Nonbei Izakaya @ Southbridge Road (Chinatown) - New Izakaya Restaurant Inspired By Tokyo's Nonbei Yokocho

Nonbei Izakaya at South Bridge Road, located beside the famous Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, is a new izakaya restaurant inspired by Tokyo's Nonbei Yokocho.

Ohitashi 3.5/5

We had the Ohitashi ($6) to kickstart our dinner. The vegetables marinated with dashi are crowned with a pile of bonito flakes.

Tamago Yaki 4/5

Both young and old will enjoy the Tamago Yaki ($10). The Japanese omelette is sweet, soft and fluffy.

Sashimi 5 Kinds 4.5/5

We were astonished at how reasonably priced the Sashimi 5 Kinds ($38) were. For only thirty-eight dollars, you get five thickly cut varieties. It is a steal. You can also top up $18 for Hon Toro.

Buri Kama Shio Yaki 4.2/5

Grilled to perfection is the Buri Kama Shio Yaki ($18). The grilled yellowtail collar has a thin crispy skin on the exterior, while the moist fish meat comes with a hint of smokiness.

Kushi Yaki 3.8/5

Since this is an izakaya place, we need to order some kushiyaki to accompany our drinks. So we ordered a couple of yakitori from the menu, such as the Tebasaki (Japanese Chicken Wings), Yakitori (Chicken Skewers), Tori Kawa (Chicken Skin Skewers), Asparagus Bacon (Asparagus wrapped with Bacon), Mukago (Japanese Yam), Ko Tamanegi (Charred Onion). Each skewer ranges from $1.50 to $3. My favourite is the tebasaki and yakitori.

Buta Kakuni 3/5

For the cooked item, we tried the Buta Kakuni, which has been cooked to tender and infused with fragrant soy sauce. Interestingly, some dining companions commented that it tasted like a particular can tinned braised pork brand, in a delicious homely familiarity.

Ebi Tempura 4/5

Comes with a light and thin crispy coat is the Ebi Tempura ($15) that will delight everyone with its sweetness and crunch.

Chashu Ramen 3.5/5

If you are still hungry after all the drinks and bites, the Chashu Ramen ($12) is something more substantial to fill your tummy. The chashu reminds us of the buta kakuni, which probably is the weak link of the bowl of slurping goodness.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Nonbei Izakaya
282 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058831
Tel: +65 81128028
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 5pm - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight down Pagoda Street. Turn right onto Trengganu Street. Walk to the end of Trengganu Street and turn left onto Sago Street. Walk to the end of Sago Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

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

Sen-ryo @ ION Orchard - Japanese Restaurant Hailing From Tochigi, Japan Opens In Singapore

Established in Tochigi, Japan, in 1999, Sen-ryo has opened its first Singapore outlet in ION Orchard. Behind its well-known exceptional authentic Japanese cuisine is a team of shokunin (artisan chefs), using only quality ingredients imported from Toyosu Fish Market and around the world. Sen-ryo is very well -received in Hong Kong as well when it first started there in 2005 and has since grown to 13 outlets there. In Singapore, sen-ryo wishes to bring you premium but pocket-friendly creations that promise affordable luxury at its best, which includes a range of specially created Singapore-exclusive dishes.

Sen-ryo Tamagoyaki with Mentaiko Sauce 4.5/5

Sen-ryo Tamagoyaki with Mentaiko Sauce ($2.80) speaks a lot about the team's effort to make every dish exquisite. The Singapore-exclusive Sen-ryo Tamagokyaki with Mentaiko Sauce is a house signature comprising a beautifully done traditional Japanese omelette hand-made and branded with its logo. The pure mentaiko sauce not only looks pretty in pink against the yellow omelette, but it also acts as a natural flavour enhancer to the sweet omelette.

Otoro 4/5

Along with that, we also had Otoro ($24) sashimi.

Soft Shell Crab and Mango Nama Haru Maki 4.5/5

The Soft Shell Crab and Mango Nama Haru Maki ($16.80) is a very interesting starter made for our tropical weather. Featuring fresh slices of mango, onion strips, lettuce and addictive crispy deep-fried soft shell crab wrapped in Vietnamese rice paper, I appreciate the attention paid to the dish's execution. The mango was kept very chilled, and that elevated the enjoyment of the dish. The accompanying mango puree sauce was spicy, sweet and tangy, bringing all elements together in harmony.

