Just when I thought I had tried it all for Japanese cuisine, Kamoshita takes me on a new gastronomic journey with their Oden and special Izakaya fare. Oden is a bit like our Chinese's steamboat, with the food being boiled in soup base, but the taste and especially presentation is different. The oden food items–pure comfort food–are served in shallow bowls with some of the super flavourful soup. I definitely enjoy the food here, oden and all.
I go for omakase since this is the best way to try a bit of everything without overstuffing myself.
My dish of 3 kinds of premium oden consist of Hanpen, Chikuwa and Daikon. Hanpen, looking like tofu, is a special kind of fish cake made with white and mountain yam, not usually seen in supermarkets. It is so fluffy like cake and totally absorbs the favours of the soup. This is my favourite of the three. Daikon, aka Radish, comes close behind since it also packed with the essence of the flavourful soup with an additional bitter sweet taste. Chikuwa, which is grilled fish cake, gives a nice variation in texture due to its grilled surface.
Appetiser of Eggplant and Zucchini soaked in mirin soya sauce and topped with bonito flakes is full of flavours, refreshing and totally whets the appetite. Despite the fact that I don't have much love for eggplant, I love the eggplant here.
Another nice appetiser with more earthy taste. The MVP here is the tomato that tastes tangy at first bite, and then an amazingly sweet taste develops as I chew more into it.
Bagna Cauda is raw, super fresh, crispy assortment of veggies served on crushed ice. The star is the miso paste that really accentuates the sweetness of the vegetables like no other sauce does. Now this becomes my favourite salad dish.
Raw Sarawa fish served in light soya sauce is unbelievably sweet and full of flavours. thanks to the accompanying ikura, chopped spring onion and sesame seeds.
The Japanese flavoured Cheese is a speciality of Kamoshita. Smoked Radish Cheese is the first one I'm trying since it looks to be the lightest in flavour, as it is usually recommended to start with the lightest one for any trio of appetisers. The radish, soaked with flavours, has an extra creaminess and nutty flavour from the cheese, making it a delight to savour. Miso Cheese is like a slightly saltier cheese. My favourite is the Soy Sauce Sauce Boiled Kelp Cheese, The cheese, imbued with the umami of kelp, is so rich in taste and goes perfectly with the glutinous rice cracker.
I ordered an à la carte item of Crab Butter Cheese. Very unique and very yummy where the briny sweetness of crab fills up the cream cheese sandwiched between the glutinous rice cracker.
Special dish of the day featuring Deep Fried Fish. Interestingly, there is no hard bones in it, so I enjoy eating this. The accompanying potato is especially good.
Cold Udon has superb texture, being smooth and having an iota of chewiness. It has lots of subtle flavours when eaten with the udon sauce, spring onion, sesame and grated ginger. A great way to end the meal.
The friendly staff recommend a sake that is super sweet 👍
And I get to pick a sake cup I like from a collection of sake cups.
The ambience is of Izakaya style with hints of industrial chic. Service is friendly and helpful. This is a great place to just be yourself, relax and enjoy oden and unique Japanese dishes.
Thoughts: Oden "omakase" is delicious!
5 Neil Road
Nearest MRT: Outram Park or Maxwell
