Gyoza-Ya @ Plaza Singapura - Exclusive Set Meals With Free Flow Of Japanese Salad

Known for their affordable gyozas, Gyoza-Ya has recently launched a new set menu which is exclusive to both Plaza Singapura and Northpoint outlets only. From $14.80 onwards, there are 23 variations of the set meal to choose from, alongside with free flow of Japanaese salad.

Saba Tonkatsu Donburi 3/5

For Donburi Set Meals, each donburi comes with 2 types of meat, a radish stew, 3 original gyozas, a soup and a free flow Japanese salad which is shredded cabbage with plum sauce. Crunchy and refreshing with acidity from the plum sauce, the salad went really well with my Saba Tonkatsu Donburi which is quite a classic pairing to begin with. However, my tonkatsu was tad too dry. The fattier saba fish fared better and the radish stew was surprisingly a highlight of the rice bowl.

Gyu Kakuni Donburi 4/5

Compared to the above, you will probably get a lot more bang on your bucks and satisfaction with this Gyu Kakuni Donburi ($20.80). Both the gyu and kakuni were very well braised, hence they were tender and packed with umami. The gyu was in large slices with a balanced portion of fats and the pork belly were juicy without any porky taste. A scoop of tempura bits was served for some extra crunch.

Tendon Set 3.5/5

The Tendon Set ($18.80) may not be the most affordable one but the 3 juicy prawn tempuras make up for it. Other than the prawns, I also like the use of Shimeji mushroom tempura instead of the commonly used Enoki mushroom. Its texture is meatier and when fried, in this case it seemed even juicier against the crisp batter.

Mentaiko Gyoza

If that 3 original gyozas within the set doesn't fill you up, feel free to order other variations from the menu, such as the crowd pleasing Mentaiko Gyoza ($9.80) or the outlet exclusive Takoyaki Gyoza ($9.80).

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.


Gyoza-Ya
Plaza Singapura
#B2-50/51
68 Orchard Rd
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 62668311
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 1130am - 10pm

Directions:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Chee Kei (池記) @ Changi Airport Terminal 2 - Another Popular Hong Kong Wanton Mee Opens In Singapore

With the opening of Mak's Noodle in Singapore back in 2015, another popular Hong Kong wanton mee brand - Chee Kei (池記) has landed at Changi Airport Terminal 2. Located at the public area of the departure hall near the sky train area, the Singapore outlet share the space together with Ya Kun.

Shrimp Wanton Noodle 3.8/5

Today with my colleagues, we dropped by the newly opened Chee Kei for lunch. At first sight, one may find the Shrimp Wanton Noodle is pretty costly at $8.95. Though the bowl may look small, the noodle portion is pretty substantial. It also comes with their signature shrimp wanton in silky wanton skin, that is plump and comes with fresh crunchy shrimp. While the wanton soup is sweet and packed with robust flavours from the dried scallop, the noodle was slightly overcooked. It did not have that QQ texture.

Besides the shrimp wanton noodle, the menu offers a huge varieties of noodle selection such as Beef Brisket Noodle, Chilli Meat Braised Noodles, Braised Pork Tender Rib Braised Rice Vermicelli and many more.

Beef Noodles 3.8/5

We decided to also try the Beef Noodles ($7.95) which comes with thinly sliced beef. I like the fact that the beef is still slightly pink, not overcooked. Unfortunately, the bowl of noodle is lacked down by the overcooked noodles, which did not have the springy texture.

Dumpling in Chilli Oil 3/5

Besides the noodles, we also tried some of their side dishes. The Dumpling in Chilli Oil ($10.95) comes with the same plump wanton that is found in the shrimp wanton noodle. Unfortunately the chilli oil was lackluster, it lacked the pungent vinegary spicy kick.

Beef Tendon with Turnip 4/5

We also tried the Beef Tendon with Turnip ($12.95) which has absorbed the delicious braising sauce, and cooked to a delightful bouncy soft texture. I would recommend ordering a plate of it to go with the noodle, making it a complete meal.

