Beef Donburi, or Japanese Beef Bowls, is quite simply one of the best things you can eat. It is a bowl of happiness, one that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper… anything.

In Japan, beef bowls are enjoyed at every hour of the day. There are beef bowls for all budgets, but the common chains are usually the budget ones and popular among solo diners. In Singapore, we are blessed to have numerous places that serve good beef bowls. But let’s focus on the premium Wagyu Beef Bowls that are elevated to the next level by using the finest Wagyu, sea urchin, caviar and shaved truffles.

We’ve rounded up 10 of our favourite Wagyu Donburi in Singapore, and you really should try them if you’ve got that extra moolah to splurge on yourself.

BEDROCK BAR & GRILL – WAGYU PETIT FILLET STEAK RICE BOWL

the Signature Black Pepper Steak Rice Bowl (from S$58++) features Wagyu petit fillet, a portion of rich and buttery foie gras, topped on a bed of fragrant beef drippings garlic rice, with grilled onion, pickled pumpkin, soft boiled egg, and Bedrock black pepper sauce.

This is available as part of the 3-course Executive Set Lunch Menu (daily from 12pm to 3pm), as well as island-wide delivery.

Bedrock Bar & Grill
96, #01-05 Somerset Rd
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard
Singapore 238163

BLACK COW – PREMIUM WAGYU BEEF DON

Specialising in prime cuts of genuine Japanese Black Wagyu and high-quality ingredients derived from the seasonal best of different agricultural regions in Japan, Black Cow’s Premium Wagyu Beef Don comes with glazed foie gras, sea urchin, caviar, onsen egg, shaved truffles. You can choose from A3 Wagyu Beef (S$88) or A5 Wagyu Beef (S$118) for your wagyu don.

Black Cow
26 Beach Rd, #B1-20 South Beach Avenue
Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6386 6720

FAT COW – DRY-AGED A5 NAGASAKI PREMIUM DONBURI

Fat Cow is our favourite wagyu restaurant in Singapore and it showcases at least 8 prefectures of wagyu at any given time.

Fat Cow’s Dry-aged A5 Nagasaki Premium Donburi (S$148++) is what we call ‘happiness in a bowl’. A5 Nagasaki wagyu is used for this luxurious beef bowl. The prime cut is aged for at least 21 days and prized for its exceptional taste and fine texture. Complemented with ikura, foie gras, and an onsen egg on top of Fat Cow’s signature fat rice, luxuriate in all the good stuff; you will never see gyudon the same way again.

This is easily the best wagyu donburi you can get in Singapore. It is worth every cent!

Fat Cow
1 Orchard Blvd, #01-01/02 Camden Medical Centre
Singapore 248649
Tel: +65 6735 0308

HIRYU – PREMIUM MIYAZAKI WAGYU DONBURI

One of the best omakase restaurants in Singapore, Hiryu is a modern Japanese restaurant along Tras Street which is helmed by chef-owner Raymond Tan who has also worked at Kinki, Fat Cow, Sushi Jin & Sushi Murasaki.

Hiryu’s Premium Wagyu Donburi is included in its omakase, but you can also order it from the a la carte menu. The Premium Wagyu Donburi features Miyazaki Wagyu (S$85 for Wagyu A3 or S$115 for Wagyu A5), Foie Gras, Uni, Ikura, Shaved Truffle, Onsen Egg with Homemade Truffle Soy Souce over Rice.

Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness, simply didn’t try Hiryu’s Wagyu Donburi before.

Hiryu
39 Tras St, Singapore 078978
Tel: +65 6788 9188

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ISHI

Located on the second floor of the Intercontinental Singapore Robertson Quay, ISHI serves exquisite Japanese fine dining which focuses on seasonality and traditional techniques.

ISHI has a Wagyu Beef Donburi Set (S$78) during lunch which includes a starter, the Wagyu Beef Donburi, Miso soup and dessert. Enjoy A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef which is seared to perfection. The rice bowl is topped with a generous amount of crispy fried garlic chips.

ISHI
1 Nanson Rd, #02-06
Singapore 238909
Tel: +65 9829 8239

KAUNTA – A5 WAGYU BEEF BOWL

This modern 20-seater Japanese restaurant has an A5 Wagyu Beef Bowl set (S$80 served with salad, soup and dessert) which is limited to only 5 sets a day. This divine creation features perfectly seared chunks of A5 Wagyu beef, buttery foie gras, white truffle shavings and creamy uni that was balanced on a soft-boiled egg.

