Sushi Goshin @ Vivocity - Japanese Dining With Value-For-Money Set Meals And Free-Flow Japanese Salad Bar

Nestled within the basement of Vivocity is Sushi Goshin - a casual Japanese dining concept which offers a variety of charcoal-grilled dishes, sushi, sashimi and other ala carte items. They have recently launched a new menu with affordable set meals (which include rice or other options like cauliflower rice, garlic fried rice, or tonkotsu ramen) from $15.80 onwards, and comes with free-flow Japanese salad bar as well.

Be prepared to be spoilt for choice at their salad bar, which has 25 different items served daily. Not just limited to plain ol' lettuce and greens when it comes to 'salad', expect a variety of appetisers such as the Tuna Pasta Salad, Sweet Potato Salad and Soba Salad to satisfy your carb cravings.

Opt for the Kimchi Salad for a kick of spice. For something lighter, go for the Braised Raddish & Carrot Salad or the Harusame Salad. We loved the Kani Coleslaw, drenched in a light creamy mayo dressing that gives a subtle sweetness to the mix of crunchy fine-shredded raw cabbage and crab meat.

Yaki Tonbara 4/5

One of our favourite dishes is the Yaki Tonbara ($16.80). The grilled Irish pork belly has a tender, melt-in-your-mouth consistency with an excellent meat to fats ratio. Braised in a signature rich sweet and savoury sauce, the flavourful chashu is perfect to go with your bowl of rice or ramen.

Goshi Torin 4/5

We had the Goshi Torin ($15.80) which features tender, juicy pieces of grilled chicken marinated with signature seasoning.

Salmon Mentai 3/5

The only gripe I would have is the Salmon Mentai ($22.80) as the salmon trout served was slightly dry, lathered with an equally dry homemade mentaiko sauce that did little to enhance its flavours.

Soft Shell Crab Nadare 3.8/5

The Soft Shell Crab Nadare (16.80) consists of a soft shell crab avalanche which yielded commendable crispiness on the exterior while being soft and juicy within.

Unagi Tamago 4/5, Ebi Mentai 3.8/5, Aburi Salmon Cheese 4/5, Aburi Wagyu 4.2/5

For the sushi selection, we had the Unagi Tamago ($4.20), Ebi Mentai ($4.20), Aburi Salmon Cheese ($2.40), and Aburi Wagyu ($12). The well-conceived combo of the soft tender unagi, fluffy tamago and crunchy cucumber slices gave a multi-dimensional mouthfeel to the Unagi Tamago sushi. While the Aburi Wagyu had a decadent mouthfeel, as the thinly-sliced wagyu meat wrapped around the rice boasts a smoky, tender and slightly chewy texture, which just melts in your mouth.

With affordable lunch sets starting from $15.80, which comes with a side of rice/ramen and free-flow salad bar, Sushi Goshin is definitely the go-to-spot for a fulfilling Japanese meal on a budget.

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.


Sushi Goshin
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#B2-28
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 63769972
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (NE Line, CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am -10pm

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

Chalerm Thai @ Arcade, The Capitol Kempinski - Comfort Flavours, Traditional Recipes

Chalerm Thai is the latest addition to the array of food concepts at Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski. Located within Singapore's most iconic cinema, the restaurant is aptly named after the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre in Bangkok, which was built in 1932 to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Bangkok. Here at Charlerm Thai, dishes follow traditional recipes, delivering flavours as close as one can find in Thailand.

Grilled Marinated Pork Neck with Spicy Lime Sauce 4/5

As an appetiser, the Kor Moo Yang ($18) will set your mouth watering with its juicy and tender meat grilled to perfection. The sear marks and the slightly burnt fats impart a smoky flavour to the meat, a key to its deliciousness.

Deep-fried Crispy Morning Glory with Chilli Sauce Dip 2.5/5

On the other hand, Yum Pan Boong Krob ($8) was a disappointment. Refinery Cafe has a much better version with a light and fluffy batter that has a slight chewiness to it. The batter here was a tad too salty, and these thin stalks became greasy after a while.

