury oily fishy flavours. This didn't appeal to me. Could be improved.
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| Mijingiri Shake / Minced Salmon (SGD $Complimentary) |
The Hijiki Pinattsu / Hijiki Seaweed & Peanuts (SGD $Complimentary) is a novel appetizer. The hijiki seaweed visually resembles twigs, with a soft chewy texture and mild briny salty earthy sweet flavour. Contrasted nicely by the crunchy pinattsu / peanuts with nutty salty flavour. Good!
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| Hijiki Pinattsu / Hijiki Seaweed & Peanuts (SGD $Complimentary) |
The Hokkai Takowasa / Hokkaido Octopus Marinated In Wasabi (SGD $16) differs from elsewhere, as their rendition has thick chunky raw Hokkaido tako / octopus, not small diced bits. It's marinated in wasabi, resulting in a slippery gooey texture, with bright vegetal herbal spice sweet flavour. Actually rather refreshing, helps to alleviate the palate. Good!
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| Hokkai Takowasa / Hokkaido Octopus Marinated In Wasabi (SGD $16) |
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| Hokkai Takowasa / Hokkaido Octopus Marinated In Wasabi |
The Eihere / Stingray Fin (SGD $12) here is average at best, with the chewy thick strips of grilled eihere / stingray fin carrying smoky savoury sweet flavour. Served with a dollop of creamy Japanese mayonnaise spiced with furikake seasoning, lending a milky sweet spice note. Overall, decent.
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| Eihere / Stingray Fin (SGD $12) |
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| Eihere / Stingray Fin |
Their Tori Karaage / Fried Chicken (SGD $18) is well executed, among the better versions around. Each of the boneless tori karaage / fried chicken chunks has a firm crunchy spiced flour batter, while the chicken meat within is juicy and tender and piping hot, with meaty salty spice savoury sweet flavour. Topped with crisp shredded spring onions, served over a base of crisp mesclun salad (baby spinach, mizuna, chard, arugula / rocket leaves, cherry tomatoes), with vegetal herbal bitter sweet flavour. Good!
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| Tori Karaage / Fried Chicken (SGD $18) |
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| Tori Karaage / Fried Chicken |
I would order the Kani Chawanmushi / Crab Meat Steamed Egg Custard (SGD $14) again, as it's yummy. The wobbly soft chawanmushi / steamed egg custard holds beautiful eggy sweet flavour, and has a base of tender boneless chicken chunk, tender gingko nut, soft kani kamaboko surimi / crab stick seafood cake, and crisp coriander, combining for meaty vegetal herbal sweet savoury nutty flavour. But it's the topping of warm dashi broth, bits of lime zest, and generous chunks of fresh deshelled succulent snow crab leg meat, that make this stand out, lending luxurious addictive zesty earthy sweet salty briny savoury flavours, excellent. Highly recommended!
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| Kani Chawanmushi / Crab Meat Steamed Egg Custard (SGD $14) |
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| Kani Chawanmushi / Crab Meat Steamed Egg Custard |
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| Kani Chawanmushi / Crab Meat Steamed Egg Custard |
The Shake Harasu Sushi / Salmon Belly Sushi (SGD $9 per piece, $18 for 2 pieces) is well executed and delicious. Over a ball of hand-formed sushi rice, chewy sticky in texture with bright grainy sour sweet flavour, is layered with a thick cut slice of tender shake harasu / salmon fish belly sashimi with bright meaty sweet savoury flavour. Gently scored to pick up sauce more easily, the succulent salmon fish belly sushi has a lovely freshness. Highly recommended!
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| Shake Harasu Sushi / Salmon Belly Sushi (SGD $9 per piece, $18 for 2 pieces) |
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| Shake Harasu Sushi / Salmon Belly Sushi |
The Chutoro Sushi / Bluefin Tuna Belly Sushi (SGD $14 per piece, $28 for 2 pieces) is well executed and delicious. Over a ball of hand-formed sushi rice, chewy sticky in texture with bright grainy sour sweet flavour, is layered with a thick cut slice of tender chutoro / bluefin tuna fish belly sashimi with deep meaty savoury sweet flavour. Gently scored to pick up sauce more easily, the succulent medium-fatty tuna fish belly has a lovely freshness. Highly recommended!
