Aoi 葵 - Nice, cool Izakaya that has everything

Time to suss out hidden gems in Cuppage! Actually, Cuppage used to be my favourite dining destination. This dingy place houses lots of quaint Japanese eateries that it feels like treasure hunting in a forgotten cavern. After change of lifestyle that takes me to treasure hunting in Chinatown area instead, I don’t really have chances to visit Cuppage again.

A Watercolour Art event brings me to an evening at Orchard, and this is exactly the opportunity to uncover a hidden gem in the good ol Cuppage. This time I found Aoi 葵, a pretty new, but not exactly new restaurant.

There is buffet option with over 100 items to choose, which is very attractive, but yours truly opt for ala carte instead since I want to have a quick meal. The over 100 items are good ol izakaya food prepared in all possible Japanese ways, from cold appetizers, sashimi, maki, temaki, sushi, deep fried food, grilled food, steamed food rice, noodles to yakitori. The variety is very good, and the food is yummy.

The interior is reminiscent of modern, stylish Izakaya, having that cool yet cosy ambience. The service is very warm, friendly and efficient.

Hokkaido scallop with Foie Gras is such a rich, luxurious dish with flavours that mesmerizes the palates. Being seared lightly on the surface and raw in the core, the plump, juicy scallop retains the nice bouncy, creamy texture. Its briny sweetness is perfect match with the earthy umami of foie gras. I even finish the tomato slice underneath because it tastes so good after absorbing the essence of scallop and foie gras, with refreshing tobiko trapped within.

Nice tasty Negitoro Maki. It is full of flavours.

Grilled Squid, with the sweetness of grilled meat, is tender while still retaining a good bite. Very good texture, I enjoy munching on the body cut into rings. The tentacles are drier and harder though.

Nice Soft Shell Crab Temaki.

Nice zesty 8% alcoholic drink, Yuzu Shu.

I enjoy dining here due to the variety, tasty food, quaint vibe and cosy environment. A good place for gathering, especially with the buffet option.

Thoughts: Quaint, Cool Place

5 Koek Road

#03-01 Cuppage Plaza

Nearest MRT: Somerset

Izakaya SHUN - Cuppage’s Best Kept Secret

It is just another day of getting our tummies happy when we head to one of our favourite haunts, Cuppage Plaza, to visit one of the restaurants in our regular list. Little did we expect to uncover yet another gem in this dingy little shopping complex. We are just trying our luck and waiting for the famed Kazu to open and then ask if we can get a table without reservation, it is at this moment that I notice a newly opened Japanese restaurant right besides Kazu, separated by a small corridor only.

After a quick search to find out that Izakaya SHUN is a sister restaurant of Kappo Shunsui, whose owner used to run a restaurant in Japan that was listed in Michelin Tokyo’s Bib Gourmand, well, I am all set to check out this restaurant!

The ambience is like that of posh restaurant bar with a bar counter, metallic tabletops, a mix of modern black plush chairs and those that have a touch of European medieval style and black walls with a brick wall at one end. And with the relaxing background jazz music, this is like the perfect place to chill and enjoy great food.

The menu is interestingly written in Japanese calligraphy style, but fret not, there are small and perfectly readable English words written below each item. The menu presented in this style sure adds on the feel of izakaya. Its offering is a mixed of everything from the usual chicken karaage to not-so-usual stingray fin. And after poring through the menu filled with Japanese words, we order Salmon sashimi, spicy pickled cucumber, snow crab’s cream croquette, chicken karaage and soba.

Otoshi, which is a small appetizer of ikura, comes up first. A great starter since each ikura is like a pearl of the essences of the sea: salty yet refreshing on the palates. The dash of yuzu added is the perfect accompaniment due to its light citrus flavour. I also like the firmness of the ikura here since like popping bubbles, it is nice to bite into it and then it goes “pop”. I also appreciate the thoughtful gesture of changing the originally intended salmon to ikura for our appetizers since we have ordered salmon and the chef does not want us to feel that the dishes are repetitive.

