Kinki Restaurant + Bar @ Customs House - A Bigger, Bolder, Badder Revamp

Time flies, and  Kinki Restaurant + Bar at Customs House has been around for more than 10 years since May 2010. On the cusp of a new decade, Kinki starts a new chapter with an audacious revamp. Gone is the sumo, passing his legacy to the Geisha for her epitome of Japanese femininity and hospitality.

Cassava Nachos 4.2/5

We started our dinner with some light bites. First up is the Cassava Nachos ($18) topped with tomato miso beef, guacamole, creme fraiche, Japanese cucumber and cherry tomatoes. Kinki substituted the usual tortilla chips with tapioca chips for a more delightful textural bite. At the same time, the Japanese cucumber gives it a refreshing finish.

Corn Duo 4.8/5

Next is the Corn Duo ($16), which comprises baby corn and corn puree. The addition of furikake elevated the enjoyment of the corn's sweetness.

AC/DC Dynamite 4.5/5

I would highly recommend the AC/DC Dynamite ($22) for an explosion of flavours. The tempura-fried mixed seafood roll is capped by a slice of Japanese cucumber with fresh raw seafood and avocado. The homemade Sriracha sweet soy provides the ignition to the explosion.

Cowabunga 4.2/5

Beef lover will enjoy the Cowabunga ($36) compromising Japanese rice rolled with cream cheese, cucumber, homemade spicy mayo, and melt-in-the-mouth seared A4 Wagyu beef slices. The parcel is topped with tobiko, potato floss and soy reduction for the different textural contrast.

Unagi Claypot 4.5/5

The off the menu Unagi Claypot ($35), which only served during special occasions, has now made it permanently to the menu. Besides the huge piece of unagi on top of the charred fried rice, chopped unagi is also tossed in it, doused in a homemade unagi sauce. Each mouthful is full of addictive charred flavour for a comforting enjoyment.

Kickass Chirashi Don 4.5/5

Being a Japanese restaurant, it can't do without fresh seafood. The Kickass Chirashi Don ($78) comes with the Chef's selection of premium seafood on sushi rice. During my visit, there is otoro, kinmedai, hirame, salmon, shima aji, hotate, botan ebi, tamago, ikura and Polanco Oscietra caviar.

Karaage Chicken Bao 4.2/5

A delightful Japanese-Chinese fusion is the Karaage Chicken Bao ($20) with juicy, deep-fried chicken thigh, momotaro tomato and pickled cucumber sandwiched in a soft, fluffy steamed bun. It is dressed in a sweet soy sauce for a multi flavour and textural finish.

Spicy Buffalo Katsu 3/5

The Spicy Buffalo Katsu ($30) was slightly disappointing for me compare to the rest. The breaded pork loin cutlet tossed in homemade Japanese buffalo sauce is slightly on the dry side for me. Furthermore, it is not spicy at all.

Grilled Squid Chimichurri 4.5/5

New on the menu is the Grilled Squid Chimichurri ($32). It is smokey and tender paired excellently with the sweet and sour sauce. Perfect to have this with a couple of drinks.

Ice Cream 3/5

We have Ice Cream ($8/ $12) to wrap up the dinner. There are flavours such as yuzu, momo, black sesame and more.

Diners can look forward to The Bottomless Brunch ($68) on Saturday, for unlimited a la carte servings of sushi, sashimi, maki, hot and cold Japanese favourites, and desserts. You can also top it up with free-flow beer, sake, prosecco or shochu for $35.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Kinki Restaurant + Bar
Customs House
70 Collyer Quay
#02-02
Singapore 049323
Tel: +65 83636697
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Restaurant
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 215pm, 6pm - 1015pm
Sat & PH: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1015pm

Bar
Mon-Sat: 5pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Clifford Centre. Cut across the building. Go to 2nd floor, take the overhead bridge link across the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Peace Japanese Cuisine @ OUE owntown Gallery - It Even Have A 8-Course Vegetarian Omakase

With its humble beginnings in 2017 in an industrial estate in Bukit Batok Crescent, Peace Japanese Cuisine had once shifted and settled at Beauty World Centre for 2 years before landing itself at the current space at Downtown Gallery. Its membership has grown over the years, with regulars often returning for their favourite dishes.

