Romankan Yokohama

Romankan Yokohama is a tonkatsu joint at the revamped Basement Food Hall of Takashimaya that also houses Tsuru-koshi Udon and Baikohken. They boast of a handmade katsu sandwich, so I was interested to see how it stacks up against the sandwich made famous by Ginza Bairin.



At $3.20 a pop, the sandwich is not cheap. What it has over Ginza Bairin is the lettuce and tomato that they add to the sandwich. If you ever try the sandwich, make sure you get a fresh one, since they make their sandwiches in batches and the katsu can be cold and toast, soft, by the time you buy your sandwich.

Flavour is good for the sandwich, and I realize that Romankan Yokohama does not serve the lettuce and tomato in their katsu sandwich in other countries like Hong Kong. Is it better than at Ginza Bairin? I am not sure, but their sandwich is slightly healthier with the greens. Will return to try their tonkatsu one day.

Rating: 7/10
Website: none
Address: #B202-04, B2 Takashimaya Food Hall, Ngee Ann City Tower A, 391 Orchard Road
Phone: 6738 2505
Hours: 1000 hrs - 2100 hrs (Sunday to Thursday)
1000 hrs - 2130 hrs (Friday and Saturday)
Price: $1/2

Tomi Sushi @ Millenia Walk Revisited

Went back to Tomi Sushi to try the fattier cuts of tuna. So, this time, I ordered the Omakase Sashimi, which is $92++ for two.



The sashimi platter came shortly, and not only had maguro, but also chutoro and otoro, amongst the other cuts of fish. The fish was as fresh as fresh could be, and the cuts were generous and succulent. I guess that $92++ for dinner for two (not including starch and such) is not exactly cheap, but I will say that you pay for what you get. In this case, lovely fresh cuts of fish, served with pride and care. Will definitely be back.

Original Review for Tomi Sushi at Millenia Walk

Kazokutei @ Plaza Singapura Revisited

Was quite interested in what the Curry Udon at Kazokutei would turn out to be like after tasting the one at Tsuru-koshi Udon, so I trekked to Plaza Singapura to give it a try.



Also decided to try the kakiage and ebi tempura while I was at it. The curry at Kazokutei is definitely meatier than at Tsuru-koshi Udon, with slivers of meat in the sauce. It did have a slightly sour tang to it that took some getting used to, but the flavour was good.



The kakiage was done in a tower-like piece, resembling the tahu telur in Indonesian restaurants. There were shrimps on top, and the rest of the tower consisted on slivers of vegetables, including pumpkin, carrot and long beans. While there was a lot of vegetable for the money, there was too little tempura batter, and the overall product was not as crisp as one would expect from a tempura. The ebi tempura here is much better than at Tsuru-koshi Udon, with a light batter.

Overall, I rate Kazokutei better than Tsuru-koshi Udon, the other specialist udon eatery. It is cheaper, and in a proper sit-down restaurant environment, and produces better food too!

The Original Review for Kazokutei at Plaza Singapura

Daikokuya @ Paragon Revisited

It was kind of a last minute choice of ramen, Daikokuya at Paragon. Had the Kogashi Miso Ramen this time, as well as original gyoza.



The ramen was nice and firm, and the broth was rich (although there was a little too much pork fat for my liking). There was a slice of kamaboko, a slice of pork belly chasu, menma, black fungus and some beansprouts. The charred garlic oil certainly adds a dimension to the flavour.



The gyoza was the usual gyoza that most are familiar with. Nothing special, although some of the skins were already torn by the time they were served.

The Original Review for Daikokuya at Paragon

Tomi Sushi @ Millenia Walk

Was told that Tomi Sushi has quite a following in Japan. It hails from Niigata and has since opened 14 branches in Japan. For those who do not know, Niigata, on the northwest coast of Honshu is known to produce very good rice and sake. With that in mind, I had to give it a try.

I guess that the price point may put a lot of casual diners off. The location and decoration is more on the casual side, but many of their set meals run into a few tens of dollars. They had a dinner set that was $48++, but I decided to get a Sashimi Moriwase and a rice set.



The sashimi selection was good, with two pieces of each of the five different selections of fish and ark clam. It came with a dollop of real wasabi, which is rather rare in Singapore, even at that price point. The whole thing was nicely arranged and decorated, sitting over a bowl of ice. The pieces of sashimi were succulent and very fresh, and makes me realize why I love sashimi so much. None of the usual insipid slivers of fish masquerading as sashimi, this is true blue sashimi. The rice used comes from Niigata, which probably accounts for the $6 price for the rice set (which includes a bowl of rice, a miso soup and some Japanese pickles).

The restaurant has quite a bit of Japanese clientele, which attests to the authenticity of the food and the standard of sushi and sashimi. I will definitely return, and probably pluck of enough courage to order some chutoro (I find otoro a little too fatty).