Kaunta Singapore
11 Kee Seng Street #01-12
Singapore 089218
Tel: +65 8788 3535

KINKI RESTAURANT & BAR – HIGH ROLLER OHMI A4 WAGYU DONBURI

Located in the heart of the CBD, Kinki Restaurant & Bar is an urban Japanese concept with an underground vibe that offers one of the best views of the waterfront and skyline of Marina Bay.

The highlight of Kinki Restaurant & Bar’s High Roller (S$98) is naturally the Ohmi A4 Wagyu and the beef rice bowl is also topped with Hokkaido Uni, Ikura, shaved summer black truffle, and onsen egg.

Kinki Restaurant & Bar
70, #02-02 Collyer Quay, Customs House, 049323
Tel: +65 6533 3471

MATSUKIYA – MIYAZAKI A4 WAGYU RIBEYE DONBURI

Matsukiya at Paragon—a Japanese charcoal grill concept by Sushi Tei—has a pretty value-for-money Donburi Set lunch (S$65++). The Miyazaki A4 wagyu ribeye donburi has a generous serving of Ikura on the side and the set also includes an appetiser, salmon tataki, a prawn soup with a charcoal-grilled prawn and mushrooms, as well as a scoop of ice cream.

Matsukiya
290 Orchard Rd, #05-04 Paragon, Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 6219 1771

SHATOBURIAN

A clever play on the word ‘chateaubriand’—which is a prime tender cut of wagyu—Shatoburian is the most talked-about Japanese yakiniku restaurant in town now. Famed for their extensive menu of prized Hida wagyu cuts, this contemporary Japanese BBQ restaurant is a heaven for wagyu aficionados.

Go for the Signature Yakiniku Don which comes in three variations—Kurobuta Pork (S$85), Japanese Wagyu Beef (S$118) and Chef’s premium selection of Japanese wagyu beef (S$188).

The Japanese Wagyu Beef Yakiniku Donburi is presented with foie gras, uni, caviar, onsen egg and topped with shaved truffles. This heavenly bowl of treasures will make your day, regardless of which variation you go for. This is, hands down, one of the best wagyu donburi in Singapore.

Shatoburian
390 Orchard Rd, #02 – 08, Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6904 3308

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SUSHI JIRO – PREMIUM JAPANESE WAGYU A5 BEEF DON

Using only traditional Japanese culinary preparation methods and execution, Sushi Jiro dishes out top-notch Japanese cuisine and it is one of our personal favourites when it comes to Japanese fine dining in Singapore.

Pop by for lunch and order up their Premium Japanese Wagyu A5 Beef Don Set (S$68++) which sees perfectly-marbled beef slices that are masterfully seared to perfect medium-rare doneness. Accompanying your wagyu beef don is a helping of salad, chawanmushi, Miso soup and ice cream to seal the deal.

Sushi Jiro Keppel Bay
No.2 Keppel Bay Vista #02-01,
Marina at Keppel Bay,
Singapore 098382
Tel: +65 6252 4333

Few things in life are as mind-blowing as Wagyu beef. Better yet, thick juicy slices of perfectly seared, smoky and tender Wagyu on a bed of sauced up Japanese rice, a healthy amount of pickles and an onsen egg for good measure—yes, we’re talking about Wagyu donburi.

Beef bowls are a mainstay at many Japanese restaurants, but what goes into a bowl and how every component is treated varies across the board. We particularly enjoyed the version at Waa Cow! due to its simplicity and its emphasis on flame-torching their Wagyu prior to plating.

If you’re ever planning on indulging on something as rich and luxurious as a Wagyu bowl, we urge you not to waste your calories (and money), head on down to Waa Cow! for one heck of a memorable meal.

You can’t go wrong with their Mentaiko Wagyu Beef Bowl (S$21.90) that comprises a bed of Akitakomachi rice that is topped with 24-hour sous vide Wagyu beef smeared with creamy mentaiko and a tender onsen egg.

Every component was spot on from the beef right down to the pickles served at the side. To say the least, this was easily one of the best beef bowls we’ve ever had.

