59 Hutong Yakiniku @ Boat Quay - Taipei's Top Yakiniku Chain For Exclusive Cuts Of Meats And Seafood, Together With Friendly Taiwanese Service

Newly opened in Boat Quay is 59 Hutong Yakinku, a new yakiniku restaurant serving premium and exclusive cuts of meats and seafood from Japan, US and Australia, and friendly Taiwanese service. The restaurant is a collaboration between Taipei's top yakiniku chain, Hutong and Singapore's 59 Restaurant Pte Ltd.

AUS Wagyu Thin Cut Tongue

We started with the AUS Wagyu Thin Cut Tongue ($32), which has a delectable crunch after grilling.

There is a good variety of beef cuts, such as the US Prime Boneless Short Rib ($32), AUS Black Cow Chuck Flat ($30), US Prime Dallas Cube ($38) and many more.

Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye Roll.

Of course, the highlight has to be the Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye Roll (215g - 225g) with its beautiful marbling that melted in the mouth. Other A5 wagyu cuts from Japan and AUS are available too.

Spanish Pork Belly

Iberico Pork Shoulder Blade

For the non-beef eaters, you can go for Spanish Pork Belly ($18) or Iberico Pork Shoulder Blade ($26). Alternatively, another option is the tender Boneless Chicken Thigh ($14) paired with garlic butter.

Boneless Chicken Thigh

Raw Crab Roe in Crab Shell

There are also seafood selections such as Neritic Squid ($18), Cuttlefish ($18), Scallops ($10) and many more on the menu. We tried the Raw Crab Roe in Crab Shell ($18), which can take a while to cook. The flavour is a bit too rich and intense for me.

Cuttlefish Sausage

A must-have under the seafood section is the Cuttlefish Sausage ($14). During the grilling, it emits a beautiful aroma that makes you drool while waiting for it to be cooked. In addition, the stuffed cuttlefish gives it a lovely crunchy finish.

Zucchini and King Oyster Mushroom

While the focus is on the meats and seafood, the vegetables are good too. We had the Zucchini ($9) and King Oyster Mushroom ($9), which is an excellent refreshing break.

Wagyu Beef Japanese Rice

A good selection is the Wagyu Beef Japanese Rice ($12) to fill up the stomach. While I enjoyed the soft and fluffy rice, I hoped the wagyu beef could be fatter.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


59 Hutong Yakiniku
35 Boat Quay
Singapore 049824
Tel: +65 62353818
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Nearest: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 330pm, 530pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk towards the river. Turn left at the river. Walk along the river. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

OUMI @ CapitaSpring - New Contemporary Japanese Kappo Cuisine At The Top Of Level 51

Located on level 51 of CapitaSpring is Oumi, the newest Japanese restaurant serving contemporary Japanese Kappo cuisine. It shares the same space with Kaarla, a contemporary Australian restaurant and bar.

Momotaro Cheese 4.5/5

We started our dinner with the Momotaro Cheese ($20) whereby miso cheeses are sandwiched between slices of Momotaro tomatoes. The sweet and savoury combination worked harmoniously on the palate, while the nori rice puff topping provided the extra textural enjoyment.

Kabocha Uni Tofu 4.8/5

A beautiful dish that is both pleasing to the palate and sight is the Kabocha Uni Tofu ($30). The housemade silky smooth pumpkin tofu is accentuated by sea urchin's topping, dressed in lovely shiitake tsuyu

Nasu Dengaku 4.2/5

I felt that the Nasu Dengaku ($20) may not be everyone's cup of tea due to the egg plant's slimy texture that has been grilled over binchotan with nori white miso and chopped into chunks and garnished with deep-fried golden buckwheat, deep-fried sakura ebi, hojiso (shiso) flowers and cat whiskers from the 1-Arden Food Forest. However, I enjoyed the dish for its complex play of textures and flavours coupled with smokiness from the grilling.

Gyutan Yaki 4.8/5

The thinly sliced Gyutan Yaki ($35), seasoned lightly with salt and pepper is grilled over binchotan for a delightful crunchy finish. The serving of shio negi complemented and freshen up the appreciation of the tender beef tongue.