Rating: 8/10
Website: http://www.tomisushi.asia/
Address: #P03-04, Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard
Phone: 6333 4633
Hours: 1130 hrs - 1500 hrs and 1700 hrs - 2230 hrs
Price: $$$

Tsurukoshi Udon @ Takashimaya Basement Food Hall Revisited

I thought that I would make a return visit to Tsurukoshi Udon, since I first visited them when they first opened, and was wondering if standards would change.

Ordered the curry udon this time, and a piece of kakiage and two pieces of ebi tempura. Their order before getting seated puts quite a lot of people off, but I guess it has to do with their limited seating.



The curry udon was basically udon in their curry sauce, with a single piece of parsley for decoration. For $9, it may come across as a little steep, but the sauce was actually delicious.



Unfortunately, the ebi tempura was still as disappointing as before. The kakiage was delicious though. Quite a generous serve of vegetables topped with shrimp, coated in tempura batter and fried. Oishi!

Next time, I think I will stick to the kakiage and the udon. The curry udon is good. I wonder how it stacks up against curry udon at Kazokutei.

Original Review for Tsurukoshi Udon

Ippudo Tao @ UE Square

I mentioned that I have been wanting to try Ippudo Tao at UE Square, so I trekked down today. Arrived early in the evening, before any crowd could even build. The air-conditioned interior is quite small, although it is supplemented by quite a lot of outdoor seating. So, bear in mind if you want to sit inside, do arrive early.

Since it was the first time to Ippudo Tao, I decided to try a bit of everything. Ordered the Fried Young Corn, Tao Kuro Tamago (ramen) and a Tao Matsuri Menshi (rice bowl). I asked for the rice after the ramen, so that I could concentrate on the flavours presented.



First up, the fried young corn, which is deep fried and sprinkled with salt and a herb and spice mix. The corn was still crunchy, and the seasoning gave it a nice edge.



I realized during my last visit to Ippudo that the thickness of the ramen served varies with the broth you choose. The Tao Kuro version comes with a thick ramen, similar to the local mee-pok (or linguine). I guess it is similar to the ramen in Keisuke's Watarikani ramen. The broth is topped with the trendy black garlic oil and a dollop of miso. It comes with two slices of belly pork, cabbage, black fungus, minced pork and the ajituke tamago. I was surprised that the broth tasted quite different from the original broth in their Shiromaru ramen. The inclusion of both the black garlic oil and miso added another dimension to the broth. The flavour of the shitake was less apparent, but replaced by the depth of miso and garlic oil. The thicker noodle also gave it more bite. Quite satisfying. Would have gone kaedama if I had not ordered the rice bowl.



The rice bowl comes with come belly pork, shredded egg, seaweed, mentaiko and mayonnaise. Good thing the rice bowl is not too big, since it would be difficult to finish after the ramen and it is also quite rich. That said, it was a great mix of flavours, from the pork, mayonnaise to the mentaiko. And a good mix of textures, which included the seaweed, shredded egg and mentaiko.

I will definitely be back to this place. Will try their kushiyaki the next time, since I did not have any space left in my stomach this visit.

Rating: 7.5/10
Website: http://www.ippudo.com.sg/
Address: #01-55/56 UE Square, 207 River Valley Road
Phone: 6887 5315
Hours: 1100 hrs - 1500 hrs and 1700 hrs - 0000 hrs (Monday to Thursday)
1100 hrs - 1500 hrs and 1700 hrs - 0200 hrs (Friday and Saturday)
1100 hrs - 2300 hrs (Sunday)
Price: $$

Original Review for Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery
Subsequent Review for Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery

Ootoya @ Suntec City

Ootoya at Orchard Central has been overwhelmingly popular amongst Japanese and locals alike ever since it opened. So it is not surprising that another outlet has been launched at Suntec City. The Fountain area will definitely provide the outlet with good customer traffic.

Decided to get a bite to try the new outlet. I guess its proximity to another Tonkichi outlet (just like at Orchard Central) will provide some competition, but Ootoya's grilled menu items should provide some differentiation.



Ordered an Ume Chicken set, which is a fried breaded chicken, served tonkatsu-style, with salted plum sauce. The chicken was nice and crisp, yet moist in the middle. It was accompanied by the usual Ootoya appetizers, as well as a serving of shredded cabbage, as well as unlimited refills of rice.

This new outlet seems to be well patronized, and is a great addition to the Ootoya stable.

Rating: 7.5/10
Website: http://www.ootoya.com
Address: #B1-057 Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard
Phone: 6837 3718
Hours: 1100 hrs - 2130 hrs
Price: $1/2

Review for Ootoya at Orchard Central

Ippudo @ Mandarin Gallery Revisited

It was a Thursday night and the queues at Ippudo were still very long. My friend who started queueing actually waited in line for more than an hour.