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| Chutoro Sushi / Bluefin Tuna Belly Sushi (SGD $14 per piece, $28 for 2 pieces) |
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| Chutoro Sushi / Bluefin Tuna Belly Sushi |
The Anago Sushi / Salt Water Conger Eel Sushi (SGD $8 per piece, $16 for 2 pieces) is nicely prepared and yummy. The base of hand-formed sushi rice has chewy sticky texture and bright grainy sour sweet flavour. It's layered with a thick cut slice of soft anago / salt water conger eel fish, beautifully seared and gently basted with nitsume sauce (made from a blend of light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, mirin rice wine, white sugar, sake rice wine, dashi broth), having robust sweet salty savoury earthy flavour. This premium salt water conger eel fish is fresh without any fishy taste. Highly recommended!
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| Anago Sushi / Salt Water Conger Eel Sushi (SGD $8 per piece, $16 for 2 pieces) |
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| Anago Sushi / Salt Water Conger Eel Sushi |
The Hotate Uni Sushi / Scallop Sea Urchin Sushi (SGD $24 per piece, $48 for 2 pieces) is nicely prepared and yummy. The base of hand-formed sushi rice has chewy sticky texture and bright grainy sour sweet flavour. It's layered with a thick cut slice of bouncy hotate / scallop sashimi and creamy bafun uni / horse **** sea urchin, beautifully scored and luxurious, having clean briny salty sweet savoury flavour. This premium scallop and sea urchin is fresh without any fishy taste. Highly recommended!
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| Hotate Uni Sushi / Scallop Sea Urchin Sushi (SGD $24 per piece, $48 for 2 pieces) |
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| Hotate Uni Sushi / Scallop Sea Urchin Sushi |
The Hamachi Sushi / Japanese Amberjack Sushi (SGD $6 per piece, $12 for 2 pieces) is luscious and clean. The base of hand-formed sushi rice has chewy sticky texture and bright grainy sour sweet flavour. It's layered with a thick cut slice of springy hamachi / Japanese amberjack fish with lovely meaty sweet savoury flavour. Gently scored, the Japanese amberjack fish is so refreshing in taste. Good!
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| Hamachi Sushi / Japanese Amberjack Sushi (SGD $6 per piece, $12 for 2 pieces) |
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| Hamachi Sushi / Japanese Amberjack Sushi |
The Shima Aji Sushi / Striped Jack Sushi (SGD $9 per piece, $18 for 2 pieces) is luscious and clean. The base of hand-formed sushi rice has chewy sticky texture and bright grainy sour sweet flavour. It's layered with a thick cut slice of springy shima aji / striped jack fish with lovely fishy savoury salty sweet flavour. Gently scored, the striped jack fish is so refreshing in taste. Good!
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| Shima Aji Sushi / Striped Jack Sushi (SGD $9 per piece, $18 for 2 pieces) |
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| Shima Aji Sushi / Striped Jack Sushi |
The Botan Ebi Sushi / Botan Shrimp Sushi (SGD $18 per piece) is a seasonal sushi dish, delicious and succulent. The base of hand-formed sushi rice has chewy sticky texture and bright grainy sour sweet flavour. It's layered with a thick fillet of juicy botan ebi / botan shrimp sashimi with clean-tasting meaty sweet briny salty flavour. Topped with juicy tobiko / flying fish roe and luxurious sturgeon fish caviar roe, which lend a combined briny salty sweet flavour. Plated over a shiso / beefsteak plant leaf, the shrimp head is served in your choice of soup or tempura fried, I got the latter, and the crisp cracker-like texture with oily savoury flavour is so enticing. Highly recommended!
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| Botan Ebi Sushi / Botan Shrimp Sushi (SGD $18 per piece) |
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| Botan Ebi Sushi / Botan Shrimp Sushi |
The Yakitori Negima / Chicken Thigh & Leek (SGD $8 for 2 skewers) features medium-large chunks of tender boneless chicken thigh and crunchy leeks, marinated in tare sauce (made from a blend of light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, mirin rice wine, brown sugar, sake rice wine, sherry vinegar, garlic), then grilled robatayaki / fireside cooking style over hot charcoal. The chicken thigh and leek skewers carry bold meaty vegetal sweet savoury salty flavours, nicely satisfying. Highly recommended!
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| Yakitori Negima / Chicken Thigh & Leek (SGD $8 for 2 skewers) |
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| Yakitori Negima / Chicken Thigh & Leek |
The Tori Kawa / Chicken Skin (SGD $8 for 2 skewers) features small oily chewy crispy chicken skin pieces, marinated in tare sauce, then grilled robatayaki / fireside cooking style over hot charcoal. The chicken skin skewers carry fatty salty savoury flavours, but the appeal lies in its contrast of textures. Worth ordering!