Overall, I feel the wanton noodle is satisfying but not top notch. The kitchen and operations also seems quite overwhelmed by the crowd. Hopefully time will smoothen the operations and that translate to consistency and quality to the food


Chee Kei
Changi Airport Terminal 2
Departure Hall
60 Airport Boulevard
Singapore 819643
Tel: +65 62413124
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 24 hour

Direction: 
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A. Go to departure hall. Walk towards Sky Train direction. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Niku Kappo @ ION Orchard - Dine In Style Without Breaking The Bank

Niku Kappo is a Japanese beef and sake restaurant located at ION Orchard. The restaurant which hails from Tsukiji, offers Japanese Kappo style cuisine, focuses on good beef, ranging from sushi to skewers to tendon bowls and more. Kappo means cut and cook in Japanese is a traditional way of preparing Japanese cuisine.

Pakuchi Tempura 3.5/5

While waiting for the mains, you may want to start with the Pakuchi Tempura ($6.90). Lightly coated with tempura batter, it gives the coriander an enjoyable crispy texture. For those that does not like the taste of coriander, it is quite subtle. Personally I prefer the distinct flavour of the coriander to stand up more.

Tori Kushi Mori 4.2/5

Grilled to a delectable tender bite is the Tori Kushi Mori ($19.90). What is unique is the topping on the chicken skewers. The flavours are miso, citrus, sesame, vinegar & tartar and teriyaki sauce. There is also beef version, Wagyu Kushu Mori ($39.90) which comes in an assortment of grated radish & ponzu sauce, edo sweet miso, homemade steak sauce wasabi and saikyo miso.

Tokusen Niku Sushi Mori 8 Kinds 3/5

Usually we have sushi with seafood but how about beef? The Tokusen Niku Sushi Mori 8 Kinds ($38.90) comes with sliced wagyu beef topped with a premium mix of ingredients such as uni, truffle and foie gras. Unfortunately we find the beef on the tough side, which didn't quite go well with the ratio of sushi rice.

Sukiyaki Sushi 4/5

Compared with the tokusen niku sushi mori, I prefer the Sukiyaki Sushi ($19.90) more. The beef is wrapped around some sushi rice and then blow torched. The aburi beef slices are more tender with the right proportion of sushi rice.

Time Bomb Maguro 4/5

It is not just about beef at Niku Kappo, it has a variety of other seafood items such as the Time Bomb Maguro ($9.90). The tuna cubes are blow torched and cooked by the fire underneath, giving it a hint of smokiness.

Iced Tako Wasabi 3/5

I didn't quite enjoy the Iced Tako Wasabi ($9.90). I find the sliced octopus too chilled and bland in taste. However I have to say the wasabi is really pungent.

Niku Tendon 4/5

Unatama Don 4.2/5

For those that just need a quick meal, you can go for the Niku Tendon ($12.90) and Unatama Don ($18.90). These rice bowls come with delicious ingredients atop the warm bed of rice. Given a choice, I would go for the unatama don for that bed of scrambled egg sauce which just look so appetising and goes so well with the rice.

Yaki Tetsu Ebi Style 4/5

A signature at Niku Kappo is their Yaki Tetsu Ebi Style ($28.90/$35.90 per pax). It has an order of minimum 2 pax. The ebi style uses the sweet miso sauce which the server will cook the beef and other ingredients at table side. This is really rich and suitable for those that has a heavy palate. There is also a lighter version, Kobe Style that replaces the sweet miso sauce with foie gras sauce. I prefer the later that the lighter sauce allows me to appreciate the flavour of the beef
Also Kobe style.

Yaki Testsu Sukiyaki Style 4.5/5

A newly launch dish at Niku Kappo is the Yaki Testsu Sukiyaki Style ($26.90 per pax) with minimum order for 2 pax. This is the traditional sukiyaki with Japanese beef wagyu slices, vegetables, tofu and gluten slices (ofu). Similar to having hotpot, all the ingredients are cooked in a sukiyaki sauce, that seems to bring out the flavours even more. I can see why this is getting popular even though it is only recently launched.

Mt Fuji Nabe 4/5

Standing towering tall is the Mt Fuji Nabe ($20.90). It is quite majestic having the beef slices rolled up into a tower. Diners have a choice of beef, pork or a combination of both. If you are not a fan of beansprouts, then you may want to skip this. A whole tower of beansprouts is wrapped inside the meat to form the tower.

