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2013-09-30
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I was hunting around for places to eat around the Fullerton Bay area and came across this very interesting Japanese restaurant called Kinki (what a cute name, don't you think?). Kinki sits just on the edge of the Kallang River, directly overlooking the majestic Marina Bay Sands hotel. The view from the restaurant is excellent on a clear day and I'm sure the night view will be even more stunning! It was rather packed for a weekday lunch, and we were told that it was full house when we got there.
It was rather packed for a weekday lunch, and we were told that it was full house when we got there. However, the service staff were kind enough to make a table for us when we mentioned that we were just looking for a quick bite. But be sure to make a reservation beforehand to avoid disappointment.
Their menu is rather impressive - not the usual Japanese food you would find at other restaurants. From Blue Fin Tuna, Sowrdfish, to even more exotic dishes including Foie Gras & Scallop Sushi or Sea Urchin. Prices can be quite steep, so be prepared to splurge on good food! >.<" I ordered the Negi Toro Don ($28) which consists of chopped Ootoro and Scallions on rice. Ootoro is taken from the most tender part of the Tuna belly and is packed with loads of Omega-3 goodness - I could eat this all week and not get bored of the freshness of the tuna.
The scallions also add a refreshing kick to the dish. It's a very simple dish that is all about the natural goodness of the tuna and well-flavoured sushi rice. You don't need any fancy sauces - it's just all-natural goodness that makes this dish extremely good!
My Negi Toro Don also came with a Red Bean Mochi on the side. While it's not exactly the softest mochi I've tasted, it had a pretty good chewy texture to it. Plus, I'm always picky when it comes to my desserts - they shouldn't be too overly sweet and this mochi was just right. The red bean paste inside was sweet enough to compliment the mochi skin dusted with matcha powder.
Having traveled all the way to there for lunch, it would be a shame if we didn't get to try their other food items. So we decided to order an Unagi & Hokkaido Scallop Maki ($28) to share. This dish didn't impress me too much as I didn't quite like the deep fried Tempura exterior of the maki.
Nestled inside layers of sushi rice is a slice of unagi, scallop, snow crab and avocado - a perfect combination, except for the tempura battered exterior which kinda ruined it for me. But it was still quite an interesting dish to try and I am definitely looking forward to coming back here again for more!
Another interesting thing about Kinki is its design concept - the ceiling is filled with manga art and so is their menu. You will also find feisty wall murals of their mascot (this Japanese Sumo wrestler). I also enjoyed their sushi bar counter where you can watch the chefs skillfully slice up the sashimi for you. Oh, and did I mention that they even have an alfresco rooftop bar area for you to party? Overall, Kinki serves up super awesome authentic Japanese food in a funky artsy setting, making it a definite must-try for all Japophiles! =D
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