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| Tori Kawa / Chicken Skin (SGD $8 for 2 skewers) |
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| Tori Kawa / Chicken Skin |
The Tsukune / Minced Chicken Meatballs (SGD $10 for 2 skewers) features a blend of minced chicken meat and chicken soft bones / cartilage, which gives it an interesting contrast of tender and juicy with alternating bits of crunchy texture. Marinated in tare sauce, then grilled robatayaki / fireside cooking style over hot charcoal. The minced chicken meatball skewers carry robust meaty salty sweet savoury earthy flavours, yum. Highly recommended!
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| Tsukune / Minced Chicken Meatballs (SGD $10 for 2 skewers) |
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| Tsukune / Minced Chicken Meatballs |
The Ume Shiso Sasami / Chicken Tenders With Pickled Plum & Beefsteak Plant (SGD $12) is not a skewer dish. Rather, it's a plated appetizer with 4 small-medium cubes of tender moist chicken inner breast, also known as chicken tenders, lightly seasoned with salt and grilled robatayaki / fireside cooking style over hot charcoal. It's plated and topped, with 2 pieces receiving a juicy ume / umeboshi / pickled plum piece, and together with the chicken tender, carries pleasant meaty savoury vegetal sour salty earthy flavour. The other 2 pieces receive a chunky mashed shiso / beefsteak plant paste, and together with the chicken tender, carries sharp meaty spicy herbal earthy bitter salty flavour. Interesting contrast of tastes, fires up the palate. Good!
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| Ume Shiso Sasami / Chicken Tenders With Pickled Plum & Beefsteak Plant (SGD $12) |
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| Ume Shiso Sasami / Chicken Tenders With Pickled Plum & Beefsteak Plant |
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| Ume Shiso Sasami / Chicken Tenders With Pickled Plum & Beefsteak Plant |
The Dashi Maki Tamago / Rolled Egg Omelette With Dashi (SGD $9) has sliced blocks of dashi maki tamago / rolled egg omelette with dashi, neatly arranged into a row. With a springy bouncy spongy texture, and bright eggy sweet savoury earthy flavour, this appetizer went down easily. Served with a mound of soft grated daikon radish, juicy with vegetal sweet earthy flavour. Worth ordering!
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| Dashi Maki Tamago / Rolled Egg Omelette With Dashi (SGD $9) |
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| Dashi Maki Tamago / Rolled Egg Omelette With Dashi |
The Buta Bara / Pork Belly (SGD $20) features thick chunky cuts of tender juicy premium buta bara / pork belly, lightly seasoned with shio / salt, then grilled. Each bite bursts with smoky meaty savoury salty sweet flavour. Served over a crisp mesclun salad (with baby spinach, chard, mizuna, rocket leaves / arugula) dressed with sesame sauce, and carrying addictive nutty vegetal sweet bitter herbal notes, and a side dollop of creamy yellow mustard for a sharp zesty tangy sour spicy flavour. Worth ordering!
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| Buta Bara / Pork Belly (SGD $20) |
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| Buta Bara / Pork Belly |
The Tontoro / Pork Jowl (SGD $20) features medium succulent cuts of crunchy moist premium tontoro / pork jowl / pork cheek, lightly seasoned with shio / salt, then grilled. Each bite carries addictive smoky meaty savoury sweet salty flavour. Served over crisp white cabbage dressed with koji / fermented rice sauce, and carrying addictive vegetal earthy sweet savoury spice flavour. Highly recommended!
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| Tontoro / Pork Jowl (SGD $20) |
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| Tontoro / Pork Jowl |
The Iberiko Buta Kashira No Yuzu Miso / Iberico Pork Collar With Yuzu Miso (SGD $25) features 2 succulent juicy crunchy slabs of Iberiko buta kashira / Iberico pork collar, coated with a thick yuzu miso paste. The combination carries bold smoky savoury zesty sour tangy sweet salty flavour, very appetizing. Kept reaching for more. Highly recommended!
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| Iberiko Buta Kashira No Yuzu Miso / Iberico Pork Collar With Yuzu Miso (SGD $25) |
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| Iberiko Buta Kashira No Yuzu Miso / Iberico Pork Collar With Yuzu Miso |
The Negi / Leek (SGD $10) has thick chunky slices of negi / leek, with a crisp juicy crunch to texture and bright vegetal sweet smoky flavour. Garnished with wispy katsuobushi / bonito flakes, which lend meaty earthy savoury notes. Good!