On our second visit, we are served unagi maki for otoshi. The starchy rice is smooth in texture and very flavourful. Pairs very well with the custard-like texture of the eel. I also like the crispy seaweed that goes with it.

While salmon is not the pedigree of sashimi, we opt to try it since it is our first time there and we want to try a more wallet friendly option. The cut is excellent, yielding slices with the perfect thickness. And served at the right temperature where the slices are cold enough to retain the freshness while is warm enough to release the flavours readily, the sashimi tastes so good! Now I am eager to try the other sashimi.

Spicy pickled cucumber is interesting in taste but the taste of preserved food is pretty strong, a bit too much to my preference since I am generally not really into preserved food stuff.

I actually prefer the kohada salad ordered on second visit. It is one of the most interesting salad I have tried. I like the strong taste of citrus generously added to the mix of slightly bitter leaves and finely sliced kohada fish. The contrast in textures between the leaves and soft flesh of fish actually works beautifully.

I love how chargrilled Pork from Miyazaki is lightly seasoned with dashes of sea salt and pepper to let the natural flavours of the pork shine through. And the seasoning is the perfect accompaniment to the flavours of charred meat. And the pork is perfectly grilled to have light hints of the coveted taste of charred meat yet featuring no burnt parts. The specialty chilli paste gives an extra kick to the taste.

A good source of carbohydrates to go with all the dishes will be the soba. I like the pretty generous amount of chopped scallions, spring onions and seaweed sprinkled on top of the soba. The hot clear soup is very flavourful, filled with the goodness of kombu and bonito. Drinking it on a rainy day hits the sweet spot. The soba is of al dente texture, which is my preference, but my companion will like it to be a bit softer in texture.

Cold soba is pretty good too.

I seldom see snow crab’s cream coquette featured in the menus, so I do not hesitate to order this one. Cutting through the mashed potato coated with breadcrumbs reveals the molten filling within. The filling is creamy with hints of umami. And the tangy coquette sauce created a nice balance in taste with the coquette.

As for the chicken karaage, my companion says it is the best. I do think that it is very good because the chicken is tender, succulent and juicy.

The young lady attending to us is very friendly, energetic, alert and attentive. I am really impressed. Just a note, the food will take a while to be served.

I totally enjoy dining at Izakaya SHUN because this place simply feels different from the others, in large part due to the dishes and the menu. The meal is supposed to be on me as I had promised. However, my companion loves the food here so much that he insists on footing the bill. He does get a shock from the price of the tea, which is $5 per pax!

So we conclude that it is better to order a second helping of house pour sake at $9 instead. That is what we are going to do the next time we come here again.

My Thoughts: Yes! I uncover another gem in Cuppage! More reasons to go to Cuppage.

This restaurant had underwent some changes, such as moving to Keong Saik and then moving back to Cuppage. Check their website for latest updates instead.

https://www.izakayashun.sg/

Hanashizuku - Cuppage’s Little Secret

Hanashizuku is one of those restaurants that I always pass by but never have the chance to check it out since it used to be opened for dinner only. I finally get around to try out the food there when it started to open for weekday lunch recently. And I guess I just suss out another well-kept secret hidden in the dingy Cuppage Plaza.

Ambience wise, this place is like an upmarket izakaya and bar due to the posh settings, yellow lights and the jazz music playing in the background. It is perfect for chilling out if one just wants to soak in the relaxed atmosphere and enjoy good food. Great for dates too, due to the romantic soft yellow lights and soothing music.

Starting with the salad of fresh crisp raw vegetables drizzled with sesame sauce, I like the thin shreds of radish that give an extra crunchiness and refreshing taste to this starter.

