Kuriya Dining

Ever heard of handmade soba?


Sansai Soba Mini ($10.80)

Freshly milled buckwheat, 100% hand-cut. Don't expect the springy zaru soba you get out of packets, this premium rendition is soft and chopped up, served in a deep herby broth with wild mushrooms and vegetables. Dad had a cold soba with mixed tempura.


Tempura Soba Mini ($12.80)


Mentaiko Tamago ($11.80)

We also ordered a rolled steamed egg bearing slits of oozing mentaiko. The salty sensation crossed dad's tolerance but egg was smooth and distintly layered.

Kuriya Dining
252 North Bridge Road
#01-06/07 Raffles City Shopping Centre

Sushi Tei

This japanese restaurant, currently standing as one of my favourites, outshines many in terms of their innovative creativity, presentation and ambience. The seasonal menu also ensures something new to try every time.

Prices may range on the higher scale but the quality was worth paying for. Dad starts off with his favourite egg custard, followed by teriyaki steak on a usual basis and an agedashi tofu.


Buri Aburi Sashimi with Black Pepper ($12)

But nothing could beat this seasonal delicacy. Undoubtedly crowned the star of the meal, this half-broiled yellowtail sashimi selects only the best from the coldest season. Firm yet tender, masterfully aburi-ed and flavoured with a black pepper coating without an hint of fishy taste.


Ikura Chawanmushi ($7)

A costly indulge of plain steamed egg highlighted with some salmon roe.


Agedashi Tofu ($4)


Garlic Teriyaki Steak ($12)


Sashimi Salad ($8)

This was pretty good. A variety of fresh salmon, tuna, yellowtail, octopus, cuttlefish and a sort of shellfish with citrus wafu dressing.


Saba Shio ($8)

Nice tender flesh well-seasoned, one of the better ones i've had except without that crisp skin surface.

There is more to try.

Pasta de Waraku 2

A new menu revamp. Just as you could already be driven up the wall for choice-making, Waraku pumped in more new creations to spoil customers further. Options also extended to the pasta sizes- available in Mini or Regular.

I thought the usual decision-dilemma thing will occur to me as it always does... until i saw "salmon & salmon roe wafu" and my mind was instantly set.


Salmon & Salmon Roe Wafu Pasta (Mini $12.80)

Pathetic, was the only word i could think of. The three-quartered spaghetti portion, barely a handful of salmon flakes and a few salmon roe came as a triple blow to me. This was an utterly ridiculous size-cut to save $2.

Pasta cooked past the correct consistency and the oily pool of residue further dampened the satisfactory level. I would rather return to the Marina branch for my fuller portions of food and much better service.


Bacon & Spinach Wafu Pasta (Mini $12.80)

Despite being listed in the menu's Wafu section, Dad's order felt just like having spaghetti bathed in a cream soup. Very suspicious of promoting their spinach cream soup to a duo-purpose broth.


Chicken Aglio Olio ($12.80)


Prawn & Scallop Pizza ($10.80)

Not only was Mum's measly chicken dices unforgivable, their mini version pizzas were equivalently anger-invigorating. This famed thinnest-crispiest pizza sure did resemble an indian chapati blanketed with plenty of cheese, whole prawns and scallops. The seafood pieces were the sole saviour.

Oh my, what has gotten into Pasta de Waraku?

Pasta de Waraku
10 Sinaran Drive
#01-07 Novena Square 2

Sun With Moon Japanese

I'd figured it, the best way to beat the crowd is a weekday afternoon. We were granted a table immediately and shoved with their set lunch menu, skipping all that leave-your-number-and-await-our-call hassle.


Gindara Teriyaki & Sashimi Salad Set ($17.80)



The Japanese has it going. A wholeful set presented infront of me comprised of my fish in a hotplate, diced sashimi salad, pickles, miso soup, rice and fruits- all neatly organised. Two teriyaki-smeared cod fillets were sure a joy to savour, plus the miso soup came packed with tofu and nameko mushrooms.


Salmon Kamameshi Set B ($18.80)

Dad's lunch focused on salmon, salmon roe and a savoury rice mixed with broad beans and chesnuts. It was just a propotion of the dinner serving.


Matcha Tiramisu ($5.50)

Having tried their Tofu Cheesecake, this next hit was pretty much anticipated. Decent mousse amongst thoroughly-soaked sponge and a bitter sprinkle of green tea powder for reverse effect.

Sun With Moon Japanese Dining & Cafe
501 Orchard Road
#03-15 Wheelock Place

Ramen Santouka

Ramen fans out there now have another reason to be happy.

