Yen Social @ DUO Galleria - New Offshoot Of Michelin-rated Yen Yakiniku, Extending The Art Of Grilled Meats For More To Enjoy

Yen Social is a new yakiniku restaurant located at DUO Galleria. It is a casual concept compare to its sister concept Yen Yakiniku. The new concept is spacious, and the tables are well spaced. Noteworthy is the grill sitting in the middle of each table, that cost around two thousand dollars. The suction is excellent. I left the restaurant without the greasy smell on my shirt.

Farmer Salad 4/5

We started with the Farmer Salad ($16) while waiting for the meats to be cooked. The mesclun salad with watermelon and candied walnuts tossed in an oil-based yuzu dressing is light and fruity. It is not a wow dish, but I find myself going back, again and again, to freshen up the palate after a few slices of the grilled meat.

Yukke 4/5

Before moving to the mains, we had the Yukke ($20). The raw wagyu is seasoned with Yen BBQ sauce and topped with a raw egg yolk. Break the egg yolk and give it a good toss. The bbq sauce provides the rawness with a sweet finish.

YEN Social Butcher Platter ($109 for 300g) 4.5/5

Great for sharing is the YEN Social Butcher Platter ($109 for 300g). The platter appreciates the different wagyu cut, comprising thick-cut karubi, chuck eye roll, chuck short ribs, and Australian Wagyu ribeye. Out of the five different cuts, my favourite is the thin cut chuck eye roll with moderate marbling and a sweet, umami flavour..

30 Days Dry Aged Wagyu Ribeye ($68 for 100g) 4.2/5

A special at Yen Social is their in-house dry-aged wagyu. We tried the 30 Days Dry Aged Wagyu Ribeye ($68 for 100g). Indeed the dry-aging process locked up the juice for an intense flavour.

Iberico Pork Jowl 4.5/5

For those that do not eat beef, there are pork and chicken too. We had the Iberico Pork Jowl ($14) known for the snow-like marbling.

Wagyu Beef Noodle

It is not only meats on the menu. There are staples on the menu, such as rice and noodle dishes. One of them is the Wagyu Beef Noodle ($32) that comes with chunky Japanese wagyu slow-stewed for 48 hours, daikon and local herbs. What impressed me is the rich and deep-flavoured soup. Every sip, you can taste the beef's essence and the labour behind it.

Overall, I enjoyed the quality premium cuts offered at Yen Social. However, it does not come cheap with the premium cuts. Though I did not try their signature in-house dry-aged wagyu, I heard the flavour is even more intense. It has a whisky dry-aged Wagyu ribeye on the menu, using Kavalan single malt whisky from Taiwan. Chef Jones Chen is even looking at introducing a gin dry-aged ribeye in the future.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yen Social
DUO Galleria
7 Fraser Street
#01-25/26
Singapore 189356
Tel: +65 86696788
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

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

Ebi Bar @ Cuppage Plaza - New Mod-Sin Noodle Bar

Ebi Bar at Cuppage serves up its modern take on Singaporean prawn noodles with its specially concocted prawn broth and handmade noodles. The menu includes some of our favourite side dishes, but with an added touch of fanciness to make it their own.

Signature “Chao Da” (Charred) Ebi Noodles 3.8/5

Ebi Bar's unique take on our local prawn noodles is this Signature “Chao Da” (Charred) Ebi Noodles ($14.90), served with a pair of charred prawns and slices of chicken roulade. As the main selling point of Ebi Bar, the broth didn't disappoint with its deep rich prawn flavour, and I love how savoury it tasted. The chicken roulade slices laced with charred skin were beautifully tender, and the noodles were springy with a nice bite. It was a pity that the prawns, however, were slightly overcooked and not appropriately deveined either.

Signature “Chao Da” (Charred) Ebi Pao Fan 3.8/5

There's a new item on the menu - Signature “Chao Da” (Charred) Ebi Pao Fan ($18.90), which I thought works even better with the flavourful prawn broth. The rice was plump with a bite, with added rice crisp for texture and crunch. The rice soaked up the broth well, and every mouthful of the rice and the broth was truly enjoyable.

Truffle Broth Booster, Mala Broth Booster, Miso Broth Booster

You can also amp up your dish with “Broth Boosters” - Mala ($1.90), Miso ($1.90) and Truffle ($2.50). The Mala Broth Booster adds a layer of peppery aroma to the broth. At the same time, the Miso Broth Booster enhanced the savouriness of the broth, akin to the ramen miso broth. I don't suggest going for the Truffle Broth Booster at all, which was too overpowering.

Crispy Fried Chicken in Salted Mackerel Marinate 4/5

There are a couple of interesting sides to complete your meal. Crispy Fried Chicken in Salted Mackerel Marinate ($6.90) is its take on Har Cheong Gai. Each morsel made from chicken thigh was pretty juicy, and the best bit was the crisped chicken skin.

Chilled Tofu with Homemade Sauce 3.5/5

Ah Ma’s Achar Gone Fancy 3.5/5

I enjoyed the simple dishes on the menu, such as the Ah Ma's Achar Gone Fancy ($5.90) and Chilled Toufu with Homemade Sauce ($4.90). The achar with jellyfish is exceptionally crunchy, while the chilled tofu with cold sweet and savoury sauce is very appetising. Unfortunately, the portion was a tad too little.

Ebi & Vege Crispy Fritter 2.5/5

As for the Ebi & Vege-Crispy Fritter ($5.90), I reckon the batter requires a bit of work to be less greasy and stay crisp for a longer period.

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.


Ebi Bar
Cuppage Plaza
5 Koek Rd
#B1-21
Singapore 228796
Tel: +65 89221284
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B, C or D. Walk to Orchard Road. Cross the road and walk to Cuppage Road. Walk down Cuppage Road. Walk to Cuppage Plaza. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]