Ichi Umai @ Junction Nine (Yishun) - Cozy Japanese Eatery That Offers Affordable Chirashi Don And Chestnut Pork Katsu Don

Located within the first level of Junction 9 at Yishun is Ichi Umai, a hole-in-the-wall Japanese eatery that offers affordable traditional and contemporary Japanese dishes. Diners can look forward to various Japanese food ranging from Chirashi Dons to Unagi Fried Rice, Chestnut Pork Katsu Don, and a variety of side dishes to complete the meal.

Sake Hotate Yuzu Carpaccio 4.2/5

We started the meal with the Sake Hotate Yuzu Carpaccio ($12.90), with fresh, thinly sliced salmon and scallops in citrus soy sauce. Truffle paste can be added at an additional top-up of $2. It comes with a pleasant truffle aroma that elevates the whole dish.

Sake Ikura Don 4.2/5

The Sake Ikura Don ($11.90) comes with raw salmon slices with salmon roe on furikake sushi rice. Well-proportioned and well-executed at an affordable price, the salmon slices were fresh. Furikake is added to give an umami taste to the Sake Ikura Don.

Kuri Buta Katsu Kare 4/5

The Kuri Buta Katsu Kare ($14.90) features a deep-fried panko-breaded chestnut pork cutlet, which is extremely crispy on the outside and tender within. The curry sauce packs a mildly spiced and rich flavour and goes perfectly well with the chestnut pork cutlet.

Ebi Tempura 4/5

The Ebi Tempura ($9.90) was simple but well-executed. The fried prawns were perfectly battered to thin crispiness and paired with a light tempura dipping sauce.

Ika Mentai Mayo 4.5/5

One of our favourite dishes and also the restaurant's popular side dish is the Ika Mentai Mayo ($12.90). The grilled squid itself was tender, with a bite to it. It was laced with torched pollock roe mayonnaise and miso mayonnaise, adding so layers of umami flavours to the seafood.

Tanuke Miso Roll 3.5/5

The Tanuke Miso Roll was an item that is not yet on the menu but will be launched sometime soon by the restaurant. It features miso mayo sauce on a fried crab meat sushi roll. However, we felt that the maki roll did not shine through compared to the rest of the dishes we had tonight, as the flavours were not prominent or memorable enough.

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.


Ichi Umai
Junction 9
18 Yishun Ave 9
#01-19
Singapore768897
Tel: +65 88871976
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Website
Nearest MRT: Yishun (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Yishun MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to Yishun MRT station (Stop ID 59009). Take bus number 803, 807 and 860. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Yishun MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to Yishun MRT station (Stop ID 59009). Take bus number 811. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

The Hainan Story (海南寶) @ Hillton Mall - New 5-In-1 Multi-brand Restaurant Brings Together The Best Of Hainanese Cuisine

New at Hillton Mall is The Hainan Story, a 5-in-1 multi-brand restaurant at Hillion Mall. It brings together the following five brands under one roof. They are Newspaper Curry Rice, The Hainan Story, Uncle Robert Western, Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice and Ah Chiang's Traditional Porridge.

Toast with Homemade Gula Melaka Kaya & Cold Butter 4/5

The Hainan Story brand shares the same restaurant name. It offers old-school breakfasts. The Traditional Hainanese Toasts are thick and fluffy with a pillowy-soft centre and crisp crust. This is best eaten with Homemade Gula Melaka Kaya & Cold Butter. Not to forget to go along with a cup of Kopi Gu You. Coffee with a slice of butter.

Ah Kor Hainanese Lamb Stew with Rice 4.2/5

Besides the coffee and toasts, The Hainan Story has several claypot dishes such as Hainanese Claypot Chicken Char Siew Rice ($8.50), Hainanese Claypot Ee-fu Noodle Soup ($8.50), Laksa with Hainanese Steamed Chicken ($8.50) and Ah Kor Hainanese Lamb Stew with Rice ($11.80). I had the lamb stew, which is incredibly tender. The sauce is mildly sweet with a hint of herbal, best to go with a plate of steaming white rice.

Mama Wee's Hainanese Kou Rou Set 4/5

During British colonial rule, a dish that originated in Singapore is the Hainanese Curry Rice, where the Hainanese chefs' combined pork chop from British cuisine, and ingredients like curry chicken, chap chye and babi pongteh from Peranakan cuisine. Offering this at The Hainan Story is the brand Newspaper Curry Rice. There are six different sets such as the Mama Wee's Hainanese Curry Chicken Drumstick Set ($7.80), Mama Wee's Hainanese Kou Rou Set ($8.80), Nanyang Flavour Fried Chicken Drumstick Set ($6.80), Signature Fried Pork Cutlet Set ($8.80), Prawn Fritter Set ($8.80) and Crispy Fried Silver Dory Fish Set ($9.80).

Old English Oxtail Stew 4.5/5

During the British colonial era in Singapore, many Hainanese chefs worked for British families. They created a unique take on western food with their Hainanese roots, giving the classic British cuisine a distinctly Asian take. A must-try dish is the Old English Oxtail Stew ($18.80), braised for hours with fresh tomatoes, spices and onions. The melt in the mouth meat is even paired with homemade mashed potatoes. Another nostalgia dish on the menu is the 1980's Hainanese Fried Pork Cutlet Coated with Potato Chips Crumbs ($14.80).

Chicken Rice Fried Rice with Pork Cutlet 3.5/5

Another interesting dish is the Chicken Rice Fried Rice with Pork Cutlet. The dish used the chicken rice from Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice and paired it with their pork cutlet. Unlike the usual pork cutlet, it is coated with potato chips crumbs instead of breadcrumbs for that extra crunchiness. However, the chicken rice fried rice was a letdown. I didn't taste the chicken rice flavour. It tasted just like regular fried rice.

More famous brands like Ah Chiang's Traditional Porridge and Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice make up the five concepts in Singapore. Ah Chiang's Traditional Porridge offers a bowl of comforting traditional porridge, with close to half a century of porridge-making expertise. Of course, how can we not include Hainanese Chicken Rice from Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice, an iconic dish put Singapore in the world map?

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Hainan Story (海南寶)
Hillion Mall
17 Petir Road
#01-15/16
Singapore 678278
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Nearest MRT: Bukit Panjang (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 730am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Panjang MRT station. Take Exit A2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]