I order Bento of the Week, which features lots of small dishes for me to try out. The trio of salmon, akami and hanachi sashimi is fresh, with absolutely no hint of the fishy smell. Pumpkin with Sakura ebi is probably one of the best pumpkin dishes I have tried. I have no love for pumpkins, but the dish here changes my mind. Soft yet not mushy, the sweet pumpkin soaks up the unami of the thick, starchy broth that it is suspended in, and with the strong taste of the shrimp, the savoury flavours add dimension to the taste of the root vegetable and balances the sweetness of the pumpkin.

Crab Coquette makes for a hearty treat due to the creamy, lava-like crab filling enveloped by mashed potato coated with incredibly crispy breadcrumbs. And the shredded cabbage salad is a refreshing addition to this deep-fried item. This dish goes very well with the quality starchy Japanese rice sprinkled with seaweed and sesame. Grilled Salmon with Spicy Roe sauce is better than most cooked salmon dishes I had tried because of the creamy spicy roe sauce that neutralizes the strong aroma of cooked salmon. But I will prefer it if the sauce is spicier to further balance the strong flavours present.

Tempura and Sashimi set is really value for money. For $18.00 only, one can get three thick slices of salmon sashimi and an assortment of tempura items that feature very crispy fried batter.

Service is absolutely great due to the attentive and friendly staff. The service does a great part to make this restaurant feels like the perfect place to chill out.

After trying the lunch sets, I am eager to go back and try other interesting offerings on the ala carte menu, like the carpaccio dishes. So stay tuned to this page for updates!

My Thoughts: Very Nice!

Nearest car park: Cuppage Plaza’s car park
Nearest MRT: Somerset

5 Koek Road
#02-01 Cuppage Plaza
Singapore
Contact No: ‭6733 7498‬

Shirokiya - Very Unique Dishes

Closed

The menu does feature lots of rare and unique Japanese dishes that cannot be found in other restaurants. And they sure look temptingly delicious. The only issue is that a fat wallet is needed to try out all of them since the price is a notch above that of usual Japanese fare. The good part is that I can try different dishes on subsequent visits due to the huge variety of food.

For the Fried Rice with Crab Meat, the rice portion seems to taste a bit bland on the first bite due to the lack of salt and oil. However, after a few more mouthful, the inherent aroma of the rice comes through. The use of less oil actually makes this dish more enjoyable to tuck into. Not to mention that more skills are required to stir fry food with less oil. When paired with the generous topping of real crab meat and shredded dried seaweed, the result is bursting with the goodness of the sea. One of the best fried rice I have, most probably, for now.

The collagen hotpot seems like one of the main attractions, and frankly speaking, the seafood spread looks very attractive, where the fresh ingredients filled the pot almost to the brim. Though I will say that the star of this dish is the clear, light, tasty broth. Even the tofu-like pieces of solidified collagen are clear in colour. As compared to the hearty, strong-tasting soup in Tsukada Nojo, I prefer Shirokiya's soup base since it is packed with subtle favours yet not overwhelming. However, unlike the unique and wholesome range of ingredients that Tsukada Nojo prepares for hotpot, the ones of Shirokiya are pretty generic: prawns (the best part), chicken pieces (kind of like randomly cut) and the usual suspects of vegetables used for most hotpot, cabbage, carrot, golden mushrooms and shitake mushrooms.

Thus I find that the kurobuta pork hotpot set is a much better choice, where I can enjoy the soup and the generous helping of thinly sliced fresh kurobuta pork. A sprinkle of freshly grated black pepper onto the meat gives the extra kick and oomph.

The freshly made hot tofu, when combined with the bonito flakes, grated ginger, special sauce and chopped spring onions, tastes really flavourful. Though it is a bit like the stone soup—good when eaten with condiments, a tad plain when eaten on its own. I find that the hot tofu brings out the flavours of accompanying condiments while the cold one, which looks better at serving, mutes those tastes. I do like the presentation of the hot tofu, where the staff carries out a Japanese wooden tub and then scoops out the tofu from it.

