Thursday, November 2, 2023

Wagyu X @ Club Street - Serving A Hokkaido Special Wagyu Crossbreed Not Commonly Found Outside Japan

WagyuX15

At Wagyu X, a recently opened Japanese steakhouse on Club Street, Chef Masahiro Takada showcases a rare Hokkaido special wagyu crossbreed, a delicacy not often found outside Japan. This particular breed is celebrated for its exceptional balance, offering both the melt-in-your-mouth texture of Wagyu and the rich, beefy juiciness reminiscent of Angus beef.

WagyuX3
Vinaigrette Cherry Tomatoes and Seaweed 3/5

The dining experience kicks off with a delightful Amuse Bouche - Vinaigrette Cherry Tomatoes and Seaweed, adorned with luscious Ikura pearls. This appetizer expertly whets the appetite for the dinner ahead.

WagyuX5
Corn Mousse with Uni 4/5

The spotlight at Wagyu X remains firmly on the beef. While the restaurant prides itself on its exquisite cuts of Hokkaido special Wagyu crossbreed, it also boasts a well-curated selection of seasonal appetizers to complement the star of the show. The Corn Mousse with Uni ($30) is a silky revelation. The dish offers a mouthful of corn mousse, tantalizing the palate with the delightful popping pearls of salmon Ikura. The crowning touch of Bafun Uni adds a burst of flavour, resulting in an explosion of taste that sets the tone for what's to come.

WagyuX7
Hokkaido Scallop 4.5/5

A Hokkaido Scallop ($26) creation further excites the senses. This dish takes sashimi-grade whole medallions of scallops and bakes them in a flavoured butter infusion. Accompanied by a housemade capsicum puree, it elevates the sweet creaminess of the scallop to another level.

WagyuX10
Wagyu X Ribeye 4.8/5

Onto the main attraction, the Wagyu X itself, which comes in three iterations - Wagyu X Sirloin (500g $160, 1kg $300), Wagyu X Ribeye (500g $125, 1kg $240), and Wagyu X Tenderloin (250g $120, 500g $230). We started our carnivorous adventure with the Wagyu X Ribeye. Each slice is thoughtfully seasoned with a gentle sprinkle of salt, allowing the bold natural flavour and texture of the meat to shine. The ribeye boasts an ideal balance of lean meat and fats. Grilled to perfection, it presents a delightful charred edge, with the fats, after grilling, exuding a tantalizing aroma.

WagyuX13
Wagyu X Sirloin 4.5/5

For those who prefer a more substantial bite, the Wagyu X Sirloin will be a suitable choice. This cut offers a bolder and more intense flavour than the ribeye, ensuring a satisfying indulgence for meat lovers.

WagyuX17
Cream Spinach 4/5

WagyuX21
Matsutake Fries 3/5

WagyuX18
Roasted Japanese Pumpkin with Walnut 4.2/5

To round off the dining experience, diners can complement their steak with an array of tantalising sides. The Creamed Spinach ($12), sautéed in garlic, the Matsutake Fries ($12), and the Roasted Japanese Pumpkin with Walnut ($12) are excellent choices. Personally, I found the Roasted Japanese Pumpkin with Walnut to be a standout. This dish features sweet and tender pumpkin complemented by candied walnuts, adding a delightful nutty dimension.

WagyuX22
Tiramisu 4.2/5

For dessert, the house speciality is the Tiramisu ($18). It's created from the same recipe as Chef Masa's sister restaurant, Ristorante Takada. This deconstructed masterpiece allows diners to savour the individual ingredients or enjoy them as a harmonious whole. What sets this tiramisu apart is the preparation of the ladyfingers. Instead of soaking them in coffee liqueur beforehand, they are quickly dipped upon order, resulting in a tiramisu with a delightful crunch, a unique twist on this classic dessert.

WagyuX25
Burnt Cheesecake with Ice Cream 4/5

Alternatively, those with a sweet tooth can opt for the Burnt Cheesecake with Matcha Affogato ($24). This rich cheesecake is a delightful conclusion to the meal, especially when paired with a cold serving of vanilla ice cream and matcha sauce.