Kani Hiyashi Pitan Tofu 4.2/5

Such as its Kani Hiyashi Pitan Tofu ($6.80). The homemade steamed cold egg tofu was soft and custardy, with a layer of crabstick meat underneath for a boost of textural bite. The blanket of century egg subtly flavoured the tofu, and I learn it is also one of the reasons why even non-century egg diners fall for this dish as well.

Tori Karaage 4.5/5

One of the most crowd-pleasing items is its Tori Karaage ($8.80). For less than 10 bucks, you get a serving of 8 extremely juicy and succulent pieces of chicken meat. The mouthwatering part was when I peeled off the thin crispy layer of chicken skin, some of the juice and fats that were stuck underneath started to drip onto my plate.

Kama Shioyaki 4/5

Yellow Tail Carpaccio 4.2/5

The restaurant prides itself on using fine quality ingredients. That is evident in both Yellow Tail Carpaccio ($10.80) and Kama Shioyaki ( price by weight). The cold dish features slices of yellowtail topped with flying fish roe and dressed with a special truffles oil mix in Japanese shoyu. I love the meaty texture of the fish, which was beefed up further by the oil mix. But the flavour of the truffle had overpowered the fish slightly. As for the grilled Japanese Fish Collar, its supple and tender meat was pure joy.

Aburi Unagi Salmon 3/5

Aburi Unagi Salmon ($19.80) is popular among the regulars too. The combination of mentai seared salmon on a Japanese eel roll tends to give that melt-in-your-mouth texture, one of the key reasons why such maki is always a popular item on the menu. The version here was good, but I feel the rice ratio was on the high side.

Wagyu Teppanyaki 4.5/5

A must-try item I feel is the Wagyu Teppanyaki (200gm/$27.80). It is a pan-fried A3 Wagyu Sirloin Steak served with jus cooked with its own fats and a dollop of homemade garlic sauce. Mine was pan-fried to an ideal state where a good amount of fats had been rendered off just enough to release its flavours. And the well-seasoned jus had the effect of elevating its flavours as well.

Steamed Eggplant 4.5/5

Peace Japanese Cuisine is known for its omakase too, even for vegetarian omakase. Not known to many, unless you are its regulars. Upon request, an 8 Course Vegetarian Omakase ($138 per pax) can be arranged with at least 2 days in advance notice for them to prepare the special ingredients. A glimpse of how creative the dishes can be, we were served a steamed Japanese eggplant with vegetarian dashi. And the best part is that the eggplant was not in any way soft and mushy, but the chef managed to retain its structure like pan-fried potatoes. The chef explained that as the steam evaporates, leaving the eggplant in the pan gives the eggplant a nice sear on the side, resulting in the delicious charred sides.

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. 


Peace Japanese Cuisine
OUE Downtown Gallery
6A Shenton Way
#03-20
Singapore 068815
Tel: +65 66940828
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 3 pm, 530pm - 9 pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the traffic light junction. Cross the traffic light to Maxwell Road. Turn right and walk towards Shenton Way. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Torii Izakaya @ Duxton Road - Newly Opening Modern Japanese Izakaya With Superb Food & Drinks

Nestled in the bustling enclave of Duxton Road, newly opened Japanese Izakaya restaurant - Torii Izakaya offers all the charm of an authentic Izakaya while incorporating modern elements to their traditional cuisines and drinks. Torri prides itself in the quality and freshness of the ingredients, using only high-quality beef and sashimi which is carefully selected and flown in from Norway and Hokkaido Japan to curate a menu that is set to excite taste buds for Japan food lovers.

The Torii 4/5, Wild Night 4/5

Of course, what is a meal without some drinks to bring out the food flavours? As for the drinks list, it is largely sake and whisky-driven. The sake collection is carefully sourced from around Japan, regions such as Kyoto, Fushimi, Niigata, Myagi, and more, so take note, sake enthusiasts.

