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We're not sure if it's the influence of Japanese pop culture or the unique bites the country has to offer, but we are sure of one thing: it's almost everyone's favourite cuisine. As one of the most widely searched topics on the World Wide Web, OpenRice brings you 20 of the best Japanese eateries and we tell you exactly why they rock.
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Sushi Tei | Paragon (and other outlets)
Why they rock: Countless promotions & quirky Chef Challenges
Expect to pay: $25 to $30 per pax
With its extensive menu, convenient outlet locations and promotions for virtually every season, we find it hard to resist Sushi Tei. There's always something new to bite into, partly because of the fact that the chain of restaurants carries out a very special Chef Challenge every once in a while, where all Sushi Tei chefs put their culinary skills to the test to create something original - something that's unique to their own outlet. Betcha didn't know that!
Bestsellers include the Sashimi Salad ($12, choose the Sushi Tei Dressing - you won't regret it) and the Golden Roll ($16, pictured above), a mango and king prawn creation.
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Aoki | Shaw Centre
Why they rock: Cream of the crop, top-quality stuff & to-die-for chirashi
Expect to pay: $40+ to $50+ for set lunch
Yet another rockin' concept by the Les Amis Group, Aoki is a high-end eatery with excellent nosh and a gorgeous, Zen-like ambience to boot. One dish patrons seem to never get enough of is the Maze-chirashi ($35++, pictured above) - a messy, phenomenal mix of salmon, toro (tuna), tamago (egg), uni (sea urchin) and ikura (salmon roe) bits on a bed of sticky-sweet sushi rice. Note that there is a dress code to adhere to when dining in at Aoki, and that's smart casual.
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Chikuwa Tei | Mohamed Sultan Road
Why they rock: Great variety of bento sets and awesome chawanmushi
Expect to pay: Anywhere from $12 to $25 for bento sets, $5 for the signature chawanmushi
If you're familiar with Chef Peter and his status as a "food Nazi" at his former workplace, the relatively-obscure-to-most Wasabi Tei, then you probably have heard of his establishment Chikuwa Tei.
Chef Peter's "celebrity status" aside (whom by the way has left Chikuwa Tei since Feb 2012), this Japanese restaurant is noteworthy for many reasons, including must-trys such as its 18 bento sets (pick any one but we recommend the Chirashi set, $25) and superb chawanmushi, which is a little costlier here compared to the $3+ ones elsewhere as Chikuwa Tei's rendition includes premium ingredients like chicken and shrimp.
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Gyoza no Ohsho | Cuppage Plaza
Why they rock: Inarguably the best Japanese-style gyozas in Singapore
Expect to pay: $4 for 6pcs of Grilled Gyoza, $11 for set lunch
Compared to Chinese-style gyozas aka dumplings, Japanese-style gyozas are more garlicky, slightly saltier and have thinner "skins". If that sounds good to you, then you'll be glad to know you can find authentic and affordable gyozas here at Gyoza no Ohsho.
And it's not just their gyozas that are cheap - it's pretty much everything else on the menu! We recommend a plate of fried rice to go with the delish gyozas and for the best of both worlds, you can order the value-for-money set lunch.
Note that the place is small and there are limited counter seats and tables available so it's a typical Japanese "eat and go" concept.
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Waku Ghin | Marina Bay Sands
Why they rock: Voted #11 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2013 list
Expect to pay: $400+ (that's not a typo) per pax for a 10-course meal
Yup, it's a whopping $400+ per pax for a meal at Waku Ghin. Why so expensive? Other than the fact that it's #11 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2013 list:
1) Touted second best restaurant in Asia in the Miele Asia Top 20 Guide
2) Run by renowned celebrity chef, Tetsuya Wakuda
3) Boasts unrivalled culinary standards in terms of presentation and taste (check out the signature dish pictured above - Marinated Botan Shrimp with Sea Urchin and Oscietra Caviar)
4) The killer view of Singapore straight from the restaurant's very own "dessert room" (yes, you go to a particular room just for sweets after you're done with the first eight courses) ... need we say more?
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Teppei Japanese Restaurant | Orchid Hotel
Why they rock: Incredibly affordable (and delicious) omakase meals
Expect to pay: $40, $50 or $60 for six-course to nine-course omakase meals
For an omakase meal, $60 isn't anywhere near expensive. That's one of the reasons why Teppei is so well-received. In fact, this 18-seater restaurant in Tanjong Pagar's bustling business district is so popular that it'd be pointless to make a dinner reservation two weeks in advance - try two months! Chef-owner Yamashita Teppei loves to switch things up for his omakase courses so you can expect new things on the menu, depending on the season as well as his mood.
