Bari Bari Grand @ The Capitol Kempinski - Premium Teppan with Complimentary Unlimited Gourmet Bar

If you enjoy sizzling teppan dishes with plenty of sides, Bari Bari Grand at The Capitol Kempinski Singapore is a new Japanese steak and seafood concept worth checking out. An evolution of the Bari Bari dining experience, the new concept takes things up a notch with more premium steak and seafood options, an expanded free-flow gourmet bar, and a more upscale social dining space.

The idea remains familiar — order your choice of teppan main and enjoy it straight from the hot stone — but Bari Bari Grand offers a wider selection of premium proteins, including Miyazaki Wagyu, lobster, scallops and Angus beef. Every teppan order also includes complimentary access to the Free-Flow Gourmet Bar, featuring a rotating selection of fresh salads, seasonal appetisers, and other accompaniments. All teppan mains are also served with homemade truffle mashed potatoes, cherry tomatoes, brussels sprouts and pearl corn, making each platter a rather substantial meal.

Lobster & Wagyu Hamburg Teppan 4.2/5

Lobster & Wagyu Hamburg Teppan ($49) is a fun surf-and-turf combination that gives you both seafood and beef in one plate. The lobster arrives piping hot on the teppan, topped with a rich, cheese-forward Thermidor-style sauce. The sauce melts into the lobster meat, giving it a creamy, savoury, decadent finish without completely masking the lobster’s sweetness. Alongside it is a house-made Japanese Wagyu beef patty, which adds a juicy, beefy component to the dish. I liked the variety here, from the richness of the lobster and sauce to the comforting truffle mash and vegetables on the side.

Gindara Teriyaki & Scallops Mentaiko Teppan 3.5/5

The Gindara Teriyaki & Scallops Mentaiko Teppan ($36) combines flaky black cod with scallops for a seafood-focused option. The gindara is teppan-grilled until tender and flaky, and the black cod’s natural richness pairs well with the house-made teriyaki sauce. The glaze is sweet, savoury and deeply caramelised around the edges from the heat of the teppan. The scallops come with a creamy mentaiko sauce, adding a slightly briny and savoury contrast. This is a fairly rich combination, especially with the fatty gindara, but seafood lovers will appreciate the different textures on the plate.

Chicken Thigh & Angus Saikoro Steak Teppan 4/5

For something more value-driven, the Chicken Thigh & Angus Saikoro Steak Teppan ($32) is a multi-protein platter with plenty to eat. The Angus beef is cut into bite-sized cubes, making it easy to pick up and enjoy with the accompanying sauce. The beef was tender with a good savoury beefiness. What stood out more, though, was the chicken thigh. The skin was nicely crisp and well marinated, while the meat underneath stayed tender and juicy. The combination feels comforting and satisfying without being overly complicated.

Miyazaki Wagyu Teppan 4.2/5

For those looking to splurge a little more, the Miyazaki Wagyu Teppan ($75) features 150g of ribeye round sourced from Miyazaki Wagyu. The beef is rich and exceptionally tender, with the kind of deep, savoury flavour and marbling you would expect from premium Japanese Wagyu. It is cooked on the teppan, allowing the exterior to develop a nice sear while keeping the meat juicy inside. The steak is finished with a dollop of house herb butter, which slowly melts over the warm beef and adds another layer of richness and aroma. Bari Bari Grand highlights A4/A5-grade Miyazaki Wagyu from a producer associated with the prestigious National Wagyu Award, making it one of the menu’s more premium options.

Atsuage Negi Cheese Yaki 3.8/5

For a lighter side or something to snack on while waiting for the mains, the Atsuage Negi Cheese Yaki ($8) is worth adding. The atsuage tofu is deep-fried until it develops a thin, lightly crisp exterior while retaining its soft, silky and slightly wobbly texture inside. The tofu is then topped with an umami-rich mentaiko sauce and melted cheese, then finished with crisp scallions. It is creamy, savoury and quite addictive, with the scallions adding some freshness and crunch to cut through the richness. This would work particularly well as a starter or bar bite alongside a drink.