Go for The Torii ($16) concocted with bourbon, yuzu juice and ginger ale for a sweet-sourish cocktail choice. Or the Wild Night ($16) for those who want a little more zing in their drinks, with wild berries syrup and green tea spiked with whiskey. The petals atop are not just for decor purposes but are edible as well. We'll be back for more - and the fact that all the cocktails are priced around $16++.

Broiled Crab Chowder 4.2/5

We started off the meal with the Broiled Crab Chowder ($12) packed with generous amounts of soft shell crab and crab meat in a creamy briny broth, sprinkled with just shallots and olive oil to lend a nice aroma to the dish. We love how the soft shell crab still retains its crispiness throughout, which also adds a textural dimension to the crab chowder.

Bonded Unagi & Foie Gras 4.5/5

One not-to-be-missed dish is the Bonded Unagi & Foie Gras ($16), where both eastern and western influences come together to form a great bond between the two popular delicacies. Each bite has an umami taste and literally melts on your tongue. I would willingly pay to have this again and again.

Torii Cocktail 4/5

Next, we had the Torii Cocktails ($15) which comes with fresh diced sashimi and creamy uni over sweet shrimps, complete with caviar and a special dressing that gave a subtle sweetness to the dish.

Torii Sashimi 4.2/5

The Torii Sashimi ($23) is definitely a steal, consisting of the freshest assortment of fish such as the raw salmon, sweet shrimp, kampachi, scallops, tuna belly, finished with a yuzu dressing.

Aburi Salmon Yuzu 4.2/5, Tiger Prawn 3.8/5

There is only a small selection of sushi rolls, with 3 maki choices. We got to try the Aburi Salmon Yuzu ($13) and Tiger Prawn ($11). We absolutely love the Aburi Salmon Yuzu, with a layer of perfectly torched salmon wrapped around another big chunk of salmon sashimi within. The addition of cucumber, pistachio nuts, and tobiko gave it a crunch. Complete with a slightly tangy yuzu dressing, each bite is simply sensational - packed full of the salmon freshness and umami-ness. The Tiger Prawn pales a little in comparison, but we still enjoy the combination of crispy deep-fried tiger prawn, creamy avocado, shrimp roe, and unagi sauce to give it an extra oomph.

Wagyu Bone Marrow 3.8/5

The Wagyu Bone Marrow ($15) is large and loaded with the gelatinous cream of the marrow which has a unique buttery taste and a rich, robust flavour. While the bone marrow fat was enjoyable, we wished there would be some sides to it to provide a contrast or cushioning to the sheer richness.

Stone Rice Bowl 3.8/5

The Stone Rice Bowl ($18) came in a piping hot bowl of shrimp, unagi, Japanese scallop, seaweed, tobiko, onsen tamago over a bed of Japanese rice. Take a quick snap and mix all the ingredients in the bowl, as it is best mixed and eaten hot.

Wings 3.5/5, Wagyu Sirloin 4/5, Garlic with crispy skin 3.8/5

Torii has over 20 skewer items on their menu. With a drink at bay, diners can pair it among the wide range of grilled items and eat to their heart's content. We had the Wings ($3) seasoned with just sea salt, and the tender Wagyu Striploin ($3). Each bite is imbued with a smoky depth and would leave you craving for more. The Garlic with crispy skin ($3) is not your commonly seen food items in the form of skewers, but once you start, you can’t stop.

Beef Donburi 4.2/5

One of my favourites is the Beef Donburi ($25). The tender beef slices have a nice smoky charred exterior, paired perfectly with the soft creamy foie gras, and the addition of truffle elevated the whole dish. Mix it all in with the onsen egg which binds everything perfectly together, and we could not stop till we have wiped the bowl clean. For a more premium experience, you can top up an additional $5 for an extra foie gras, or $18 for additional uni.

Kagoshima Sirloin A5 4.5/5

The highlight of the night is the Kagoshima Sirloin A5 ($68). The hefty price tag is justified by the stellar quality of the steak - tender, juicy slices with a slight nicely charred exterior that just melts in your mouth. It's a definite must-order here if you're hankering for some good steaks. We recommend topping up $7 for an additional pan-seared foie gras or scallop.

