Sushi Jiro is a name that’s appearing here a lot over the last couple of months—and for very good reasons. Home to one of the finest Japanese dining experiences in Singapore, this sushi restaurant located in Marina Mandarin Singapore is one that we find ourselves constantly returning to for a sensorial omakase meal.

After receiving such an overwhelming response towards their dinner omakase last month, Sushi Jiro is now making it available for lunch as well! And the deal of a free upgrade for ladyironchef’s readers remains—you enjoy the 8-course omakase at the 6-course’s price of S$180++, and the 10-course at the 8-course’s price of S$220++. This is yet another wonderful chance to experience Chef Kenji’s famous omakase if you haven’t already.

Under the lunch set, one of the restaurant’s proudest curations is the Sushi Course (S$100++) and the promotion for our readers is extended—quote ‘ladyironchef’ and you pay only S$80++ for this grand platter. These promotions are available from now until 28 February (excluding 14 Feb 2018).

Kicking off the omakase is Shirauo (icefish), a seasonal item that is best eaten between November to March. Served simply with a light soy sauce and garnished with grated radish over top, this dish is a great way to begin the meal with its soft, salty and mildly bitter notes.

ASSORTED SASHIMI

Right after you down the starter—and we reckon it’ll be quick—what Chef Kenji presents you is an assortment of sashimi comprising Chutoro (medium-fatty tuna), Kinmedai (golden eye snapper), Buri (wild yellowtail) as well as a seasonal special, Sayori (needlefish).

A tantalising mixture of flavours and textures, this sashimi platter promises to bring joy to your taste buds from the buttery tuna to the firm and clean tasting needlefish.

ASSORTED NIGIRI SUSHI

Whether you opt for the 8-course or the 10-course, the nigiri options will most definitely leave you craving more. Boasting a fine selection of fresh fish, the 10-course omakase comes with all of our favourites from Maguro (tuna), Hirame (flounder) to even the Rolls Royce of tuna, the insanely fatty Otoro.

Many of their nigiri options may change depending on the season and you can trust that Chef Kenji makes it his personal commitment to only serve fish that is at its seasonal best.

OTORO PREPARED IN 3 WAYS

Only available as part of the 10-course omakase, a platter of otoro prepared in 3 ways is one to get you drooling in anticipation.

Torched till a slight char develops, the otoro aburi gives off a nuance of smoke and a buttery finish on the tongue. The nigiri version allows diners to truly appreciate the sheer melt-in-your-mouth texture that is otoro and last but not least, the sushi rolls give you a more rounded out flavour with the seaweed providing a backbone of umami.

As we mentioned earlier, the menu at Sushi Jiro never remains the same for long, especially during periods of the year where certain ingredients are at their seasonal best.

During the spring season between March and April, ark shell clam, firefly squid and bamboo shoots are all ingredients at their peak and are what gave Chef Kenji the inspiration for creating this beautiful creation that sees a combination of the three mixed in a delicate yet umami-packed dashi jelly.

WAGYU BEEF

Exclusive to the 10-course omakase menu is the wagyu beef. Grilled over charcoal, the wagyu develops a lovely smoky crust that complements the nutty qualities of the intense, beefy flavours exceptionally well.

The marbling on the wagyu speaks volumes, not only of the quality of the meat itself but of the quality that Sushi Jiro guarantees.

IKURA AND UNI BOWL

One notable dish to look out for is their signature Ikura and Uni Bowl. Expect a combustion of complex flavours from two highly-prized ingredients—ikura (roe) and uni (sea urchin).

Given the insane portion of ikura, every mouthful comes with a salty, pleasantly fishy explosion and the uni possesses a smooth, custard-like appeal that boasts a briny ocean taste.

In light of all the rich, briny flavours that have taken up residence on your palate, a good dish to have to wash it all down is the clam soup (only available in the 10-course menu). Made with a base of dashi (and possibly kombu as well), the delicate soup is every bit as comforting as a fireplace in winter.