At its price, the Yuzu Foie Gras Wagyu Beef Bowl (S$25.90) is a far better bargain than many that we have tried before that either cost more than double the price or just tasted underwhelming overall.

Comfortably nestled atop a bowl of fluffy Japanese rice sits a generous layer of charred, smoky slices of succulent beef, a sizeable portion of foie gras and of course, the obligatory runny onsen egg to bind it all together and to give it an additional layer of richness. The light sprinkling of yuzu peel over the foie gras does well to provide a citrusy appeal and nicely cuts through the intense fattiness.

Seafood lovers are sure to enjoy the Mentaiko Salmon Don (S$18.90), a delicious plate made with sashimi-grade salmon that is cooked medium-rare and topped with mentaiko, shoyu and a heaping mound of tobiko (flying fish roe).

Waa Cow!
5 Straits View, #01-09 Marina One
The Heart West Tower,
Singapore 018935
Tel: +65 9851 1552
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Downtown

Hardly do we ever hear the words ‘affordable’ and ‘beef’ in the same sentence—especially in Singapore, to chance upon pocket-friendly beef that doesn’t skimp on quality is uncommon.

Brought to you by the same folks behind sake gastrobar Kabuke, Tokidon is a relatively new concept that recently opened in Hong Leong Building. Priding themselves as the ‘Purveyor of Gourmet Wagyu Bowls’, their menu focuses on a selective but tantalizing range of beef bowls—all at a price that will not burn a hole in your wallet.

With prices starting from just S$11.90, Tokidon is where all beef-lovers should keep their eyes peeled for.

Hidden in the corner of the basement in Hong Leong Building, this 80′s Disco-inspired Japanese eatery is hard to miss—decked out in quirky multi-coloured neon lights, this 20-seater eatery in the heart of Raffles Place may just be the next hit amongst those working in the area.

We opted for a serving of Tokidon’s most basic bowl—the Gyudon (S$11.90 nett). Fluffy white Japanese rice is topped with furikake and a light garlic soy dressing, as well as slices of striploin and an onsen egg—the hallmark of a classic Japanese beef bowl.

Served medium rare, we found some inconsistency in the doneness of the striploin but nonetheless, each piece impressed us. While it wasn’t melt-in-your-mouth tender, the striploin was extremely well-seasoned and paired well with the fried garlic chips and oozy onsen egg which gave the dish an added dimension of flavours.

Considering its price, this was one pretty darn good bowl of gyudon we’d see ourselves returning for.

Should you find yourself hankering for something fancier that encompasses an added oomph of flavours, the Truffle Wagyu Don (S$23.90 nett) would go highly recommended.

As one of Tokidon’s signature items, what you can expect is a sizeable portion of wagyu striploin with a dash of their house-blend truffle soy sauce drizzled over it.

Served medium-rare with a pink centre in the middle, barely any effort is needed to chew into the tender and juicy wagyu striploin slices. Although we thought that the meat itself was already good on its own, the truffle soy sauce—though extremely light on the palates—only served to bring out the best flavours of the beef bowl.

Other options include Truffle Tenderloin Don (S$15.90), Wagyu Sukiyaki Don (S$17.90) and Wagyu Misozuke Don (S$23.90).

16 Raffles Quay
Hong Leong Building #B1-33
Singapore 048581
Tel: +65 9151 9572
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

Bok’s Kitchen is a homey cafe situated along Boon Lay Avenue and it is a new F&B project from the same team behind The Hidden Chefs which specialises in private dining arrangements.

Featuring a progressive menu comprising dishes that are unlike the standard cafe fare, Bok’s Kitchen delights taste buds with primarily local flavours with a mixture of other Asian and Western influences

Diners can expect a variety of mains such as filling rice bowls, breakfast items and sides, as well as a small selection of desserts and drinks. The casual atmosphere at Bok’s Kitchen makes it a great destination for westies to pop by for an affordable fuss-free meal with their family and friends.

Nestled within an HDB block, Bok’s Kitchen is an 11-minute bus ride away from Lakeside MRT Station. As the estate is rather new, those who are looking to have a meal in a quiet environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city will enjoy dining at this humble cafe.

We were pleasantly surprised that the Char Siew Rice Bowl (S$9++) at Bok’s Kitchen fared better than most of the rice bowls that we’ve had in Singapore.