These lively casual bars are aplenty in Singapore, and there's nowhere better to kick back and have some Japanese bites full of umami goodness with some drinks to go along with. Torri Izakaya is the perfect place for friends who gather for a good time or office workers who are looking for some after-work drinks, tie-loosened, hair down. With a huge 68-indoor seater and 12-outdoor seater, it is also available to cater for events from commercial events to party celebrations.

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.


[Closed]
Torii Izakaya
32 Duxton Road
Singapore 089496
Tel: +65 62230093
Facebook 
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Outram park (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat & PH: 12pm - 230pm, 530pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. Cross Tanjong Pagar Road and walk to Craig Road. Walk along Craig Road and turn right onto Duxton Road. Walk along Duxton Road to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Outram MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk straight along New Bridge Road to Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right onto Kreta Ayer Road and walk to the end. Cross the road and turn left onto Neil Road. From Neil Road walk to Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20  minutes. [Map]

Imakatsu @ Tanjong Pagar Centre - Special Hokkaido Pork Set For Limited Period

Awarded Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2015, Imakatsu at Tanjong Pagar Centre has recently launched a Special Hokkaido Pork Set for a limited period, from 1 November to 31 December 2019. The special set menu will only be available during dinner, and it is limited to first 15 customers each day.

The Special Hokkaido Port Set ($23++) comes with 120g of Hokkaido Pork Katsu, Hokkaido Pork Stewed, Salmon Miso Soup, Hokkaido Rice and Cabbage.

Hokkaido Pork Katsu

What makes the pork cutlet at Imakatsu so tender and juicy is their cooking method. Instead of deep-frying in hot temperature, the restaurant takes its time to fry it at low temperature. It ensures the pork remains tender and juicy. It is then allowed to rest longer than usual, cooking in its own steam. By doing so, excess oil is dripped off and allowing the juice of the meat to settle, enhancing the texture. The other highlight of their katsu, is the light and airy breadcrumb. It gives the pork katsu a delightfully crunchy bite.

Hokkaido Pork Stewed

The beauty of the set is that it allows diners to enjoy the Hokkaido pork in 2 ways. Besides deep-frying, you have it stewed.

Salmon Miso Soup

Fresh Cabbage

The value for money set comes with a bowl of miso soup with chunks of salmon in it. That is quite a sell as most restaurants serve their miso soup without any ingredients in it. Not to forget the free flow fresh cabbage that comes along with the Special Hokkaido Pork Set too.

Unatama Don 

It is not just all about katsu at Imakatsu. The restaurant also offers several rice bowl dishes, katsu curry and udon on their menu. One of my favourite items, when I am not in the mood for fried food, is their Unatama Don Set ($18++). The rice bowl comes with tender pieces of unagi and a poached egg. Completing the set is free refill fresh cabbage, miso soup and pickles.

Last but not least, hitting the home run for me is the Japanese premium Koshihikari rice. The beautifully cooked fluffy short grain rice is soft and goes perfectly well with the tonkatsu.

Note: This post is brought to you by Imakatsu Tanjong Pagar


Imakatsu
Tanjong Pagar Centre
7 Wallich Street
#01-06
Singapore 078884
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily:
1130am - 230pm (last order)
530pm - 9pm (last order)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Donburi King @ Paya Lebar Quarter - Premium Dons With A Trove of Ocean Treasures Air-Flown From Japan

Fans of Japanese donburi rejoice, as you can now have your cravings fixed at Donburi King. This is the latest concept by S.H.E Global Group which specialises in authentic Japanese donburi with an extensive menu featuring 14 meticulously crafted seafood and meat selections as well as delicious appetisers, ramen, and Japanese hot dishes.

Situated in the newly opened Paya Lebar Quarter, the joint houses an open kitchen built in an 18-seater intimate setting, where customers can witness the preparation of each don, made with the freshest air-flown sashimi and premium selections of meat.

