Much has been said about Chikuwa Tei at Mohamed Sultan road, the Japanese restaurant opened by the former Chef of Wasabi Tei at Far East Plaza.
From what I heard, the chef used to be a food nazi when he was at the previous Japanese restaurant. Although he had a nasty reputation, the place was extremely popular and there were always long queues. That said, I did not visit Wasabei Tei when he was there, so I wouldn’t know how it was like. I can assure you though, the chef was perfectly fine when we went there for dinner a few weeks ago.
Chikuwa Tei has 18 bento sets on the menu to choose from, and the price range from $12 for the more affordable Mackerel set to $25 for their popular Chirashi Sushi set.
My dining companion went for her favourite Grilled Eel set ($20) and it was wonderful. The sight of the huge slice of grilled unagi was enough to get a ‘wow‘ from us.
I like the Ten Cha Soba set ($12) – which you see in the first picture. Deep-fried tempura with cold green noodles, very simple yet so satisfying.
Salmon Sashimi ($10 for 5 slices). Om nom nom nom.
From the Makimono menu, we eyed the Avocado & Crab Maki ($8) and Deep-fried prawn ($12), but in the end we decided to share the Tuna Belly & Spring Onion ($12).
Dessert is probably Chikuwa Tei’s weakest link as they only have green tea and matcha ice cream. It doesn’t really matter as we were full anyway. I wouldn’t say no to another serving of salmon sashimi though.
Chikuwa Tei is a place that I will go back again when I am craving for Japanese food. The offerings are generally good, and the prices for the bento set and ala carte menu are very reasonable. For those of you who have been to Chikuwa Tei, En Japanese Dining Bar across the street, has a 50% promotion off Sushi and Sashimi from 6pm – 8pm daily.
For more recommendations, please read my list of best Japanese restaurants in Singapore
Singapore Food Blog Review
Chikuwa Tei
9 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-01
Tel: +65 6738 9395
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
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Best Chirashi set in Singapore. I said so! I have not found a better price/quality chirashi – though I am happy to be proven wrong!
The prices are really not bad eh.
The Grilled Eel and the Salmon looks good. Have not been to Singapore yet, but surveying on place to chill at including restaurants and cafes. With your blog, that makes it easy for me
I am feeling hungry already. I haven’t tried Chikuwa Tei or any Japanese Cuisine before.
I was a not so frequent patron of Wasabi Tei. Not because it was bad but because I generally avoid Orchard Road. I was sad he was gone and happy that you have found him! haha
Went to Chikuwa Tei tonight and had a wonderful experience. Had the Chirashi Sushi set and the tuna belly and spring onion rolls. All the fish is incredibly fresh – we spoke to Peter the chef (nicest man I have ever met) and they get small shipments of fresh fish coming in throughout the week. I live in California, and believe me, we have good sushi. This was excellent…
Hi Brad,
Just to let you know that Chef Peter has left the restaurant and I was pretty disappointed with the food (especially my most beloved Chirashi!) when I went there 2 weeks ago. Even though he left and the food tasted not as good as before, people are still crowding the restaurant out. Not sure if my expectation of their food is too high. Haha. But it definitely has dropped ever since chef Peter left.. That’s for sure!
PS: Their service is still as bad as ever! HAHA.
Elaine
Hi everybody~ YESSS… Exec Chef Peter had left Chikuwa Tei Japanese Restaurant since end Feb 2012.
Come follow him on his facebook “Peter Teo” at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/peter.teo.549 now and you might be in for surprise soon!
hi Elaine, i guess people are still crowding because many are still unaware that Exec Chef Peter has left Chikuwa Tei. i went once after he left and i heard some regulars asking about him and the staffs replied “he is back inside the kitchen that’s why you don’t get to see him!” and i think we consumers shouldn’t be fooled by them and pay for lousy food quality and service!
hi everyone.. Exec Chef Peter’s latest FB https://www.facebook.com/exec.chef.peter
Victim of their own success!
I made a reservation and received a confirmation email. Showed up at the correct time, but the restaurant was jam packed, with a large knot of people clustered at the entrance. There were no tables available, and I was told that I had to wait for my table. Ended up waiting 40 minutes, and realizing that the knot of people at the entrance were all in the same boat, all had made prior reservations which were not honored by Chikuwa Tei.
I was entertaining a friend from overseas, so I had to put up a good face, but this experience made me feel deeply cheated. Understand this: The food quality was very high, the price point was also very high, the ambiance was lousy (crowded and noisy tuckshop atmosphere), the service was only moderately good, but to top it all off, the restaurant management (reservations) was a total rip off. Not a word of apology was made to any of the patrons, no mention of the mess up was even spoken of. We were all given the cold shoulder.
I CAN’T BELIEVE I PAID THEIR PRICES TO COME OUT FEELING CHEATED! NEVER AGAIN!
It’s under new management. The Omakase is $148+++ (for 2) and should be $48. Fried five and a big bowl of soup, along with watermelon is just not what Omakase here used to be 2 years ago. What a joke!
Also. No service. Self serve water, tea and the same cloth for tables, floors and soy sauce bottles (when filling)