The generous pieces of tender char siew came in a glorious shade of red, with charred edges that gave the meat some textural variety. Alongside Papa Bok’s Legendary Char Siew were runny sous vide egg, fragrant Italian spiced rice and some sliced pickles that helped to elevate the natural flavours of the char siew.

Another star dish at Bok’s Kitchen is the Beef Rice Bowl (S$12++) While we love the intense beef flavours of the juicy steak, we felt that it would be better if diners are able to choose their preferred doneness to enhance the entire experience. Similar to other rice bowls, the beef flank steak was accompanied with Italian spiced rice and sous vide egg cooked at precisely 63 degrees Celsius.

Bok’s Kitchen by Hidden Chefs
Blk 216 Boon Lay Avenue, #01-01
Singapore 640216
Tue to Fri: 11am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 9pm
Mon: Closed
Nearest Station: Lakeside

Located at International Plaza, DOCO—short for ‘Donburi Coconut’—is the new kid on the CBD circuit where you can now look to for hearty protein-packed rice bowls and refreshing coconut soft serve.

This speciality food kiosk was set up as part of a joint venture between brands, Soi Coco and Fish Sh-nack, of which are known for their coconut and fried fish skin products respectively. Being relatively new, their only offerings thus far comprise two speciality donburi rice bowls next to the vegan-friendly and dairy-free Coconut Shake and Coconut Soft Serve.

For all of you health nuts who are ‘in love with the coco’, this is perhaps one of the most promising health-centric eateries along the bustling Tanjong Pagar area. From now till the end of the year, lunch sets—which consists of one rice bowl and one coconut dessert—are going at S$11.90 instead of the usual S$13.90.

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The interior itself is pretty small. It includes the main kitchen area, a small order counter and bar seats at the side.

With lunchtime in the CBD often being a chaotic affair, the good folks at DOCO keep it simple. Simply, choose one of the two available donburi options, decide if you would like any add-ons and lastly, choose between either the coconut shake or the coconut soft serve.

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The Sh-nack Don (S$8.90—essentially a beef rice bowl—came with a generous portion of peppery beef, an onsen egg and a copious sprinkling of crispy cajun-spiced fish skin.

The grilled beef was jam-packed with flavour with a subtle sweetness that went excellently well with the Japanese rice. The onsen egg provided an added richness but the real money-maker was the cajun-spiced fish skin.

Crumbled nicely over the rice, it gave the modest rich bowl a wonderful smoky aroma as well as a much-needed hit of umami.

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The other alternative donburi option is the Sh-ken Don (S$8.90) which comprises honey miso chicken instead of beef. It, too, comes with an onsen egg as well as a generous ‘sh-prinkling’ of that glorious cajun-spiced fish skin.

Compared to the beef option, the chicken was tasty but a tad too dry for our liking. Be sure to pair it with the Coconut Shake, which is made purely from fresh blended Thai coconut water and coconut flesh.

A refreshing treat to have is their decadent Coconut Soft Serve (S$4.90) that comes as part of your main meal. This dairy and nut-free dessert is drizzled with gula melaka sauce and powdered gula melaka for that extra sweetness and oomph.

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The subtle roasted flavours of the gula melaka really elevate the rich and creamy coconut flavour making it pretty similar tasting to chendol (minus the little green slug-like jellies).

Overall, the soft serve is refreshing and light, and we would recommend trying it whether or not you decide to have your lunch there.

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DOCO
10 Anson Road
#01-16 International Plaza
Singapore 079903
Tel: +65 9049 9926
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon to Thu: 11am – 8pm
Fri: 11am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

With its extensive array of succulent and high-quality Japanese Wagyu beef that is specially curated from different regions of Japan, Fat Cow is one of the best steak restaurants in Singapore and our go-to place whenever our carnivorous urges kick in.

Presenting the new Chef’s Table Omakase headed by Chef Shigeru Kasajima—a seasoned Japanese chef with many decades of French culinary skills under his belt—allow your senses to take flight as Fat Cow takes you on an edible trip like you have never experienced before.

Every item on the Omakase menu is specially curated and designed by Chef Kasajima himself. From delicate and bright tasting starters to a stellar line-up of sashimi and sushi options, what you can expect from this dinner situation is an array of alluring flavours that will have you drooling between courses.

