The Place Located at the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands just beside the entrance of Marquee Singapore, the entrance to Koma Singapore is perhaps amongst the grandest of restaurants in Singapore. Lined by tens of red Japanese Torii gates, the 20 meters long entrance walkway resembles that of Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine, and that is perhaps the first impression the restaurant wants diners to have.

At the end of the walkway, be in awe with the 2.5 meters tall Japanese bell which can seen at both sides of the bar and the restaurant proper. The eye-catching and somewhat dramatic setting of Koma is designed by architectural firm Rockwell Group, which is also behind Singapore’s W Hotel in Sentosa and Indonesia’s Omnia Club in Bali.

The Food With its Japanese-inspired decor, the cuisine at Koma Singapore is no doubt Japanese. The menu here is split between small and big plates for the appetisers and mains, with Japanese classics including Sashimi, Nigiri, Maki, Grills and Tempura as starters. While the menu is not that exhaustive, it does cover a wide range of Japanese food selections. Or if you fancy, there is always an excuse for pre-dinner drinks!

If you plan to order a couple of cocktails from the bar, I will recommend you to go for either the Taro Chip Tuna Tacos (S$21) or the Tuna Pringles (S$24). Both dishes have Mexican elements to it, and would go well with any choice of poison you decide for the night. Both dishes are from the small plates selections.

To kickstart with the meal proper, both the Sashimi Platter (S$78 for 9 pieces) and Sushi Platter (S$88 for 9 pieces) can’t go very wrong. As you might have noticed, the price tag here is slightly on the higher side, although admittedly the seafood is fresh and some of the best cuts were served by the chefs.

For mains, the Crispy Barbecued Chicken (S$29) impressed the table, although it is not a true Japanese dish with its cherry tomatoes salsa salad and cilantro lime dip all rather Latin American.

Comparatively, I also enjoyed Ginger Honey-Glazed Salmon (S$38), where the salmon is grilled to a nice texture.

Another case of what seems to be a case of mistaken identity, the oriental-inspired Scallion Fried Rice in Sizzling Pot (S$32) is basically a very satisfying pot of porridge with pork, chicken, shrimps, scallops and mushrooms bits. This bowl of goodness can be shared amongst 2-3 pax, and is perhaps my favourite of the night though I find the dish to be more oriental than Japanese.

Unfortunately, the Wagyu Fried Rice (S$42) is a letdown as the taste is foubtairly ordinary. I was expecting nicely sliced wagyu beef on the rice, but the flavour and presentation were lacking.

Surprisingly, desserts at Koma Singapore stole the thunder, with the favourite being the Sesame Profiterole (S$16) with white sesame ice cream and black sesame choux going in perfect harmony.

If you have a sweet tooth, the Lemon Yuzu (S$16) with the lemon mousse served in what seemingly felt like a real lemon pairing with yuzu jam. Refreshing yet light, this is a good balance after a heavy meal.

For a more gimmicky presentation, the Bonsai (S$17) looks really like the plant the dessert is named after. Dig into the “soil”, and you will find molten dark chocolate and crunchy praline underneath. Perhaps a sign of good luck before you visit the casino beside?

Rants The lights are a little too dim for the main dining hall.

Will I Return Again? For the ambience, this is perhaps one of the restaurant in Singapore to impress your guests. If they can tweak the food slightly to feature more Japanese offerings rather than a tepid approach, Koma Singapore might really have the chance to send its guests into food coma, and more.

This was an invited tasting, though all opinions expressed are our own.
TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 3/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 5/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5

Koma Singapore
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Avenue #B1-67
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 8690

Opening Hours
Sunday to Thursday: 5pm to 12midnight
Friday to Saturday: 5pm to 2am

Ranted by The Rantee