Tried the Shiromaru Ramen this time instead of the Karaka-men, which was a great decision. It actually allows you to experience the full complexity of the pork broth. There were wonderful notes of shitake mixed in with the tonkotsu base. It was so good that I asked for an extra portion of noodles!

Must make a point to visit Ippudo Tao, their sister outlet at UE Square...

Ootoya @ Orchard Central

I was introduced to Ootoya by a friend who took me there. I actually like the family restaurant concept, as well as the central tatami seating area (which many locals tend to consider a hassle). More than that, I like the fact that they list how many calories the meals give, so that diet-conscious patrons can keep track of their calorie-intake for the day.

I had ordered a Charcoal Grilled Chicken with Orange and Vinegar Sauce Set. You can order either a set (which adds two appetizers, soup and rice for another $5) or "ala carte". I also ordered grated yam on my first bowl of rice (tororo). Subsequent bowls of rice are free, but without the yam.



The entire set came in no time, delivered on a tray. The main of chicken looked lovely, presented over a bed of vegetables (broccoli and cabbage amongst others). The appetizers consisted of a small portion of cucumber with salted plum, and stewed chicken with vegetables. Tucking in, the chicken was done perfectly - tender and moist with the hint of the charcoal grill. The soup looked like the standard miso, but was much heartier, with diced potato and even some chicken.



Decided to wrap up the dinner with a dessert of Green Tea Mousse and Milk Ice Cream and Sweet Red Bean Paste. The combination was an interesting one, and offers much more than a usual green tea ice cream you get at many a Japanese restaurant in Singapore.

Rating: 7.5/10
Website: http://www.ootoya.com/
Address: #08-12 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road
Phone: 6884 8901
Hours: 1200 hrs - 2130 hrs
Price: $1/2

Review for Ootoya at Suntec City

Ginza Bairin @ 1ON Orchard

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin, situated in 1ON Orchard made a name for itself as the first place to serve katsu sandwiches. Popped into the shop one night to have a try.



Bought a box of katsu sandwiches, and ordered a kurobuta katsu don. The katsu sandwiches are what you expect them to be. Crisp katsu with katsu sauce between slices of white bread. The katsu don had a pile of kurobuta pork katsu over a bed of rice, covered with an egg gravy and topped with an egg. I found the flavour good, but the effect of the gravy on the katsu diminished the crispy edge of the katsu. The kurobuta pork was tender and flavourful.



Rating: 7/10
Website: http://www.ginzabairin.com/singapore
Address: #B4-39-42 1ON Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn
Phone: 6509 8101
Hours: 1100 hrs - 2230 hrs
Price: $$

Mr. Curry @ Marina Square

A friend and I met up for lunch and were walking around Marina Square. Chanced upon Mr. Curry, which is a brand of Japanese Curry restaurants by Waruku Holdings. In fact, this outlet at Marina Square shares the location and kitchen with a Waruku restaurant. We were so taken in by the mascot that we decided to try.

We each had a katsu curry rice and shared a seafood salad. The curry comes in four different varieties: The Original, The Red (Fresh), The Black (Rich) and The White (Creamy); and in three degrees of heat: Non-Spicy, Spicy and Very Spicy.



The seafood salad was non-offensive, with prawn, scallop and squid added to the greens that came with a Japanese-style soyu-based dressing. I had ordered the very spicy original sauce katsu curry, while my friend had the spicy black sauce.



The Very Spicy sauce had quite a bit of heat, so I was quite pleased, even though the sauce was not even as good as Curry Favour (although I do not know what has happened since they vacated from their location at Stamford House). The Spicy sauce was not very spicy, though I expect that Japanese probably find it so.

Rating: 5.5/10
Website: http://www.waruku.com.sg
Address: #01-213 Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard
Phone: 6883 1123
Hours: 1130 hrs - 2300 hrs
Price: $1/2

Nando's @ Tanglin Mall

I had noticed that Nando's had opened up at Tanglin Mall while I was on my way home a few nights ago. Decided to give this outlet a try, even though the previous experience with the outlet at Bugis Junction was appalling.

Nando's has to do something about their wait staff working as greeters. I arrived during lunch, and the greeter at the front seemed to be more interested in chatting to her colleague. Good thing her colleague noticed me, and got me seated.

The restaurant was not crowded, with about five tables filled. Good thing that even though I was seated in a corner, hidden from the rest of the restaurant, that service was actually quite prompt (a huge improvement on the Bugis Junction outlet, where I was seated in full view of everyone and still had to wait for service). Ordered a half-chicken with coleslaw and peri-chips, which was delivered to my table in no time.