Foie Gras Monaka 4.5/5

The dishes at Oumi are very beautifully presented. Take for example the Foie Gras Monaka ($15/pc) which is not only appetising in sight, but bright in taste profile too. The delicious foie gras ganache is piped into the light and crispy wafer, topped with Japanese salmon roe, Japanese flying fish roe, chrysanthemum petals, kombu-pickled daikon, wasabi, edible flowers and leaves from the 1-Arden Food Forest.

Tempura Crepe 5/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Tempura Crepe ($25 for 2pc). I personally felt it can be one of their signature must try items. The cheesy crepe is topped with Australian scampi roe, Japanese flying fish roe, avocado slices, Ao-togarashi yoghurt, deep-fried sakura ebi, balsamic-teriyaki sauce, hojiso flowers and chrysanthemum petals. It is another multi-sensational dish with a delightful play of flavours and textures.

Kohitsuji Yaki 4.8/5

The Kohitsuji Yaki ($70) is another item on the menu that I enjoyed a lot. The juicy and tender Australian lamb chop is coated with finely chopped lemon myrite and lemon balm, served with Japanese sweet potato puree, fresh calamansi and garnished with edible flowers from the 1-Arden Food Forest.

Buta Kakuni 4.5/5

The Buta Kakuni ($60) reminds me of Okinawa cuisine which has Chinese influence. The wobbly and melted in the mouth braised pork belly has a hint of tang from the orange peel, served with grilled eringii mushrooms, fame flower, fresh egg yolk, mountain caviar, wasabi, edible flowers and leaves.

Awabi 4/5

The exquisite Awabi ($50), fresh live Australia abalone is salt-baked on the teppan. Once cooked, it is sliced and served on its shell, together with the innards topping and chipped wasabrina.

Wagyu 4.5/5

The Wagyu ($30 per serving) with fill you up at Oumi with the luxurious Kagashma A5 wagyu sirloin on top of Akita Komachi sushi rice, topped with an onsen egg yolk, Ao-Togarashi Yoghurt, Japanese leeks, lemon balm and served with freshly grated wasabi.

Kyoho Sorbet 4/5

To wrap up our dinner, we had the Kyoho Sorbet ($20) paired with warabi mochi and black sesame praline. A light and delicious dessert to end the dinner on a sweet note.

Note: This is an invited tasting


Oumi
CapitaSpring
88 Market Street
#51-01
Singapore 048948
Tel: +65 83383251
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Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Malacca Street. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Hey! Yakiniku @ Bugis Junction - New Yakiniku Restaurant With Set As Cheap As $8.90

Yakiniku seems to be the next new trend in the Singapore food scene. Several yakiniku restaurants opened in Singapore this year. Hey! Yakiniku is another new yakiniku restaurant at Bugis Junction offering different meat sets as cheap as $8.90.

The cheapest set on the menu is the Pork Belly & Chicken Thigh ($8.90). Besides the pork belly and chicken thigh, the set comes with a bowl of rice, miso soup and a choice of kimchi, salad or beansprouts.

We also ordered the Hey Set ($15.90), which comprises a beef short plate, skirt steak, and beef tongue. We add on more meat for an extra $4. I prefer the beef short plate for its meat to fats ratio. Not forgetting the beef tongue, which has a delightful crunch.

For the big eaters, you can also add on more meats from the a la carte menu. We had the Australian Wagyu Mb 4/5 (120g for $17.90/ 180g for $27.90). The quality is different from the other beef cuts for its beautiful marbling.

For those looking for a quick meal or something substantial, you may want to check out their donburi menu. We love the texture of beef tongue; hence we decided to order the Gyu Tan Don ($19.90). We also topped the beef tongue rice bowl with an onsen egg to complete the enjoyment.

For its opening promotion, the restaurant is offering its Karubi Set for $9.90. Hey! Yakiniku prides itself on providing customers affordable premium yakiniku cuts in a smokeless environment - No Smoke, No GST, No Service Charge!