For foodies looking for a lavish and elevated gastronomic experience, Fat Cow’s Chef’s Table Omakase is available at S$120++ per pax during lunch and S$280++ per pax during dinner. Only eight counter slots are available per session so you better snag those seats quick—especially since that from now until 31 March 2018, you can quote “ladyironchef” upon making your reservations to enjoy a 10% discount off Fat Cow’s omakase menus.

High ceilings and a heavy emphasis on wooden elements and bright amber lights give this space a rather warm and cosy vibe.

Helmed by Chef Shigeru Kasajima, the Omakase dining room offers an exclusive and intimate dining experience for discerning guests. With a sleek counter that sits just eight, guests are able to witness his culinary prowess that embodies the very best of Japanese precision and French flair.

With the opportunity to interact directly with the chef, each guest gets to enjoy a highly personalised dining experience and the calming ambience also allows diners to marvel at Chef Kasajima’s intricate preparations with minimal disturbance.

FAT COW’S CHEF’S TABLE OMAKASE DINNER

We had the Chef’s Table Omakase Dinner (S$280++ per pax) and our sensorial gastronomic trip commenced with four different starter items—each boasting delicate yet refreshing flavours that helped ease us into the heavier courses.

The first tasting platter that greeted our eyes consisted of three different components, of which the stand-out was undoubtedly the marinated egg yolk. For a better idea of how it tastes, think tasty and luscious ramen egg without the egg white.

Served in a martini glass, the Japanese Fruit Tomato Cocktail comprises a chilled Japanese tomato, sweet and sour jelly (Tosazu Jelly), white fish, uni and Oba leaf pesto sauce. Every mouthful was a combination of bright flavours that were nicely underscored by savoury and umami notes.

The Yude Kani (crab) features sweet flakes of handpicked crabmeat mixed with earthy Kani miso. The crabmeat is complemented with Chef’s Kasajima’s special sanbaizu sauce and a tiny dollop of yuzu foam that sits neatly above it. The citrusy qualities helped to balance out the robust flavour of the crabmeat nicely, resulting in a surprisingly refreshing starter.

The tai fish head soup was a much-needed soul booster—hot, comforting and a great palate cleanser.

The sashimi offering is a line-up of Shima-aji (Striped Jack) sashimi with Himalayan pink salt freshly grated over top, Tsubugai (whelk) sashimi and Kinmedai (snapper) Sashimi. Each sashimi item was fresh and we also appreciated the chef’s use of freshly grated wasabi instead of the conventional powdered version.

Depending on the day’s catch, look forward to the delightfully succulent Botan Ebi. Large, clear water prawns come served with a ponzu dipping sauce infused with umami-packed truffle oil. Before you lower the prawn into your mouth, you are first hit with the robust aroma of truffle, followed by the salty, citrusy profiles of the ponzu sauce.

This was easily the best item of the omakase dinner menu.

Lightly-grilled Grade 4 Ohmi Wagyu ribeye comes served with Chef’s “secret recipe” ponzu sauce and a creamy goma dare sauce. The dish comes with three slices of beef, allowing you to savour the experience with each dipping sauce or simply on its own to soak in the natural beefy flavours of the Wagyu.

The Chef’s Table Omakase dinner comes with 10 pieces of nigiri sushi. The sushi selection encompassed a smorgasbord of fresh ingredients that were each carefully executed so as to not overplay one another.

The sushi line-up featured Aburi Otoro sushi, grilled foie gras sushi, baby leeks, sour plum paste and bonito flakes sushi, Maguro Zuke (marinated tuna) sushi, Anago (fresh water eel) sushi as well as the astonishingly refreshing Hotategai (sea scallop) with yuzu foam and grated lime zest.

The uni (sea urchin) sushi was phenomenal and a true luxury to behold. Generous spoonfuls of uni are neatly placed over sushi rice and upon that first mouthful, flavours of the ocean come bursting through.

One of the highlights was the Chef Kasajima’s insanely decadent signature ‘Surf & Turf’ sushi that heaved Wagyu beef tartare, uni, amaebi and ikura. While it seemed at first like a flavour overkill, we were surprised at the different textures present—from the light popping of the ikura to the chewy amaebi, every component could be felt (and tasted) prominently.