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| Negi / Leek (SGD $10) |
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| Negi / Leek |
The Shiitake / Shiitake Mushroom (SGD $10) has a large shiitake mushroom, grilled to perfection. It's tender and juicy, with bold smoky vegetal earthy savoury flavour. Served over a bed of wispy katsuobushi / bonito flakes, which lend meaty earthy savoury notes. Worth ordering!
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| Shiitake / Shiitake Mushroom (SGD $10) |
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| Shiitake / Shiitake Mushroom |
The Satsumaimo / Sweet Potato (SGD $14) is so addictive, with the grilled satsumaimo / sweet potato being tender and soft, carrying bold smoky earthy sweet flavour, almost reaching candy-like levels of taste. Peel off the skin, dip it into the mountain pink salt on the side for an added salty savoury note. Highly recommended!
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| Satsumaimo / Sweet Potato (SGD $14) |
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| Satsumaimo / Sweet Potato |
The Gyu Hire Kushi Yaki / Beef Tenderloin In Teriyaki Sauce (SGD $16) is a luxurious skewer, with tender bouncy Australian gyu hire / beef tenderloin chunks, juicy grape tomato, crisp negi / leek, and crunchy bell pepper / capsicum, all marinated in teriyaki sauce. This has robust smoky sweet salty savoury vegetal bitter flavour, so good. A tad expensive for the portion size though. Worth ordering!
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| Gyu Hire Kushi Yaki / Beef Tenderloin In Teriyaki Sauce (SGD $16) |
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| Gyu Hire Kushi Yaki / Beef Tenderloin In Teriyaki Sauce |
The Surume Ika / Common Squid (SGD $24) features a nice medium-sized surume ika / common squid, bouncy and springy in texture with a light chew. Dressed with a light soy gravy, soft juicy grated daikon radish, and crisp spring onions, this has decent vegetal earthy savoury sweet salty flavour. Worth ordering!
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| Surume Ika / Common Squid (SGD $24) |
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| Surume Ika / Common Squid |
The Hotate Kushi Yaki / Scallop In Teriyaki Sauce (SGD $20) features 2 pieces of large deshelled scallops, bouncy and soft, marinated in teriyaki sauce. This lends a beautiful sweet salty flavour to the natural sweet notes of the hotate / scallop. Highly recommended!
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| Hotate Kushi Yaki / Scallop In Teriyaki Sauce (SGD $20) |
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| Hotate Kushi Yaki / Scallop In Teriyaki Sauce |
Loved the Gindara Saikyo Yaki / Cod Fish With Sweet Miso Paste (SGD $38), which has a large fresh gindara / cod fish, moist and flaky and buttery in texture. It's marinated with Saikyo miso / sweet white miso paste from Saikyo, lending a floral earthy sweet savoury flavour to the natural buttery sweet savoury notes of the fish. Enjoyed this immensely. Highly recommended!
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| Gindara Saikyo Yaki / Cod Fish With Sweet Miso Paste (SGD $38) |
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| Gindara Saikyo Yaki / Cod Fish With Sweet Miso Paste |
This was an off-menu item, as the regular version on the menu couldn't be made due to supply shortages and shipping disruptions. The Unagi Abokado Maki / Marinated Fresh Water Eel & Avocado Sushi Roll (SGD $32) is a maki sushi / sushi roll, with chewy sticky sushi rice, spongy tamago / rolled egg omelette, soft abokado / avocado, and crisp nori / dried seaweed sheet, all rolled up. On top is layered tender fillets of teriyaki marinated unagi / fresh water eel, juicy tobiko / flying fish roe, creamy Japanese mayonnaise, and edible flowers for colour. This has lovely grainy sour sweet eggy vegetal earthy salty meaty savoury milky briny flavour, complex yet you taste the distinct layers of ingredients. Good!
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| Unagi Abokado Maki / Marinated Fresh Water Eel & Avocado Sushi Roll (SGD $32) |
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| Unagi Abokado Maki / Marinated Fresh Water Eel & Avocado Sushi Roll |
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| Unagi Abokado Maki / Marinated Fresh Water Eel & Avocado Sushi Roll |
The Tensoba Ozen Teishoku / Tempura Soba Tray Set Lunch (SGD $28 Lunch Only) is only available as a set lunch, and while each component is decently executed, the overall meal was rather alright, not terrible, but nothing to shout about either, unlike their more delicious ala-carte dishes. The Tempura Moriawase / Assorted Tempura has various ingredients in a crisp light batter while still retaining their natural moist tender bite, including eggplant / aubergine / brinjal, sweet potato, and king oyster mushroom, all with vegetal earthy sweet savoury flavour, accompanied by prawns / shrimp with sweet savoury flavour.