DIY Hokkaido Uni 4/5

The sushi and grill counter highlights include this DIY Hokkaido Uni ($58) platter, something not often seen in traditional Japanese restaurants. The platter is made of half-board of premium uni (sea urchin) from Hokkaido with fresh sushi rice, ikura (salmon roe), Japanese cucumber strips and sheets of roasted seaweed. So have fun wrapping your uni maki roll!

Sen-ryo Sushi 3.8/5

Maguro (Akami) with Shio Koji Negitoro 3.8/5

The Shokunin Sushi series showcases the restaurant's inventive handcrafted creations, in which I had the signature Sen-ryo Sushi ($8.80). It is a layering of uni, negitoro (minced fatty tuna) and ikura atop premium sushi rice. I also had the Maguro (Akami) with Shio Koji Negitoro ($6.80), in which a slice of tuna is boosted with a dollop of minced fatty tuna seasoned with fermented salt seasoning. Both encompassed a luscious texture, but I feel the rice can be less compressed for a more cohesive sushi.

Kaisen Dobin Mushi 3.5/5

What will complement these cold dishes is the Kaisen Dobin Mushi ($6.80), a traditional Japanese seafood broth served in a teapot. I first knew it as 'teapot soup', and this dainty teapot is filled with scallops, prawns, clams and shimeji mushrooms. Made with red snapper dashi, a squeeze of the lemon enlivened the clear soup. Not the best I had, but decent.

Grilled Chicken Thigh in Charcoal Style Sauce 3.8/5

We had Grilled Chicken Thigh in Charcoal Style Sauce ($7.80) and Grilled US Beef Tenderloin and Foie Gras ($28) from the grill section. The chicken is prepared by grilling the meat on high heat and smearing it with a specially imported charcoal-infused sumiyaki sauce. Hence you got a very intensely flavoured caramelised sauce coating the chicken.

Grilled US Beef Tenderloin and Foie Gras 4.2/5

A much more indulgent version will be this Grilled US Beef Tenderloin and Foie Gras ($28), available exclusively in Singapore. I reckon you should go for this if it is your first trip to sen-ryo. The flavourful sauce is made with the juices of the meat, mirin and black pepper, and when it came sizzling hot, it was simply mouthwatering.

Kaisen Soy Nabe 4.8/5

My favourite of the feast is the Kaisen Soy Nabe ($32) comprises a unique milky base made with Japanese soy milk and dashi. It comes brimming with King Snow Crab legs, scallops, Kuzukiri noodles, carrots, vegetables and shiitake mushrooms. The best part of the hotpot is the soul-nourishing soup and the extremely chewy Kuzukiri noodles. I only hope there is more of the beautiful soup.

Mizu Warabi Mochi 3.5/5

Cream Catalana with Mixed Berries 4.5/5

For dessert, we tried Mizu Warabi Mochi ($5.80) and Cream Catalana with Mixed Berries ($9.80). The Mizu Warabi Mochi is a jiggly clear jelly 'mochi' served with roasted soybean powder and black sugar syrup. As for the Cream Catalana with Mixed Berries, it is a velvety custard served with fresh berries.

Photos and words 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.


Sen-ryo
ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#03-14
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 69746782
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am to 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Sushi Ayumu @ Mandarin Gallery - Celebration of Seasonal Edo Sushi

Ayumu which means walking towards a new beginning in Japanese, is a fitting name to the newly rebranded Japanese restaurant, Sushi Ayumu located on the 4th floor of Mandarin Gallery. With the rebrand, the restaurant will be focusing in traditional Tokyo (Edo) style sushi, helmed by Head Chef Ryoichi Nakatani and Senior Sushi Chef Yusuke Kawana. The restaurant offers both Omakase lunch and dinner menu starting from $120 and $280 respectively.

Mochi with Botan Ebi Paste 4/5

Our omakase dinner started with the Domyojiko - Mochi with Botan Ebi Paste. A round shaped glutinous rice ball sat in the middle of the plate complemented by the flavourful prawn paste and snow crab sauce. It is a light appetiser but packed with robust flavours.

