In the mood for some tipple after your visit to Chinatown? Kakurega The Lair is a new casual Japanese sake bar that opened its doors in December 2020.
The 50-seater bar spans three levels in the heart of Chinatown, along Smith Street. Tables are spaced relatively far apart from one another, guaranteeing you a cozy, intimate experience consisting of the twin pleasures of sake and yakitori. The dim lighting and wood-themed furniture adds to its inviting atmosphere.
We visited this place in November 2019, prior to Covid-19. Do check for pandemic-related updates and precautions before making your visit.
Other than a bustling town square and vibrant port, Nagahama, Shiga is also home to a wholesome and delectable local delicacy – yaki-saba somen. But even if you have not heard of this delightful dish prior to visiting Nagahama, you would definitely pick up on its distinct aroma walking past Yokarou 翼果楼, one of two eateries that specialise in it this quaint castle town.
We visited this place in November 2019, prior to Covid-19. Do check for pandemic-related updates and precautions before making your visit.
There is something charming about the experience of walking into a nondescript hole-in-the-wall, ordering local delicacies off the menu, and watching your food being prepared in front of you while soaking in its unpretentious atmosphere. Station Front Bar Okura 駅前酒場 御蔵, a Japanese-style izakaya that was highly recommended by the hotel’s staff, served as my pit-stop for a late bite during my stay in Otsu, Shiga.
It seems like yesterday when I was trotting along the streets of Uji, Japan, sampling all the green tea I could get my hands on and blissfully unaware of an impending pandemic that would soon half all travel plans for the coming year. Luckily, retailers like Craft Tea Fox have sprung up to fill the gaping hole left by my favourite Japanese tea.
A new omakase restaurant is in town. Wa-I Sushi opened its 14-seater premises at The Scarlet Hotel on 24 December 2020. Helmed by two experiences chefs with extensive experience in Japanese cuisine, Wa-I Sushi boasts authentic dishes made with the finest seasonal ingredients flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market three times a week.
Mention the name Fat Cow to foodies in Singapore, and the first thing that comes to mind is its decadent donburi, topped with the most luxurious ingredients you can list in Japanese cuisine. Situated in an exclusive part of Orchard Road, at the ground level of Camden Medical Center, Fat Cow styles itself as an all-Japanese steakhouse that offers mouthwatering cuts of A4 and A5 wagyu done a variety of ways.
While prices on Fat Cow’s ala carte and omakase menus can run into totals of three or even four figures, the Entertainer App makes it possible to access their offerings with less of an impact to your wallet. And what better time to take the plunge into this famed establishment than for my birthday lunch?
GAKU Sushi Bar opened its doors at Downtown East about a month ago, just in time for the rush of families heading out for the school holidays. Operated by Suki Group, this new addition to Singapore’s Japanese food scene has made its home in the “new” wing of Downtown East.