I must say that although their serving of coleslaw was generous, the peri-chips looked a bit pitiful. They were both tasty, although the coleslaw tasted a bit on the sweet side. The chicken was quite a generous portion (you have to order half for a main meal, quarter is just too little), but was way too salty. I don't know what it is with Nando's, but they are very heavy-handed on the salt, even with their sauce. Thank goodness the coleslaw was there to take away some of the saltiness.

The outlet gave a much better experience than their sister outlet in Bugis Junction. Too bad that it is so new that it is not even listed on their website! I will still vote Barcelo's for the better peri-peri chicken in Singapore. Will have to try their concept restaurant at NEX...

Rating: 5.5/10
Website: http://www.nandos.com.sg/
Address: #01-14/15 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road
Phone: 6235 3555
Hours: 1000 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $$

Shimbashi Soba @ Paragon

Shimbashi soba is part of the RE&S Enterprises, which runs a number of Japanese eateries in Singapore such as Kuriya and Ichiban Boshi. The soba shop makes its own fresh soba, with a machine in the shop window that grinds the buckwheat flour. The buckwheat is grown in Tasmania, and a picture in the restaurant shows a picture of the buckwheat fields.

One of my first experiences with soba, was cold zaru soba that I was served as a child when I flew JAL to the United States. It was a new experience for me then, eating noodles cold, but I enjoyed it. This taste for cold soba has stuck with me, and I still eat zaru soba on a regular basis.



I ordered a set that included soft-shell crab, salmon sashimi and unagi, plus the soba. I opted for cold soba. The standard of the sashimi, crab and unagi is typical of what Ichiban Boshi throws out. Pleasant enough, but not fantastic. It is something that fills your stomach, but not something you miss when you are away. The soba was good, but that was about it. I describe it as food prepared without love or pride. It is mass-market, meant to please the wallet. There is even a rewards card that can be used across their group of restaurants.



Rating: 5.5/10
Website: http://www.sobaworld.com.sg/
Address: #B1-41 Paragon, 290 Orchard Road
Phone: 6735 9882
Hours: 1130 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $$

Marutama @ Liang Court

Marutama opened up at Liang Court some time ago, perhaps to ease the burden on the original outlet at The Central. It makes sense since it is reasonably close to The Central, almost walking distance. It is positioned on the second level of the mall, just next to the entrance from the overpass.



While many ramen-ya maintain Japanese chefs to maintain authenticity, Marutama has localized. In fact, the two chefs in the kitchen where from China. The ramen is cooked via a timer, which beeps when the ramen is done.



I ordered my usual Nama Karashi Ramen with Ajituke Tamago and an order of gyoza. Having been to the original outlet at The Central not too long ago, I think that that outlet serves better ramen.

The Ajituke Tamago was still lovely and gooey in the middle. I think Marutama is the only ramen-ya that consistently produces that standard of egg. Even though the ramen is cooked by timer, I felt that the ramen at the other outlet had slightly more bite.



The gyoza is served boiled, rather than fried. It is also served in their sauce, so you don't mix your vinegar and chilli oil by yourself.

Next time I crave Marutama, I think I will head to The Central...

Rating: 7.5/10
Website: http://www.ma-rutama.co.jp/
Address: #02-01/01 Liang Court Shopping Centre, 177 River Valley Road
Phone: 6837 2480
Hours: 1130 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $1/2

EGG @ Orchard Central

EGG or Eatalian Gourmet Garage has a cool sounding name. It resides in a rather quiet basement section of Orchard Central, so I think many people do not even know that it exists. I chanced upon it while trying to get to Centrepoint from Orchard Central, spoke to a member of staff and decided to give it a try.



Ordered the squid-ink pasta, since I am a fan of squid-ink, and a lava cake for dessert. Let's just say that I was a little underwhelmed by the presentation of the pasta. It was ordinary egg pasta (yellow), with a squid-ink sauce with a few slivers of squid. It reminded me of something that would come out of a pseudo-Italian family restaurant, except that EGG was owned and set up by an Italian!



The lava cake fared slightly better, though I have my doubts if it was made in the same kitchen. The serving size was small, and the presentation was so plain.

I really do not think EGG will survive. Location does not help, and the presentation and price point do not encourage patronage.

Rating: 4.5/10
Website: none
Address: #B2-12 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road
Phone: 6634 0080
Hours: 1100 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $1/2

The Hand Burger @ Raffles City

I have to admit that I was one of the first fans of The Hand Burger when it first opened its doors last year. It is opened by the people behind The Soup Spoon; and the new venture Soup. Broth. Asia..



I have tasted almost every one of their burgers on the menu and also their sides. They have also been responsive to the fans, and have adjusted their offerings to meet these needs. The whole concept, artwork and packaging shows much thought behind the operation.



