UYA @ Oasia Hotel Novena - Savour Outlet-exclusive Specialty Dishes and Signatures At UYA's Second Outlet

Uya, renowned for its top-notch unagi dishes, has opened its second outlet at Oasia Hotel Novena. This unagi restaurant offers a range of outlet-exclusive specialty dishes and signature creations that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. With a focus on quality, Uya sources live eels directly from fisheries on a weekly basis, ensuring the freshest ingredients for their dishes. These live eels are then prepared a la minute in various mouthwatering renditions by Uya's team of experienced Japanese chefs, led by the talented head chef.

Grilled Unagi Fin 4/5

Grilled Unagi Head 3.8/5

Diners can expect an array of new and irresistible bites crafted to complement Uya's selection of Japanese sakes, shochu, and beers. Among the highlights are three specialty skewers glazed in Uya's signature homemade sauce. The Grilled Unagi Fin ($6/Stick) and Grilled Unagi Head ($6/Stick) are perfect for those who appreciate the traditional Japanese way of enjoying different parts of the eel.

Yahata Maki 4/5

For a unique Kyoto specialty, try the Yahata Maki ($9/Stick), which combines crunchy and slightly bitter burdock root wrapped within tender unagi.

Smoky Unagi Ham 4/5

One standout dish is the Smoky Unagi Ham ($16). This tightly-rolled unagi is lightly seasoned with salt and grilled over sakura wood chips, imparting a distinct smoky ham-like flavor. The accompanying velvety cream cheese adds a rich mouthfeel, resulting in a delightful combination of flavors.

Crispy Unagi Bone 3.5/5

At Uya, you'll also encounter unique offerings like the Crispy Unagi Bone ($6), which provides a thin and crispy chip-like texture, a surprising treat for those unfamiliar with eating eel bones.

Liver Ponzu 2.5/5

Deep Fried Liver 2.5/5

Grilled Liver 3/5

Adventurous eaters can opt for the Eel's Liver prepared in three ways: Boiled ($9), Grilled ($9), and Deep-fried ($9). While the boiled version is served with ponzu sauce to balance the gaminess, the grilled and deep-fried variations help mask the intense flavors of the liver.

Oyster Tempura 3/5

Seafood lovers shouldn't miss the Oyster Tempura ($14), featuring plump and juicy Hiroshima oysters wrapped in shiso leaf and accompanied by a crispy coating. While the dish is served with salt, a tangy sauce could elevate the overall flavor profile.

Mullet Roe with Radish 3/5

Another a la carte dish at Uya is the Mullet Roe with Radish ($19). This dish showcases the savory and perfectly balanced flavors of mullet roe paired with white radish. The combination creates a delightful taste experience; however, it may be an acquired taste for those unfamiliar with enjoying mullet roe in its naked form.

Grilled Eel with Salt 4/5

One of Uya's expertly-executed offerings is the Grilled Eel with Salt ($23/$33/$46). This seemingly simple dish requires meticulous preparation, including filleting, deboning, butterflying, skewering, and grilling the eel with just the right amount of salt. This careful technique ensures that the natural flavors of the eel shine through, resulting in a delectable and satisfying culinary delight.

Healthy Unagi Rice Bowl 4/5

For those seeking a complete meal, Uya offers set meals that come with a side of refreshing and tangy salad, pickles, and miso soup with a hint of yuzu zest. The Healthy Unagi Rice Bowl ($29) features tender eel, natto (fermented soybeans), nagaimo (Japanese mountain yam), okra, sous vide egg, and garnishes like spring onions, seaweed, and Japanese ginger. However, the sticky mucilage from the ingredients may not be to everyone's liking.

Hitsumabushi Large 4.2/5

Hitsumabushi Medium 4.2/5

Undoubtedly, the highlight of Uya's menu is the Hitsumabushi ($35/$48). Served in two sizes, this bowl showcases glistening golden-brown unagi atop fluffy Niigata rice. Accompanied by a trio of condiments (spring onions, wasabi, and crispy nori), homemade umami dashi, pickled cucumbers, and miso soup with yuzu zest, the Hitsumabushi offers three ways to enjoy it. You can savor the original flavors of the grilled unagi and rice, enhance it with your choice of toppings, or pour the light dashi broth over the rice, reminiscent of an 'ocha-zuke' style. However, it's worth noting that the dashi broth at Uya leans towards the sweeter side compared to other unagi restaurants.

Sea Urchin and Wagyu Rice Bowl 4.2/5

For a luxurious and indulgent experience, try the Sea Urchin and Wagyu Rice Bowl ($55). This delectable dish combines thinly-sliced succulent rare beef, Hokkaido sea urchin, and briny ikura with freshly-grated wasabi, resulting in a harmonious blend of flavors.