The Zaru Soba / Cold Soba Noodles has silky smooth buckwheat noodles with an al-dente chew to texture, garnished with crisp shredded nori / dried seaweed sheet, carrying combined mild grainy sweet earthy flavour. The Chawanmushi / Steamed Egg Custard was lovely, with wobbly soft chawanmushi / steamed egg custard that carries beautiful eggy sweet flavour, and has a base of tender boneless chicken chunk, tender shiitake mushrooms, tender gingko nut, soft kani kamaboko surimi / crab stick seafood cake, and crisp coriander, combining for meaty vegetal herbal sweet savoury earthy nutty flavour. The Kariforunia Maki / California Sushi Roll was pretty alright. Worth ordering!
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| Tensoba Ozen Teishoku / Tempura Soba Tray Set Lunch (SGD $28 Lunch Only) |
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| Tempura Moriawase / Assorted Tempura |
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| Tempura Moriawase / Assorted Tempura |
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| Tentsuyu / Tempura Dipping Sauce |
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| Zaru Soba / Cold Soba Noodles |
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| Zaru Soba / Cold Soba Noodles |
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| Mentsuyu / Noodle Dipping Sauce |
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| Chawanmushi / Steamed Egg Custard |
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| Chawanmushi / Steamed Egg Custard |
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| Chawanmushi / Steamed Egg Custard |
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| Kariforunia Maki / California Sushi Roll |
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| Chomiryo / Condiments |
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| Tensoba Ozen Teishoku / Tempura Soba Tray Set Lunch |
I appreciate the thoughtfulness of serving the ice cream in a chilled bowl, which means it doesn't melt too quickly. The Aisu Kurimu Amao Ichigo / Amaou Strawberry Ice Cream (SGD $10) has a creamy grainy texture with bits of amao ichigo / amaou strawberry within the aisu kurimu / ice cream, and a lovely floral fruity sweet flavour that's mild and pleasant. Love how elegant this is. Highly recommended!
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| Aisu Kurimu Amao Ichigo / Amaou Strawberry Ice Cream (SGD $10) |
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| Aisu Kurimu Amao Ichigo / Amaou Strawberry Ice Cream |
The Aisu Kurimu Yuzu / Yuzu Ice Cream (SGD $10) was likewise served in a chilled bowl, almost halting it from melting. The creamy smooth aisu kurimu / ice cream has bites of chewy yuzu fruit within, and a bright fruity zesty tangy sour sweet flavour that's rather enticing. Good!
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| Aisu Kurimu Yuzu / Yuzu Ice Cream (SGD $10) |
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| Aisu Kurimu Yuzu / Yuzu Ice Cream |
The Aisu Kurimu Kyoho Budo / Kyoho Grape Ice Cream (SGD $10) is also served in a chilled bowl, but the melting point seems lower than others. The aisu kurimu / ice cream is smooth and creamy, with an addictive flavour of Kyoho budo / Kyoho grape infused within, an earthy sweet flavour that's lovely. Good!
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| Aisu Kurimu Kyoho Budo / Kyoho Grape Ice Cream (SGD $10) |
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| Aisu Kurimu Kyoho Budo / Kyoho Grape Ice Cream |
The Zenzai Oshiruko / Red Bean Soup With Rice Cake (SGD $12) is a traditional winter dessert, featuring boiled soft adzuki red bean soup flavoured with white sugar and salt, garnished with chewy plain mochi / rice cakes, and crunchy chestnuts. The zenzai oshiruko / red bean soup with rice cakes has a lovely warm earthy sweet flavour from the adzuki red beans, a grainy savoury sweet flavour from the mochi / rice cakes, and a robust nutty sweet flavour from the chestnuts. Pure comfort dessert. Highly recommended!
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| Zenzai Oshiruko / Red Bean Soup With Rice Cake (SGD $12) |
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| Zenzai Oshiruko / Red Bean Soup With Rice Cake |
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| Zenzai Oshiruko / Red Bean Soup With Rice Cake |
Eating this luxurious fruit is on my bucket list, so I seized the opportunity to have a slice of Masuku Meron / Musk Melon (SGD $22) here. It's everything I expected it to be, like a more beautiful and intense version of a honeydew melon; more juicy, more succulent, more honeyed fruity sweet in flavour. Love the masuku meron / musk melon, wish I could have more. Highly recommended!
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| Masuku Meron / Musk Melon (SGD $22) |
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| Masuku Meron / Musk Melon |
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| Masuku Meron / Musk Melon |
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