I also love their chilled stuffed tomato, which is stuffed with coleslaw. Their milkshakes are also pretty good. Their nutella milkshake even comes with toasted marshmallows!

Rating: 8/10
Website: http://www.thehandburger.com/
Address: #B1-65/66, Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road
Phone: 6334 4577
Hours: 1130 hrs to 2200 hrs (Sun to Thu)
1130 hrs to 2230 hrs (Fri and Sat)
Price: $1/2

Keisuke Tokyo @ Millenia Walk Revisited

Having had their crab-broth ramen twice already, I thought that I should try their other ramen dishes to see if they were just as good. Decided on the Shoyu Ramen Ajitama-iri, which has a soya-sauce based soup.


The noodles that come with the order are more like the Japanese ramen that all of us are used to (compared to the ones that are served with the Watarikani Ramen). The order came with a good quantity of menma, a nori sheet, a slice of chasu, a slice of kamaboko and the ajituke tamago.

I was struck by the layer of oil in the ramen, but tucked in nonetheless. The texture of the ramen was good, as were the ingredients. The broth was a bit lacking in oomph, although that has to come down to my choice of broths. I think the miso or tonkotsu broths would have suited me better. Would I go back for the Shoyu Ramen? Perhaps not, especially when there is the Watarikani Ramen...

Miharu @ Gallery Hotel

Sapporo Ramen Miharu has quite a cult following, although not everyone seems impressed by their ramen. Some have said that it is over-rated. Their ramen is not made locally, but imported from a well-regarded source in Japan. Having heard the conflicting reports, I decided that I really had to try. I arrived at about 7pm on a Saturday, and the counter seats were empty. Being a single diner, I sat myself there, next to the kitchen. I ordered the Special Blend Miso Ramen, which was promptly delivered to my seat.



The ramen comes with a small sheet of nori, half an ajituke tamago, a good serving of corn and menma, and a slice of chasu. The ramen is also mixed in with beansprouts and sliced onions. For those who like ramen to have bite, I must say that Miharu does that supremely well. In fact, I would rate it as the best ramen texture in Singapore, ahead of Ippudo. Since Miharu is from Hokkaido, they would specialize in miso ramen. The broth is not as rich in miso flavour as Kura, for example, but their broth did have depth and complexity that made the flavour interesting. The chasu was a little on the tough side, and after being spoilt by Santouka's toroniku, it is a little of a let-down, but the ramen makes up for it.

Rating: 8/10
Website: http://www.galleryhotel.com.sg/indulge_sapporo.php
Address: #01-11 The Gallery Hotel, 1 Nanson Road
Phone: 6733 8464
Hours: 1200 hrs to 1500 hrs
1800 hrs to 2100 hrs
Closed on Wednesday
Price: $1/2

Barcelo's @ Vivocity

Barcelo's is another chain in Singapore that sells peri-peri chicken. The outlet at Vivocity does not have a view of Sentosa that many of the restaurants do. Instead, the interior faces the interior courtyard of VivoCity, like many of the fastfood outlets. The entrance is rather small and has two counters for placing your orders and for payment, before you proceed inside to find seats.



I must say that the service is definitely more responsive than at Nando's, even though they do not purport to be a full-service restaurant. It is much a self-service model with utensils and with helping yourself at the bottomless soft drinks.

The serving size is rather small though, and I would advice that a guy would have to order at least half a chicken. The sides are tasty enough, and the corn on the cob does not have the peri-peri sauce on it (but you could always add it yourself). If you are after chicken, KFC probably offers more chicken for the money, but as for the peri-peri variation, Barcelo's is probably the best bet in Singapore.

Rating: 6/10
Website: http://www.barcelos.com.sg/
Address: #02-91-93 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk
Phone: 6376 9534
Hours: 1000 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $$

Tsurukoshi Udon @ Takashimaya Basement Food Hall

I chanced upon Tsurukoshi Udon one day, when I was wandering around Takashimaya. With ramen eateries the current rage, udon just might catch on. Although I think that the texture of udon is not to everybody's liking.

As an introduction to the place that has recently set up in the Basement Food Hall of Takashimaya, I decided on ordering the Ten-Don with Mini-Udon. It would give me an idea about their food offering.



You order and pay for your food, before sitting down and waiting for the food to arrive. In fact, the food took a while to arrive.



The Ten-Don, I admit, was a little uninspiring. I think I like the tempura at the Raffles City Food Court better, especially when the rice was overcooked. The udon was much better, with firm texture. The broth had that oomph that told you that it was not a something of an instant udon meal.