This new hotspot in The Central have been creating a buzz with significant origin from Hokkaido. A small blooming business, hidden around the corner of Grains, proved success with its true blue Nipponya-speaking lady manager and bowls of ramen so.. satisfying.

You know, those which gets you patting your tummy after the meal and exclaiming "i'm so satisfied!" or "more soup please!".


Miso Ramen ($12)

The latter applies for my sister.

Both of us made a coincidental grab of the same thing- a delectable broth properly controlled in sodium yet not holding back in any necessary flavour of miso. The roasted white sesame seeds also lifted much fragrance. Mind you, this is addictive (sis slurped it to the very last bit).

Apart from the soup, the other aspects bearly displayed any mind-blowing factors. Those pale curly noodles, neither too smooth nor springy, were far from the Miharu's whilst the Charsiu had alternate layers of meat and fat so cohesively difficult to handle.


Shio Ramen ($12)

Dad went for "salt-ramen", where the whitish soup beared a distinct salt flavour. Our extra egg orders came in small petite dishplates with sauce; cooked to the semi-soft standard but lousily seasoned.


Tamago ($1)


Gyoza ($5)

The main plus factor of their gyozas was the absolute non-greasyness. While the skin came soft and tender, the juicy meat fillings were overwhelmed with chives there seemed to be nothing crisp about them at all.

All in all, this is a good ramen find. Just be prepared for queueing.

It is quite a wonder to see a sudden influx of Ramen outlets sprouting out all over our little island, if you had noticed. And it is pleasing to know that Singaporeans have somehow picked the nippon ramen culture to keep those stalls running. Now whenever Miharu becomes too overwhelming for my tastebuds, i can easily opt for Santouka, Ichiban Tei, or even Baikohken. And with such flavoursome ramen found everywhere, why would the bland chinese La Mian retain its charm anymore?

Give me a bowl of Ramen over La Mian anytime, even if it comes at the expense of cultural roots erosion.

Ramen Santouka
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#02-76 The Central

Pasta de Waraku

50% off promotional vouchers! *(for selected dishes) how can we resist them? This was a planned dinner with my parents to to utilise our set of vouchers on hand.


Salmon, Tofu & Avocado Salad ($12.80)

Our salad to start off with contained little pieces of raw salmon, tofu and avocado. Balsamic dresssing was greasy but tasty.


Squid & Octopus Wafu Spaghetti ($16.80)

I think they did some fine-tuning to their pasta. My wafu squid and octopus featured al dente strands in an appropriate portion. More ingredients please!


Asari Soup-style Spaghetti ($16.80)


Cod Roe Wafu Spaghetti ($12.80)

Mum attempted the soup style pasta with littleneck clams while dad grabbed his usual tarako dish. The service here improved too.

Pasta de Waraku
10 Sinaran Drive
#01-07 Novena Square 2

Ichibantei

Instead of crossing over to Miharu, we decided to pop by this Quayside place for a ramen dinner instead. Although not as significant as the former, many have reviewed a good side of them too. Unfortunately luck didn't stand by them- the restaurant surprisingly displayed a quiet scene on a friday night.

I was caught between the Hiyashi Cold Ramen or dad's recommendation of their signature pork-bone soup. Mum had the miso base. Then again, why not try something good?


Tonkotsu Ramen ($12.80)

No regrets. the whitish soup base is quite a wonder. This Kyushu-style broth bearing several slices of charsiu, a half-boiled egg and some bamboo shoots was full of milky flavour from the pork bones. It first came mild then rich, and finally intoxicating (in a good way). The texture of the ramen was good too.


Miso Ramen ($11.80)


Fried Gyoza ($7)

Thick skins with a well-seasoned filling. Edible but not exceptional.

Ichibantei
60 Robertson Quay
#01-13 The Quayside

Ichiban Boshi

The last time usual place. Came for a casual lunch with the parents.


Sashimi Salad ($8)

There was nothing to complain about this starter of mine. Lettuce, baby corn, fried salmon bits, japanese dressing and 9 fresh slices of sashimi without the fishy smell.


Unagi Egg Sandwich ($5.30)

Requested for it to be served warm and the decision was proven right. Never did i knew that sweet tamago egg was such a good companion for unagi. Smothered in the unagi bbq sauce and a dab of mayo, this dish was delicious.


Saba Shioyaki ($8.90)


Grilled Butter Mushrooms ($7.90)


Mushroom Hotpot Set ($14.90)

You could call this a variety. A mixed mushroom hotpot, yellowtail sashimi, appetiser, chawanmushi, rice, udon and fruits for Dad. Mum took the rice.