The tori karaage is not exactly what I call healthy food, but Shirokiya presents the healthier version by reducing the salt. Taste wise, it is plainer, still palatable though. Not exactly a noteworthy dish.

The second floor feels cosy due to the wooden furniture, sliding doors and panels. The pictures of sceneries in Japan decorate the walls, imparting a modern yet distinctively Japanese feel to the place. Though making one's way to the staircase to second floor is, well, not pleasant. The walkway is narrow, and there is a part where the dirty utensils are piled up at the side.

The service varies from good to neutral to not-so-friendly. Quite a number has that poker face on a busy Friday night, no major issue, but also no points for this. One of the staff, Xandrea, is one of the exceptions who is cheerful, helpful and friendly. I will like this place a lot more if all staff are like her. The front counter staff is full of smiles, which is what attracted me to give the food here a try—yes, one of those few times I just walk in to check out the place without doing any research.

Note: After patronising this place many times, I find the overall service to be getting better. In fact, we feel very comfortable when dining there because of the helpful, genuinely friendly staff. 

I do enjoy dining in Shirokiya, not including the journey to the staircase. So will visit again.

My Thoughts: Very Nice!

This restaurant is no longer in operation.

Tamaya Dining - Authentic Japanese Dining Experience

At the recommendation of a Japanese chef of the best Japanese restaurant in Singapore, Shinji, I decided to check out Tamaya and the row of restaurants at Cuppage Terrace. And I was pleasantly surprised by the great finds there.

One of the biggest motivating factor to visit Tamaya is the authentic Japanese dining experience where the patrons get to dine at the low tables in traditional Japanese horigotatsu style with screens between each table for some privacy. Sitting seiza style is not required since there is a sink-in area underneath the table for some leg space. Getting the attention of the attentive service staff is surprisingly easy, in spite of being on the more secluded second floor.

As for the food, the variety is pretty impressive, ranging from the staples of sashimi and sushi to those items not regularly found in other Japanese restaurants. One of my favourites is the Otsumami Chashu, roast pork that is like no others. Served cold, this roast pork, made up of swirls of fat and meat, is soft to the bite and is packed with the sweet flavour of slightly charred meat. I am very impressed with how the fat, which is creamy instead of gelatinous, renders the overall texture of the meat to be smooth. I will usually pick off the fat from my dishes, but I gladly make an exception for this dish.

Another one that send me raving about it is the Iron pot Rice with Chicken and Burdock Root. The presentation of the rice topped with meat and vegetable served in a dainty iron pot encased in wooden box had already made me excited about getting a bite of it. I was not disappointed. The fragrance of the quality rice, imbued with the aroma of fresh chicken and burdock root, is concentrated into that little pot to yield incredibly flavourful rice. Every grain of it is absolutely not spared.

The Yasai Itame, stir-fried vegetables, is good as it retains a bit of the crunch of fresh vegetables and is not too salty. Though it is not really outstanding in any particular aspect. Another pretty good dish is Tonpei Yaki, egg omelette with pork and shredded cabbage. The fresh ingredients and the combination of runny egg mixture drizzled over cabbage and pork result in a wholesome and healthy appetizer. I suggest to add some soya sauce to this because the unseasoned raw cabbage may taste to be a tab plain.

The sole lowlight of the repertoire of dishes ordered is the yakitori moriawase. The sticks of grilled food are dry and tasteless. To make things worse, most of the items included in the moriawase are not the specialities of this restaurant ... at least that is my impression since specialities should not be epic fail in terms of both texture and taste, consisting of strange items in the likes of green chilies, chicken skin and chicken gizzards that is rubbery hard. Only the chicken meat is decent, in fact, it is pretty tasty. The better idea is to order individual kushiyaki items instead of the moriawase.

