The Place Teppei Japanese restaurant probably needs no further introduction. I finally tried the 22 seater restaurant in Orchid Hotel, Tanjong Pagar for a friend’s birthday celebration recently. There is little reason to even doubt that this is probably the Japanese restaurant which offers the most value for money Omakase sets for dinner, with its infamous waiting and reservation time of up to a few months in advance. There are only counter seats in Teppei, which I am not complaining because I always feel that one big pleasure of having Omakase is to watch the chefs prepare all the courses during the night.

The Food We opted for the $80 Omakase set, during which I lost count of the number of courses over the two hour plus dinner session. The courses for the Omakase changes periodically, so my advice is to have the Omakase with an open mind and be prepared to be surprised by each course. If you are expecting fine dining plating at Teppei, you will be disappointed as the restaurant focuses more on the quality rather than visual presentation.

My highlights were definitely the ultra-fresh sashimi, especially the Uni (Sea Urchin), the Fatty tuna hand-roll, as well as the Sashimi Rice, which is part of the mains selection. To leave some surprise if you have not yet been to Teppei, I will share some of the sneak peeks of the Omakase courses.

Rants Getting a dinner spot for Omakase is almost as tough as striking lottery. There is an online reservation system, which apparently opens slots for booking every quarter, even though the slots are usually snapped up within minutes of opening. Fastest fingers first, it has to be.

Will I Return Again? Teppei is more than a Japanese restaurant. To be exact, it is like a gastronomic journey for me. The overall dining experience is further enhanced by the lively and humourous staff, and the great hospitality of Chef Teppei himself. Till I snag the next slot here, wish me luck!

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5

Teppei Japanese Restaurant
#01-18, Orchid Hotel, 1 Tras Link
Tel: +65 6222 7363

Ranted by the Ranter