It is tucked at a corner on the second level of Cuppage Plaza and you wouldn’t otherwise walk past it unless you were particularly looking out for it. The nondescript outlet has been around for three decades. We actually only discovered it about seven years ago but it has since remained as a favourite of ours whenever we want a simple, affordable Japanese meal in Orchard Road.

Izakaya Nijumaru is one hidden gem (literally) in Cuppage Plaza.

But if you find it, we say you walk right in and treat yourselves to a good Japanese meal. You’d be pleased to know that the prices are very reasonable and the menu is comprehensive.

Izakaya Nijumaru will have you reminiscing your times in Japan. The traditional setting—complete with dim lights, counter seats, seasonal menu handwritten in Japanese and plastered over the chef’s counter, fortune cats and beer taps—instantly made us feel like we have stepped into a Japanese izakaya. No frills, no pretence; Izakaya Nijumaru’s ambience hits all the right spots.

Then, there is a huge menu with many Japanese favourites that will spoil you silly. Set lunches start as low as S$9 for an Omelette Egg Rice to S$25 for an Unagi Bento Box complete with sashimi and miso soup.

For the in-betweens, go for the Buta Shioyaki Set (S$13), Deep Fried Pork Fillet (S$13) or Tendon (S$13). We are crazy about tempura bowls and the Tendon here didn’t disappoint. An assortment of prawns and vegetables served atop Japanese rice, this hearty bowl is something we’d return to Izakaya Nijumaru for.

The most value-for-money set and the one we loved most is the Nijumaru Bento Box (S$21) that comprises sashimi, grilled saba, pork belly, tempura and miso soup. The pork belly, in particular, was super flavourful and the grilled saba was fresh and sweet.

There is a concise sashimi moriawase selection, a series of simmered dishes such as Chawan Mushi (S$5.50) and Oden (S$9), and a whole page of grilled items (think xxx and xxx).

Japanese food wouldn’t be complete without a good beer or whisky and over at Izakaya Nijumaru, the beverage list is pretty well-curated in their own rights, too.

Izakaya Nijumaru
5 Koek Rd, #02- 228796, 10 Cuppage Rd
Tel: +65 6235 6693
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

I’ve walked past Sugisawa Japanese restaurant many times but somehow, I’ve never noticed it. On the outside, the Japanese restaurant at Robertson Quay looks very plain, which explains why I don’t remember seeing it before.

Ju suggested going there after reading raved reviews about the food. We had lunch there last week and we left the place very satisfied. I’d definitely recommend Sugisawa Japanese restaurant for good Japanese bento sets at affordable prices.

The menu has a good selection of Japanese food ranging from affordable bento sets ($15-22), good quality sushi ($15-25), and fresh sashimi ($13-40).

We shared the Sashimi moriawase ($25) which comprises an assortment of fresh sashimi. It was excellent value for the quality of the sashimi.

I was tempted by the Yakiniku bento ($15) and Ebi Fry bento ($16), but eventually I decided to stick with the Tonkatsu bento ($15).

The tonkatsu was fairly decent, not like those that you can get from tonkatsu speciality restaurants, but still good enough for me to satisfy my craving.

The Tempura bento ($18) that Ju had took our breath away when it arrived at the table. Not only do they look good, they taste great too!

Sugisawa Japanese Restaurant at Robertson Quay has very good value for money bento sets. Like other Japanese restaurants, the bento set is inclusive of rice and miso soup. But what makes Sugisawa different from the rest is that the portions are really generous and they even come with sashimi.

One thing to note, though. The service isn’t exactly friendly, and depending on how you see things, it can be quite intimidating. That said, Sugisawa is one of my new favourite Japanese restaurants. I’m not sure about you, but there’s just something about Japanese food that makes me happy.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Sugisawa Japanese Restaurant
30 Robertson Quay
#01-16 Riverside View
Tel: +65 6235 0212
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm; 6pm – 10pm

For more recommendations, read my list of best Japanese restaurants in Singapore

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