Tag: Japanese

If there’s one thing Singaporeans will never tire of, it’s Japanese food! Happily, new Japanese restaurants are popping up every year to satiate our enormous appetites, but our favourite Japanese culinary exports (like fresh slabs of sashimi) can also be one of its most expensive, and if you’re not careful, that delicious sushi dinner can easily set you back hundreds of dollars.

Not to worry – for the benefit of your wallet we’ve taken on the trying task of eating our way through Singapore’s multitude of Japanese restaurants to bring you some of the best and most affordable spots on our sunny island. Itadakimasu!

Photo credits: Teppei Japanese Restaurant

Teppei Japanese Restaurant

You’ve probably seen a couple of Teppei Syokudo stalls all around Singapore serving up bowls of Kaisen-Don tossed in their signature specialty Bara Chirashi sauce (Teppei-san has it specially manufactured in Japan), but the original restaurant at Tanjong Pagar is where the party’s at! An assortment of generously cubed fresh Salmon, Tuna, Cuttlefish, Scallop and Swordfish sashimi pieces lies atop a bowl of warm, fluffy Japanese rice, topped with seaweed flakes, spring onions, sprouts and a sprinkling of Ikura ($17.60). The Bara Chirashi sauce is reminiscent of Japanese Soy Sauce, but with a touch more umami flavour. Oishi!

(Tip: they have different Higawari (daily specials) lunch bowls every day, so check out their Facebook page for what they have on offer before you go!)

Dishes We Love: Kaisen Don, Negitoro Kaisen Don, Japan Gyudon, Steamed Unagi Don, Sukiyaki Don

Find it at 1 Tras Link, #01-18 Orchid Hotel, 078867
Click here for more info on Teppei Japanese Restaurant

Shin Minori Japanese Restaurant

Shin Minori has been named the winner for ‘Best Buffet’ in Chope’s Diners Choice Award in 2016, and for good reason: you can treat yourself to 8 different types of fresh sashimi, a large variety of sushi, temaki and makimono, and a plethora of grilled and fried options – all for the low price of $37++ for lunch and $39++ for dinner! It’s the perfect place for get-togethers, made even better with their 10th anniversary promotion menu (available till the 31st of May 2017) – free flows of red wine, white wine, sake, beer, umeshu soda, fruit juice and soft drinks for an additional $10! If you’re looking for a reason to celebrate, this is it.

Dishes We Love: Maguro Sashimi, Kani Tempura, Zaru Soba, Spider Temaki, Ebi Tempura Maki, Harvest Maki Roll

81 Clemenceau Avenue, #03-15/16, UE Square, 239917
Book a table at Shin Minori and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Standing Sushi Bar

Despite its name, Standing Sushi Bar doesn’t actually require its customers to stand and consume their sushi. Just as well, for it’s going to take us a while to take full advantage of the restaurant’s generous promotions. On Mondays and Thursdays, gorge yourself on tender Salmon Sashimi with Standing Sushi Bar’s promise of 5 slices for a mere $3. Then come back on Try Us Tuesdays and eat your way through the restaurant’s nigiri sushi selection, including classics like Mackerel, Yellowtail, Salmon, Ebi, and Tuna for half-price. It’s probably a good thing they don’t offer these promos every day of the week because we’d never leave!

Dishes We Love: Salmon Sashimi, Mackerel Nigiri Sushi, Shake Aburi, Salmon Avocado Maki

Find it at 8 Queen Street, #01-03 8QSAM, 188535
Book a table at Standing Sushi Bar and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Photo credits: @jael.__

Sushiro

Sushiro is situated at Thompson Plaza and serves up amazing bowls of Bara Chirashi don as well, and among one of the cheapest at only $12.90! Their generous bowls contain large cubes of sashimi – namely Salmon, Tuna, Octopus, Scallop and Prawn, along with a sprinkling of Ikura for a burst of umami flavour. The sashimi is covered with a slightly sweet and sticky sesame sauce, definitely your cup of tea if you’re into sweet-savoury foods. There’s usually a queue outside before the tiny store even opens, so go early or be prepared to wait in line!

Dishes We Love: Bara-Chirashi Don, Chu-toro Don, Salmon Mentaiyaki Don, Salmon Sushi Nigiri Set

Find it at #01-113F, 301 Upper Thomson Rd, 574408
Click here for more info on Sushiro

Photo credits: The Sushi Bar

The Sushi Bar

We’re pretty sure you already know about The Sushi Bar – how can you not? This place serves up amazingly fresh and thick cuts of sashimi, specialty rolls and chirashi dons at affordable prices. We’re obsessed with their Chirashi Don ($19.90) and their phenomenal Soft Shell Crab Salmon Aburi Roll ($17.90) – truly the stuff of dreams! Their Far East Plaza joint was so incredibly popular that they’ve expanded and opened up a second branch at Ngee Ann City.