Rating: 6/10
Website: http://www.ghf.co.jp/tsurukoshi/index.html
Address: B2 Takashimaya Food Hall, Ngee Ann City Tower A, 391 Orchard Road
Hours: 1000 hrs - 2130 hrs
Price: $1/2

Nando's @ Bugis Junction

My experience with Nando's goes way back to my days as a student in London. Yes, they've been operating in London since back then. I used to go down to Nando's with my friends for my peri-peri fix, and it has found a special place in my heart. So, I simply had to give Nando's a try, now that they have opened in Singapore. However, the last time I passed the outlet at Bugis Junction in the evening, the queue was so long that I decided to go somewhere else for my dinner. I happen to be looking for food at an awkward hour (around 4pm) today, and decided to give Nando's another try.



The restaurant was rather deserted when I got there, and there was a sign to wait to be seated. Even though there were at least about 8 waiters and waitresses around at that time, they still did not seat me immediately. I actually never knew Nando's as a sit-down restaurant, but a semi-fast food outlet, where you ordered and paid at the counter and they served your order. Somehow, Nando's has moved up-market in coming to Singapore (even the outlets in Melbourne follow the format in England). Service was similarly slow, even though there was an abundance of staff (who seemed too preoccupied chatting to each other and sorting things out). I literally had to wave my hands around (even with a nearly empty restaurant) to get my order taken. If it were not for the fond memories of the food in London, I think I would have just left without ordering.

Decided on the Extra Hot Peri-Peri chicken (quarter) with two sides of couscous and peri-corn. Nando's does not serve tap water, and the only water available is the bottled variety. Thankfully, the food did not take too long to arrive. I was a bit to hungry at that point, that I forgot to take a photograph. The chicken quarter I got was the wing and breast section, and came smothered in peri-peri sauce (I don't remember that).

The peri-corn was a total waste of money, and consisted on a half cob of corn covered in more peri-peri sauce. Except that they did not care to remove all the hairy bits on the corn, and the sauce made it smell a little off. The couscous was slightly better, but was a little bland. The chicken was good, although I would tell most guys to order half a chicken for a standard meal (it was not a full meal for me, since I was going to have dinner in a couple of hours).

So I finished my food and went to the counter to pay for my food. There are no table numbers, and I guess you are supposed to sit at your seat to ask for your bill. However, considering the lack of customers in the restaurant at the time, the staff still had difficulty working out where I was seated(???!!!). The staff at the payment counter really seemed to need training in simple arithmetic, since a senior seemed to be teaching the junior how much change to take from the till (???!!!). This took a good five minutes, while I was waiting in front of them. I had to request that they hurry up, since it had begun to rain outside and I did not want to get drenched.

I think their attempt at moving up-market by having wait staff is a dismal failure. Staff training in responsiveness needs to be looked into immediately. I can now understand the long queues in the evenings, if the wait staff are so slow and unresponsive even during an off-peak timing. I think that if it is chicken you are after, KFC serves a far cheaper product. Or if you are keen on peri-peri chicken, Barcelo's offers a better experience (although the restaurant ambience is better in Nando's).

Rating: 5/10
Website: http://www.nandos.com.sg/
Address: #01-85/87 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street
Phone: 6338 6555
Hours: 1000 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $$

Kazokutei @ Plaza Singapura

Having previously tried Kura at the Tokyo Walker, I wanted to try the handmade udon from Kazokutei, which was established in Osaka just after the Second World War.

I got there at about 6 pm, and the outlet was still relatively empty. Decided to get the Tempura Udon with Shira Dashi. The shop offers two main soup bases: the milder Shira Dashi is based on konbu (sea tangle), while the stronger tasting Koku Dashi based on bonito. Decided on an extra order of mixed vegetable tempura too.



The first to arrive were my serving of prawn tempura. It was followed by the big bowl of udon. Unfortunately, the waiter serving it managed to get the spoon to fall into the soup. He was going to retrieve it and serve it, when his supervisor told him to get a new bowl. Good thing, since I spotted a long strand of hair in the bowl too! So, I had to wait for my noodles, since the vegetable tempura was delivered shortly after the incident. At least I got a fresh bowl!



I finally tucked into my udon when it arrived, and found the texture slightly wanting. I found the udon at Tsurukoshi Udon had much better texture. The broth was good though. Subtle hints of the konbu came through. The tempura was also lacklustre, even though the size of the vegetables were quite large. It was all the fault of the batter, which was not as light as most tempura eateries.

Rating: 5/10
Website: http://kazokutei.co.jp/en/index.html
Address: Tokyo Walker, #04-01, Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road
Phone: 6333 9285
Hours: 1130 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $1/2

Baikohken @ Takashimaya Basement Food Hall

I thought I would try Baikohken after I gave it a miss when I last visited the Basement Food Hall of Takashimaya. The shop has a sister outlet at North Canal Road which has been operating longer than this new outlet. As I placed my order, I asked the waiter what was their specialty. He replied that all Shio Ramen, Shoyu Ramen and Miso Ramen where their specialties. I asked which part of Japan the shop was from (Hokkaido) and decided to go for Miso Ramen.



