Ka-Mon - Awesome Japanese Grill Feast

When I found out about Ka-Mon, a place serving dishes prepared with three different types of Japanese Grilling methods, I know I got to try the food here.  Especially when this place features two types of grilling, namely Genshiyaki: an ancient way of grilling, and Warayaki: straw-fired grilling, that I have never tried before.

I always love grilled food because grilling unlocks a special type of sweetness that adds complexity to the original taste of the ingredients. And at here, I actually get to savour the subtle differences in taste between each grilling methods. Robatayaki has a mild light sweet char, Ancient Grilling packs more oomph in the char while Straw-Fried Grilling has a char with vegetal sweet aroma.

I also love the variety of grilled food options, from aged duck breast, scallop, prawn, pork to tender juicy wagyu, so everyone can enjoy one's favourite grilled protein here. They also have value for money set lunches, Japanese appetisers, sashimi and such. The set lunches look popular, since the restaurant is almost full, with quite of number of patrons ordering the set lunch. Since I'm specially here for the different types of grilled food, I resist the temptation of the set lunch and order items from each type of grill instead. And yes, I'm very happy with my choice because they are so delicious, hitting the sweet spot, inciting moments of "wow".

The place is very spacious with modern Japanese vibe, full of wooden panels of different shades, shiny brick red tiles and a centrepiece of open kitchen counter, where patrons can see the chefs in action.

The service here is awesome, being attentive, friendly and professional. So yes, this place is a must-visit, for enjoying awesome grilled food plus other Japanese fare and experiencing something different.

Robatayaki Hokkaido Scallop with Avruga Caviar, Gochujang Butter, Garlic Chucks is luxurious and is the most flavourful scallop. It has a creamy taste at its core, tempered with light sweet char and savoury buttery flavour, to give complexity and body to the taste. The crispy garlic adds a good crunchiness to the bouncy, succulent texture of the scallop.

Genshiyaki Grill Jumbo Tiger Prawn is slowly cooked by placing the skewered prawn besides a stack of burning charcoal. This is where I get to taste the difference in taste due to different grilling. The prawn grilled Genshiyaki way features a char that is more pronounced and intense. Prawn is tender with a good bite, moist and sweet. I love this too.

For Warayaki Grill Tataki, I opt for Australian Wagyu MB7, where ingredients with simulating taste such as Daikon, Ponsu, Shiso, Myoga are added, yielding mouthfuls of exciting, tangy flavours. The Wagyu, carefully grilled with straw, is meaty, juicy, with an extra vegetal sweetness from the straw. The sweetness of the meat is accentuated by the different elements of this dish.

Aged Breast of Duck, dressed with Gobo Purée, Tare, Fuji Apple features this incredible crispy skin, succulent texture, milky base notes and this warm savoury sweetness. It tastes so different from other ducks, in a very good way.

Chicken Tsukune and Chicken Wing are best savoured when hot. Chicken Tsukune is pillowy, meaty and juicy while the Chicken Wing has a nice crispy skin and is so flavourful. And they go so well with the raw egg yolk soaked in soy sauce.

Apple Cobbler is a nice dessert with Hokkaido Milk Ice-cream and Apple Crumble.

Thoughts: The Place I will go to for Japanese Grilled Food!

8 Sentosa Gateway

Level 1 Hotel Michael Resorts World Sentosa

Akanoya Robatayaki - Sumptuous, Fun Feast

This restaurant is pending relocation. 

Japanese Robatayaki cuisine has a certain charm to it. Part if it is from the display of fresh seasonal ingredients at the counter where one can just choose any from the selection to be grilled and then served on a fisherman's paddle to the patron. As someone who appreciates quality groceries, it does feel gratifying to have all these quality produces decked out in front of me, in the comforts of a restaurant. In addition, well-grilled food tastes so good due to the extra sweetness and the aroma of char. And Robatayaki, at its core, requires to have huge variety in its food offerings, so patrons are really spoilt for choices. I know I am.

But there is not a lot of Robatayaki restaurants in Singapore, and Akanoya is one of the few. Actually, this restaurant has always been on my radar since years ago, but I never got around to come here due to personal reasons. Well, personal matters brought me to Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, and passing by the impressive entrance of Akanoya reminded me that this is one of the restaurants I wanted to patronise last time. So here I am in the restaurant, all ready to have a sumptuous feast.

Made with fresh ingredients, the food here definitely meets my expectations, having the great texture and simulating taste. I really enjoy savouring the food here.

The ingredients display counter is the main star here, with the red wooden table counter, oak wooden walls, paper lamps, Japanese calligraphy wooden tags to accentuate the traditional Japanese vibe. It does have that upmarket Izakaya feel, with a touch of posh.

Service staffs are friendly and knowledgeable, giving some really good recommendations on food and sake.

Crab Croquette looks so pretty and its taste matches the look. A coat of crispy breadcrumbs wrapped around a umami laden, creamy filling, topped with the oceanic sweetness of caviar and the zest of the dollop of specialty sauce, this appetiser is a luxurious treat.

Brussel Spouts, which is what I picked from the awesome array of seasonal Japanese vegetables, is so delicious! It is so crunchy, and each leave is flavourful, being packed with the essence of the sauce and the crispy freshness taste of veggies. Good eaten on its own, or dip in one of the trio of sauces served.

Kurobuta Butabara is interestingly served on the fisherman paddle. The meat is tender, flavourful and goes very well with the accompanying sauce.