For the 8-course however, diners will get to enjoy the Dobin Mushi, which pretty much features the same soup broth minus the clams. Instead, the Dobin Mushi comes with a variety of ingredients such as chicken and mushrooms.

What better way to end a heavy meal than with something sweet? The 10-course features a ripe muskmelon served over ice and the 8-course ends off with ice cream with a red bean cake—both of which are sweet and refreshing.

SUSHI JIRO SINGAPORE’S LUNCH SET SUSHI COURSE

If you find it difficult to have a full-on omakase meal during lunch due to time constraints, consider also Sushi Jiro Singapore’s Sushi Course Lunch Set (S$100++) that consists of a starter, chawanmushi, 8 pieces of seasonal sushi, negitoro and ikura rice, miso soup and dessert. This is our favourite lunch set, yet.

The 8 sushi varieties we had in February were Hirame (flounder), Kinmedai (sea bream), Buri (wild yellowtail), Ebi (prawn), Kamasu (barracuda), Maguro (tuna), Kohada (anchovy) and our personal favourite, Chutoro (medium fatty tuna belly).

But do note that the variety might differ because every day’s highlights depend on the fish they import from Tokyo.

We’ve shared our love for this Sushi Course Lunch Set a few months ago and many of our readers tried and loved it too. If you haven’t had a go, quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy this set at a special price of S$80++ for the month of February.

Both the Sushi Course Lunch Set and Omakase promotions are available for the entire month of February, excluding 14 Feb 2018. Please make your reservation via Sushi.jiro@sushijiro.sg.

Sushi Jiro Singapore
6 Raffles Boulevard
#04-600 Marina Mandarin Singapore
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6445 3055
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

This post is brought to you by Sushi Jiro Singapore. 

An omakase course is a Japanese dining tradition where diners entrust their dining experience entirely to the chef who will showcase his culinary skills and creativity throughout the meal. To the Japanese, an omakase course is not to be taken lightly—only chefs with many years of culinary experience are able to dazzle you with the season’s best ingredients and exotic delicacies.

Since omakase is serious business, those who are looking for an authentic experience that is similar to what you will find in Japan have to know about Sushi Jiro at Marina Mandarin Singapore. The reputable Japanese restaurant serves fresh fish and seafood that are air-flown from Tsukiji Market in Tokyo four times a week.

Just when we thought that we had tried the best at Sushi Jiro during our last trip, Chef Kenji Nakagawa took our taste buds on another gastronomic journey with their 8-course and 10-course omakase dinners—comprising fresh sashimi, decadent Japanese wagyu beef and top-grade nigiri sushi.

Just for our followers, you can now get a free upgrade of your omakase when you quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making reservation—the price of a 6-course dinner (S$180) will grant you an 8-course menu with better items; the price of an 8-course dinner (S$220) means an upgrade to the best 10-course dinner! This offer is valid from now until 31 January 2018.

To say that this is an incredible deal for such an exquisite meal is definitely an understatement.

Sushi Jiro’s 8-course omakase features starters, a sashimi platter, bonito in ponzu, monkfish liver with ponzu, ikura and uni bowl, Dobinmushi, five pieces of seasonal sushi and a slice of musk melon.

Your omakase course commences with a fine assortment of sashimi—Chutoro, Tai and Kinmedai.

Chutoro is the medium fatty underbelly of a tuna that is highly sought after for its slight marbling and supreme texture. Tai is essentially sea bream sashimi and the one we got to try at Sushi Jiro was marinated in seaweed to give it a slight boost in flavour. What really stood out, though, was the Kinmedai sashimi—the fresh red snapper came torched to a lovely pinkish shade and had a hint of sweetness in it.

Our feast continued with some crowd-favourites such as the bonito served in a pool of ponzu sauce, monkfish liver with zesty ponzu sauce (that is not for the faint hearted but if you can get past the fact that you are eating an unusual fish’s liver, this creamy dish is actually very memorable with its sophistication) and dobinmushi.

‘Dobin’ refers to ceramic teapot while ‘mushi’ means steam—that would give you an idea of how this light, yet flavourful teapot soup is made. The flavours were all harnessed with the premium ingredients, hence expect a soup that is simple in flavour yet very complex in layers.