Strawberry Ice Brulee with Snow 3/5

Last but at least we have the Strawberry Ice Brulee with Snow ($5.90) to wrap up the dinner. A decent dessert to end the meal on a sweet note.

Apart from the wide variety of food items on the menu, Niku Kappo also provides an extensive alcohol menu for pairing with the food. Customers can select from more than 50 different kinds of Sake and Shochu specially imported from Japan at friendly prices.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Niku Kappo
ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#B3-23
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 65099366
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

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

Ninja Bowl @ Duxton Road - Turns Two With A Whole New Slew Of Hearty Dishes

Ninja Bowl at Duxton Road celebrates its 2nd anniversary with a refreshed menu. In addition to the whole new slew of hearty dishes, it has for the first time introduce a range of pasta dishes too.

Tamago Sandwich 4.2/5

For our lunch, we started with the Tamago Sandwich ($16). The soft and fluffy tamogo is coated with a layer of melted gouda cheese for that extra oomph and sandwiched in between a croissant. Besides that, it is further accompanied with a side of Japanese curry minced beef and an onsen egg. You can even use the croissant to wipe the plate clean.

Hokkaido 4/5

For the seafood lover, there is Hokkaido ($16) which comes with tempura-battered fish fillet and soft shell crab. The tendon rice bowl is pretty substantial. Instead of the usual tendon sauce, homemade chilli crab sauce is used for a local twist.

Harajuku 4.5/5

It is probably hard to tell from the picture but on the plate is a whole roasted cauliflower. The Harajuku ($18) is a roasted cauliflower steak topped with tempura bits and pine nuts. Accompanying the dish is yaki unagi that has been glazed with kebayaki sauce and creamy mac & cheese. The combination may sounds a weird but surprisingly it works.

Ohayo 4/5

Last but not least we had the Ohayo ($20). The savoury-sweet combination can either be a brunch item or dessert. Two fluffy French toast is paired with maple-glazed pork belly, pomegranate. rocket, momo tomatoes and burrata. I feel the milky and buttery burrata cheese plays an important role in harmonizing the whole dish.

The new menu at Ninja Bowl has definitely delivered new excitement to the table, giving more reasons for guest to return. It once again has impressed me with their new creations.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ninja Bowl
15 Duxton Road
Singapore 089481
Tel: +65 62228055
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. At Orchid Hotel turn right onto Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road to the opposite side of Tanjong Pagar Road. Walk along Tanjong Pagar Road to Duxton Hill. Turn left onto Duxton Hill and then turn right on Duxton Road. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]

Tempura TenTen @ Raffles City - Tendon With A Twist

Originated from Toyko, Tempura TenTen at Raffles City Basement is a Tempura specialist that offers both tempura and ramen within its small 36 seater restaurant.

Premium King Prawn Tendon 3/5

What's unique here is the Premium King Prawn Tendon ($19.80) and fresh Unajyu eel from Kagashima. Fried in Tokyo style, the King Prawns are coated with a batter that is lighter than that of the regular tempura. The King Prawn felt pretty heavy as I held it up with my fingers. It was meaty and sweet, and it got even better when the batter soaked up the sticky spicy tempura sauce. Surprisingly, the spicy version of the tempura sauce intrigued me more than the regular sauce. I like its tanginess and the edge of spiciness at the end, akin to how a tabasco sauce would do to your taste buds.

Unatendon 3/5

Ordering the Unatendon ($19.80) allows you to try both the assorted tempuras and freshly grilled unagi from Kagoshima. The unajyu was tender, with a nice char on the surface. It is not too bad a deal if you want to satisfy your craving for unagi. One special tempura topping highlighted to me is the Chicken Ball with Mozarella Cheese. I don't quite fancy it though, as I feel it lacks the oomph even with the lava cheese. Another variation that you can do to your tendon, other than opting for the spicy sauce, is to change your rice to truffle rice for $1 more. The truffle infused Hokkaido rice looks just as clean as the regular one but with that truffle 'fumes'. If everything else is too fancy for you, then stick to the Special Tendon ($13.80) that comes with all the basic tempura toppings.

