Izakaya bars are all the rage now, especially among the office crowd and En Dining (previously known as En Sakaba) under the Izakaya Japanese Dining Group (which manages En Japanese Dining at Mohd Sultan, En Japanese Dining Bar at Bukit Timah and Z’en Japanese Cuisine) is not a name unheard of.

Now with a total of 4 new outlets—each boasting different concepts—this izakaya slash Japanese restaurant group is a true haven for those in search of tantalising Japanese fare, a chic yet cosy spot to relax at and a solid tipple.

Introducing its new flagship restaurant and the group’s fourth outlet, En Dining at Capital Tower is set to enthrall with their stellar shabu shabu offering, visually stunning à la carte items as well as a selection of curated Japanese whiskies and sake for your after-work tippling pleasure.

For a limited period and exclusive only at Capital Tower, En Dining is having a hot pot buffet dinner that comes with a selection of appetisers, 3 kinds sashimi platter, wagyu sushi, prawn and vegetables tempura, Häagen-Dazs ice cream as well as a monumental shabu shabu that sees unlimited servings of Japan’s No. 1 of Miyazaki wagyu beef, premium zuwai kani queen crab, ibérico kurobuta pork, assorted vegetables, udon and Japanese porridge—all at only S$78++ per pax (U.P. S$108++ per pax).

We kid you not, from the sweet flesh of the queen crab to the perfectly marbled, melt-in-your-mouth Miyazaki Wagyu, this is a shabu shabu feast that you must try and you’d be a fool if you missed it.

If your idea of a Japanese izakaya is a shabby, small and dimly lit hut then En Dining’s flagship will change that perception. The interior is decked out in beautiful furnishings that screams chic and cosy.

We especially adore the bar counter that allows diners to peek into the open kitchen, as well as the wide selection of premium Japanese spirits and sakes on display.

APPETISER, SASHIMI, TEMPURA 

The buffet commences with an assortment of 3 different appetisers, each with different textures and flavours, yet sharing an element of freshness that no doubt will help to ease diners into the heavier courses.

Their sashimi platter comes with 3 varieties of seasonal fish and seafood, cut thick and gorgeously presented while the tempura platter consists of ebi (prawn) and a variety of vegetables—all deep-fried to crispy and golden perfection.

Considering that the buffet commences with these 3 stellar items, what follows may prove a tad too hard to resist. Period.

JAPAN’S NO.1 MIYAZAKI WAGYU SUSHI

To fully experience the natural taste of Wagyu, the buffet comes with a serving of Wagyu Sushi. Served raw atop sushi rice and garnished with freshly diced scallions, each mouthful promises a delicious flavour punch of pure beefy goodness that runs off your tongue almost like butter.

JAPAN’S NO.1 MIYAZAKI WAGYU (UNLIMITED SERVINGS)

Nobody leaves En Dining without having some A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef and this was love at first sight for us. From top-notch farms in Japan to the waiting mouths of hungry patrons, En Dining’s elite offering—premium Miyazaki Wagyu beef—is one that promises sheer, melt-in-your-mouth decadence in every bite.

An order of their prized Miyazaki Wagyu sees a platter of elegantly laid out slices of perfectly marbled beef, pleasing not only to the tongue but also to the mind and eye. Whether you deem yourself a wagyu connoisseur or not, a sight like this is the pinnacle of gourmet.

Our suggestion is to not overcook it. Simply simmer your beef for a few seconds and bring it to a pinkish-brown shade, remove it, and dip it generously in ponzu to bring out the best of the fatty beef.

A good point to note about the restaurant’s prized Miyazaki Wagyu is that it has won various prestigious industry awards, including the most honoured ‘Prime Minister Award’ by the Wagyu Registry Association in Japan for its outstanding meat quality.

Given to the best cattle once every five years, this award has been won by Miyazaki Wagyu for 3 consecutive contests, meaning it has held the reigns for 15 years and has been labelled ‘Japan’s Number One Beef’ ever since!

In terms of marbling, firmness, texture and sheer lustre of the fat within the wagyu, this is easily one of the best things you can ever put into your mouth.

IBÉRICO KUROBUTA PORK (UNLIMITED SERVINGS)

The Miyazaki Wagyu may be a showstopper in its own right but following close behind is the Ibérico Kurobuta Pork. Also available in unlimited portions, this gorgeous pork variety boasts a delicate, nutty flavour with melt-in-your-mouth marbling.

ZUWAI QUEEN CRAB (UNLIMITED SERVINGS)

Yet another highlight of this shabu shabu buffet is the unlimited servings of premium Zuwai Kani Queen Crab.