The five seasonal nigiri sushi varieties we had were otoro (fatty tuna), hirame (flounder), ika (cuttlefish), buri (wild yellowtail) and torched kamasu (Japanese barracuda). Chef Kenji tickled our taste buds with the luxurious fatty tuna belly; the burst of umami flavours and ultimate freshness once again reminded us why we are such big fans of this Japanese restaurant.

Although nothing else can beat the otoro in our hearts, a close contender had to be the kamasu—which was blow-torched to form a slightly crispy skin on the surface. All it needed was a touch of the chef’s homemade shoyu sauce to make it even better!

One notable dish to look out for is Sushi Jiro’s signature Ikura and Uni Bowl. Expect a combustion of complex flavours from two highly-prized ingredients you can find in all prestigious Japanese restaurants—ikura (roe) and uni (sea urchin).

Thanks to the generous portion of ikura, every mouthful was sensational and we were blown away by the refined texture of the rich uni. Have it with just a small dab of wasabi to enhance the natural flavours even more.

The 10-course omakase dinner gives you more reasons to indulge. Luxuriate in the expanded selection of high-quality ingredients that further elevates Sushi Jiro’s omakase repertoire. Be treated to a splendid feast showcasing seasonal fish comprising fresh sashimi and sushi.

The 10-course omakase dinner also starts you off with sashimi, followed by a series of dishes that are similar to the 8-course omakase dinner such as the monkfish liver with ponzu, ikura and uni bowl, five pieces of seasonal sushi and a slice of musk melon for dessert.

What really differentiates the 10-course omakase dinner s the addition of fresh Japanese wagyu beef cuts and a large, juicy oyster. Mind you, the oyster was as big as our palm! It was slightly briny, very juicy and the freshness was unbelievable; we could even taste nuances of the ocean saltiness.

These two are showstoppers in their own rights and heightened the entire omakase dining experience to perfection.

Sushi Jiro also has an exclusive range of premium Japanese whisky that makes the perfect companion to these succulent beef steaks.

Do keep in mind that seasonal delicacies at Sushi Jiro may vary from time to time as it depends on their availability during different periods of the year.

Once again, just for ladyironchef’s readers, enjoy a free upgrade of your omakase when you quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making reservation—the price of a 6-course dinner (S$180) will grant you an 8-course menu with better items; the price of an 8-course dinner (S$220) means an upgrade to the best 10-course dinner! This offer is valid from now until 31 January 2018.

Sushi Jiro Singapore
6 Raffles Boulevard
#04-600 Marina Mandarin Singapore
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6445 3055
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

This post is brought to you by Sushi Jiro Singapore. 

Sushi Jiro at Marina Mandarin Singapore is home to one of the finest Japanese dining experiences in Singapore. This quaint sushi restaurant does not disappoint with its fresh fish and seafood options, which are all air-flown from Tsukiji Market in Tokyo 4 times a week.

Helmed by Chef Kenji Nakagawa, who has had many years of experience under his belt, the sushi set lunch set is truly one to behold.

Expect a lavish feast comprising seasonal fish that make up their fresh sashimi and sushi—and even some rarities that cannot be found in conventional sushi restaurants.

From now until 09 Dec 2017, treat yourself to a quintessential sushi experience at Sushi Jiro at only S$80++ per pax when you like Sushi Jiro on Facebook and quote ‘ladyironchef’. This is an incredible deal and you will be guaranteed an unforgettable sushi meal.

Famed for being a sushi restaurant that values tradition, the restaurant’s interior is palatially designed to provide a cosy and comfortable environment to enjoy an unpretentious Japanese meal—much like the traditional Japanese sushi eateries of old. The sushi counter is only able to seat 10, making the experience a truly intimate one where you can feel free to converse with the chef as he prepares your lunch.

The sushi counter also features an open display where diners can marvel at some pretty exotic seafood items from a variety of shellfish items to even shirako (cod sperm sac).