I am glad to find another Japanese restaurant to be added into my list of restaurants that I will patronize often. Tamaya does offer an authentic and a relatively unique dining experience that sets it apart from the competitors and gives me the incentive to visit it once in a while.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Nearest car park: Cuppage Plaza's car park

Nearest MRT: Somerset

45 Cuppage Terrace

Cuppage Road

Singapore

Contact No: 68353539

The Curry Culture - Intensely Flavoured Dishes

Besides the some great finds in Cuppage Plaza, I found out that there is a trove of treasures hidden among the stretch of shophouses outside the place: Cuppage Terrace. And Curry Culture is one of them.

Despite the relatively small area, the interior is quite posh with dark wood furniture and exotic decorations. The service is attentive and friendly. So I immediately feels at ease when in there.

As for the food, I need to rave about the Raita here. The Raita of Curry Culture is the best I ever have, period. The yoghurt used here is full-bodied, rich and thick yet mild and pleasing to the palates, unlike the watery sour ones commonly found in other places. It is almost of the quality of premium greek yoghurt. The raw vegetables like cucumbers and such are fresh and crunchy. A must-order, especially when it helps to quench the hot flavours.

The grilled chicken with cheese is another winner. The meat is imbued with lots of spices, simulating the taste buds when savouring it. The cheese adds texture to the dish and adds an extra dimension to the overall taste. Surprisingly, the light flavour of cheese complements the strong aromas of the spices instead of being muted. So good combination there.

The Briyani is good with lots of flavours, tends towards the spicy side. Though I prefer the one in the restaurant in Holiday Inn, which is drier, thus retaining the excellent bite, flavour and texture typical of basmatic rice.

Glad to find this restaurant, so I have more options to consider when having a craving for North Indian food.

My Thoughts: Lots of Kick!

Nearest car park: Cuppage Plaza's car park

Nearest MRT: Somerset

31 Cuppage Road

Cuppage Terrace

Singapore

Contact No: 62356133

Kaiho Sushi Restaurant - A Hidden Gem

Closed

Kaiho is one hidden gem. Why? Because on the first look at the exterior and interior, nothing seems very impressive, not to mention it is hidden in Cuppage Plaza (only known to those who know that this place has a lot of great Japanese restaurants). However, if one chooses to venture inside, he/she will be rewarded with great food at great value, plus decent service (something lacking in a lot of Japanese restaurants, including high end ones).

On the side note: The chef is a local, however one can spot a lot of Japanese expats dining in here and this is saying a lot about the skill of the chef (since I know that Japanese people don't really fancy Japanese food made by non Japanese). I had even overheard a Japanese saying to his lady companion "すごい美味しい", meaning "very delicious".

The raw seafood were so fresh that while retaining the natural sweetness of the seafood (termed as the taste of umi, by me), there is no fishy smell or taste at all. The raw tuna and yellowtail here, truly surprised me in how good the taste and texture can be, since I always had a bad impression of these two fishes (rough and tough texture, fishy smell) based on experiences in some other restaurants. Shirauo (whitebait), aburi hotategai and amaebi sushi are highly recommended. Especially the amaebi, an item that I always order when dining in Kaiho. The prawns are incredibly sweet, creamy and fresh, got to be the best amaebi I ever had. As for the aburi hotategai sushi, the smoky flavour lends extra dimension to the smooth, fresh slab of seafood—pure enjoyment of great food, but the price to pay is great. Mekajiki can be given a miss since I find the meat to have the fishy smell I dislike. And the tako is too tough to my liking.

The chestnut ice cream is a must try also due to the richness of the taste of Japanese chestnuts. And seriously, it is not like one can find such ice cream easily in other places!

Best of all, green tea is complimentary!

There are few places in which one can savour such fresh seafood and Kaiho is one of them, and given that the service is quite decent, I am always ready to be back for more!

My Thoughts: Nice!
This restaurant is no longer in operation.