The omakase dinner ends off with a hot, hearty bowl of miso soup, a sweet tamago egg (branded with the initials ‘FC’) as well as sliced Japanese pears.

FAT COW’S A LA CARTE MENU ITEMS

At S$98++, the Fat Cow Premium Donburi is possibly the most decadent Japanese rice bowl out there. Served on a bed of rice is a perfectly grilled slab of Wagyu steak accompanied by pan-seared chunks of creamy foie gras, uni, Ikura, caviar and an onsen egg.

This extravagant dish seduced us with its heady aroma of truffle, smoke and vibrant colours. The Wagyu stood up well against the fresh uni, caviar and ikura and although this rice bowl is by no means affordable, it certainly lives up to its price point with each component being executed perfectly. On the contrary, if you think about it, it is actually very value-for-money for all that premium ingredients you get in one bowl!

If you love cod, then the Gindara Saikyo Yaki (S$48++) is sure to get you reminiscing about it for days. Miso-licked black cod is grilled and served alongside pickled ginger root. The miso added a sweet and savoury quality to the fish and its charred exterior provided a secondary depth of flavour.

Fat Cow’s Chef’s Table Omakase Dinner at Fat Cow (S$280++ per pax) comes with starter, appetiser, fish soup, crab, wagyu, seasonal sashimi, 10 pieces of nigiri sushi, Akadashi Miso Soup, Japanese omelette and Japanese fruits; what you will be paying for is fresh and seasonal produce of the highest quality.

Otherwise, you can also go for the Chef’s Table Omakase Lunch (S$120++ per pax) which consists of a starter, appetiser, 8 pieces of nigiri sushi, Akadashi Miso Soup, Japanese omelette and dessert.

From now till 31 March 2018, reember to quote “ladyironchef” upon making your reservations to enjoy a 10% discount off Fat Cow’s omakase menus.

Fat Cow
Camden Medical Centre #01-01/02,
1 Orchard Boulevard,
Singapore 248649
Tel: +65 6735 0308
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post is brought to you by Fat Cow.

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/11/fat-cow-omakase/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/09/santap-cafe/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/09/santap-cafe/#comments Sat, 23 Sep 2017 01:00:26 +0000 Editorial http://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=144716 Continue reading →]]>

Santap is a new muslim-owned cafe in Little India by the good folks from The Black Hole Group—who is behind Working Title and The Mad Sailors.

Santap, which means to eat luxuriously in Malay, offers a menu of healthy eats from sandwiches to stellar rice bowls. All of which are plated so beautifully that it would be a crime not to snap a shot of it for the ‘gram’.

Nestled within the newly opened boutique hotel, The Daulat—just a 5-minute walk from Rochor MRT station—this Muslim-owned cafe exudes a charming ambience and a cosy vibe that is just perfect for lounging about in the afternoon.

With both an indoor and al fresco space that is cool and cosy, Santap is a great spot for lounging or dining at any time of the day. Where space is concerned, the indoor space features only one communal dining table and although beautifully decorated, may not be ideal for big groups.

The al fresco area, on the other hand, is considerably more spacious and the breeze coupled with the easy listening tunes make it a great spot to chill at.

Featuring ingredients such as avocado, black beans, pineapple, red and white daikon and of course, a generous serving of fresh prawns, The Shrimp Rice Bowl (S$15) is sure to intrigue health nuts everywhere. It also comes served with aromatic brown rice that is spiced with things like cardamom and cumin.

The prawns were cooked simply with a garlic-infused butter which added a nice umami touch and played off nicely with the prawn’s natural sweetness.

For a more protein-packed meal, you can also opt for the Beef Rice Bowl (S$15) that comes with a whole range of wholesome ingredients, such as a poached egg, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onions, brown rice and alfalfa just to name a few. But the main star is the tender strips of lean beef.

The beef had a mild hickory smoke flavour to it, which went surprisingly well with their housemade Tonkatsu sauce, and the various veggie elements provided many different tastes and textures to brighten the entire dish up.

All in all, this dish makes for a pretty substantial (and healthy) meal that will have you feeling full yet incredibly pleased with yourself.

Every lunch set comes with a complimentary cold brew tea, and boy oh boy is it the perfect thing to have on a scorching afternoon.