Sweeter in comparison to its male counterpart, the Zuwai Queen Crab is deemed by the chefs here a better choice for Japanese shabu shabu as it adds a heightened sweetness to the overall soup broth. The delicate flesh of the crab is insanely sweet and produces a lovely aroma when allowed to cook gently in the Bonito broth.

MIYAZAKI WAGYU SPECIALITIES

Besides shabu shabu, En Dining also prepares their highly prized Miyazaki wagyu in a number of ways (and in various cuts too) to allow diners to fully appreciate the premium quality beef at its best—namely in the form of sushi, sashimi, carpaccio and more!

A dish that beautifully enhances the wagyu and brings out the most of its beefy potential is the Wagyu With Quail Egg. Sliced into thin strips and topped with a quail egg yolk, what you get is a simple cold dish that fully allows you to savour every morsel of flavour.

Serving sizes may be a tad small but believe us when we say, you probably wouldn’t be able to stomach more than one serving of this given how rich the components are.

These Wagyu Specialties are available at all 4 restaurants—Capital Tower, JEM, Orchard Central and Clarke Quay.

SASHIMI PLATTER

As if all that unlimited servings of decadence are not enough, you will be spoilt with a deluxe platter of sashimi as part of the buffet.

PRAWN AND VEGETABLES TEMPURA

Also included in the buffet is this plate of tempura that comes with prawns and an assortment of vegetables such as eggplant, sweet potato and pumpkin. Each one is coated with a light batter mix and deep-fried to a golden colour and served with a bowl of Tentsuyu dipping sauce.

DESSERT

After all that feasting, you might think of turning down dessert but we all know deep down, there is always room for dessert. End your meal on a sweet note with a creamy and robust matcha ice cream from Häagen-Dazs, topped with whipped cream and a dollop of azuki paste.

With such an exciting line-up, En Dining’s Japan No. 1 Miyazaki Wagyu and Premium Queen Crab Hotpot Buffet is one you cannot miss out on. For a limited period only, indulge in 90 minutes of unlimited servings of premium meats and seasonal delicacies at only S$78++ (usual price S$108) per pax.

For dining reservations and enquiries, please call +65 6423 0110 or RSVP at http://www.ensakaba.com.sg/buffet-promotion/.

*This offer is only available at En Dining Capital Towers outlet from Monday to Friday after 5pm and Saturday.

*Valid with a minimum order for 2 pax.

*The menu may change without prior notice.

*Price is subjected to 10% service charge and 7% prevailing GST.

*Management reserves the rights to change terms and conditions without prior notice.

*Valid for dine-in and duration is a maximum of 90 minutes only.

A LA CARTE DISHES

Aside from their premium buffet, En Dining’s menu also boasts a range of delectable a la carte dishes such as Wagyu Sushi, Wagyu Tobanyaki, Wagyu Sukiyaki and Wagyu Yukke.

One of our favourites is the Japanese porridge where diners get to enjoy Japanese pearl rice that is stirred into the flavourful dashi broth and allowed to simmer until soft. It is then finished off with the addition of raw eggs which acts as a thickener as well as provides the porridge with a secondary layer of richness and depth.

En Dining Capital Tower

168 Robinson Road #01-10
Capital Tower
Singapore 068912
Tel: +65 6423 0110
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

This post is brought to you by En Dining.

It is not every day you find a restaurant that fuses an unconventional mix of flavour profiles, but Akira Back at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach is one of those places that prides itself on its unique approach and sets itself apart from the rest of the pack in more ways than one.

The restaurant by celebrity Chef Akira Back features innovative dishes centred around modern Japanese cuisine with Korean accents. Kicking off its new weekend brunch menu, guests will be enticed with an unlimited variety of appetising tempura and sushi rolls in addition to their stellar 3-course meal.

Available at S$98++ per person on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 3pm (last order at 2.30pm), Akira Back’s brunch menu offers four new options for mains and two desserts to choose from (one of each per pax), allowing guests to mix and match elements encompassing different flavour accents and cultural influences so as to achieve a customised and delectable meal.

Through his many travels, Chef Akira Back has acquired a multitude of culinary inspirations which he applies to the food he creates, dishing out incredible and whacky creations that intricately fuse elements from the places that he has visited, without being too overbearing on the palate.

Look forward to a bit of excitement and adventure when you dine in this signature restaurant at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach because you will not find an experience quite as exquisite as this elsewhere.

