The Place Japanese Izakaya is a fun casual meal I enjoy from time to time and Torimaro Charcoal Grill & Sake Bar at Novena Regency is a few months old restaurant I checked out recently. Located near Novena MRT Station, the Izakaya restaurant is on the ground floor of a mixed development, and it spots a casual dining vibe. Not a particularly huge space, hence it is best to make reservations before heading down. 

The Food Expect various skewers, sharing dishes and a seasonal menu, where the menu is relatively extensive and generally mid-range prices. A range of Sakes and fresh Japanese craft beers are also available. 

For a start, I had the Hotate Butter from Rausu (Hokkaido) (S$18), where you get plump scallops with a buttery flavour. 

The Tontoro (S$6) skewer is my favourite out of all I tried. The pork jowl here is tender and well-marinated, extremely delicious. I was tempted to order another serving but decided not to as we still had quite a couple of dishes to go. 

I also enjoyed the Tsukune Egg Yolk (S$6), a delicious thick chunky minced pork meat dipped in egg yolk. 

The Hokkaido Potato Croquette (S$9) is an easy snack to share and is delicious. 

I also recommend the Chicken Karaage (S$10) which comes in huge portions where the chicken meat is juicy and flavourful. 

We decided to try something from the seasonal menu and the A5 Wagyu Teppan Aburi (S$30) caught our eyes. This dish is done table side, where the staff grilled the Wagyu beef at our table. The beef is well-marbled, tender and is a dish I would recommend having. 

Other dishes I tried include the likes of Kampong Chicken Negima (S$6), Shiitake (S$3), Wagyu Beef Rump (S$10) and Special Torikawa Ponzu (S$8). 

Rants The dishes took quite awhile to be served. 

Will I Return Again? Overall, this is a cosy and casual Japanese Izakaya restaurant run by a Japanese in Novena where the dining ambience is relaxed, and it does not break the bank. The dishes are good for the price tag, and it is ideal to head here with at least 3-4 people since there is so much variety to try on the menu. 

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 3.5/5
Hole in the pocket: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5
 
Torimaro Charcoal Grill & Sake Bar  
275 Thomson Road, #01-08 
Novena Regency 
Singapore 307645 
Tel: +65 6226 1297 
 
Opening Hours 
Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30am to 2:30pm; 5pm to 10:30pm 
Closed on Mondays 

Ranted by The Ranter