The Place Located in Tiong Bahru, Torio Japanese Restaurant is a rather under the radar Japanese restaurant located within close proximity of Havelock MRT Station which has been opened for about two years. The interior of the restaurant comprises mainly counter seating as well as regular tables with a simple, no-frills design.    

The Food Omakase prices start from S$98++ and I had the Chef’s Omakase Menu (S$238) for dinner which includes 3 Kinds of Seasonal Appetiser, 5 Kinds of Seasonal Sashimi, 2 Kinds of Hot Seafood, 3 Pieces of Premium Sushi, Signature Don (Beef or Fish), Soup and Dessert. 

Here’s what to expect, and do note that the dishes served might differ based on seasonality of ingredients: 

For a start, I had a series of Appetisers such as Ice Plant Salad from Japan, Sea Bream Roe and Shirako, Oyster from Miyagi with citrus sauce and Octopus Roe with Dashi sauce.

It was my first time having octopus roe and it was surprisingly delicious.    

Next up was a series of Seasonal Sashimi – Dry Aged Kanpachi, Shima Aji, Kinmedai, Aged Kanpachi, Mikan Tai (Sea Bream), Smoked Bonito, Ika (Squid). 

I then had this indulgent Toro With Bafun Uni and Ikura, so good!

Next up was a Mini Sando with Chutoro, Foie Gras, Uni, Cured Egg and Caviar where the overall flavour is full of umami. 

Sliced Octopus Tentacles 
This was drizzled with lobster oil along with Ebi, which reminds me a little of Chinese cuisine with the drizzle of the oil. 

Kama-Toro (Back Cheek) 
Kama-Toro is the back cheek part of Tuna, and the Kama-Toro here goes with Kagoshima egg yolk, Black Truffle and kombu where the Kama-Toro was slightly torched over with binchotan. 

Amadai 
A crispy piece of Amadai along with an indulgent snow crab sauce. 

3 Pieces of Premium Sushi 
Shima Aji (Striped Jack) 
This was slightly torched where there was a nice fatty texture which I enjoyed. 

Mirugai (Geoduck) 
This is quite a different type of Nigiri which I seldom come across in other Japanese omakase meals. 

Nodoguro (Blackthroat Seaperch) 
One of my favourite dishes, the Nodoguro here was aged for 16 days and was slightly torched, so you imagine a very fatty and delicious taste. 

Signature Don 
Nothing not to love about this luscious Uni rice with scallop, foie gras and shiro ebi (white shrimp). Fresh Uni was smashed to liquid, and it was used to coat the fragrant rice, so you can expect a very rich Uni taste in the rice.   

Soup and Dessert (Ice Cream) were served thereafter to conclude the meal. 

Rants The dining ambience could come across as a little sleepy.

Will I Return Again? I came to Torio with not much expectations since I have not heard of this restaurant previously and I must say the quality of the dishes are pretty good. I love that there are modern tweaks to some of the dishes overall such that the overall experience does not feel too similar to other Japanese omakase dining meals I have had elsewhere. 

This was an invited tasting, though all opinions expressed are our own.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 3/5
Overall Experience: 4/5

Torio Japanese Restaurant 
50 Tiong Bahru Road 
#01-01 Link Hotel 
Singapore 168733 
Tel: +65 6514 0115 
 
Opening Hours 
Tuesday to Sunday: 11:45am to 2:30pm; 6pm to 10pm 
Closed on Monday 

Ranted by The Ranter