Parfait 4/5

The Parfait ($12) is beautifully adorned with layers of sweetened azuki beans, creamy vanilla and matcha ice cream, chewy mochi balls, and velvety whipped cream. Each component contributes to a symphony of flavors and textures, creating a harmonious blend that will leave you wanting more.

With its outlet-exclusive dishes and commitment to serving quality unagi creations, Uya at Oasia Hotel Novena is a must-visit for unagi enthusiasts and Japanese cuisine lovers alike. Prepare to embark on a delightful culinary journey filled with the finest unagi delicacies that will leave you craving for more.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


UYA
Oasia Hotel Novena, Singapore by Far East Hospitality
8 Sinaran Drive
#01-05
Singapore 307470
Tel: +65 97880071
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Nearest MRT: Novena (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walkdown Sinaran Drive. Walk towards Novena Specialist Centre. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Uya 四代目菊川 @ Wheelock Place - Another Unagi Specialty Restaurant In The Heart Of Orchard Road

Uya 四代目菊川 at Wheelock Place may be a newly established unagi cuisine restaurant in Singapore, it comes from a family with a long heritage. Co-founded by Yuhei Kikukawa, the fourth generation family head of Nakasho Shoten Ltd, a wholesaler of unagi for over 90 years, and also the owner of a chain of unagi and other Japanese cuisine restaurants in Nagoya. Scientifically known as Anguilla japonica, only Japanese Eels are used here. I learnt that the quality ones tend to be smaller, and are more highly prized in Japan for their relatively tender and fattier meat (with quality oil, more vitamins and minerals). Hence, you may fine the chosen eels are smaller in size than those commonly found in other restaurants.

These hand-chosen eels are then air-flown in twice a week to the restaurant where they are kept in clean, fresh and optimal conditions in a tabeta, a custom-built facility which continuously circulates clean and temperature-controlled water.

Hitsumabushi 3/5

If it's your first time trying out a unagi cusine, Hitsumabushi ($48 Large) would be the recommended option. Originally a Nagoya meibutsu (local specialty), the unagi will be grilled with their very own special tare made from a 4-generations old recipe and meant to be taken 3 ways. Eat it as it is, add the condiments provided such as wasabi, finely sliced negi (green onions) and shredded nori or make ochazuke with the dash broth provided.

The tare used coats the unagi with just the right amount sweetness and surprisingly, I like the 3rd way of eating, especially with the addition of their Mi Sansho. Ground sansho pepper, a native pepper to Japan with a sharp herbal flavor, brings a ripple of tastes to the ochazuke while it cuts through the fatty flavor of the eel. Perhaps my unagi has been sliced too thinly or the batch of unagi in season belongs to the leaner size, I didn't get that fatty and moist texture that I was looking for.

Grilled Eel with Salt 3.5/5

Grilled Eel with Salt ($33 Medium) allows you to appreciate the eel's natural beauty. I like the light crisp on the surface, while the meat stayed fluffy and moist.

Rare Wagyu Rice Bowl 4/5

The menu also offers other popular Japanese dishes such as Chirashi Don which is not surprising given that the other co-founder is Shin Foods PL, the company behind the highly popular the Koji Sushi Bars. What brought satisfaction to the table that evening was actually this Rare Wagyu Rice Bowl ($27). The luscious unctuous meat, smeared with tare sauce, was rich and full bodied, which make the pearly rice again one of the best creations in the world. The clear soup served along contains yuzu, which cleans the palate well at the end of the meal.

Grilled Eel Liver 3.8/5

I don't really take liver but I actually finished the entire Grilled Eel Liver myelf! The charred exteriors formed a skin around the liver, almost like tiny liver sausages. Coated with tare sauce, the charred smokey sweetness of the exteriors complements the gamey liver which makes it so delicious.

Eel Bones 3.5/5

What brings excitement to the table, other than the eel liver, would be this Eel Bones ($9), also known as Eel Hone Senbei. Hone means bone in Japanese, and Senbei are traditional crackers. The crunchiness that it delivers, is just as much as pork crackling but half the calories!

Compared to my very first unagi cuisine experience, this at Uya pales in comparison. I have not tried enough to compare either, hence it could be simply because the cuisine is too delicate for me to appreciate. That said, the ambience of this intimate space wins, for you get to enjoy your exquisite unagi bowl in a less hurried mood.

Words and photos by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Uya 四代目菊川
Wheelock Place
501 Orchard Road
#02-15/16
Singapore 238880
Tel: +65 67321096
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 930pm
Fri-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]