Deep-fried Lemongrass Chicken Wings 4/5

A crowd-pleaser will be Peek Gai Tord Ta Kra. In such an elegant setting, many refrained from eating these with hands. But to savour all the juice and flavours, do tuck in with your fingers!

Thai Seafood Tom Yum Soup 4.2/5

Tom Yum Goong ($15) was my favourite dish of all. Loaded with prawns, fish, clams, mussels and squid, each was fresh and plump, including the mushrooms. Spicy with the right amount of acidity, I will be happy to have one bowl all to myself.

Stir-fried Soft Shell Crab with Yellow Curry 3/5

While I love the meatiness of the soft shell crab in Phu Nim Phad Pong Karee ($20), I feel the saltiness of the batter can be adjusted to allow the flavours of the yellow curry to come through.

Thai Stir-fried Rice Noodles 4/5

Pineapple Fried Rice 2.5/5

For mains, we tried both Phad Thai King ($14) and Khao Phad Sapoarod ($15). For Phad Thai, I like that it wasn't too highly flavoured with sauces and seasonings like some others, and the rice noodles were springy but pliable. As for the fried rice, I prefer the rice to be firmer and drier.

Pumpkin Yam Dumplings in Coconut Milk 4/5

For dessert, this warm and mellow sweet Bua Loy with its cute little chewy dumpling will end every meal in a good note.

Written 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.


Chalerm Thai
Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
13 Stamford Road
Singapore 178906
Tel: +65 67156875
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A or D. Walk to traffic junction North Bridge Road and Stamford Road. Cross the road. Walk down Stamford Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Paddy Hills @ South Buona Vista Road - Introduces New Unique Fusion Dishes With A Twist

Nestled within the row of shophouses along South Buona Vista Road is Paddy Hills - a quaint hipster cafe in the west offering a wide selection of contemporary fusion cuisine. With a continuous revamp of its menu, Paddy Hills continues to attract diners to its far-flung location for its inventive and exciting dishes.

Savoury French Toast 4/5

The Savoury French Toast ($21) comes in a fluffy, buttery brioche with a thick, juicy bacon chop, house-cured salmon, banana slices, coconut ice cream and a generous douse of coffee maple syrup. Featuring a medley of different elements on a plate, this creation presents a savoury-sweet, hot-cold combination which contributes to a harmonious blend of contrasting flavours and textures, and surprisingly works well together.

Soft Shell Crab Burger 3.8/5

The Soft Shell Crab Burger ($25) comes in a crispy prawn patty and soft shell crab sandwiched in between two fluffy squid ink buns. While the green mango salad adds a sharp, tangy flavour to the burger, the prawn patty and soft shell crab packed less of a bite and more of a crunch to the dish, which rendered the texture rather one-dimensional, with the only flavour coming from the overwhelming tanginess of the green mango. Also served with a side of crispy curly fries and squid ink aioli.

NZ Ribeye 4.2/5

For something on the meatier side, the NZ Ribeye ($28) was a favourite among the dishes. It boasts tender and juicy ribeye steak atop crispy stick fries for an added crunch, and two sunny sides up atop the steak.

Truffle Garlic Fries 3.8/5

For something on the lighter, choose from their selection of sides such as the Truffle Garlic Fries ($15) with aioli and garlic snow. The truffle mayo dip on the side adds a rather subtle truffle flavour to the crispy fries. While we hoped that the promised flavours were stronger, it was still a rather addictive snack.

Feels like Summer 4.2/5

The Feels like Summer ($8) is just like its name, bright and bubbly, with a cute umbrella perched atop. The strawberry soda was a cooling thirst quencher, while the popping strawberry granules add a fun popping sensation and a refreshing tang to the drink, which makes every sip an enjoyable one.

Hot Chocolate 4/5

For the less-adventurous, go for their Hot Chocolate ($8) which boasts a rich chocolate flavour in a double-walled glass.

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.


Paddy Hills
38 South Buona Vista Road
Singapore 118164
Tel: +65 64790800
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Haw Par Villa (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1030am - 5pm, 6pm - 930pm
Sat-Sun: 9am - 5pm, 6pm - 930pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Haw Par Villa MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Haw Par Villa MRT station (Stop ID 16019). Take bus number 200. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]