To celebrate its first-year anniversary in Singapore, Menbaka Fire Ramen located at Orchard Cineleisure has launched a limited-edition ebi (prawn) series. The founder of Menbaka Fire Ramen Master Masamichi Miyazawa has specially created the “World’s First-ever Ebi Fire Ramen” all the way from Kyoto, after multiple rounds of experiment. The famed ramen shop first opened in 1984 near Nijo Castle, by ramen master Masamichi Miyazawa who spent many years learning the ropes of ramen making. The shop is currently is helmed by master Miyazawa’s son, Shin Miyazawa who brings along fiery passion – and ..read more

Usher in the holiday season with an indulgent festive feast at Ichiban Bochi, which Singaporeans should be familiar with for their contemporary Japanese concept in a relaxing ambiance. Do you know that no two Ichiban Boshi restaurants are the same? Each one has its own distinctive design, ambience, and specialty menu. For example, Great World’s outlet specialises in Sakana (fresh fish), United Square in Kyoto Katsu (fried cutlet), NEX in Kaisen (seafood), Suntec City in Soba (buckwheat noodles), and Century Square in Hokkaido Ryori (Hokkaido cuisine), just to name a few. You can celebrate the ..read more

Okinawan cuisine differs from the typical Japanese food due to the islands’ unique history and culture. And there are not that many places in Singapore serving this specialty food. Those yearning for a holiday in this prefecture can have their food cravings satisfied at EN Dining Capitol Tower (Tanjong Pagar), as there is not only a selection of signature Okinawan fare but seasonal Autumn Specials as well. Okinawa is known for certain food specialties that make this cuisine stand out from others, and these include seafood, pork dishes, and items cooked with vegetables such as their most esteem ..read more

Japanese-style hotpot or Shabu-Shabu しゃぶしゃぶ is getting popular in Singapore. This is a nabemono-style hotpot dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables boiled in water (or soup) and served with dipping sauces. Shabu-shabu is best eaten with a variety of thinly sliced meats and fresh vegetables. While in Japan you would usually find soups to be bland (or even just plain boiling water), diners in Singapore generally prefer richer and more flavourful soup bases. Here are 11 Japanese restaurants that serve up hotpot in Singapore: Shabu-GO A brand-new Japanese-style hotpot restaurant which offers ..read more

Talking about the commonly used word of late – “pivot”, and perhaps a real-life example of a couple overcoming many odds are the owners of Takagi Ramen. Owners Yang and his wife Ai Takagi used to be behind the now-defunct website The Real Singapore (TRS), then switched into something completely different – F&B and found success. Their motto is to serve “Ramen for the Average Singaporean”, keeping prices low enough just for anyone. A bowl of ramen starts from $6.90 nett in an air-conditioned setting, can be said about half the price of most other ramen restaurants in Singapore. Since the ..read more

Serangoon NEX continues to get more exciting for foodies, with the opening of &JOY Japanese Food Street. Spanning 12,000 square feet, this is considered the largest Japanese food enclave in the Northeast of Singapore. This Japanese-style one-stop dining destination allows you to ‘travel’ to Japan with its vibrant energy and combination of eight different concepts. Yes, eight. Love yakiniku, shabu shabu, teppanyaki, ramen, Japanese breads, and more? What you can expect include the new-to-market Shabu-GO, as well as the popular Yakiniku-GO, RAMEN KIOU, Yaki Yaki Bo, Gokoku Japanese Bakery ..read more

There seems to be a trend of ex-restaurants chefs coming out to set up their own stalls. Let me see… ex-Crystal Jade, ex-Tim Ho Wan, ex-Jumbo, and of course ex-Din Tai Fung chefs selling fried rice with pork chop. Maruhachi Donburi & Curry at Edgefield Plains Punggol got into the limelight because the owner-hawker was an ex-head chef of a famous tonkatsu restaurant at ION Orchard for 9 years. Let me guess… Ginza Bairin? (With that said, Ginza Bairin in Singapore back then didn’t taste quite like the Tokyo standards, even though I did have it a few times.) So, Maruhachi has opened a second ..read more

“The biggest ramen chain in Singapore” Ramen Keisuke needs little introduction to ramen-lovin’ Singaporeans. But do you know there are now 22 concepts under their umbrella? They have opened quite a number of concepts such as Yakiniku Yako, Niku King, Ramen Dining Keisuke Tokyo, Beef Sukiyaki Don Keisuke, Ramen Keisuke Lobster King, and Keisuke Kani King, Teppanyaki Hamburg Nihonbashi Keisuke Bettei, and Gyoza King. So Omurice Keisuke at Level 4 of Bugis+ has said its goodbye, and replacing it is Aburi Kaisen Don Keisuke. (Also read: 10 Affordable Bara Chirashi & Kaisendon In Singapore) Th ..read more

Another day, another new tempura and tendon shop in Singapore. Tempura Makino is no stranger to the tempura-business, first established in 2006 with over 10 outlets in Japan. The chain specialises in serving the “Tsudoage” style of tempura – made to order and served one by one. The same flour, dashi and dipping sauces used are all imported from Japan. One cannot help but notice that it is first opened at Suntec City (the next at VivoCity), with Tendon Kohaku one of the ‘pioneer’ restaurants which started the tendon trend in Singapore a short walk away. (Then again, Suntec City is also big man ..read more

The Japanese dish breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet or Tonkatsu has always been a favourite among many Singaporeans, and one of the recommended places to get it is from Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen. There are two outlets – one at Serangoon Garden myVillage and the other at Thomson Plaza. Owner Chef Tan-San started Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen out of his passion for Japanese cuisine, and is often called “Singapore’s first Tonkatsu Chef” after mastering the art of Tonkatsu in Japan. Hajime is Japanese for “beginning” and the short form for “Hajimemashite” which means “nice to meet you!”. He return ..read more