The diner where side dishes rules...

Who says that you can only be getting average stuff at an affordable Japanese buffet. This post will prove you wrong, very wrong. In fact, the location of this place is so good that the seats are easily filled up by the neighbouring office workers & commoners like you and me within minutes during the lunch hours...

Depending on your luck, the main dish of the day will differs from time to time. I'm getting this marinated fish during my first visit. Thought it's tasty, but as compared to the dish I'm getting during my second visit, this is far more inferior. During my second visit, I'm actually getting an 'Steamed Anago(Eel) Rice bowl'. Unlike the usual serving of 'Steamed Anago Rice bowl' out there in the market, the chef over here are using a bamboo tray to prepare the 'Steamed Anago Rice bowl'. And they are covering the base of the bamboo tray with a Banana Leaf. By doing this, it could push the fragrance and the overall taste of the 'Steamed Anago Rice bowl' to a higher level. :D

Depending on your luck(?), the side dishes differs from time to time. (As you can see, a small table isn't sufficient for me.)

They have 'fried side dishes' such as 'Karaage(Fried Chicken, it's juicy and not too oily), Tempura (Crispy and not too oily), 'Dashimaki Tamago' (Japanese rolled omelette, fluffy and yummy), Simmered Potatoes, etc... The chef really put his heart and efforts in preparing these delicious dishes. Even simple dishes like 'Croquette', they are adding ingredients like sweet corns to enhance the overall taste even further. :D Well, if you are not into 'Fried' stuff, there always stuff like...

They also have cooked dishes like the above. As mentioned earlier these dishes will change on a daily basis. And most of these dishes always managed to maintain a good balance between the meaty and vegetables stuff.

Depending on your luck, you might be getting these steamed delights too. When I was there previously, they are offering Dim Sum and one of my personal favorites, 'Chawanmushi'(Steamed Egg in a Tea Bowl) and it also comes with slices of 'Shiitake Mushrooms' too. :D But wait, that isn't the best item on their menu.

'Japanese Curry Rice' Loaded with lots of vegetables like 'Carrots', 'Mushrooms' and 'Meaty Chicken Cubes', this dish is a champion. Besides for the delicious 'Chicken Curry'(I have 3 portions of this the first time round), they are also serving delicious looking 'Beef' curry too. Not sure about the 'Beef Curry', but the texture of the 'Chicken Curry' is pretty thick, sweet and delicioous. On top of that, they also have Japanese vegetables cold dishes, yummy 'Miso Soup' and a unlimited flow of good Japanese Tea.

So where can you give this buffet a good try?

The name of this Japanese Cafe/Restaurant would be 'Hanare'. It's located on level 2 in one of the shop houses along 'Tanjong Pagar Road', which is also located opposite 'Tanjong Pagar Market and Food Centre' and at the same time located near 'Orchid Hotel'.

Opening Hours:

• Lunch:
  Mondays - Fridays: 11:45 - 14:30
  Saturdays: 12:00 - 14:30
  Dinner:
  Mondays - Saturdays: 18:30 - 22:00
  (Closed on Sundays)
• They are offering 3 different set meals over here
  
  • 'Hanare Buffet' - you get to choose one of the main dishes and you also get to enjoy all the side dishes
  • 'Bara Chirashi Set' - Comes with a Sashimi Seafood Rice Bowl and you get to enjoy 4 different side dishes and 'Miso Soup'.
  • 'Lunch Set' - Typical Japanese Lunch set

* Click here for the Facebook page of 'Hanare Japanese Cafe/Restaurant'.
^ Click here for the location of 'Hanare Japanese Cafe/Restaurant' on 'Google Maps'.

God Fire...

While travelling around Japan last year, I finally managed to come across a spicy delicacy in Hakata, Japan. (And Wasabi isn't spicy.) And that delicacy has something to do with this post today.

'God Fire Ramen' They are preparing and selling a wide variety of 'Hakata Ramen' over here. But, for the locals that love spicy food, the most attractive and interesting 'Ramen' over here would most probably be 'God Fire Ramen'.

They are offering 4 different levels of spiciness for the 'God Fire Ramen'. Well, the biggest difference between the 4 levels would most likely be the portion of special paste added into the bowl of 'Ramen'. Trust me, the highest(4th) level can really set fire on your tongue. However, it's nothing as compared to the special '10X Special Paste Ramen' from 'Ichiran Ramen' from 'Hakata', 'Japan'. Besides for the spicy soup base, the thin and chewy noodles, the strong and thick Pork Broth, are the characteristics of the 'Hakata Ramen'. (In fact, I love with 'Ramen' that comes with the thin and chewy noodles.)

Not only the Noodles are chewy, the taste are equally good too. On top of that, the taste of the broth is pretty spicy and the taste of the Pork Broth is pretty thick. However, the standards of the flavoured egg is pretty normal and the slices of barbecue pork ain't satisfying enough, which is a big disappointment. By the way, my face was covered with sweat after spending a bit of time finishing the whole bowl of 'God Fire Ramen'.