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hey! Yakiniku
Bugis Junction
80 Middle Road
#01-92/96
Singapore 188966
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Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk straight down Victoria Road towards National Library. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Yakiniku-GO @ The Seletar Mall - Mini BBQ Grill And Affordable Japanese Yakiniku Set Meals From $9.80

Yakiniku-GO is the latest restaurant by RE&S Enterprise, with its first-ever Yakiniku concept marks its 76th outlet in Singapore. Diners can enjoy a vast repertoire of meats, from beef, lamb to chicken and seafood, with quality meat sets from $9.80. The electric grills produce no smoke as well, so there is no lingering BBQ odour even after your meal. Ordering at the restaurant is fuss-free and contactless as diners can scan the QR code on their mobile devices to make their orders.

Yakiniku-GO Set 4.2/5

The Karubi Set starts at $9.80 for only the boneless beef short ribs (100g). For something fancier, go for their signature Yakiniku-GO Set ($20.80 for 220g), which features three popular beef cuts - Beef Short Plate, Beef Ribeye Steak and Beef Tongue, along with rice, soup, kimchi or salad. A favourite among yakiniku aficionados, the Karubi (Beef Short Plate) has a superb tenderness and juiciness. We also loved the Beef Tongue, which has a rich, deep flavour yet tastes surprisingly clean.

Value Treat Set 3.8/5

The Value Treat Set ($19.80) comes with Beef Short Plate, Beef Flap meat and chicken, served alongside rice, soup, kimchi or salad.

Double Karubi Set 4/5

The Double Karubi Set ($20.80 for 200g) comes with Beef Short Plate and Beef Boneless Short Rib, served alongside rice, soup, kimchi or salad.

DIY Niku Sushi Set 4/5

For some DIY fun, you can make your own sushi with the DIY Niku Sushi Set ($6.80). First, grill the beef short rib meat and lay the grilled meat on the sushi rice. Then, wrap with seaweed and garnish with kimchi, spring onion and sesame seed.

Wagyu Tokujou Karubi 4.2/5

Besides the value sets, we also had ala carte orders of other meats. The Wagyu Tokujou Karubi ($11.80 for 50g) is evenly marbled and said to have a marbling score of at least eight or nine out of twelve, which has a good balance of fattiness and lean meat for a melt-in-the-mouth texture upon grilling.

Harami 4/5

The Harami ($6.90 for 50g) is one of the most popular items on the yakiniku menu. The outside skirt has a deep, umami flavour and a slightly chewy texture.

Ribeye 4/5

The Ribeye ($2.90 for 50g) was also equally good, with a strip of fat that runs the middle that lends an incredible depth of flavour.

Seafood Hoiru Yaki 4/5

Other than beef, they also have a seafood alternative. Baked in foil, the Seafood Hoiru Yaki ($12.80) consists of fresh scallops, prawns, and squid in a rich teriyaki and butter sauce. Non-beef options also include chicken, lamb leg and salmon.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yakiniku-GO
The Seletar Mall
33 Sengkang West Avenue
#01-49/50/51/52/53
Singapore 797653
Tel: +65 62425939
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Nearest MRT: Sengkang (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am – 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Seng Kang MRT station. Walk to LRT station. Take LRT to Fernvale LRT station. Take Exit A. walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes [Map]

Botanico @ The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens) - 2019 World Gourmet Summit Rising Female Chef Of The Year Brings new Maturity And Confidence In Her Creations

My last visit to Botanico at The Garage was 3 years ago when Chef Sue takes the helm introducing her interpretation of Asian flavours in her dishes. Since then, she has grown from strength to strength, winning the 2019 Rising Female Chef of the Year and spent time in the kitchens of Michelin-starred Mugaritz polishing her culinary skills.

Beef Tongue Tacos 3.5/5

I guess no one has ever seen or tried taco presented in such a matter. The Beef Tongue Tacos ($18) is served jicama slaw, toasted rice, ginger flower, baby bokchoy and cashew cream. To enjoy it, simply piece everything together and have it in one mouthful to get the different textures and flavours all at play in one go.