In the background is the trio of sauces: tangy ponzu for seafood, teriyaki for meat and goma for vegetables. I like all three.

Hotate Kara is another one of my favourites. The scallops are so fresh and juicy. Its briny sweetness highlighted by the slight of char on the surface and the tanginess of the sauce they are soaked. An awesome treat.

Kara Hokkigai, which is surf clam, features taste that is similar to abalone: nuanced taste of the ocean and buttery. This clam is more tender and smoother in terms of texture. And the accompanying creamy sauce makes it even better.

Feeling that I still have capacity to savour more food plus a dessert, I add on the Kuruma Ebi since it looks so big and fleshy on the display right in front of me, I can't resist ordering it. Going light on sauces, the grilled prawn meat is fresh, sweet, firm yet tender. I dip some pieces in the trio of sauces for the variety in flavours. Also taste great eaten this way. The glutinous rice stuffed into the prawn's head is a nice addition to fulfil my craving for carbs. Love this dish very much too.

Warabi Mochi seals the sweet deal. The black sesame ice-cream is rich, creamy and full of earthy flavours of black sesame. The star is the warabi mochi. Soaked with the caramel goodness of Japanese black sugar, these soft pillowy jelly cubes are intense yet also refreshing in taste

Clear, sweet sake that goes very well with my choices of seafood, plus a pork dish and some vegetables.

Dining here is quite an unique experience where I have the fun of choosing the food I want from the spread in front of me. I also love the variety here. Though I must say that one needs to come here all ready spend some good money to enjoy the feel of choosing whatever you want. I come here with that mindset, thus totally enjoying myself.

Though I do wish the timing for seating can be more flexible since 5:30pm is too early for lots of people (this is very fine with me though) and 8:00pm is a bit too late (though perfect for night owls).

All in all, coming here really brings back the good memories of enjoying Robatayaki, and I look forward to coming here again.

Thoughts: I love Robatayaki!

Kurama Robatayaki - Hearty Surprises in this Surprise Find

This restaurant is no longer in operation 

I usually have most of my weekend lunches at my regular haunts, so this kind of contributes to my lack of updates. So I am not expecting to put up any new content on this site till the end of this year as I am running low on annual leaves to go on food journeys around Singapore. And surprise, surprise, I find a hidden gem in the form of Kurama Robatayaki when shopping at Harvey Norman!

This place is called hidden gem because one cannot spot it if casually walking around the central area of Millenia Walk. This restaurant, along with other Japanese restaurants, is actually nested within Nihon Street on the 2nd floor. So just keep an eye out for a big Nihon Street signboard to find the place. Seems like recently, lots of shopping malls are into featuring exclusive areas for Japanese restaurants. Some do not work for me, while some become my favourite haunts. As for the one in Millenia Walk, I like the scenic ambience with bamboos plants lining one side of the wide corridor, and the restaurants here look promising. I had tried Saboten before at 313 Somerset, so naturally, I decide to try out another establishment instead, and Kurama does not disappoint.

The exterior is a mishmash of colourful Japanese ornaments, decorations and sake bottles, which extends to the bar area near the entrance. It does have the feel of a traditional makeshift Japanese-themed chill-out spot. And hiding behind this bar is the restaurant where the countless of white paper lanterns, some with Japanese word on them with black ink, greet the patrons. Another centrepiece of the place got to be the wooden counter that is decked with various produces. The setting somewhat makes this place looks like a nice cosy restaurant located beside the market, minus the noise, of course.

Not only is Tsukune Don a great hearty and flavourful treat, it is unbelievably value for money. At only $9.90, I get a bowl of chicken minced meat skewers, paired with egg and very well-cooked quality Japanese rice topped with seaweed flakes, bonito flakes and other seasonings. The lightly seasoned chicken is fresh and full of meaty flavour, and the half-cooked egg is prepared in such a way that a tiny pressure breaks runny thin egg white to douse the rice and tsukune in egg yolk—simple things in life can be so enjoyable.

Spicy Salmon, which is originally $26.90, is now $8.90—this is the price I remember, these may vary from the actual prices slightly, is a real steal. The fresh slices of raw salmon are glazed with a dash of spicy seasonings, which gives the extra kick to the taste. For its original price, this don is still worth a shot due to the novelty of spicy salmon and the quality Japanese rice. At the super discount, this is a must-try.

Momo: chicken thigh meat on skewers is a good choice to order to try out what the robatayaki dishes here are all about due to the attractive price of $3. The preparation of this dish is reminiscent of that of the best sumiyaki restaurant, Kazu. After sprinkles of sea salt and pepper, plus a spray of oil, and the fresh, succulent meat is off to the grill. And this works because going light on seasonings allow the flavours of grilled meat to shine through. I say the momo here is pretty comparable to the one in Kazu.

The quality of tebasaki is comparable also, but this is more expensive than its counterpart in Kazu, as do other sumiyaki items. But there are times where I will go to this restaurant for sumiyaki over Kazu when I favour better and spacious setting or I have cravings for sumiyaki during lunch time—Kazu is only opened during dinner. And the super value for money dons are worth a trip down there.

Do take note that when I put the tag "Value for Money" to this post, I am referring to the dons available during lunch. Ordering the ala carte items such sumiyaki and robatayaki items is another story.

The service is good. There is this auntie service staff is friendly and full of zest, and we appreciate this kind of great service that has a unique Singaporean feel to it.

Needless to say, this restaurant has become one of my top choices for lunch already due to the great price, variety and decent quality of food.

My Thoughts: It is one of my Favourite Haunts!