Ebi Prawn Ramen 2.8/5

Sharing the same limelight with the tendon is the Specially Roasted Hokkaido Ramen. Created by Chef Mamoru, two-time champion of Ramen Champion, the miso ramen here are specially roasted. But what might catch your eyes is perhaps the Ebi Prawn Ramen ($16.80). The broth is simmered with chicken bone, whole chicken, ginger, garlic, Japanese leek and mushroom for around 6 hours. Personally, I don't like this version of ramen at all. I love the generosity of the toppings - the spring onions, bamboo shoots and sweetcorn but the broth is too dense and the flavours fail to hit any notes. The noodles is also thicker type, which I supposed the thickness is meant for the richer broth. It also doesn't help when the prawn was rather overcooked in my bowl.

Offering both tempura and ramen, Tempura TenTen is ideal if both you and your friends want a variety of dishes. However, maybe at times simplicity is still the best, making it easier for customers to identify the brand and concept.

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.


Tempura TenTen
Raffles City
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-13
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 63367457
Facebook
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

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

Ami Ami @ Great World City - Seafood, Tempura and Robatayaki

Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street has moved into the city with the opening of its third outlet at Great World City. The Japanese food enclaves at its third venue presents 5 food, beverage and retail brands under one roof. Joining Ichiban Boshi and Kuriya Japanese Market in the expanded area at the basement of Great World City is Ami Ami, helmed by award-winning Master Chef Naoki Tsuzuki. Diners at Ami Ami can enjoy seasonal catch freshly air-flown from Japan thrice weekly.

Fuji Sashimi 5 Kinds 4/5

With freshness that is flown in thrice weekly, we just have to try the sashimi at Ami Ami. We had the Fuji Sashimi 5 Kinds ($26.80) that consists of Maguro, Salmon, Sawara Aburi, Kampachi and Tai. For the pricing, it is quite a steal.

Fish in Two Ways  - Sashimi 4.2/5

Fish in Two Ways  - Grilled 4/5

Diners can select from the variety of freshly flown seasonal catch and request the kitchen to have the Fish Done In Two Ways (Seasonal Price). We had the Kodai (Sea Bream) which is first served in sashimi to enjoy the natural quality and flavour. The other half of the sea bream is lightly seasoned with salted and grilled to perfection. It was moist and sweet.

Egg Tempura & Vegetable Kakiage Tempura Rice Bowl 4/5

An original creation by Chef Tsuzuki is the Egg Tempura & Vegetable Kakiage Tempura Rice Bowl ($6.50). The centerpiece is the onsen egg wrapped in deep fried beancurd skin. Break the yolk and one can dip the tempura into the runny yolk or mix it together with the rice for a fuller enjoyment.

Live Scallop Robatayaki with 3 Toppings 3/5

From the robatayaki menu, one can have the Live Scallop Robatayaki with 3 Toppings ($19.80) which is charcoal grilled and topped wit crabmeat, sea urchin and salmon. It looked really appetising but I thought it fell short of expectation. I have also never like the idea of cooking sea urchin, the sweetness always seems to be lost under heat. It just a waste for such premium ingredient.

Ami Ami Set

Can't decide what to order at Ami Ami? To make it easy, you can go for the Ami Ami Set ($45.80) which consists of sashimi of the day, charcoal-grilled live scallops, prawn, chicken, fish & vegetable tempura, egg tempura & vegetable kakiage tempura rice bowl, miso soup and pickles.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ami Ami
Great World City
Shokutsu Ten Japanese Food Street
#B1-01/02/03/04
1 Kim Seng Promenade
Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 68359071
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line), Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop opposite Orchard MRT station (Stop ID B09022). Take bus number 16 or 175. Alight 4 bus stops later. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Outram MRT station. (Stop ID B06011). Take bus number 75 or 970. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Great World City. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 5, 16 or 195. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Kogane Yama @ Bugis Junction - The Golden Mountain Is Lacking The Glisten

From the good folk behind Chir Chir Fusion Factory and Massizzim, the group has launch another new concept called Kogane Yama (Golden Mountain) at Bugis Junction offering tendon bowls. It got its name for the lavish heap of golden brown pieces of tempura, just like the scenic valleys and mountains in Japan.