We were really impressed that the baristas here use better quality tea and actually take the time and effort to garnish the drink properly, especially for something that’s complimentary.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Santap
16 Madras Street
The Daulat
Singapore 208413
Tel: +65 8245 6284
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Rochor

For more recmmendations, read our guides on the best halal cafes in Singapore.

Fancy slurping down cold, freshly shucked oysters for only S$1.99 at any time of the day? Yes, you can actually get a plate full of Canadian oysters without burning a hole in your pocket at this American bar in Clarke Quay—Oyster Co.

Situated opposite popular Central Perk Cafe (and managed by the same team), Oyster Co is the first bar in Asia to serve Budweiser on tap. Drink to your heart’s content while you indulge in affordable S$10 Western set lunches and light bites.

Being oyster lovers, we could hardly contain our excitement when the grade 3 Canadian oysters (S$1.99/piece) were served to us. Freshly shucked upon order, the moderately salty and robust flavours won our hearts.

While we were given Canadian oysters, the owner also sources oysters from other regions such as Ireland and France as well.

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We recommend heading over during lunch time as Oyster Co has a decent menu featuring S$10 set lunches. The Fish & Chips (S$10++) came with batter-fried mackerel fish, Belgium straight cut fries and Hainanese Chilli.

Deep-fried till golden brown, the crispy skin encased tender and moist fish meat which we enjoyed with the spicy chilli. We particularly liked how they chose to pair the dish with Asian chilli instead.

Those who are health conscious may want to consider the Beef Bowl instead (S$10++). The moist brown rice was paired with runny sous vide egg, sauteed spinach and savoury mushrooms.

This is a great dish for those who want to opt for something healthy that does not compromise on taste.

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Do not miss out on their tapas if you are there for a drink with your colleagues or friends. Prices range from S$8 to S$12.

Some noteworthy finger food that we tried include the Cauliflower 3 Ways (S$10++) which allows you to enjoy roast, puree and tempura cauliflower with burnt butter quinoa and Squid Ink Paella (S$10++).

Oyster Co
#01-06 Central Mall
1 Magazine Road
Singapore 059567
Tel: +65 9423 2895
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

We often gripe about the lack of affordable Japanese restaurants in Singapore. Sure, there are the usual household chains, but hole-in-the-wall concepts and humble neighbourhood joints are few.

It is not every day that we need to sit down for a lavish and aristocratic Japanese meal, because more often than not, what we seek is comfort food that will not have our wallets take a beating. A recent lunch at Kinsa Sushi fits this bill exactly, and we are so adding this to our list of all-time favourite inexpensive Japanese eats.

Nestled in the quaint HillV2, Kinsa Sushi is made for the heartlanders and all who love a simple Japanese meal. Prices are not at all intimidating to say the least, and the menu is well-covered with the usual Nippon favourites prepared with premium ingredients. Most dishes are priced under S$15, and the star dish – Wagyu don, served with Grade A4 Kagoshima Wagyu, is only S$24.80!

Here, we share the memorable dishes that we had at Kinsa Sushi, and all that are worth heading back for; every one a reason to love Kinsa Sushi, we’d say.

[ Giveaway ] We are giving away 3 X S$50 Kinsa Sushi dining vouchers. Leave a comment below, and share this post on your Facebook timeline to win. More details on the giveaway at the end of this post.

#1 KAGOSHIMA WAGYU DON

Now, this has got to be the first on the list because the Wagyu Don is unbelievably good! And the best part? It is only S$24.80! This is unheard of, because all the good wagyu-don in Singapore come with exorbitant price tags of at least S$50 and above, so this is a good 50% discount.

No, Kinsa Sushi does not scrimp on the quality. Prepared with Grade A4 Kagoshima Wagyu and prized for its premium marbling, your don will be nothing but divine. With a good 60g of wagyu slices, alongside a runny egg that is best eaten when beaten in and mixed with the rice, the Wagyu Don is a fantastically value-for-money one-dish meal and we already know we will head back just for this dish!

#2 KINSA ROLL – CUCUMBER AND AVOCADO MAKI ROLL WITH ABURI MENTAI

Hands up if you love aburi rolls like we do! Introducing the Kinsa Roll (S$14.80) – cucumber and avocado maki roll, wrapped with torched salmon and flying fish roe, and jazzed up with flamed mentai that adds some cheesiness and saltiness to the fresh roll. We love how the aburi is so well-controlled and that the salmon is left slightly raw and chewy. The warm mentaiko sauce just completes the roll and adds a punch to its overall blend of flavours. We’d love to think of the Kinsa Roll as a must-have Instagram-worthy item. Good to share, but sure, you can have it all to yourself too.