The name of this 'Ramen' restaurant would be 'Ikkousha'. In fact, 'Ikkousha' was the overall champion of 'Ramen Champion' for 2 consecutive years. Therefore that might be the main reason why they have decided to have their own outlet in Singapore. The 'Ramen' restaurant is currently located on level 1 of 'Tanjong Pagar Plaza', which is also located opposite 'Orchid Hotel'.

Opening Hours:

• Weekdays & Saturdays: 11:30 - 21:30
• Sundays: 11:30 - 21:30

* Click here for the Facebook page of 'Ikkousha Singapore'.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Ikkousha Ramen'. (Japanese website)

It's not Ramen...

I decided to have my dinner at the 5th Keisuke Japanese restaurant a few weeks back. And apparently it's not a Ramen restaurant but a Japanese restaurant selling...

'OO Set Meals' The restaurant is famous for 'OO Set Meals'. But before I move on introducing 'OO', let's start with the side dishes first.

The set meals come with unlimited free flow of Rice. (This is the most important part. I'm always coming across the problem of finishing a bowl of rice with a large portion of side dishes left behind. And it's kinda disturbing when I have to pay for an extra bowl of rice.)

However, they didn't provide Japanese pickles over here. But, they do have the spicy bean sprouts and cabbages that works pretty good for pickles too. Although the taste of it are pretty good, but it's not spicy enough for me. (But nevertheless, free pickles is a very big (+).) So what's 'OO'? 。 。 。 。 。

'OO' would be 'Gyoza'. The speciality of this branch isn't 'Ramen' but 'Gyoza'. However, the 3 different types of 'Gyoza' over here are related to the 'Ramen'. The 3 different types are: 'Keisuke Tonkotsu King Gyoza (Pork)' 'Keisuke Tori King Gyoza (Pork + Chicken)' 'Keisuke Gyoza (Pork + Prawn)' Basically they are using 'Gyoza' to present the specialities of 3 other 'Keisuke' branches. I ended up choosing the 3rd type, which is a mixture of Prawn and Pork meat. For a start, there's the crunchy fillings, the nice fragrance of prawns and the relatively thin skin that wraps all the the fillings nicely together, which makes it pretty delicious and good.

Each set meal will come with 2 different side dishes. You will be given 8 different choices, which include meaty and vegetables dishes too. I ended up choosing the 'Deep Fried Chicken with spicy sauce and mixed sesame' and 'Chicken Nanban with Tartar sauce'. Though the taste is relatively good, but the small portion is kinda disappointing.

The above shows the order sheet of the restaurant.

This is the appearance of the restaurant 'Keisuke Gyoza King'. It's located on level 1 of 'Orchid Hotel'.

Opening Hours:

• Lunch: 11:30 - 14:30
  Dinner: 18:00 - 22:30

* Click here for the Facebook page of 'Keisuke Gyoza King'.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Keisuke Gyoza King'. (Japanese website)

New Ramen store in Singapore 'Keisuke Tonkotsu King'

As I was free last weekend and I have not eaten a bowl of Ramen for the month of September, I decided to have Ramen for my dinner.

Tada~~~~ This is the Ramen shop 'Keisuke Tonkotsu King' Ramen store.
By looking from the outside, there isn't anything special about the store.

They have provided both a English Menu and a Japanese Menu. However, the shop doesn't sell anything else besides for the 'Tonkotsu' ramen and a few kinds of beverages. This can be quite a hassle.

The shop has given you the option to mix and match a bowl of
Ramen to fit your requirements.
For example:
Type of Ramen - Normal, Black(Maybe its Shoyu), Red(Spicy)
Taste of the Soup - Thin, Normal, Thick
Noodle texture - Soft, Normal, Hard
Amount of Chicken Oil to be added - A little, Normal, A lot
This is pretty interesting, you can actually mix and match
up to 80 different bowls of Ramen.

Boiled eggs, Beansprout and Bonito Flakes are given for free. This reminds me of 'Tokushima Ramen Todai' of Kyoto Station. But, 'Tokushima Ramen Todai' only provide uncooked eggs for free.

While waiting for your bowl of Ramen, you will be given a bowl of Sesame
and you are suppose to grind it... What this is so similar to a 'Tonkatsu'...

This would be the Red Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen Special with all the toppings.

The Ajitsuke Tamago of this shop were as good as the Ajitsuke Tamago
that I had eaten at 'Marutama Ramen'. It's super delicious.

After adding a round of noodles, a boiled egg and some Beansprouts.

The Red Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen Special that they had prepared was neither
very salty nor spicy. However the potion of the Ramen that they had
prepared was targeted more towards ladies. As for myself, I was not even
half full after adding Noodles twice and I think I have enough space in my
stomach for another 2 rounds of Noodles. :D

They have hang posters of old Japanese movies on the wall. Which makes
it feel as if you were eating Ramen in a nineteen century Japanese Cinema. :P

Luckily, I went to the shop early. I definitely cannot
stand queueing up outside a restaurant for a long time.

Note:

• Payment by Cash only
• Lunch: 11.30am ~ 3pm
• Dinner: 6pm ~ 10pm

* Click here for the map of 'Keisuke Tonkotsu King' restaurant.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Tonkatsu'.
# Click here to find out more about 'Marutama Ramen'.