I was presented with a large bowl that was covered with two large pieces of chasu, scallions, menma and the ajituke tamago. My first thought was that the tamago was over done and the yolks were almost cooked through. The two pieces of chasu were large and generous. I tucked into the ramen and found that it was served with copious quantities of bean sprouts. The tamago was not only overcooked, but tasteless, almost like a hard-boiled egg. The chasu was dry until it was well mixed in with the broth. The menma was also badly done, with poor flavour and texture. The broth, which is usually what makes ramen, was disappointing. There was little taste of miso (the fermented soy), and tasted more of salt and monosodium glutamate. Ramen was also disappointing, with no firmness to bite.

Even though their serving was generous and have a loyalty card, I doubt I will return. Ambience is minimal, since it is all open-concept.

Rating: 5/10
Website: http://www.baikohken.com
Address: #B201-04, B2 Takashimaya Food Hall, Ngee Ann City Tower A, 391 Orchard Road
Phone: 6235 3483
Hours: 1000 hrs - 2130 hrs
Price: $1/2

The Marmalade Pantry @ 1ON Orchard

This place in 1ON Orchard is a port of call for the trendy set. An all-day-dining eatery whose clientele consist of an odd mix of tai-tai's, expatriate families (or just mums with kids) and the yuppies (with the occasional celebrity). I describe it as the place to see and be seen.



I have to say that I am a sucker for steak sandwiches (ever since I had that great one on the Great Ocean Road so many years ago), so I had to order it. The steak is dressed with wasabi mayonnaise, and caramelized onions. While the steak was nicely done and tender, the onions were not as soft and sweet as I would have liked them to be. The sandwich is served with a side salad and some chips.



Was told to try the sticky date and toffee pudding, and so I did. The pudding was served warm, with a dollop of vanilla ice-cream. The hot and sweet pudding was perfectly complemented by the cold and rich ice-cream. I think I could have had another, but showed restraint...

Rating: 7.5/10
Website: http://www.themarmaladepantry.com/
Address: #03-22, 1ON Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn
Phone: 6734 2700
Hours: 1000 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $$

Men-Ya Kaiko @ 1ON Orchard

I chanced upon Hokkaido Ramen Men-Ya Kaiko when I was walking around at 1ON Orchard. The rents on the basement food street must be prohibitive, judging by the turnover of stalls. I have to say that it is a bit weird to be eating in a semi-open area, and paying restaurant prices.

Ordered the chicken ramen, partly because I was interested in seeing how it would turn out, and partly because I was a little sick of chasu. Did not go for the king crab ramen, since I thought paying about $30 in that environment was a bit over the top. I asked for the ramen to be cooked hard.



A large bowl of ramen came in no time. The ajituke tamago I ordered came in a separate saucer. The serving size was good, and the ramen was well cooked. The chicken was also tasty. Unfortunately, the two slices of pork included in the ramen were dry and like cardboard. The menma was also overly soft, giving it an almost melt in the mouth feel. The broth was not bad, but definitely not what you expect for a Hokkaido-style ramen, as the miso flavour was weak. It was probably one of the least satisfying bowls of ramen I have had recently. At the price, the ambience is seriously lacking, since it is restaurant pricing with food court ambience.

Rating: 6/10
Website: none
Address: #B4-52/53, 1ON Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn
Phone: none
Hours: 1100 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $1/2

Daikokuya @ Paragon

I have been wanting to try Daikokuya for some time, so I decided to drop in this evening. The place was quite full when I got there, but cleared out by the time I was done at about 9 pm. I had asked the manager to recommend me their specialty, and was told that the Sapporo Miso Ramen was their specialty, although he personally liked the Kyushu Kogashi Ramen. Decided to try the Sapporo Miso Ramen, since that is what they are known for.



The bowl of ramen was served promptly, and the Ajituke Tamago was nicely soft and gooey in the centre. The ramen came with a thick slice of chasu, which unfortunately had a strong smell of pork and was a little dry, and was garnished with corn, scallions, menma and a piece of seaweed. The miso broth was rich and satisfying, real tummy-warming stuff, so it was really let down by the chasu. The ramen itself was cooked nicely firm and was complemented by the miso broth.