Iidako Karaage 4.2/5

The Iidako Karaage ($10) was another favourite. Instead of the usual larger pieces of octopus, this uses whole baby octopus, lightly coated in seasoned starch and deep-fried until golden and crunchy. The exterior is satisfyingly crisp, while the baby octopus inside stays pleasantly chewy and tender. Seasoned simply with salt and savoury spices, it is the sort of snack that is easy to keep reaching for.

Whether you are here for a casual meal with friends or looking to indulge in premium Japanese beef, there’s a wide range to choose from. I particularly enjoyed the Lobster & Wagyu Hamburg Teppan and Miyazaki Wagyu Teppan, and the Iidako Karaage is a great addition to share. If you like your food served hot and sizzling straight from the teppan, Bari Bari Grand is one to add to your list for a Japanese-style steak and seafood meal with plenty of sides to go around.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Bari Bari Grand
Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski
15 Stamford Road
#01-82
Singapore 178906
Tel: +65 62843788
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Nearest: City Hall (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

Keming Bing Sat (克茗冰室) @ Tampines 1 - Third Outlet With Outlet's Exclusive Dishes

China’s famous cha chaan teng concept, Keming Bing Sat (克茗冰室), has opened its third Singapore outlet at Tampines 1, following the success of its existing outlets at Plaza Singapura and Funan Mall. The new outlet brings along a lineup of outlet-exclusive creations, alongside some of its popular signatures.

Hong Kong-Style Snack Platter 3.8/5

We started with the Hong Kong-Style Snack Platter ($8.80), which comes with Signature Chee Cheong Fun in Mixed Peanut Sauces, Curry Fish Balls, Sweet Soy Chicken Wings and Thai-Style Shrimp Roll. It’s a great introduction to some of the menu’s snacks, especially if you are dining with a group and want to try a little of everything.

My favourite was the Signature Chee Cheong Fun, which came with a generous coating of the mixed peanut sauces. The soft, silky rice rolls paired particularly well with the nutty, savoury sauce. The curry fish balls had a familiar bouncy texture, while the sweet soy chicken wings brought a more savoury-sweet profile. Overall, it is a pretty satisfying platter to kick-start the meal.

Char Siew Rice $10.90 4/5

The undisputed star is the Char Siew Rice ($10.90), touted as the No. 1 Best-Selling Char Siew Rice in China. The char siew is roasted using a time-honoured technique developed by a Hong Kong roast meat specialist with more than 40 years of experience.

The slices came with beautifully caramelised edges and a good balance of lean meat and fatty portions. I liked that the meat was tender without being overly soft, with a subtle smoky sweetness from the roasting. It is served over fragrant and fluffy Wuchang rice, topped with two soft-fried eggs. Break the yolks and let them run into the rice and char siew for extra richness.

The signature in-house sauce is another key component, made with 23 ingredients, including lemongrass, onions, and pork lard. It brings a savoury, aromatic depth to the rice and helps tie everything together. For a relatively humble-looking bowl of char siew rice, there is actually quite a bit going on in terms of flavour and texture.

Beef Minced Rice with Poached Egg 4/5

One of the new outlet-exclusive creations at Tampines 1 is the Minced Beef Rice with Poached Egg ($10.90). At first glance, this may not look like the most exciting dish, but it packs more flavour than it looks.

Despite being called minced beef, the beef retains a slightly resistant bite rather than being minced into an overly fine or mushy texture. The savoury beef sits on fragrant rice and is topped with a poached egg. Once you break the yolk, its creamy richness coats the beef and rice, bringing everything together into a comforting, satisfying spoonful. Simple, but surprisingly enjoyable.