Otoro in Bincho & Buri (Big Yellow Tail) 4/5

The Otoro is lightly torched on the surface with the binchotan (Japanese charcoal) to give it a tad of smokiness, while the delicate wild Big Yellow Tail is fatty and buttery.

Abura Bouzu with Miso 3.8/5

From the grill we had the Abura Bouzu served with Hoba miso. The in-house Hoba miso is made by grilling fermented soybean paste on magnolia leaves. It liven the whole appreciation of the fatty fish.

Before moving to the sushi, I was introduced to the rice they used for the sushi. Using the finest Japanese rice, it is seasoned with three types of red vinegar to best enhance the flavours of the different types of fish.

Akami Zuke (Marinated Tuna) Sushi 3.8/5

Moving on is the highlight of the omakase where diner get to savour a series of sushi using the freshest ingredients. We started with the Akami Zuke (Marinated Tuna) Sushi. The lean and red part of the Wild Blue Fin Tuna is marinated with a blend of in-house soya sauce, giving it another layer of flavour on top of the freshness. Personally, I prefer the natural flavour of the wild blue fin.

Kinmedai (Golden-eye Snapper) 4.8/5

My eyes brightened up when I had the Kinmedai (Golden-eye Snapper). The flesh was delicate and tender. With the skin lightly seared, the combination tasted like firework in my mouth.

Aki Sake 4/5

Next is Aki Sake. The seasonal trout is topped with fresh trout roe marinated in soya sauce and saikyo miso from Kyoto. It was really refreshing to see the fresh trout roe which sticks together like a block instead of those pre-processed one from the market.

Kohada (Gizzard Shad) Sushi 3.8/5

It is amazing watching the chef prepared the Kohada (Gizzard Shad) Sushi, braiding the thinly sliced stripes of Kohada together. The kohada has a stronger raw taste compared to others, hence I applauded the addition of yuzu zest for a refreshing touch.

Kamasu in Bincho Sushi 4/5

The binchotan made another entrance with the Kamasu Sushi. The Japanese barracuda is torched with the Japanese charcoal and garnished with homemade sea urchin salt. While I can't really taste the sea urchin flavour but the salt helps to enhance the appreciation of the barracuda.

Yellow Jack Shima Aji 4.5/5

Very clean tasting is the Yellow Jack Shima Aji with a brush of in-house blended soya sauce. It also comes with a delighful tender texture.

Chutoro Sushi 4.2/5

For hon-maguro lover, the Chutoro Sushi will leave you feeling satisfied with its medium-fatty texture. Nothing sophisticated, just pure appreciation of the fatty fish.

Gunkan Maki with Uni 4.5/5

Diners will be delight with the sight of the Hokkaido Bafun Uni for its sweet, briny and creamy flavour. However the real deal for the Gunkan Maki with Uni is the precious seaweed that is hard to come by. The restaurant has to bid for it in order to be able to put it on the menu.

Nodoguro (Black Throat Sea Perch) Sushi 4.2/5

A prized catch on the omakase menu is the Nodoguro (Black Throat Sea Perch) Sushi. Small in size but the whole fish is fatty throughout. It is known as the "king of white fish" for its fatty and tender flesh.

Ayumu Roll 4/5

A luscious combination is the Ayumu Roll. The signature sushi roll comprises of chutoro, bafun uni, buri and shiso leaf all wrapped together for an explosion of colours and taste.

Shijimi Miso Soup 4.5/5

Perfect for washing down all the sushi is the Shijimi Miso Soup. The sweet little Japanese clams in the miso soup added the seafood flavour for depth and robustness.

Tamagoyaki 4.2/5

Last but not least we have the Tamagoyaki. The tamagoyaki is slow-baked for an hour, made with shrimp paste, fish paste, mountain yam and egg, plus a dash of dashi. I have tried other versions which is more eggy but here I could still taste the fish paste, which somehow reminds us that this is still part of the Japanese omakase course.