Dishes We Love: Basic & Normal Chirashi Don, Soft Shell Crab Salmon Aburi, Ebi Salmon Aburi

Find it at 391B Orchard Road, #05-34/35, Ngee Ann City, 238874
Click here for more info on The Sushi Bar

Mitsuba Japanese Restaurant

Did someone say buffet? Mitsuba Japanese Restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat sushi and sashimi buffet from its a la carte menu for less than $40, with a 25% discount for groups of four adults. We threw restraint out the window and immediately indulged in delicious Sashimi Moriawase ($30): two of each of the six types of sashimi, Negi Toro (Tuna belly) Handroll ($10), and Tobikko Sushi ($4). For the less voracious, choose a set meal like the Unagi Kagayaki ($28): grilled, soft freshwater eel accompanied by a bowl of rice, an appetizer, fruit and miso soup.

Dishes We Love: Unagi Kagayaki, Dobin Mushi, Sashimi Moriawase, Bifu Yakiniku, Ebi Tempura Temaki, Oyako Don

Find it at 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #03-88, The Central, Singapore 059817
Book a table at Mitsuba Japanese Restaurant and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Shinagawa Ramen & Izakaya

Tucked away in Anson Road, Shinagawa Ramen & Izakaya offers simple, unpretentious and (most importantly) delicious Japanese fare. We loved the Salmon Mentai’s tender slices of salmon sashimi topped with salted cod roe ($5.00), and the restaurant’s Chirashi Don: generous slices of mouthwatering sashimi atop a bed of perfectly prepared sushi rice. To sweeten the deal, visit the restaurant during weekdays for its promotional specials, which include a main course, a side dish and dessert for under $20. With value like that, how can we decline?

Dishes We Love: Chirashi Don, Salmon Mentai, Char Siew Ramen, Salmon Popiah, Beef Tataki, Shake Teriyaki

Find it at 10 Anson Road, #02-35/36/37, International Plaza, 079903
Book a table at Shinagawa Ramen & Izakaya and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Otaru Suisan

With its widely diverse menu we guarantee you’ll be spoilt for choice in Otaru Suisan. Start with classic appetizers like a refreshing Takoru ($6.80): cool, chewy slices of fresh octopus with cucumber and seaweed in a sweet vinegar sauce, or order the Pan Fried Chicken Gyoza ($7.00) and crunch into juicy chicken tucked in a crispy dumpling skin. Sushi lovers can also sample from the restaurant’s numerous sushi dishes, but if you’re having trouble choosing (truly, we sympathise), order the Nigiri Ume, which promises nine different nigiri for less than $20. We were also fans of the Barachirashi Don, which pleases both the stomach (thanks to hearty pieces of assorted sashimi on a heaping bowl of rice, accompanied by a steaming bowl of miso soup) and the bank account for under $25.

Dishes We Love: Takoru, Pan Fried Chicken Gyoza, Maguro Tataki, Baked Seafood with Cheese and Mentaiko, Nigiri Ume, Barachirashi Don, Sanshoku Don

Find it at Unit No 04-10, 201 Victoria Street, 188067
Book a table at Otaru Suisan and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant

As the restaurant’s name suggests, Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant caters to diners looking for a tasty, leisurely, and, of course, affordable meal. Sink your teeth into a crunchy Spider Roll ($19.90) – fret not, it’s not actually made of spiders, but heavenly deep fried soft shell crab – or order a melt-in-your-mouth Kagoshima Wagyu Beef Sushi ($7.90). For heartier fare, go for the Hokkaido Salmon Roe Sushi Rice Bowl. With its abundance of soft, piquant, salmon roe on rice for less than $25 it’s a bargain you can’t beat with a stick.

Dishes We Love: Unagi Roll, Spider Roll, Kagoshima Wagyu Beef Sushi, Salmon Roe Rice Bowl, Grilled Beef Short Ribs Rice Bowl

1 Vista Exchange Green, #02-16, The Star Vista, 138617
Book a table at Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Marukyu

Japanese Fine Dining for less than $30? Sign us up please!

We especially loved Marukyu’s Yaki Sakana Lunch Set ($16): its salty, flaky grilled mackerel was perfect when enjoyed with fluffy white rice, and comes with a side of sashimi and miso soup. The Salmon Teriyaki & Scallop Butter Yaki set ($21) is a must try as well, consisting of grilled salmon with sweet teriyaki sauce and large scallop medallions with butter sauce. Indulgent tip: if you’re feeling particularly flush from all the money you’ve saved up from dining at the previous restaurants on the list, spring for Marukyu’s Omakase sets ($68 or $88) and let the chef decide your meals for you.

Dishes We Love: Yaki Sakana Lunch Set, Salmon Teriyaki & Scallop Butter Yaki Set, Australian Wagyu Set, Senkai Set, Omakase Fue

Find it at 116 Telok Ayer Street, 068585
Book a table at Marukyu and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG

Prices accurate as of 23rd March 2017

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