Hello Arigato has become one of those top-of-mind cafes at Joo Chiat, and it is not difficult to understand why. We fell in love with the cosy small space even though there was nothing much to speak about, rest for a feature shelf with a display of Japanese and minimalistic knickknacks.

Hello Arigato is a lifestyle cafe with a Japanese-inspired menu, and it first gained popularity with its first outlet at Upper Thomson. We prefer the one at Joo Chiat, because Joo Chiat.

Step into Hello Arigato Joo Chiat and be greeted by a minimalistic white space. The cafe isn’t big – probably 30-seater – and you can see from front to end. Whilst it can get a tad cramped, it is still a cosy space for a meal and a drink.

You must try their Japanese-inspired sandos (sandwich, in case you didn’t get it). That was what got people’s attention when Hello Arigato first opened; people flocked to the first outlet at Upper Thomson for sandos.

There are quite a few variations, with the Gyu Sando (S$26) being their house specialty. While we thought it was very reasonably-priced for the generous portion, the wagyu didn’t hit the spot for us.

The Spam & Egg Sando (S$18), on the other hand, may sound simple but was way better. A thick slab of luncheon meat, lots of scrambled egg and American cheddar are enveloped in Japanese brioche, complete with spiced tomato jam. Gratifying with every bite, we’d say.

For all the sandos, you have the option of topping up with a side of curly fries at S$5, but we would say skip this and go for the a la carte Hello Twister Fries (S$13). A full portion of everyone’s favourite sinful fries is generously coated with a housemade Japanese curry and cheese sauce and topped with scallions – so damn shiok.

There is a Pasta and Brunch menu too, and while it is interesting to see they used Udon to whip up Japanese-styled pastas, we weren’t fans of it.

Oh, but we really loved the Iced Dirty Matcha (S$8) on the drinks menu and it is our must-order every time we dine at Hello Arigato. They also bake their own cookies which we have yet to try, but we will, soon!

Hello Arigato
227 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574359
Tel: +65 8772 3778

314 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427565
Tel: +65 8889 5657

New to the slew of cafes and eateries in Upper Thomson is Pho Viet, a humble Vietnamese eatery situated along the same stretch where Maneko Japanese Restaurant and One Man Coffee are located at.

They serve up anything from the classic pho to other lesser known Vietnamese dishes, mostly priced below S$10. Being literally the only Vietnamese joint in the whole stretch, we had pretty high expectations but did it meet them, surpass them or disappoint? Read on to find out.

Starting off with what many of us would consider a Vietnamese staple, the Beef Brisket Noodle Soup (S$8.90) is one of the most popular dishes in Pho Viet amongst diners which goes highly recommended by their staff.

Pho Viet’s rendition of the noodle soup dish features thick rice noodles topped with beef slices and beef meatballs. While the rice noodles were silky smooth just the way we like it, we thought that the broth could do with more flavours and that the beef pieces were a major letdown.

The meatballs that were served were undercooked, resulting in a hard texture whereas the beef slices were tough and lacked flavour.

The Pork Stew with Quail Eggs (S$8.90), on the other hand, came packed with robust flavours. A traditional dish that is consumed by the Vietnamese during Lunar New Year, this dish sees fork-tender pork belly pieces alongside quail eggs.

Served with steamed rice, the stew came with caramelised pork belly pieces and quail eggs which were both well-marinated in a sweet-savoury sauce. However, considering the price point of this item, we thought that they could afford to be more generous with its portion.

Pho Viet also offers a variety of appetisers on the menu ranging from barbecued seafood to Vietnamese baguettes. We ordered up a portion of BBQ Pork (S$8.90), our personal essential whenever we patronise a Vietnamese eatery.

Presented in the form of skewers, the pork pieces had a pleasant bite to it. Be that as it may, we thought that the skewers were overly salty. Besides the strong notes of fish sauce used in its marination, the skewers lacked dimension to its flavours taste-wise.

Pho Viet
215M Upper Thomson Road
Tel: +65 8518 0090
Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Marymount

Sealing its status as one of the trendiest and healthiest icy treats to have among the health geeks and the hipsters here in sunny Singapore, Acai bowls (pronounced ah-sai-yee) is one of those superfoods that can both perk you up yet look phenomenal in photos.

New to Upper Thomson Road’s cluster of vibrant cafes and eateries is Thrive, a new boho-themed cafe that specialises in artisanal coffee, loaded healthy toasts and acai bowls—or should we say cups. They are a joint collaboration between Boxgreen and An Acai Affair and the very first one to set up shop.