Izakaya Nijumaru - Cheap and Good

Nowadays, I either go to Shinji or Shabu Shabu Gen for the unbelievably sublime, though expensive gastronomic feast, or I can get better and cheaper food than those chain restaurants (with Rakuichi as exception) in Kinsa or right in dingy location of Cuppage Plaza.  Besides Kaiho and Shinjuku, another good find is Izakaya Nijumaru which offers a variety of classic, common Japanese food.

The set meals are very value for money given the quantity of the food and the fresh ingredients used.  The pickles are well done and the buta katsu is crispy and flavourful, having none of that unpleasant smell of overused oil.

The ambience is simple yet having a strong Japanese influence.  If the service crew speaks in Japanese, it will feel as though one gets transported to a street in Japan.

Service is quite okay, though I always visit on Saturday afternoons when it was not crowded, so it may differs from the standard at night.

One of my top choices for some down to earth good Japanese food.

My Thoughts: It is one of my Favourite Haunts!

Nearest car park: Cuppage Plaza's car park

Nearest MRT: Somerset

5 Koek Road

#02-10 Cuppage Plaza

Singapore

Contact No: 62356693

Kazu - Crowded little place but the food is worth it

Cuppage Plaza is really one little treasure trove where one can find humble little restaurants that serve quality Japanese food. Kaiho, Nijumaru and Shinjuku (I'm going to check out Marui Sushi sooner or later) are great examples and of course, the famous Kazu is also one of them. 

After the renovation, the place looks very modern, though still very crowded. We were literally sharing the table with another couple. So when the staff was nice enough to offer a basket to put my bag, I declined the offer since the walkway is so narrow that the basket with my bag may get kicked around a lot when everyone passed by. Though I still appreciate the thoughful gesture nonetheless. Service is generally good. The senior staff is very helpful in recommendations but tends to be over zealous in doing that, so take note of the number of orders made and whether they fit with one's dietary preferences.

The food is definitely the highlight of this place. A huge variety of sumiyaki available from different kinds of meat paired with an array of vegetables, okonomiyaki ball to foie gras. The freshness and juiciness of the ingredients are evident even when doused with the appetizing flavourful seasonings. The slight charred surface added an extra oomph to the overall taste without too much of it to render the bitter taste.

A must try is the okonomiya ball. In fact, do not share it, get one for each person because even one for each is not enough. The okonomiya ball is loaded with fresh vegetables with only a little dough on the outside to hold everything together—exactly how I like it. The sauce is mildly sweet, salty with a dash of sourness, which is just right to let the delicate taste of the vegetables to shine through.

Though take note that some of the staff like to recommend those specialties which are very expensive but not a lot better than the ones in the menu, in terms of taste. So they are not exactly value for money.

What I like about this place is that a small metal prong is provided, making it very useful to remove the meat from the sticks. The biggest plus is the sleek awesome-looking smoke extractor which really did its job very well. Guarantee not to let a single particle of the smoke lands on the patrons.

While I do not usually dine out for dinner, I will make the exception for Kazu.

My Thoughts: It is one of my Favourite Haunts!

Nearest car park: Cuppage Plaza's car park

Nearest MRT: Somerset

5 Koek Rd Cuppage Plaza

#04-05

Singapore

Contact No: 6734 2492

Shinjuku Japanese Restaurant - Yummy and Tasty Food

Formerly known as Kushingin. The set lunches provided here is very value for money, especially the one with lots of yakitori items included. The pickles that come with the set meals are crunchy and refreshing in taste. The seaweed sheet is nice and toasty, which tears off easily (indication of freshness), the yakitori items are extremely tasty and imbued with fresh flavour of meat. Though the place is a bit cramped and worn out but still loving it!

Update: This place is no longer one of our regular haunts after change of lunch menu items.

My Thoughts: Okay

Nearest car park: Cuppage Plaza's car park

Nearest MRT: Somerset

5 Koek Road
#01-01 Cuppage Plaza
Singapore
Contact No: 62386860