For busy executives in the CBD, Wagyu X offers a 3-Course Set Lunch Menu starting at $38++. This set menu includes a starter, main, and dessert, providing a quick yet savoury lunch option while allowing diners to experience the unique flavour of the Wagyu crossbreed. Wagyu X at Club Street indeed offers a rare and satisfying journey into the world of exquisite beef dining.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


    

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Suki-Ya @ Marina Square - Revamped All-You-Can-Eat Premium Shabu-Shabu Buffet

IMG_6005

Suki-Ya, a Japanese Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu restaurant, has established itself in our local F&B scene, most known for its all-you-can-eat hotpot options. The family-friendly atmosphere of the restaurant is complemented by a range of promotions, ranging from Lunch Sets and Student Promotions to Exclusive Treats for Senior Citizens and Special Birthday Offers.

IMG_4958

Elevating from its Regular Buffet Lunch/Dinner, the restaurant now offers a Premium Menu which provides a broader range of premium ingredients, including Wagyu Beef, Iberico Pork, Duroc Pork Collar and more. The pricing of their buffet is as follows:

Regular Buffet
Lunch $22.90++
Dinner $27.90++

Premium Buffet
Lunch $34.90++
Dinner $39.90++

IMG_5034
Premium Hotpot Bases

In addition to the premium ingredients, the Premium Menu also offers newly introduced soup bases, such as Chicken Collagen Soup and Truffle Mushroom Soup. Alongside these, the classic options include Shabu-Shabu, Butaniko, Sukiyaki, Tomato, Kimuchi and Fresh Soy Miso (+$2).

IMG_4998
Premium Seafood

While the Regular Buffet’s items are available on self-service, the Premium items are served upon order. The Premium seafood items available were Seafood Meat Ball, Half-Shell Scallops, Tiger Prawns, Black Mussels and Salmon.

IMG_5002
Premium Seafood

We were pleasantly surprised by the freshness of their seafood, especially the plump scallops, firm prawns and salmon, that we all had additional portions of.

IMG_5006
Premium Ready-to-eat Items

Aside from the fresh ingredients, we had a sample of their Premium Ready-to-eat Items, such as the California Maki, Kanpyo Inari Maki, Tempura Maki, and assorted Tempura. While the Maki were just average, my favourite was the Shishamo Tempura, filled with roe and served hot and crunchy.

IMG_4962
Appetisers

Moving on to the Regular Buffet Bar, we went first for their trio of Appetisers - chilled bean sprouts, kimchi and radish.

IMG_4965
Regular Buffet Bar

Next to the Appetisers was a wide range of frozen ingredients of many different types of seafood and meat balls, otah patty, sausages, fishcakes and more.

IMG_4988
Regular Buffet Bar

On the opposite end of the bar, you will find a variety of fresh items. There were eggs, noodles, many vegetables, and at least 3 types of mushrooms available to add to your hotpot.

IMG_6007
Hotpot Ingredients

My dining companion and I particularly appreciated the amount of fresh ingredients available. Our favourites from their range include the seaweed, radish, lotus root, mushrooms and noodles. All of these were great in soaking up the flavourful broth.

IMG_4969
Condiments

Depending on your choice of soup base, you can select a mix of condiments to enhance flavours further. Some highlights include the restaurant's signature Sukiyaki Sauce, Ponzu Sauce and Sesame Sauce.

IMG_4975
Regular Ready-to-eat Items

The Regular buffet also includes a number of ready-to-eat items such as chawanmushi, Tori Karaage, Seaweed Chicken, Takoyaki and rice. While the Seaweed Chicken were unfortunately over-fried, their crispy Tori Karaage, Japanese Curry and fragrant Garlic Rice are worth a try.

IMG_4984
Desserts

To wrap up your meal, you can enjoy Desserts of fresh fruits, dessert cups and ice cream cups in various flavours.

Suki-Ya has two other outlets in Plaza Singapura and Heartland Mall Kovan, each with slightly different menus.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Suki-Ya
Marina Square
#02-183B/C
6 Raffles Boulevard
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6337 9969
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line), Promenade (CC, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 1130am - 10pm


Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B and D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]