SUSHI JIRO SINGAPORE’S SUSHI COURSE 

Sushi Jiro Singapore’s Sushi Course (S$100) consists of a starter, chawanmushi, 8 pieces of seasonal sushi, negitoro and ikura rice, miso soup and dessert.

The 8 sushi varieties we had were Hirame (flounder), Kinmedai (sea bream), Buri (wild yellowtail), Ebi (prawn), Kamasu (barracuda), Maguro (tuna), Kohada (anchovy) and our personal favourite, Chutoro (medium fatty tuna belly). Note that the variety might differ because every day’s highlights depend on the fish they import from Tokyo.

Each course was unique with a mix of delicate and fresh flavours. Chef Kenji handles each item with care, ensuring to not overwhelm your palate nor have one particular item outshine another.

Some—like the Chutoro—were served as it is, allowing you to savour the sheer decadence that is its rich and fatty contents while others such as the Maguro and the Kamasu were either seasoned with a gentle lick of their homemade shoyu, freshly grated wasabi to better bring out its natural flavours.

Going through the painstaking process of making their own shoyu right down to grating their own wasabi, you just know that Chef Kenji is the real deal. Most, if not all of the fresh fish and seafood served here are seasonal and deliberately chosen during specific seasons where they are the most delicious.

They are specially bid for and air-flown over to Singapore 4 times a week from Tsukiji Market in Tokyo!

The sushi course ends off with the Negitoro and Ikura Rice which is easily a crowd favourite on account of the perfectly struck balance of flavours and textures. Labelled as a ‘small bite’, the Negitoro donburi—which is traditionally made up of Negi (green onion) and Toro (fatty tuna belly)—features a generous serving of ikura, minced fatty tuna, sushi rice and a tiny smidgen of fresh wasabi.

Our recommendation is to include a bit of everything in a single bite to fully enjoy the flavour and textural components—from the gentle popping of the ikura, the rich and bold flavours of the fatty toro, right down to the tiny hit of wasabi which provides a nice touch of heat.

And you get the absolute discount if you quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your reservations. Instead of S$100++ per pax, pay only S$80++ per pax for this sushi lunch set.

CHIRASHI DON

Here’s an insider tip: You probably will not be able to find the Chirashi Don among Sushi Jiro’s menu offerings but make a simple request to have it made and Chef Kenji will be more than delighted to prepare it for you. The dish comprises generous servings of thickly cut sashimi and ikura that is all neatly placed atop premium Japanese rice.

Each individual fish boasts its own unique quality, from the fatty tuna to the umami-packed uni. For individuals who adore fresh sashimi, this is the ultimate indulgence.

The Chirashi Don is available at S$38++ per bowl.

STELLAR TEMPURA

Should you find yourself craving for something fried, the Assorted Tempura (S$18++) off the a la carte menu promises to hit the spot. The dish is an assortment of ebi, fish and a variety of vegetable tempura—all of which are thinly coated in a light batter and deep-fried to crispy perfection.

S$58++ LUNCH SETS 

Sushi Jiro also has several lunch sets at S$58++.

Our favourite has got to be the Gindara Teriyaki which features a fillet of grilled Silver Cod that is given a lick of Sushi Jiro’s homemade teriyaki sauce. The oily fish had a robust and deeply charred flavour which the savoury, sweet sauce complemented very well.

The lunch set is served with several slices of sashimi, tofu, pickles, chawanmushi and miso soup.

PREMIUM JAPANESE WHISKY—YAMAZAKI AND HIBIKI

For whisky connoisseurs, Sushi Jiro will be your haven. Boasting an impressive selection of Japanese whiskies from Hibiki to the world-renowned, Yamazaki, we went crazy with all the rare editions! If the finer aspects of Japanese culture can prove elusive to the Western psyche, much of the same could be said for the country’s whisky that boasts clean and very approachable flavour notes.

Your Japanese meal at Sushi Jiro will be complete with a glass of whisky.

Sushi Jiro Singapore
6 Raffles Boulevard
#04-600 Marina Mandarin Singapore
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6445 3055
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

This post is brought to you by Sushi Jiro Singapore.