Corn Pani Puri 4/5

The Corn Pani Puri ($10) is a playful touch by Chef Sue where puffed little pillows of Indian-inspired puri pastry acted as a cup, holding within it, spiced baby corn and a rich espuma of curried Japanese corn. Pop this in the mouth for a burst of aromatic flavours dancing in the mouth.

Rojak 3.5/5

The Rojak ($15) may look plain, but it is actually packed with the lovely savoury shrimp paste flavour. Give the heiko foam a good mix, coating the pile of kohlrabi and seasonal Southeast Asian fruits salad. It reminds me of the Penang-style rojak, giving the refreshing salad a delightful combo of sweet, savoury, and sour with each bite.

Wing Bean Salad 4.2/5

Chef Sue took inspiration from a staff meal that one of her Malaysian chefs created. Together with her team, they took the dish apart and created the new elevated Wing Bean Salad ($15) using European techniques with Southeast Asian flavours. The wing beans are paired with cubes of housemade chickpea tofu, chopped hard-boiled egg, bird's eye chilli, dressed in a bright, punchy dressing of lime juice, lemongrass, fish sauce, belachan and Thai palm sugar. It even comes with a generous topping of Asian anchovies or better known as ikan bilis in Southeast Asia.

Assam Pedas Snapper 4.2/5

Fish lover will adore Chef Sue's modern take of the traditional assam pedas - Assam Pedas Snapper ($32). The red snapper fillet is grilled over banana leaf, complemented with saffron risotto, okra 2-ways, assam pedas and ginger flower.

Herbal Chicken 4.5/5

I love both Hainanese chicken rice and herbal chicken; hence I really enjoyed the Herbal Chicken ($29) at Botanico. The chicken breast is slow-cooked to tender and dressed in angelica sauce. The sauce is definitely the star which brightens the dish. Not forgetting the chicken rice couscous, which is a flavourful substitution of the usual rice to pair with the herbal chicken. What I feel missing is the chilli sauce to complete the whole enjoyment.

65 Degree Kurobuta Pork Belly 4.2/5

I am sure not many can resist the gorgeous piece of 65 Degree Kurobuta Pork Belly ($30) slow-cooked to fork-tender. It is served with textures of sunchoke, leek flowers and housemade soy-vinegar infused with Szechuan peppercorns.

Crab Rissoni 4.8/5

The crowd favourite definitely goes to the Crab Rissoni ($32). The outer circle is a ring of Japanese deep-sea red crab and blue swimmer crab. The internal circle is Japanese nori rissoni and a comte custard right in the middle. The beautiful dish is sprinkled with octopus bottarga made in house with octopus egg. Give everything a good mix, to get the lovely crustacean's sweetness swimming in each mouth fill. 

BGR (Black Glutinous Rice) 4/5

Even the desserts at Botanico are inspired by flavours in Southeast Asia. First up is the BGR ($12), a playful name for the black glutinous rice dessert recreated with a modern look. It came in the form of black glutinous rice mochi cake topped with toasted rice ice cream and compressed coconut resting on a bed black glutinous rice foam.

Ondeh Ondeh 3.5/5

Familiar yet not is the Ondeh Ondeh ($12). The beloved nonya kueh is transformed into a bowl of pandan glutinous rice cake with coconut foam, kaya ice cream and gula melaka. It is definitely interesting and yummy, but I still miss the oozing gula melaka moment whenever one bites into the traditional ondeh ondeh.

Having dined at Botanico when Chef Sue first took over the helm, I can really taste the improvement in her culinary skill. Her creations now reflect a greater nuance and finesse with a new focus on South East Asian flavours. 

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Botanico 
The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens)
via Cluny Park Gate
50 Cluny Park Road
Singapore 257488
Tel: +65 98311106
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to Cluny Park Road. Turn left onto Cluny Park Road and continue walking down the road. At Cluny Park Gate, walk in and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. {Map]