There is something oh-so-magical about the hustle and bustle of fast-paced Dotonbori, an iconic street in Osaka that is packed with a never-ending array of things to see and do. If you’re an unashamed foodie like us, you’ll also be glad to know that the area is a fantastic place to try some authentic Japanese fare.

However, the crowd does sometimes get to us and some of the prices for food here can be rather steep as Dotonbori is, at the end of the day, still a tourist hotspot. Many a time, we wished that there was somewhere we could settle down for a quiet meal to get away from the crowd for a bit.

We are glad to say that if you search hard enough, you can actually find some gems that are a little less hectic than the places in the main area of Dotonbori. That was how we came across Wakasaya Nankai Namba along a random street. This humble restaurant is great for people who love raw seafood as they specialise in wholesome sashimi bowls at wallet-friendly prices.

Located in an obscure, quiet street of Dotonbori away from the massive crowds, the restaurant is your typical Japanese dining establishment with its narrow, cramped interior. One side of the eatery is lined with a long table with around eight seats while the other has three four-seater tables.

They have a very extensive menu, packed with every conceivable combination of sashimi bowls out there. While we were spoilt for choice, we decided to go back to the basics and ordered ourselves a Salmon Bowl (720 Yen)

The dish featured a bed of warm rice that was generously blanketed with thick strips of salmon sashimi. Each piece of salmon was fresh and evenly sliced, and we liked how each cut was thick enough for you to get a good mouthfeel of the fish without it being too cloying. We also loved how buttery the salmon was; it simply melts away in your mouth!

If you’re an indecisive person who enjoys sampling a little bit of everything, we recommend getting bowls that come with a variety of different toppings. We ourselves opted for the Negitoro, Sea Urchin & Ikura Don (1320 Yen) and were pretty impressed by it.

The dish came embellished with a generous, fresh smothering of negitoro (minced tuna), creamy uni and juicy salmon roe served once again atop a bed of warm rice.

We liked how the negitoro managed to add some richness and saltiness to the dish without being too fishy or overpowering. When mixed in with the rice, it also added a little stickiness that helped to gel the various components together.

The uni, on the other hand, had a more buttery texture that too helped enhance the dish by giving it an addictive creaminess. It also provided the dish with a subtle sweetness as well as a briny touch.

Finally, the explosive ikura (salmon roe) tied everything together by giving us little sensational pops of flavour with every mouthful.

If you’re in Dotonbori, be sure to check out Wakasaya Nankai Namba. They don’t have the best sashimi bowls in town, but we find that for the price point and the location, this spot is really worth visiting.

Wakasaya Nankai Namba
Japan, 542-0075 Osaka, Chuo Ward
Nanbasennichimae, 12?34
Tel: +81 6-6556-9508
Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Osaka-Namba

Tucked away in the palatial JW Marriott Singapore South Beach is Beach Road Kitchen, a modern all-day dining establishment that aims to take diners on an epic, gastronomic journey.

Beach Road Kitchen was built in honour of the old Beach Road Market that first started out in 1873. Staying true to its roots, the place has never stopped believing in the importance of fresh produce and quality food, which is an ideology that the folks here at Beach Road Kitchen firmly believe in.

From indulgent brunch classics such as Eggs Benedict to spiced up local delights such as Lobster Laksa, this lavish brunch buffet is an epicurean feast that will be the highlight of your Sunday. There is no better way to spend a lazy day than at a sumptuous Sunday Brunch at Beach Road Kitchen.

It’s S$168++ per adult for the champagne brunch which comes with free-flow champagne, wine and beer.

On top of that, quote ladyironchef upon making your reservation to enjoy 50% OFF every second diner (terms and conditions apply) for the Sunday brunch at Beach Road Kitchen from now until 30th Dec 2019.

LOBSTER THERMIDOR AND BAKED OYSTERS

An opulent treat that you definitely should indulge yourself in is the free-flow Lobster Thermidor.

For the uninitiated, the Lobster Thermidor has its roots in France and consists of a mixture of chunks of lobster meat, egg yolks, brandy and mushrooms that are stuffed into a lobster shell, drizzled with cheese and baked to perfection.

The result is a decadently creamy ensemble packed with a medley of varying textures and flavours — the sweetness and chewiness of the lobster, the mild acidity of the brandy and the saltiness of the cheese — all come together to create a flavour bomb that will leave you gobsmacked and hankering for more.

Another must-try treat is the Baked Oysters which features briny oysters that are generously slathered in a thick layer of mash potato and then baked to a lovely golden brown. We could easily down a dozen of these!

SEAFOOD ROOM

Seafood enthusiasts, nothing can prepare you for Beach Road Kitchen’s iconic Seafood Room. This clean and white temperature-controlled alcove houses a tantalising selection of fresh seafood which includes the likes of smoked fish, sashimi and seafood on ice.

If you’re craving for some freshly-shucked oysters, you can help yourself to unlimited oysters sourced from Northern and Western France.

EGGS BENEDICT 

What is a Sunday brunch without some runny Eggs Benedicts? Eggs Benedicts are a staple of any brunch session; you can’t go wrong with a winning combination of toasted English muffins and perfectly poached eggs draped in a generous coating of hollandaise sauce.

Beach Road Kitchen has 3 variations that comes garnished with either spinach, bacon or smoked salmon. Break into the egg and watch the yolk sensually ooze out.