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En Japanese Dining Bar | Crown Centre (and other outlets)
Why they rock: The go-to place for shabu shabu
Expect to pay: $52++ per pax on weekends and public holidays ($48++ on weekdays) for shabu shabu and a la carte buffet
For 52++ bucks, you're not getting just one or two servings of beef slices to swirl around the savoury broth - you're getting a limitless supply of all the good stuff. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet at En Japanese Dining Bar, where you can help yourself to beef slices and more, such as sushi, sashimi, grilled creations, and even desserts.
Besides shabu shabu, another much-raved about dish is an unlikely contender - the Unagi Fried Rice.
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Yayoiken Japanese Restaurant | Liang Court Shopping Centre (and other outlets)
Why they rock: Inexpensive, Western-influenced Japanese grub
Expect to pay: $25 to $30 per pax
For a restaurant with more than a 100 years of colourful culinary history to be proud of, you'd be pleasantly surprised at the low prices of its dishes. Yayoiken is utterly unpretentious and this is apparent in items like the $13+ Tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) set and $9+ Saba Shio (grilled salted mackerel) set.
Oh, and did we mention the free-flow of rice?
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Tamoya Udon Singapore | Liang Court Shopping Centre
Why they rock: One of the few places that serves homemade udon
Expect to pay: Anywhere from $4+ to $10+ for a bowl of udon
Asking for a satisfying bowl of udon is getting increasingly difficult in Singapore; which is why Japan's famous Tamoya Udon is a godsend.
Opened by udon champion Tamotsu Kurokawa, Tamoya Udon sells fresh, chewy udon at super affordable prices, starting from as low as $4.80 for a regular-sized bowl of Kake Udon (their most popular udon choice). For most of the udon types you can choose to have it either hot or cold, and regular or large. Additionally, if you're feeling extra hungry, you can add tempura like shrimp and crab to your bowl of udon.
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Tatsuya | Goodwood Park Hotel
Why they rock: Oh-so-exquisite sushi
Expect to pay: $20+ to $30+ for set lunch, more than $70 for signature Aburi Sushi set, approx. $200 for omakase course
Sometimes you get lucky and discover good eats for low prices, but sometimes you have to accept that exquisite food comes with a befitting price tag.
At Tatsuya, things are nowhere near cheap. However, after you're done with your meal, you'd probably understand why. Over here it's all about quality of the ingredients, and freshness and origins both play a part. If you're wondering what to order, the Aburi Sushi set (sushi with fish that's slightly grilled) would be a very wise choice. Not that willing to part with such a large chunk of money for sushi? Then go for the equally tasty bento set lunch - which is about $30 on the average.
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Ramen Champion | Bugis+ (and other outlets)
Why they rock: Ramen from different prefectures in Japan can all be found under one roof
Expect to pay: About $12 for an average ramen to about $16 for a special ramen
The concept of Ramen Champion is quite interesting. Inside the restaurant at Bugis+ are eight ramen stalls which come from different prefectures in Sapporo, Toyama, Tokyo, and Hakata. All of them offer the signature dishes which made them so popular in Japan. With a lively street setting, you can wander around the restaurant and choose the one which fits your palate. Its popularity saw the opening of another outlet at Changi Terminal 3 where you can enjoy more ramens from other cities/towns.
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The Flying Squirrel | Amoy Street
Why they rock: Good place to hide away from busy city life, enjoy authentic and/or fusion fare, and meet Jack & Rai in the flesh
Expect to pay: $18 for a dish like Soba Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Breaded Fried Shrimp; also, as an added bonus TFS has no GST and service charge
The brainchild of singing duo, Jack and Rai, The Flying Squirrel at Amoy Street doesn't look Japanese but has a menu which says otherwise. Headed by two local chefs who perfected their skills in the defunct restaurant, Inagiku, you can expect a slew of authentic dishes which can give other restaurants a run for their money. It's also refreshing to know that they have come up with a couple of fusion items which are worth trying out.
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Tonkichi | Orchard Central (and other outlets)
Why they rock: Pork cutlets deep fried to perfection & you get to choose from various cuts of meat - fillet, loin, or premium grade
Expect to pay: $23 for the Hire & Rosu Katsu set meal - comes with miso soup, unlimited rice and cabbage salad
The menu choices here are quite impressive, but the restaurant is best known for its tonkatsu. These pork cutlets are generously coated with bread crumbs then deep fried until they reach that golden brown perfection. For that additional oomph, these are served with sesame seeds which you can grind up and mix with the traditional sauce. Big eaters can opt for the set meals which come with unlimited servings of rice and cabbage salad.
