The Place Located at the new Central Boulevard Towers at Downtown Station, Uoharu restaurant is a kaizen izakaya Japanese restaurant brand from Tokyo which just opened its second overseas outpost in the heart of Singapore, following its first that set anchor in Hong Kong. 

The first thing I noticed is that you have to enter through a lowered door which you will have to lower your head to enter, symbolic of a respectful bow to the chef in gratitude for his art and food about to be served. 

The interior of the restaurant is dim, and it exudes a modern izakaya ambience. Japanese elements are kept intact, like wooden flooring and low tables and chairs. 

The Food Uoharu is known amongst the first to pioneer the food movement of utilizing less-than-perfect produce from Toyosu Market. Think the use of undersized fish, scratched scallops and crabs with miscounted legs for their ingredients. One highlight here is the nightly Katsuo Warayaki – traditional straw-roasting and grilling.

After every show, there is a complimentary sampling portions of grilled bonito fish. 

I started with the Bagna Cauda (S$3), a traditional izakaya small dish starter of fresh salads and crunchy pickles served before every meal. It comes with a varying secret recipe sauce made in-house daily. 

The Baguette Toast with Cream Cheese and Maple Syrup (S$7.80) is an interesting combination of crispy baguette toast with rich cream cheese and maple syrup. 

You can’t go wrong with the Potato Salad with Smoked Mackerel and Egg (S$7.80) which is made with a traditional recipe from Tokyo where potatoes are hand-mashed and folded in with smoked saba fish topped with an onsen egg. 

To go with the drinks, I had the Seared Miso Sashimi Tartare (S$14.80) where the hand-cut fish sashimi is stirred in a miso-based sauce before lightly grilled aburi-style. 

The way to have this dish is to dip spoonfuls in a runny egg yolk served on the side and wrap it with nori seaweed. 

Other appetizers I had include the Akita Smoked Radish with Cream Cheese (S$10.80), Japanese-Style Thick Fried Tofu (S$6.80), and Mentaiko in Olive Oil with French Baguette (S$12.80) where you have the mentaiko with sizzling olive oil and potato to be dipped with baguette. 

On to meatier dishes, I had the U.S. Beef Short Rib with Bone (S$32.80) and Squid with Squid Liver Sauce (S$16.80) prepared Robatayaki-style where ingredients are arranged around a hot charcoal source to slowly smoke it. 

The squid surprised me more than the beef, especially with the squid liver sauce which makes it very flavourful. 

For sushi, I had the indulgent Manzoku Tuna and Sea Urchin Sushi Roll (S$28.80), Uoharu’s signature sushi comprising negitoro, maguro, ikura, uni and crab meat layered on Japanese rice before wrapped in Nori. 

For a rice dish, I recommend getting the Homemade Snow Crab Croquette Rice (S$29.80) that has Japanese rice and snow crab croquette cooked upon order and served in a hot stone bowl, topped with ikura. You get that bit of crispy charred rice along with the sweetness of the crab meat and ikura salmon roe. 

For the working crowd, there are set lunches available everyday except Sunday, starting at S$15.80 and curated as convenient sets. Expect the likes of the Premium Sashimi Boat Set (S$46.80) as well as Uoharu Executive Set (S$33.80), rice bowls like the Beef Tenderloin Set (S$29.80), Kurobuta Shogayaki Set (S$17.80) and Chicken Nanban Set (S$15.80). All set lunches come with complimentary hot or cold green tea. 

From the drinks menu, there are more than 100 kinds of Japanese sake, beer, highball, lemon sour, cocktails, shochu, wines and other beverages, all directly imported from Japan. 

There is also Draft Sake, a specialty brew made with no preservatives. They come alongside award-winning labels like Dassai Junmai 23 Daiginjo as well as Seiryu Junmai Daiginjo. 

Rants The restaurant’s staff enthusiastically greet guests as they enter and be prepared for conversations to be disrupted since it could get quite boisterous.

Will I Return Again? A casual spot in the CBD for some after work drinks and elevated bar bites and nibbles. I must say some of the dishes are quite unique for an izakaya concept. Let loose here and drink up.

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

Uoharu
2 Central Boulevard
#01-16
IOI, Central Boulevard Towers
Singapore 018916

Opening Hours 
Monday to Saturday 
Closed on Sunday 
Lunch: 11:00am to 3:00pm (Last Order at 2:30pm) 
Dinner: 5:30pm to 10:00pm (Last Order at 9:30pm) 

Ranted by The Ranter