Donburi King Signature Kaisen Don 4.5/5

The limelight is undoubtedly the seafood-loaded bowl of goodness, Donburi King Signature Kaisen Don ($35.50). The overflowing exquisite ingredients consist of 9 different sashimi such as the Salmon, Uni, Hotate (scallop), Akaebi (wild-caught red shrimp), Tako (octopus), Ika (squid), Ikura, Tobiko, and oysters served with Nori seaweed, Tamago (omelette), Gari (marinated ginger), and Wasabi.

Spicy Mayomentai Don 4/5

The Spicy Mayomentai Don ($22.80) features thick slices of salmon sashimi and akaebi smothered in a lusciously creamy mentaiko sauce, and blow-torched for a smoky umami flavour. It comes served with Tamago (omelette), Takuan (pickled radish), Gari (marinated ginger), and Wasabi perched atop vinegared sushi rice.

Whole Unagi Don 4.2/5

Indulge in generous slabs of grilled unagi chunks from the Whole Unagi Don ($22.80). The unagi is grilled to perfection with a melt-in-your-mouth consistency and is served with Tamago (omelette) and Takuan (pickled radish).

Fried Oysters 4/5

If that's not enough, go for their selection of sides such as the Fried Oyster ($3 for 3pc). Deep-fried to crisp golden perfection, the oysters carries a creamy and slightly chewy texture.

The fresh flavourful dons at Donburi King promises sheer luxe and indulgence. Other donburi options include the Ootoro Don ($35.50) available in limited quantity daily based on seasonal availability, the Hotate with Ikura Don ($28.80) or the Aburi Salmon Belly with Ikura Don ($23).

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.


Donburi King
Paya Lebar Quarter
10 Paya Lebar Road
#03-26
Singapore 409057
Tel: +65 66116657
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening hours:
Mon-Thu: 1130am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm
Fri-Sun & PH: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Kei Kaisendon @ Marina Square - Quality And Affordable Japanese Rice Bowls For The Sashimi Lovers

The kaisendon is a traditional Japanese donburi dish consisting of a rice bowl loaded up with a variety of fresh sashimi. If you love Kaisendon, Kei Kaisendon is a place not to be missed for quality seafood dons without the hefty price tags.

You'd usually find the standard Kaisen don in most Japanese restaurants elsewhere, but this Kaisendon speciality restaurant gives diners plenty of options with its variety of kaisendons - from the mentaiyaki, to hotate and unagi kaisendon. You can also choose from their add-on selection, and make it a set with a soup and salad (+$3) for a more fulfilling meal.

Mentaiyaki Tamago Kaisendon 4.2/5

The Mentaiyaki Tamago Kaisendon ($18.90) arrived in an impressive array of cubed sashimi and mentaiko tamago pieces. I liked how the piquant flavour and slight saltiness of the mentaiyaki balance out the light sweetness of the tamago. While the sashimi cubes are fresh and silky, the mentaiko-laden tomago blow-torched to perfection adds a lovely umami flavour to the don.

Hotate Kaisendon 4/5

The Hotate Kaisendon ($19.90) features a subtly sweet, almost creamy-like hotate on a bed of fresh sashimi cubes. The hotate was no less fresh, with a melt-in-the-mouth texture. The kaisendons are also filled with cucumber cubes which adds a crunch to the dish. Together with mouthfuls of Japanese rice and fresh seafood, it is just pure indulgence.

Gyoza 4/5

We chose the Unagi ($3.90) and Gyoza ($6.90) for our add-ons. Glazed with a soy-based sauce before being torched, the unagi slices are richly flavoured and has an incredibly soft and tender texture. The Gyoza ($6.90) features savoury ground pork fillings wrapped in silky smooth dumpling skin. These little parcels of goodness go perfectly well with the light soya sauce provided to add a nice touch of flavour to the dish.

Kei Kaisendon at Marina Square has recently participated in the Food Masters Singapore 2019 competition hosted by Singapore Press Holdings. Vote for them by SMS-ing C11 to 91188980. Just flash the message of your voting to the staff for a 10% off total bill during your next visit. *Only at Marina Square outlet.

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.


Kei Kaisendon
Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
#02-266A/B
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 62528311
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take exit B. Walk to Marina Square via Marina Square Link. Walk to the destination. Journey time about 8 mins. [Map]