WHOLE ROASTED LAMB LEG 

Carnivores will be excited to chow down on this bad boy.

A whole roasted leg of lamb awaits you at Beach Road Kitchen’s Sunday Brunch and it is hard to simply walk past this massive hunk of meat. Get one of their friendly staff to help carve you a rack or two; it is quite a feat to have to tackle it all on your own.

It is undoubtedly hard to cook such a gargantuan block of meat thoroughly, but the chefs here did a phenomenal job. The lamb was incredibly tender and had a decent meat-to-fat ratio which gave every mouthful a nice, succulent bite.

CHARCOAL GRILL

A highlight of all Beach Road Kitchen’s buffet spreads is their Charcoal Grill, where diners get to select their cuts of meat and seafood and have them grilled à la minute. Look forward to a premium meat selection filled with options such as Asian Marinated Iberico Pork and Tomahawk Beef.

PIZZA FROM THE WOOD FIRED OVEN 

Standing right smack in the middle of the restaurant is the restaurant’s very own wood-fired oven that makes some of the most drool-worthy pizza out there.

Their Signature Truffle Mushroom Pizza comes highly recommended and it is coated in a copious amount of truffle oil, stracchino cheese and mushrooms.

Do try to get your hands on this slice of heaven when it comes fresh and hot out of the oven so that you can enjoy it at its peak. The edges of the pizza have a lovely char that adds texture to the chewiness of the pizza base. This is further enhanced by the glorious mess of melted cheese and truffle oil that provides the pizza with an earthy, garlicky flavour that is incredibly addictive.

CHILLI CRAB AND LOCAL SPECIALITIES

For something a little more close to home, pop by their Local Specialities station for an appetising array of Singaporean favourites. Diners get to savour classics such as Signature Chicken Rice, Crispy Pork Belly and Roast Meat.

Crustacean aficionados will also be glad to know that the buffet lineup will include the holy grail of all local seafood dishes: chilli crab. Break open those bright red pincers and tuck straight into the sweet, plump flesh that lies beneath. Don’t forget to soak up all that ambrosial chilli gravy with the deep-fried man tou!

NOODLE BAR WITH LOBSTER LAKSA 

For more live-action, head on over to The Noodle Bar where you can get yourself a hearty bowl of Asian-style noodles of your choice. We love their Laksa broth which features a rich sweet and spicy broth that hits all the right notes. You also get to dazzle up your bowl of laksa by choosing your own ingredients and noodles that are displayed neatly next to the noodle station.

An open secret is that you can pick out a lobster (or two!) from the neighbouring Seafood Room, pass it to the chef and have him cook you a sinfully good bowl of Lobster Laksa. Definitely not something you can do at most places!

CHEESE AND CHARCUTERIE 

Beach Road Kitchen takes immense pride in their Cheese and Charcuterie selection which is switched up daily. Their impressive range of cheeses will make any cheese fanatic’s heart palpitate and you can expect flavours such as Blue Cheese, Taleggio, Brie, Camembert and Savarin.

You can also pair the cheeses with some of their cold cuts that come from different regions across Europe.

CHILDREN’S CORNER 

If your little ones are fussy eaters, fret not as the buffet line has a Children’s Corner that is packed with child-friendly options such as beef sliders, chicken nuggets and pasta. There is also a children’s play area set up in a corner of the restaurant for fidgety kids who won’t stay still.

THE BAR

Don’t worry, adults, we haven’t forgotten about you! If you want a glass of bubbly to celebrate the weekends, march on over to The Bar for some drinks. You can also top up S$70++ and enjoy free-flow champagne, wine, cocktails, beer and juices.

SWEET SHOP 

Don’t stuff your face at all the other stations and forget about the dessert section. Combat all the savouriness with some sweetness at Beach Road Kitchen’s Sweet Shop, where you can feast your eyes and tastebuds on their extensive dessert display with sweets such as cakes, macaroons as well as nostalgic snacks and sweets from the heydays.

Diners can also have some fun with the chocolate fountain which dispenses a mesmerising waterfall of milk chocolate for you to dip fruits and marshmallows in.

LIVE MUSIC AND BALLOON SCULPTING 

To add to the mood, there will be live music for you to enjoy while you gorge yourself silly on all that food. There will also be a balloon sculptor for the kids who will be going around making balloons for everyone. Adults, don’t shy away if you secretly want a balloon; you can ask for one too!

Quote ladyironchef upon making your reservation to enjoy 50% OFF every second diner for the Sunday brunch at Beach Road Kitchen from now until 30th Dec 2019.

Terms & Conditions
– Offers not applicable on eve & day of Public Holidays, and all special occasions as determined by the Hotel
– Valid up to a maximum of 8 persons per bill only
– Not applicable with other loyalty programs discounts, credit card promotions and other privileges; cannot be combined for redemption with other vouchers
– Not applicable for Kids price
– Advance reservations required and subject to availability

Champagne Brunch
Sun: 12pm – 3pm
Adults: S$168++
Child: S$59++ (Children under 6 dines free)

Beach Road Kitchen 
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach 
30 Beach Road
Nicoll Highway
Singapore 189763
Daily: 6am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

This post was brought to you by JW Marriott Singapore South Beach.