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

Replacing the now defunct Jimoto-Ya along Pickering Street is Mister Wu, a casual dining eatery serving up Chinese far with a modern twist.

The concept behind the shop is simple staple food with little platters to share with colleagues and friends, with old-school Chinese and Cantonese music adding to the easy-going vibe of the place.

Catering to the lunch and dinner crowd with a specific menu to both, Mister Wu serves up la mian and rice bowls at affordable prices.

The main dishes start at just S$8, and with an additional S$4 you can get a lunch set inclusive of a side dish and tea.

We ordered Mr Su’s Braised Pork Rice (S$8), Revenge on Marco Polo (S$8) and Mahjong La Mian (S$8), along with a side of Fried Ping Pong Wanton (S$3 a la carte) and Brown Butter Oolong (S$3 a la carte).

We were told that the teas at Mister Wu are their own special blend, offering tea cocktails and tea ice creams made from the same blend.

The Brown Butter Oolong had a very subtle and light taste to it and was just perfect for cleansing our palate between each dish.

The Revenge of Marco Polo is a truffle mushroom dry la mian. The smell of truffles greeted us before we saw the dish, and piled at the side of the noodles were a mix of Enoki and Shimeji mushrooms, crunchy greens and a soft-yolk egg.

The Mahjong La Mian, on the other hand, had much stronger flavours. The spicy sesame sauce gave the creamy noodles a nice kick, while the shredded chicken and sliced cucumber helped to combat the heat and add texture to the bowl. Though the noodles were nice, we found the chicken a tad bit too dry.

Mr Su’s Braised Pork Rice is essentially a bowl of rice with braised pork on the side, with the same greens and egg as the previous two dishes. The braised pork was a good mix of fat and lean mean—not too dry, not too fatty, and just melts in your mouth.

The braising sauce was also rich, which accent the flavour of the pork. Though the rice had a bit of sauce on it, we did wish that the pork and rice were not served separately, as that would have allowed the sauce to soak into the rice more.

For just S$12, Mister Wu offers value-for-money meals in the CBD and is a place that would have you returning after trying their lunch menu to see what’s different in their dinner menu.

As they’ve only opened for about 2 weeks, Mister Wu is still currently undergoing their soft launch. Their full menu with pictures will be available from the 18th of this month onwards.

Mister Wu
3 Pickering Street, #01-44/45
China Square Central
Singapore 048660
Tel: +65 6781 3833
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm to 10pm
(Closed on Sundays & PH)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Barnacles at Customs House is a popular after-work haunt that offers a medley of gourmet grub as well as a stellar view of the Marina Bay skyline. When the sun begins to set and the lights from the surrounding buildings begin to illuminate the night sky, there truly is nothing grander to marvel at.

Besides the awesome view, here is where diners can indulge in both inventive cocktails and top-notch fare. Choose your poison from an eclectic range of beers from around the world, signature cocktails, and a stunning selection of gin.

Top the experience off with Barnacles’ array of mouthwatering grub that comes either as full-on mains or small plates. Whatever it is you fancy, just know that when it comes to food, Barnacles is not one to skimp on flavour.

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A properly balanced plate, the Parma Ham & Spinach Salad (S$18++) comprised salty and fatty qualities courtesy of the thick slithers of Parma ham, feta cheese and pine nuts as well as bright and subtly sweet notes from the balsamic dressing and dried cranberries.

Essentially an oversized gnocchi, what we loved about the Potato Mochi with Camembert Cheese (S$14++)—besides its chewy texture—was the generous amount of melty camembert cheese that comes oozing out upon each bite.

Crispy on the outside with all that creamy goodness inside, this is hands down one of the best things you could ever put into your gob.

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For a Middle-Eastern-inspired flavour trip, we recommend trying the Hummus with Cucumber and Crostini (S$14++). Served with a crispy crostini instead of the usual pita bread, what really impressed us was the contrast in textures.

Arriving at your table hot, filled with warm spices and a generous drizzle of olive oil, the hummus really makes for a solid starter.

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Conventional fries really need to buck up with Barnacles’ outstanding Burdock Sticks With Sour Cream (S$16++). Perhaps one of the most underrated vegetables around, a burdock is essentially the root taken from the burdock plant and if you are aching to know, it tastes like a cross between an asparagus and an eggplant.

Deep-fried till crispy, the burdock goes beautifully well with the sour cream it comes served with.

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Although nothing that far off compared to the many that we have tried, the Truffle Fries (S$14++) served here does come with a herbed salt that that balances out the heavier parmesan cheese really well.

Barnacles
70 Collyer Quay, #01-01,
Customs House,
Singapore 049323
Tel: +65 6532 1011
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon & Tues: 11am – 11pm
Wed to Fri: 11am – 12am
Sat: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place