Thriving on all things health-related from organic dried fruit and seeds to even coconut water-based beverages, this new cafe is one that you should definitely pay a visit—whether it’s for a delicious superfood snack or a hit of good vibes.

Stepping into the cafe, the first thing that hits you is its lovely boho-chic interior. The walls are filled with racks of pre-packaged superfood delights as well as decorative knick-knacks that make for great gifts.

The cafe features an upper deck where diners can sit after placing their order at the counter. If not, there is also a wooden table set up right outside.

Seeking to satisfy both our palates and our Instagram feeds, we opted for the Dragon Bowl (S$6.60 for small, S$9.60 for medium, S$14.60 for large).

This delicious acai bowl came with a base of pitaya passionfruit sorbet along with fresh fruit such as kiwi, bananas and blueberries, as well as things like chia seeds and granola, before finally being topped with a choice of either cookie butter, peanut butter or honey.

Vibrant, refreshing and surprisingly tasty, we highly recommend getting this should you ever be craving an icy treat on a sunny day or simply be in the mood to liven up your social media accounts.

The Hawaiian Bowl (S$5.90 for small, S$8.90 for medium, S$13.90 for large) comes with a base formed using acai and coconut sorbet before being topped with fresh fruits, desiccated coconut, nuts, seeds and a sauce of choice.

We’re not too sure about how this particular offering relates to Hawaii (besides the coconut elements), but it sure did help to take the edge off the scorching heat. Perhaps a mini umbrella could’ve further accented the whole Hawaiian theme.

But that aside, boy was the coconut sorbet addictive and we were sorely impressed by how well it complemented the fruits and nuts without being overly sweet.

Should you feel a hankering for coffee after lunch, Thrive also offers a humble array of both hot and cold caffeine-packed beverages. Their black and white cold brew is a throwback blend that comes from Chye Seng Huat Hardware.

Their coffee blends come from Bettr Barista’s signature Bold Heart blend that features Columbian beans with tasting notes of citrus fruits, cinnamon and cocoa.

Thrive
215B Upper Thomson Road,
Singapore 574349
Tel: +65 9688 9211
Sun to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Marymount

Among the slew of cafes, supper spots and restaurants scattered all over bustling Upper Thomson Road, Japanese fare is perhaps one of the few rarities to find there unless you consider Tomoe Japanese Cuisine or even Sushi Tei in Thomson Plaza which is both a tad pricier in comparison.

New to the bustling food enclave, taking over what used to be Nunsongyee Korean Dessert Cafe, Maneko Japanese Restaurant is a cosy, 30-seater eatery that serves quick, fuss-free Japanese delights ranging from sashimi, sushi, donburi, soba, udon and a huge selection of sides.

They have a decent selection of sushi and sashimi options to choose from as well as a huge range of rice bowls—great for quick workday lunches.

All their items are priced as is with no GST & service charge and patrons can also opt to order their mains with a drink and a small side dish as a set for a top-up of S$6.

Feeling an itch for some fresh raw fish, we opted for their Assorted Sushi (S$15.90) that saw pairs of thickly sliced salmon, maguro (tuna) and yellowtail, nestled atop sushi rice.

While the texture and appearance of the fishes themselves did not boast the same immaculate quality one would associate with expertly crafted sushi, the individual varieties were fresh and flavourful nonetheless and did well to keep our sushi cravings in check.

For bold flavours and meaty goodness, we recommend getting the Truffle Yakiniku Don (S$14.90). Seared thoroughly to produce a beautiful caramelised crust whilst remaining pink in the middle, the beef was tender and tasty from start to finish.

The onsen egg provided a heightened richness and the truffle oil, while light, gave a dish a subtle aromatic lift. But in spite of it being a fairly fatty-flavoured bowl, the addition of the ripe cherry tomatoes and diced scallions helped to cut through all of that.

One of Maneko’s signatures and hands down one of the best mentaiko dishes we have ever tried is their Mentaiko Udon (S$11.90). For what it’s worth, we were completely blown away by how simple yet addictive this dish was.

Tossed in a light, creamy sauce with salted cod roe and served chilled, the dish hit all the right notes of savoury, umami and refreshing. The udon possessed a nice chewy texture and formed the perfect vessel for all that sauce to latch on. The onsen egg gave the dish a creamier consistency and the scallions cut through everything perfectly.

All in all, a brilliant dish and one we will surely return for!

Maneko Japanese Restaurant
227 Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574359
Tel: +65 6909 5401
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Marymount