Sushi Ayumu receives their hon-maguro and uni from the same venerated supplier as Michelin-starred sushi-yas Sushi Saito and Sushi Sawada. These suppliers are highly selective of the restaurants they work with and will personally pay the restaurant a visit to ensure top-notch food quality before agreeing the partnership. The restaurant has also developed close ties with Kyushu fishermen and suppliers, which gives them access to rare catches that may not be available in Toyosu Fish Market.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Sushi Ayumu
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road
#04-16
Singapore 238897
Tel: +65 67332114
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 7pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to ground level. Turn left onto Orchard Road. Walk down Orchard Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Misato @ The Centrepoint - High Quality, Handcrafted Japanese Cuisine At Affordable Prices

Located inside Gastro+ on level 1 of The Centrepoint is Misato, a contemporary and chic Japanese restaurant. It used to be located at The Cathay before moving to its current home. I was told that the owner spent a huge sum of $400K for its customized tableware, and using high quality ingredients imported from Japan for its dishes.

Edamame 4/5 and Tamagoyaki 4/5

We were a little puzzled when the server brought a towering Japanese castle to our table. To our delight there is food inside. Inside the castle, there was Edamame ($4.90) and Tamagoyaki ($5.50). The edamame is given a coat of spiciness which I thought was quite appetizing. The tamagoyaki was fluffy and sweet.

Chawanmushi 4.5/5

The Chawanmushi ($4.90) is a smooth and silky starter that will whet up your appetite with its flavoursome dashi stock cooked from scratch.

Seafood Kaminabe Set 4.5/5

The highlight at Misato has to their Seafood Kaminabe Set ($20,80). It comes with homemade niboshi broth which is poured into the hotpot at the table. In the Japanese hotpot, you can can find ingredients such as fresh tiger prawns, Norwegian salmon, chicken, assorted Japanese mushrooms, toufu and vegetables. It also comes with a bowl of Japanese rice. This is definitely a very satisfying and hearty meal set.

Cha Soba 4.2/5

Not into hotpot, then the Cha Soba ($13.80) is a worthy option. The matcha noodle has a nice biting texture to it which is further enliven by the homemade dipping sauce. I like to add in some wasabi into the dipping sauce for that extra kick.

Oknomiyaki 4/5

The Oknomiyaki ($14.90) made with high quality Japanese yam and Japanese cabbage fillings is both fluffy and crunchy. I like the fact that it is not overly sweet and the charred bottom, giving it a smoky, crispy finish.

Mixed Fried Set 4/5

A value for money dish is the Mixed Fried Set ($18.80) that comes with chicken, tiger prawn and cheese korokke coated with fresh panko. Among the three items, I enjoyed the tender and juicy chicken most.  The set also comes with Japanese shredded cabbage, miso soup and barley rice. The huge portion will definitely make this a very satisfactory meal.

Handmade Gyoza 4.5/5

The Handmade Gyoza ($6.90 for 6pc / $10.90 for 10pc) is one of the best I have eaten. The filling of the gyoza seems to have a more cabbage to chicken ratio, giving it a more crunchy interior. Have it together with the dipping sauce for a mouth-watering taste.

Kuzukiri 4/5

The Kuzukiri ($8.80) is a rather rare dessert to make it to the menu. The slippery and silky like noodles is made from Japanese arrowroot and served cold. The way to enjoy this is to dip it into the accompanying kuromitsu sauce.

Sanshoku Warabi Mochi 4.8/5

A specialty at Misato is the Sanshoku Warabi Mochi ($8.80). The sanshoku warabi mochi are freshly handmade every day using high-quality ingredients air-flown directly from Japan. The whole process of making it takes about 2 hours. It comes with 3 different flavours - goma, kinako and matcha.

Matcha Bavarois 4.5/5

The Matcha Bavarois ($7.80) is a matcha flavoured pudding texture like dessert. However, this is extremely wobbly, you will have fun playing with your dessert. The matcha bavarois is made using a special mold and a highly exclusive powder imported from Nara prefecture. The catch unfortunately is only 12 of this is available each day!

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Misato
The Centrepoint
Gastro+ Level 1
176 Orchard Road
#01-33E
Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 62352822

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B and C. Walk to the main street. Cross the road. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]