#3 GRILLED PRAWN MENTAI

A whole large prawn that is beautifully flame-grilled with mentai (marinated roe of pollock and cod), the Grilled Prawn Mentai (S$9.80) boasts a melty goodness that compliments the sweet prawn flesh so well. This is grilled to order, so expect a little waiting time. It will be worth your patience, surely. Once again, we were pleasantly surprised by the price tag. So, give us one serving per person, please! No need for sharing!

#4 CHIRASHI DON

We are on a never-ending quest to scout for good chirashi-don in Singapore. Well, another to add to our list is Kinsa’s verion at S$24.80 per bowl. You do not get the most colourful arrangement, but it is surely a hearty bowl with fresh sashimi slices.

If you have any preference, or there are specific fishes that you want or do not eat, just let the chef know and he will be happy to customize a bowl for you too.

#5 FOIE GRAS SOUP

Because drinking miso soup in a Japanese restaurant is too mainstream, we now indulge in foie gras soup. Unbelievable and too good to be true, but that is precisely how pampered your taste buds would be when you dine at Kinsa Sushi. A bowl of Kinsa’s Foie Gras Soup is only at S$6.80!

#6 OOTORO SASHIMI

A plate of good fatty tuna sashimi is always good for the soul. We love biting into a well-marbled one and feel the fats melt in our mouth. That comes with a hefty price tag, of course, and our hearts can’t take that shock too often. But lo and behold, Kinsa Sushi serves a portion of five slices at only S$35.80! There is no strings attached, and the ootoro is definitely fatty and fresh.

If you prefer salmon to tuna, Kinsa Sushi offers a portion of five slices of Salmon Belly at an unbeatable price of S$9.80.

#7 HOUBOU SASHIMI – FISH TANK/ SEASONAL PRICING

Kinsa Sushi flies in a limited batch of seafood and sashimi in a “fish tank” directly from Japan. You can get a whole fish – prepared in any style you like – (Prices range from $30 to $80 depending on seasonality, types/sizes of fish). Just go to the counter to pick the freshest catch; the chefs will advise on the best way to cook the fish.

You may choose up to 2 ways of preparing the fish. Usual methods would be to do a sashimi style and/or grilled. And no matter what method you opt for, no parts of the fish will be wasted. Even if you want the entire fish to be served ala sashimi style, the bones and other remnants can be used to brew a broth. Customers only pay for the fish selected at the tank; all culinary methods chosen are at no extra charge.

#8 GRILLED SQUID

Surume Ika, anyone? This reminded us of our times at Japan, when we would take a stroll along the streets on a wintery night, and street snack stalls would tempt us with their grilled squid on stick. A freshly grilled squid, lightly salted with a smokey flavour always warms our hearts in a very special way. This Grilled Squid (S$11.80) dish at Kinsa Sushi brings a taste of familiarity that we so covet.

#9 TEMPURA BENTO

Now, this is an extremely affordable lunch option if you need a fuss-free meal. For only S$11.80, lunch is a huge serving of tempura assortment with Japanese pearl rice, miso soup and a side salad. A nice, quiet lunch with comfort Japanese food is all we’d need to take a breather from work, yes?

KINSA SUSHI DINING VOUCHERS GIVEAWAY

1. Kinsa Sushi is giving away 3 X S$50 dining vouchers.
2. Leave a comment in this post to tell us which dish you would like to try at Kinsa Sushi, and why we should choose you.
3. ‘Like’ Kinsa Sushi on Facebook.
4. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
5. The contest starts from now till 23 April 2015, 2359 hrs.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

UPDATED ON 30 APR: The three winners are Angelize, Casy Ang, and Koh Hock Guan.

For the latest updates, go to kinsasushi.com, like Kinsa Sushi on Facebook, and Instagram.

Kinsa Sushi
4 Hillview Rise
HillV2 #02-02
Tel: +65 67107278
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri, Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bukit Batok

This post is brought to you by Kinsa Sushi.