Rating: 7/10
Website: http://www.daikokuya.com.sg/
Address: #B1-47, Paragon Shopping Centre, 290 Orchard Road
Phone: 6737 5416
Hours: 1130 hrs - 2230 hrs
Price: $1/2

Santouka @ The Central

I was passing through the area and thought that I would try Santouka's outlet at The Central Mall at Clarke Quay. I must say that unless you know the place, it is unlikely that you would bump into the restaurant, since it is tucked into one corner of the second level, and completely masked by the Nasi Padang restaurant Rendezvous that moved there recently. So, if you do not take the escalator from the ground level that is in that corner of the mall, you will have to walk past Rendezvous to get to Santouka

Since I am no longer a Santouka virgin, I went straight to the Toroniku Ramen. Decided to try the miso ramen this time, since that is the basis of Hokkaido ramen. I must say that the miso broth was good. Better than Kura, with that complexity, and with the added bonus of the pork cheek. The scallions, black fungus and menma, with the lone slice of kamaboko helps to offset the strength of the broth.

< I must say that the view of Clarke Quay is great. I think it would have really improved if I hung on till after the sunset, when Clarke Quay gets lit up.

And yes, I discovered that Santouka has a loyalty card programme. Not many know about it, and they do not advertise it. I literally had to ask for my loyalty card...

Rating: 7.5/10 (the cheek alone would be 9/10)
Website: http://www.santouka.co.jp/en/index.html
Address: #02-76 The Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street
Phone: 6224 0668
Hours: 1100 hrs to 2230 hrs
Price: $$

Kura @ Plaza Singapura

Was walking around Plaza Singapura when I came across Tokyo Walker, which is a short "food alley" of different F&B outlets from Japan. Many of the outlets are quite small in size, but there are a few to choose from. They are currently running quite a few promotions for their launch. Decided on Kura, which sells Sapporo-style ramen.



There are two types of miso ramen, red and white, the difference being the age of the miso and hence the intensity of flavour. While the piece of chasu was decidedly small, the broth was rich with miso flavour, which lends some complexity in the taste. The ramen also has quite a bit of minced pork. The tamago was a little mis-shapened on my bowl, but otherwise tasty.

Rating: 7/10
Website: none
Address: Tokyo Walker, #04-01 Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road
Phone: 6333 9280
Hours: 1130 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $1/2

Aoba @ Vivocity

Aoba Hokkaido Ramen serves up Hokkaido style ramen, and I was interested in the seafood ramen, with scallops, prawns and squid. The shop was empty as I walked in after the usual lunch hour, and service was quick.

The ramen came with the three different types of seafood. To be frank, I thought that the squid was cooked just right, but its natural flavour was totally lost in the salty broth. The prawns and scallops were not that great, and were of the frozen and dried variety. The ramen texture was good, but nothing all that special. Perhaps the tamago was the best part of the ramen?



Considering the variety of gyoza on the menu, I was quite surprised that the tables were not supplied with chilli oil and vinegar. The serving of crispy gyoza did not come with such a dip, but with chilli sauce instead!



Rating: 6.5/10
Website: none
Address: #01-104/105 Vivocity, 1 Harbourfront Walk
Phone: 6376 9519
Hours: 1130 hrs - 2145 hrs
Price: $1/2

Ramen Play @ 313@Somerset

Since I seem to be on a ramen review mission, I thought I would try Ramen Play. Ramen Play is Bread Talk's take on the whole ramen phenomenon that seems to have swept through Singapore, and they have partnered with Yukihiro Kaneko's Sanpou Co. Ltd. to come up with their version.



I walked into a rather empty shop, even though it was theoretically the Sunday dinner rush. Was seated immediately, but then the waiters and waitresses seemed to be too caught up with organizing a big table for a potential group of customers, that they completely ignored me. It was only when I started tapping on my table that a manager noticed and summoned one of their staff to take my order. Else, I honestly do not know how long I would have had to wait to place my order, especially when it was essentially marked by me (one of those fill in your own order things).

I went for the signature Sanpou Tonkotsu Ramen, which offers three types of pork, including the cheek, chasu and bukatakuti. The last two are essentially belly pork cooked in different sauces. The bowl arrived quickly enough, and I was happy to have asked for the ramen to be cooked firm. I must say that the first impression was not good, since I got a rather strong smell of pork, the smell that puts me off eating the meat. Anyway, they provide fried garlic and a spicy chilli sauce, as well as spicy chives for added flavour.

The ramen was cooked firm as requested, and the broth was quite good too. Apparently the broth is made from pork bones that are boiled for twelve hours. Still less than the 24 hours that some shops do. The pork belly, both chasu and bukatakuti were rather fatty, and the cheek was not as tender and "melt-in-the-mouth" as at Santouka. Satisfying, but nothing really that special.

Rating: 6.5/10
Website: http://www.ramenplay.com.sg/
Address: #B3-04, 313@Somerset
Phone: 6634 0051
Hours: 1000 hrs - 2200 hrs
Price: $1/2