Cafe Usagi TOKYO @ Suntec City - Featuring Mochi Creations, Teas And Other Modern Japanese Desserts

Cafe Usagi TOKYO opened its space late last year in Suntec City, with a second kiosk recently introduced at 111 Somerset. "Usagi" translates to rabbit in Japanese, and decorations in the cafe are in line with its name.

Led by Japanese Chef/Creative Director Yuka Shigeno and co-founder Artini, the cafe features a range of Japanese desserts with modern twists, focusing on mochi and tea-based creations. Coming 9 and 10 April 2023, enjoy a 1-for-1 Mochi Ice Cream Promo at their Suntec City outlet (limited to 2 orders per customer, while servings last).

Strawberry Daifuku 4/5

All of Cafe Usagi's desserts are crafted in-house, including the Strawberry Daifuku ($6.90). It was well-liked among my dining companions. Wrapped in freshly made soft and chewy mochi skin, the decent-sized strawberry had a thin layer of red bean paste around it. While the red bean paste could be smoother, the strawberries were juicy and sweet.

Mochi Dorayaki 2.5/5

Apart from the range of mochi desserts, the cafe hopes to focus on dorayaki. The Mochi Dorayaki ($6.90) has a combination of both. Layered between two dorayaki was mochi and red bean paste. The overall texture was dry and needed syrup or sauce to pair. I wasn't a fan of the dorayaki on its own, as it had a slight aftertaste that wasn't entirely pleasant.

Strawberry Matcha Dorayaki Cake 2.5/5

The Strawberry Matcha Dorayaki Cake ($9.90) had matcha cream in the middle and sliced strawberries all around. While this had a better combination than the previous Mochi Dorayaki, the dorayaki affected the overall experience.

Iced Uji Matcha Latte 3/5

Unfortunately, my Iced Uji Matcha Latte ($6.80) wasn't whisked well and came slightly clumpy. It also didn't carry the fragrance and robustness I hoped for. To be fair, I tried the same matcha latte at their 111 Somerset outlet, and the experience was better.

Mochi Waffles with Kuromitsu Syrup 4/5

Our unanimous favourite was the Mochi Waffles with Kuromitsu Syrup ($8.50). We paired this with the Samurai Blue Sea Salt Ice Cream ($5). If you are a mochi fan, you will likely enjoy this. The mochi skin is sandwiched in between, which results in a slight crispness around the waffle edges and a chewy interior. I recommend digging into this while it's hot, as the texture gets slightly sticky after cooling down.

Ceremonial Uji Matcha Mochi 4/5

The use of mochi skin continues in their Mochi Ice Cream ($6 onwards). You can first choose a preferred ice cream flavour, and the staff will prepare the order on the spot by wrapping the selected scoop with mochi skin. We found the Uji Matcha ice cream quite sweet, but it had a much more robust flavour than the matcha latte.

Lavender Hojicha Pot 4/5

After the variety of cold desserts, the Lavender Hojicha Pot ($7.90) was extra welcoming. We learnt that many of the tea blends in Cafe Usagi are Chef Yuka's creations. This hot Lavender Hojicha tea, in particular, was fragrant and smooth.

Matcha with Hokkaido Azuki Red Bean and Mochi Bread 3.5/5

Lastly, it's the newly launched Matcha with Hokkaido Azuki Red Bean and Mochi Bread ($8.80 per Loaf). Available in Original Milk, Matcha and Hokkaido Chocolate Chip flavours, they will be available daily from early April in limited quantities.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cafe Usagi TOKYO
Suntec City Tower 3
8 Temasek Boulevard
#02-615A
Singapore 038983
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Promenade MRT (CC, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

KARA Cafe & Dessert Bar @ Bukit Timah Road - Cafe By Sogurt With Grain Bowls, Pastas, Grilled Toasties And Mochi Waffles With Froyo

Situated along Bukit Timah Road, KARA Cafe & Dessert Bar is the latest f&b concept under frozen yogurt chain Sogurt. Apart from serving frozen yogurt, the cafe has an extensive savoury menu of grain bowls, pastas, salads and grilled cheese toasties, as well as their signature homemade mochi waffles.

Pork Belly Miso 3.8/5

The hearty grain bowls are combined with unusual flavours for an explosion of taste. Diners can opt for the Garlic Japanese Rice or Quinoa Salad (+$3) as their choice of grain base.

The Pork Belly Miso ($16) is a ramen-inspired dish with kakuni braised pork belly, soft egg, ramen crisps, cucumber edamame salad, miso cream and nori. While the braised pork belly is tender with a good proportion of meat and fats, the complimenting ramen crisps add a nice crunch to the dish which we particularly enjoyed.

Beef Larb Fish Bowl 3.8/5

Taking inspiration from cuisines of Northern Thailand, the Beef Larb Rice Bowl ($18) features a bowl of minced beef cooked in a spicy lime and fish sauce marinate, and crowned with a luscious cured egg yolk.

Aburi Mentaiko Salmon 3.5/5

The Aburi Mentaiko Salmon ($16) comes with cooked salmon flakes, mentaiko, mayonnaise, mozzarella, furikake, and soft onsen egg. The dish was extremely creamy, with some bite from the cooked salmon embedded within the mayonnaise and mozzarella mix on a bed of Japanese rice.

Pepperoni Pizzazz 4/5

We opted for the Pepperoni Pizzazz ($11.50) from the Grilled Toasties selection. Spinning a unique twist on the grilled cheese toastie, the dish is a combination of both pizza and grilled cheese toasts - featuring a mouthwatering stack loaded with melty, ozzy cheese, savoury pepperoni salami slices to compliment the cheesiness. Together with marina herb sauce, garlic and basil sandwiched in between crispy toasted sourdough.

Okonomiyaki Truffe Tots 4/5

The Okomiyaki Truffle Tots ($12) comes in a generous portion of tater tots doused in an umami okonomiyaki sauce. These crispy deep fried pieces are extremely addictive.

Matcha Berry 4/5

The highlight is their homemade Mochi Waffles with Froyo. We opted for the Matcha Berry ($12.50) mochi waffles with dark chocolate softie swirl, caco nib sable, cookie crumble, and fresh fruits drizzled in matcha sauce. Different from the usual crispy waffles, the one here boasts a soft chewy texture, paired with a light, refreshing dark chocolate froyo.

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.


Kara Cafe & Dessert Bar By Sogurt
617 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 269718
Tel: +65 64688940
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Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 1030am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tan Kah Kee MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk down Bukit Timah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]