Little Bear Iced Lemon Tea 4/5

Trio Happiness Hong Kong Milk Tea 4/5

The Little Bear Iced Lemon Tea ($4.90) was refreshing without losing the underlying tea flavour, making it a good option to cut through the richer dishes. The Trio Happiness Hong Kong Milk Tea ($5.90) takes things up a notch, combining fresh milk, brown sugar pearls, honeycomb caramel crunch and salted cheese foam. You get a mix of creamy, sweet and slightly savoury notes, with the caramel crunch adding some texture to each sip.

Happiness Lava Egg Waffles 3.8/5

To end the meal, we had the Happiness Lava Egg Waffles ($6.90 for 4 pcs). These golden waffles put a playful spin on the familiar Hong Kong street snack, with each crispy-edged bubble filled with creamy cheese. The soft, eggy waffle batter provides a slightly sweet base, while the molten cheese filling adds a savoury, umami kick. Best enjoyed while warm.

With its third outlet now at Tampines 1, Keming Bing Sat offers a casual cha chaan teng experience, mixing familiar Hong Kong favourites with new creations exclusive to the outlet. The Char Siew Rice remains the standout for me, while the Minced Beef Rice and Happiness Lava Egg Waffles are worth trying if you want something different.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Keming Bing Sat (克茗冰室)
Tampines One
10 Tampines Central 1
#02-14/K6/K7
Singapore 519536
Tel: +65 8067 4489
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Nearest MRT: Tampines (DT, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tampines MRT Station. Take Exit B. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]

Racines @ Sofitel Singapore City Centre - The Brand New Ultimate Racines Brunch Buffet, Turf & Tide Edition

Saturday brunch gets a new Surf & Turf spin at Racines with the latest edition of its Ultimate Racines Buffet Brunch: Turf & Tide Edition. Available every Saturday from 12.30pm to 3pm until 31 October, the buffet brings together a generous selection from both land and sea — from fresh seafood on ice and sushi to grilled meats, whole fish, local favourites and, of course, a very tempting dessert spread.

Cured Salmon with Chilli and Yuzu Ponzu

Assorted Sushi and Maki

Poached Prawns

Seasonal Freshly Shucked Oyster

Sea Whelk

We started with the seafood and Japanese selection, featuring Cured Salmon with Chilli and Yuzu Ponzu, assorted Sushi and Maki, Poached Prawns, freshly shucked Seasonal Oysters and Sea Whelk. There’s a good variety of seafood on ice, and more importantly, everything we tried was very fresh. The oysters were a little smaller than we would have liked, but they made up for it with a pleasantly sweet flavour. The poached prawns were another easy pick, especially if you are the kind who can happily spend half your buffet attacking a mountain of seafood. The assorted sushi and maki also make for a nice start to the meal, though with everything else waiting, we would definitely recommend pacing yourself!

Nyonya Fish Maw Soup (Hu Pioh)

Seafood Chowder

There were two soups available during our visit — one Western and one Asian. Unfortunately, the Seafood Chowder was one of the weaker dishes for us. We found it a little too diluted, and the only seafood we really found in our bowls was clams. The Nyonya Fish Maw Soup, on the other hand, was almost exceptional. It was packed with ingredients and had a lovely consistency without being overly starchy. If we had to nitpick, all it needed was some black vinegar and white pepper on the side, and we would have been very happy.

Signature Rojak

Gado-Gado Salad with Peanut Sauce

Beyond the usual suspects such as Caesar Salad and Classic Prawn Cocktail, two items stood out to us — the Signature Rojak and Gado-Gado Salad with Peanut Sauce. The Signature Rojak comes pre-mixed with plenty of fresh fruits, making it refreshing and surprisingly easy to keep eating. We also enjoyed the Gado-Gado, especially since you can DIY your own bowl with as much of that rich, nutty peanut sauce as you like.