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Nantsuttei | Millenia Walk
Why they rock: Out-of-this-world, thick, meaty chasu
Expect to pay: $12 for an average ramen with only one chashu, approx. $18 for special versions
Whether it's lunch or dinner, Nantsuttei still manages to attract throngs of foodies to its outlet despite its secluded location on the 3rd level of Parco at Millenia Walk. It's best known for its thick and creamy soup broth which has a signature dark colour and taste. For that additional flavour, the soup is topped with the signature roasted garlic oil (ma you). Amount of fresh ingredients vary depending on which ramen you order.
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Hinoki Japanese Dining | China Square Central
Why they rock: Exciting special menus based on the produce currently in season in Japan
Expect to pay: $95 for the Sushi Platter, $32 to $38 for bento sets
Situated within the CBD area where there are so many food choices, Hinoki stands out in the crowd because of its authentic Japanese offerings. Depending on the season, you may occasionally find some exotic ingredients and other items on the menu.
Sushi and sashimi are not to be missed at this place, too. Chew Lawrence, who has over 20 years of working in the kitchen, has come up with traditional as well as contemporary flavours to impress discerning palates.
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Mitsuba by Yurine Japanese Restaurant | The Central
Why they rock: "Food Nazi" Chef Peter's legendary sushi and sashimi can be found here
Expect to pay: $48 for 18pcs of sashimi, $5++ for 2pcs of sushi
After a brief hiatus following his exit from Chikuwa Tei, renowned Nazi Chef Peter Teo is back with a new restaurant under his belt - Mitsuba by Yurine Japanese Restaurant. Set up in 2012, his new brand located at The Central, Clarke Quay brings back old favourites as well as new creations at a very reasonable cost.
Known for his sushi and sashimi, Chef Peter introduces patrons to more varieties prepared fresh every day. New items to look forward to are his Otoro Fishbone and simmered Bluefin Tuna.
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Shinji by Kanesaka | Raffles Hotel (and other outlets)
Why they rock: Sushi creations are excellent and definitely live up to the hype
Expect to pay: $75 for the Setsugetsuka Sushi Course sets (9pcs), $125 for 12pcs and $180 for 15pcs
As his first venture outside Japan, sushi master (and 2-star Michelin Chef) Shinji Kanesaka brings to Singapore the complete Japanese dining experience with Shinji by Kanesaka restaurant - from the ambience, service, down to the quality of the food.
Ingredients here are flown four times a week, so diners can expect only the freshest items on their platters. Since the restaurant wants to give an intimate feel, it only accommodates a maximum of 40 diners. Per group, There's also a designated sushi chef who can prepare items upon order.
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Kazu Sumiyaki | Cuppage Plaza
Why they rock: Wide array of yakitori items available
Expect to pay: Average of $50 per pax, $2 per stick for the signature Pork Belly Yakitori
Hidden within Cuppage Plaza is this gem of a restaurant - Kazu Sumiyaki. Frequented by Japanese expats, it's safe to assume that the food served here are almost (if not) Tokyo standard. From the name of the place, one can also digest that its specialties are charcoal-fired grilled items or yakitori.
There's a wide range of yakitori choices here which range from the common items (pork belly, shishamo) to the more exotic choices (cow's tongue, Foie Gras). Aside from these, the menu has other Japanese dishes which complement the mains.
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Shiraishi | The Ritz-Carlton
Why they rock: One of the few Japanese restaurants in Singapore which serves edomae sushi (translation: seafood caught in the bodies of water surrounding Tokyo)
Expect to pay: $70/$85 for edomae sushi, $30 for set lunch
Dining at Shiraishi is sort of an indulgence because of the steep prices most of the dishes cost. But in return, the diners get to enjoy Japanese fare which is made from the freshest ingredients. FYI, its fish supply is flown in every day to make sure that quality of the food remains excellent.
The restaurant specialises in sushi, sashimi, and kaiseki menus which are created by Chef Shiraishi Shinji. Since it's known for making edomae sushi, eels, tuna, and shellfishes are usually the main ingredients of the sushi.
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Kumo Kaiseki | Icon Village
Why they rock: Constant change of spring/summer seasonal menus
Expect to pay: $98+ per pax for the Kumo Summer Kaiseki, $168+ per pax for omakase
Kumo Kaiseki only serves Kaiseki (no surprise there) and omakase meals to its diners. Based on the produce available in Japan, Chef Hirohashi Nobuaki will prepare a seasonal menu which uses the freshest ingredients from his home country. A typical kaiseki dinner here consists of eight courses which start from appetiser 'til dessert. If you opt for an omakase, the Chef usually decides on what he will serve you - so there's an element of surprise.