Kogane Yama offers 4 types of bowl. Diners have a choice of Mixed Bowl ($15.80), Prawn Bowl ($13.80), Chicken Bowl ($13.80) and Vegetable Bowl ($11.80). Instead of rice, diners can also replace it with either Udon or Soba for an additional dollar. In addition, diners can also select their sauces - non spicy or spicy (level 1 to 3). Lastly, you can complete your meal with add-ons such as Chawanmushi at ($2) and Miso Soup ($1.50).

Mixed Bowl with Soba 3/5

I tried the Mixed Bowl with Soba ($16.80) which comes tempura prawns, chicken fillet, long beans, carrot, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, sweet potato, green bell pepper, seaweed, shiso leaf and a dollop of ebiko. For those prefer a bite in their noodle may not enjoy the softness of the soba which has been steeped in a clear and fragrant dashi broth.

Mixed Tendon Rice Bowl 3/5

If you opted by the Mixed Tendon Rice Bowl ($15.80), then you will get a mountain of tempura stacked to the brim. It is understand that the tempura is fried to golden brown using a fish seasoned batter and sesame oil. While the batter is crispy I felt it still missing that Japanese element in the bowl. I was telling my dining friends that I felt like eating a bowl of Chinese fried food instead of Japanese tempura.

I actually like the concept of Kogane Yama where the choices are given to the diner unlike the current tendon establishments. However the food is still a far way comparable to these well known tendon establishments. I personally felt that the restaurant needs to improve on the batter and maybe even the oil used.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Kogane Yama
Bugis Junction
200 Victoria Street
#02-50
Singapore 188021
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am -10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT Station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Don Meijin @ Ramen Champion Bugis+ - Local Inspired Spicy Chilli Crab Tendon

If you think Ramen Champion at Bugis+ is all about ramen only, then you are wrong. It welcomes Don Meijin, a brand new donburi specialist offering a wide variety of donburi on the menu. You can get Japanese rice bowls ranging from tendon to katsudon, roast beef don to butadon using short grain Japanese rice that is specially imported from Hokkaido.

Signature Tendon 3.8/5

The Signature Tendon ($13.80) is topped to the brim with fried tempura such as prawns, asparagus, eggplant, pumpkin, salmon and kakiage. It was quite a hearty and substantial meal with the amount of rice and ingredients. While the tempura batter is light and thin, it wasn't as crispy as I would have thought. I also did not quite enjoy the pumpkin which was a bit hard in texture. If you prefer the rice to be more saucy, you can always add more of the tendon sauce which is available at the table.

For an additional $2, you can enjoy another way of appreciating the signature tendon. You are giving pot of dashi soup which you can pour into the remaining bowl of rice and have it together with the rice crisp and wasabi.

Spicy Chilli Crab Tendon 3/5

Newly introduced is the local inspired Spicy Chilli Crab Tendon ($14.80) which is similar to the signature tendon except that it is drenched in  a pool of homemade spicy chilli crab sauce. While I like the idea, I didn't think it go well together as a dish.

Pork Shogayaki Don 4.2/5

What I enjoyed more at Don Meijin is actually not their tendon but the other rice bowls. For example, the Pork Shogayaki Don ($12.80) which comes with slices of pork that is well flavoured with spicy ginger (shoga) and soy sauce, finished with a hint of mirin sweetness, goes very well with the steamy Japanese rice.

Mille Feuille Katus Don 4.5/5

My favourite has to go to the Mille Feuille Katsu Don ($12.80). Instead of deep frying the whole slab of pork loin, the pork loin is actually made by layering 14 thin slices of marinated pork loin and then coated with nama panko. Chunky and succulent while crunchy on the exterior, this is a hearty and comforting bowl of katsu don, finished off in a bed of egg.


Don Meijin
Ramen Champion Bugis+
201 Victoria Street
#04-10
Singapore 188607
Tel: +65 62381011
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

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

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Cross the road. Turn left at Victoria Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]