Classic Seafood Otak-Otak

Charred Cumin Lamb Ribs

Slow-Roasted Macka’s Beef Striploin

Grilled Red Snapper in French Bouillabaisse

This is where the Surf and Turf theme really comes through, with the grill section featuring a mix of meats and seafood, including Charred Cumin Lamb Ribs, Slow-Roasted Macka’s Beef Striploin, Grilled Red Snapper in French Bouillabaisse, and Seafood Otak, alongside chicken, prawns, and other fish selections. And I have to say, Racines really does its cooked food very well. The Charred Cumin Lamb Ribs were especially inviting with that smoky, spiced exterior, while the Slow-Roasted Macka’s Beef Striploin makes a satisfying choice for the meat lovers. The Grilled Red Snapper is also quite a centrepiece on the buffet line. Served whole in a French bouillabaisse with mussels, it’s one of those dishes that immediately catches your eye as you walk past.

Crabmeat Fried Rice

Whole Nyonya Assam Curry Seabass

Now, I know what everyone says: don’t waste precious stomach space on rice at a buffet. But hear me out. The Crabmeat Fried Rice with Egg Whites, Prawns, Sakura Ebi and Tobiko is really yummy! There are generous chunks of crabmeat throughout, while the Sakura Ebi and tobiko add even more seafood flavour and texture. Seriously, please don’t skip this one.

Another dish worth trying is the Whole Nyonya Assam Curry Seabass. The fish was fresh and meaty, while the gravy was rich and lemak with that familiar tangy-spicy Assam curry flavour. This is definitely one for those who enjoy stronger local flavours.

DIY Noodle Bar

If you somehow still have room, there is also a DIY Noodle Bar, with two noodle options rotating weekly. During our visit, the choices were Kelantan Style Laksa and Creamy Tom Yum Seafood Noodles. Both looked extremely tempting but, unfortunately, we had to make the difficult buffet decision to save whatever stomach space we had left for dessert. And looking at the dessert spread, I think we made the right decision.

Durian & Coffee Tiramisu

Coconut & Blue Pea Flower Jelly

Assorted Choux Puff

Baked Burnt Butter Pandan Cake

Ondeh Ondeh Cake

Assorted Traditional Nyonya Kueh

Assorted Traditional Nyonya Kueh

Fritter Bar (Cempedak, Banana and Ubi Keledek)

The dessert section is probably one of the most visually impressive parts of the buffet. There is a glorious selection covering Western cakes and bakes, local flavours and traditional favourites, including Durian & Coffee Tiramisu, Coconut & Blue Pea Flower Jelly, Assorted Choux Puffs, Baked Burnt Butter Pandan Cake, Ondeh Ondeh Cake, Traditional Nyonya Kueh, Pulut Hitam Gelato and Signature Bubur Cha Cha.

There were hits and misses amongst the desserts, but visually, almost everything looked too good not to try. I particularly like that Racines doesn’t just fill the dessert counter with the usual chocolate cakes, cheesecakes, and pastries; there is a strong local influence throughout the selection.

The Fritter Bar is another dangerous addition, with freshly fried cempedak, banana and ubi keledek. Because apparently after an entire buffet, we still need fried cempedak.

Teh Tarik

Besides the usual coffee and tea, there is also free-flow Teh Tarik. It was fragrant, smooth and, most importantly for us, not overly sweet. It is a simple addition, but a very welcome one, especially after all the rich food and local desserts.

Overall, the Ultimate Racines Buffet Brunch: Turf & Tide Edition offers a good variety for a leisurely Saturday brunch, particularly if you enjoy having both seafood and cooked dishes rather than a buffet that focuses heavily on just one or the other.

The restaurant itself is also a lovely space for a long weekend meal, with full-height glass windows bringing in plenty of natural light.

The brunch is priced at $108++ per adult and $54++ per child. There is currently 40% off adult prices with DBS, OCBC, Citi, JCB and Maybank cards for up to eight persons, while ALL Accor+ Explorer members enjoy 1-for-1 on adult prices for up to eight persons.

Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Racines
Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Level 5
9 Wallich Street
Singapore 078885
Tel: +65 64285000
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 1030am, 12pm - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right onto Peck Seah Street. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]