The Place Located at Palais Renaissance Orchard which took over the space of Sushi Kimura, Mare Hachikyo Singapore is a new Japanese restaurant which hails from Sapporo, Hokkaido, where this is the brand’s first overseas outpost. The name Mare means ‘rare’ in Japanese, and the interior of the restaurant is a contemporary and zen ambience with various tones of wood. It is an intimate 12-seat counter, two private rooms offering more cosy settings for 4 to 8 people, or 12 when combined. 

The Food 90% of the ingredients are sourced directly from Hokkaido where the menu is refreshed every six weeks to reflect the freshest ingredients in the season. The menu is Japanese kappo-style omakase cuisine. 

Dishes from the 9-course dinner omakase (S$228++) are also available in set lunches with a choice of 3 courses (S$68++), 4 courses (S$88++) and 5 courses (S$108++). Every dish in the omakase is also featured in an à la carte dinner menu with a minimum order of 5 dishes should you prefer to go ala carte. 

Beverage options include sake to premium whisky beer and shochu sourced from across Japan. 

I had the 9-course dinner omakase and here is what to expect: 

Signature Hokkaido Temaki (Kegani, Ikura, Uni) 
The meal started with this burst of umami – the Signature Hokkaido Temaki, which is also served at the original Mare Hachikyo in Hokkaido. You get a mix of kegani (hairy crab), ikura (salmon roe), and creamy uni wrapped in crisp, lightly toasted Japanese seaweed. 

Kinki Aonori Soup 
Next up is a soup served in a plastic wrap. A comforting flavour of seaweed soup topped with delicious Kinki fish. 

Hotate Kakiage, Ikura 
A fried course was up next which showcased a fried fritter of scallop with an assortment of vegetables (carrots, gobo (burdock root), oba leaf, onions, shiitake mushrooms, and Japanese daikon) topped with ikura. I love the crisp texture and the batter which is not too greasy on the palate. 

Seasonal Sashimi 
A trio of delicious sashimi was up next where I had slices of Chutoro (Medium fatty tuna), Hirame (Flounder) and Hotate (Scallop) serrved with wasabi, shio kombu, and salt. 

Awabi & Amaebi White Miso Gratin 
This is an interesting rendition of abalone. You get a creamy and slight cheesy texture (from the Hokkaido cheddar cheese) of the abalone along with Amaebi done in gratin-style. 

Hokkaido Kuroge Wagyu Tenderloin 
Chef’s Special Onion sauce 
Tender wagyu beef is a given, but what makes this course particularly alluring is the special onion sauce which complements the beef really well, and good on its own too. 

Lily Bulb Salad 
I was expecting something green here, but the lily bulb is coated in cheese instead which makes it more palatable than it sounds. 

Zuwaigani, Hon Masu Ikura Donabe 
Katsuo Dashi 
A fun fact is that the Hachikyo Group pioneered Tsukko Meshi, in which premium quality ikura (salmon roe) is served overflowing on rice which I have seen in a couple of Japanese restaurants before. Tsukko Meshi remains a highlight here as part of the Signature Donabe. 

The Signature Donabe can be enjoyed in three ways — on its own with seasonal seafood where I had it with snow crab and trout; as Tsukko Meshi; and as an ochazuke with a pour of warm dashi. 

Tsukko Meshi is always a fun and boisterous part of the meal where the ikura is presented to cheers of “Oisa!” from the chef as the ikura (salmon roe) is scooped onto your rice, until you say stop. 

Azuki & Warabi Mochi Monaka, Japanese Fruit 
For dessert, I had the delicious red bean and warabi mochi monaka served along with fresh Fukuoka strawberries to conclude the meal. 

Rants Nothing in particular.

Will I Return Again? I had a lovely meal at Mare Hachikyo Singapore and if you like kappo-style omakase, this is one to check out. It is a concentrated showcase of Hokkaido produce and beverages, which also reminds me to book my next trip to the island soon. The lunch sets are pretty good value, and it is also a plus that you can curate your own ala carte dishes too. 

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

Mare Hachikyo Singapore 
390 Orchard Road 
#01-07 
Palais Renaissance 
Singapore 238871 
Tel: +65 8428 0073 

Opening Hours 
Monday to Saturday: 12.30 to 3:00pm; 7pm to 10pm 

Ranted by The Ranter