STARTER – AB PIZZA (TUNA OR MUSHROOM)

The weekend brunch menu kicks off with a starter of the highly acclaimed AB Pizza which you can have topped with either tuna or mushroom. Created by Chef Akira himself to help ease Americans into eating raw fish, this fusion of East and West is truly one of the best things you could ever put into your mouth.

The pizza comes on a thin, crisp tortilla base spread with an umami aioli, topped with thinly sliced tuna and a dash of truffle oil. Fine sprigs of micro shiso are also added to enhance the visual appeal of this dish.

Every bite fills the palate with robust umami-packed goodness, which is nicely underscored by the gentle crackling of the thin crust.

MAIN OPTION 1 – HAMACHI KAMA

Hamachi Kama refers to yellowtail (Hamachi) collar, which is the fattiest and juiciest part of the fish. It is usually grilled or broiled, allowing the fat to render so as to achieve perfectly crisp skin.

Here at Akira Back, this dish is done to the utmost perfection. The flesh is tender enough that you can easily scrape it off the cartilage with chopsticks, and the ginger balsamic dressing that comes served on the side does well to cut through the richness of the fish collar.

MAIN OPTION 2 – CHIRASHI DONBURI

Neatly and intricately placed atop furikake brown rice, we were impressed by the colourful assortment of cubed sashimi, tamago, fish roe and avocado. The chunks of fish are much thicker than you get in most places and the addition of avocado, although not uncommon, adds a creamy buttery texture to the dish that we really enjoyed.

MAIN OPTION 3 – SPRING CHICKEN

The Spring Chicken is the ideal main to have if you want something relatively light without sacrificing flavour. The chicken pieces are marinated overnight in miso, resulting in tender and outrageously succulent meat. It is glazed with yuzu kosho—a fermented condiment made from green chilli, salt and the juice and peel of the yuzu fruit.

The miso really tenderised the chicken and added enhanced its flavour without being too salty; the glaze brightened up the flavours of the dish with its citrusy notes while giving it a subtle spicy kick at the same time.

MAIN OPTION 4 – PORTERHOUSE STEAK

The Porterhouse Steak (available with a supplement of S$20) is one that will delight steak aficionados. A generous bone-in, Porterhouse cut of Australian Angus beef is seasoned with a house-innovated coffee-spice blend that, once grilled, boasts a deep earthy and smoky flavour.

As much as the steak tastes amazing on its own, try it with the bordelaise sauce, which is made with fermented black garlic, for a heightened umami note.

This massive steak is ideal for sharing between 2 people (hence the one-time supplement of S$20) and steak lovers should know that you really get bang for your buck with this cut. It was the highlight of our brunch and it would be yours, too.

FREE-FLOW TEMPURA AND SUSHI ROLLS

The best part of this stunning brunch is the wide variety of unlimited cooked-to-order tempura and sushi rolls that come as part of the brunch menu.

Take your pick of seafood and vegetable tempura such as the classic ebi (shrimp), ika (squid), anago (conger eel), shiitake, enoki and loads more.

And if you are really out to indulge, go for the nine different varieties of sushi roll types, from the hosomaki—the humble thin rice rolls containing one singular ingredient —to the uramaki, inside-out rolls otherwise commonly known as California rolls.

One of our favourites is the signature Godzilla Roll, which filled with unagi, and topped with sliced avocado and bits of diced strawberry. It took us a while, but we soon figured out how this unassuming dish bore a resemblance to the iconic dinosaur-like monster—think avocado as its green skin, and the strawberry signifying Godzilla’s frenzied eyes.

DESSERT OPTION 1 – AB CHEESECAKE

No brunch would be complete without rounding off with a sweet treat, but at the same time, you would not want something too heavy. Which is why, the menu has been carefully and thoughtfully planned out to include two desserts—the AB Cheesecake and the Pillow. You have a choice between both.

The AB Cheesecake is as rich as a cheesecake should be but the mild acidity from the coconut-lime sorbet and the apricot compote does well to cut through that.

DESSERT OPTION 2 – PILLOW

The Pillow, on the other hand, is essentially an Earl Grey-perfumed white chocolate mousse with morello cherry that is served with chocolate ice cream and a honey-nougat wafer–the perfect indulgence for chocolate lovers.

Weekend brunches are always something everyone looks forward to and with this enticing line-up at Akira Back, there is no questioning where you should be headed to this weekend.

Enjoy this stellar weekend brunch at S$98++ (per pax) on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 3pm. Alternatively, you can drop by Akira Back during weekdays for their lunch, as they have also introduced new 3-course set lunches as well.

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Akira Back
30 Beach Road
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
Singapore 189763
Tel: +65 6818 1914
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade/ Raffles City

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