Tempura Kohaku

The last to finally open as part of the Eat at Steven concept is Tempura Kohaku, which serves Japanese Tendon, or tempura rice using rice from Hokkaido. Do not be surprised if you spot long queues at any time of the day, as the tendon sets are relatively value for money. I tried the KOHAKU Tendon ($15), which comes served with fried vegetables prawn, seafood and chicken. Interestingly, the presentation of having a small plate stuck in the big bowl makes this tendon different from others, which is also partially the reason it has garnered so much frenzy on instagram. Nevertheless, I am more concerned with the overall flavour.

Is this worth my one hour plus waiting time at the queue? Not for me unfortunately, as I feel that while the tendon is decent, the tempura was at best average. In fact, I enjoyed the rice more than the tempura. We came to the million dollar question, Tempura Kohaku or Tendon Ginza Itsuki (read our full review here)? My preference is Tendon Ginza Itsuki, which I feel is a better value as it comes with chawanmushi, and I like the tempura better in terms of crispness and quality.

Tempura Kohaku
3 Temasek Boulevard
#03-311 Suntec City
Singapore 038983

Tel: +65 6333 4386
Opening hours: 11am to 11pm

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Enbu

Enbu, which translates to “Dance of Flame”, is Singapore’s first-ever Warayaki and Charcoal  Grill Izakaya, grilling with straws and charcoal grill. The Deep fried Tofu with Uni Sauce ($13) is one of my favourites at Enbu, loving the crispy tofu skin and unique pairing with Uni sauce. The WARAYAKI Chicken ($16) was something good to share, grilled with the traditional Warayaki style, and served with cabbage to go along with the chicken. As an Izakaya, Enbu also prides serving Coedo’s line-up of exquisite craft beers, the first in Singapore.

Maguro-Donya Miura-Misaki-Kou Sushi & Dining

The most impressive of the lot I have tried so far at Eat at Seven, Maguro-Donya is akin to paradise for Maguro lovers. The freshness of the Maguro is the main selling concept of Maguro Donya, where the restaurant imports the fish from Miura Misaki harbour directly. The experienced team is able to ship the Tuna to Singapore within 24 hours, using state-of the-art transport and freezing method to keep the fish frozen at -60 degress to ensure its freshness. It is difficult to find really good Maguro in Singapore, but I think I have finally found a trustworthy brand to satisfy my craving as the brand is regarded highly as a maguro and sashimi wholesaler in Japan.

For the best of all worlds, I will recommend trying the Three cuts of Hon Maguro Sashimi ($39), or Blue Fin Maguro, where you get to savour the Akami (Top Loin), Chu-toro (Bottom Loin) and O-toro (Belly). I love fatty sashimi, so I favoured the O-toro most naturally. O-toro aside, the Akami and Chu-toro were a class of its own as well. The textures of the cuts are smooth, very fresh and it was noteworthy that the pink hue of the Maguro sashimi was very even as well.

For more bits of the maguro, we recommend trying the various Maguro Nigiri Sushi as well, Hon Maguro Akami ($12/2 pieces), Hon Maguro Chutoro ($26/2 pieces) and Hon Maguro Otoro ($35/2 pieces). The quality is simply amazing and the experience, orgasmic.

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Menya Takeichi

This popular Tokyo Chicken ramen brand is purportedly one of Tokyo’s top chicken ramen chain, evident by their rapid expansion with 40 stores in Japan in four years. The signature dish is the Chicken Paitan Ramen, with a broth full of collagen after simmering the chicken for hours. If you find the collagen-rich soup too thick, there is an option to add clear soup to it, made from bonito flakes. Ramen aside, some other noteworthy dishes include the Chicken Tempura Don and an array of side dishes. The restaurant does not use pork or lard in its dishes (read our full review here).

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Nigiro Café

Nigiro Café is a casual concept within Eat at Seven, which serves mainly Japanese-Italian fares. Some of the notable dishes include the Grilled Prawn Nigiro Caesar Salad (Half-sized $9.5, Full-sized $20), Short Pasta Melazane ($19) and Nijiro Hamburg Steak ($24). My favourite was the pasta, with the perfect blend of cheese and tomato sauce. I have to profess that I am usually not a fan of tomato base pasta but this has completely won me over.

Interestingly, the Caesar salad was touted by Hanako, a Japanese magazine, as the best by a foreigner choice. Mixed with grilled prawns and poached eggs, it was definitely very appetising as a salad starter but to proclaim it as the best seems like an exaggeration.