Ikoi Japanese Restaurant

On a Sunday evening we found ourselves at Ikoi, a Japanese restaurant on ground floor of Hotel Miramar. Same as all the other patrons on the night, we were there for its buffet.

Within two hours, we could order anything on the buffet menu, which included sashimi, nigiri sushi, maki sushi, deep-fried and grilled items, rice, noodles and some side dishes such as salads. The extensive drink menu included Japanese beers, sake, cocktails, juices and soft drinks. Just like the desserts, they were not included in the price of the buffet.
There were a few complimentary dishes, the first one being the salmon sashimi seasoned with a light soy-based sauce. Miso soup was not presented in individual portions, but in a pot still boiling above a burning candle to be shared between the two of us. The fat from the salmon was released into the soup, which was too oily for my taste. After the candle burnt out, globules of fat was floating on the surface, which was not a pretty sight. We were presented with a second rather salty soup, which was served in a teapot with a lime for seasoning. With all the other delicacies from the menu waiting to be ordered, we pretty much left the soups untouched. 

While there were not many different types of sashimi available, what they offered was fresh and delicious. The tuna and salmon were thick, tender and sweet and the cuttlefish was crunchy. The snapper (not photographed) was sliced so thin that it was transparent.

We ordered tempura of prawn, eggplant, mushroom, cuttlefish, fish, lotus root and onion. Comparing to their sashimi the tempura was a bit disappointing. The batter was not crispy enough and the prawn was mushy. Whiting tempura tasted like the kind of soggy battered fish that would be served with chips. The lotus root was cut too thick, making it hard to eat.

Yakitori was juicy and the sauce was a nice balance between sweet and savoury. But W complained that it lacked the smokiness from the grill.

We did not manage to try many side dishes as we were too full from having sashima. The cold udon was silky smooth and slightly springy, despite being soaked in the dipping sauce. 

The seating was quite cramped and not very comfortable as waiters tried to squeeze between tables and chairs throughout the whole night. Most of the dishes we tried were mediocre, with the exception of the sashimi and sushi. Do not expect to have an abundant Japanese feast here but for $45 I am not complaining. 

Ikoi Japanese Restaurant
#01-01 Hotel Miramar
401 Havelock Road

Tamoya

Tamoya at Liang Court is a Japanese eatery specialising in udon. Their menu is as simple as their design of the restaurant. Orders from customers are taken at the counter, just like a fast food outlet. The udon is available in 5-6 hot or cold varieties and comes with option toppings of beef, pork or curry chicken. The noodles are prepared on the other side of the counter and passed to you when they are ready. A variety of tampura can be added to the tray as you move along the bench. Payment is then made at the cashier according to your selection of side dishes and noodle. Customers can help themselves with the sauce and condiments such as ginger and seaweed from a station at the centre of the shop. 

When I went there on a weekday afternoon, there were not a lot side dishes available. I picked the basic Kake udon and a few vegetable tampura. Although seemingly a simple dish, the broth was delicious without being too salty. The udon noodles were thick and smooth with a lot of bite.

The tampura was all quite cold, after being left on the counter for some time. The batter was no longer crispy but they were still quite flavourful. I preferred the shitake mushrooms and the pumpkin. 

Tamoya is worth the visit if you are craving some good udon or you just want a light and fuss free meal. The portion of the udon was a bit small so a larger size is available. Perhaps the timing of my visit was unfortunate but I would like to see a wider selection of side dishes.

Tamoya

#01-32, 177 River Valley Road, Liang Court

Yayoiken

The few times that I dined at Liang Court, aka the little Japan in Singapore, I was never disappointed by the food. Yayoiken was no different. 

Their menu had both set meals and a la carte items including rice, noodles, steak, appetizers and desserts. We might have been a bit greedy that day and ordered a bit too much :P

Prawn tempura was a really nice starter. The prawn was sweet and juicy and the batter was crispy without being too greasy. The portion was also quite generous. 

The tekka don, sushi rice topped with tuna sashimi, came with a bowl of miso soup, for which complimentary refill was available. The tuna was fresh and thick. It was a simple but tasty dish.

Pork katsu don with cold udon. 

The Special steak mix was probably what we liked the least out of dinner, although the picture did look appetizing on the menu. The beef steak was a bit tough and the few streaks of bacon had soaked up all the grease at the bottom of the hot plate. The chicken chop and the hamburger steak were too salty for my taste. 

Overall the food at Yayoiken was delicious and affordable. We even saw a few groups of Japanese customers there, which was always a good sign. It is a restaurant that I would definitely return (but would stick to the rice dishes next time!)

Yayoiken
Meidi-ya Supermarket, 177 River Valley Road
#B1-50 Liang Court Shopping Centre

Yonehachi

The basement of Takashimaya is good for quick bites. There are stalls selling Japanese donuts, Korean pancakes, salads, smoothies, pastries and sandwiches on-the-go. And there are Indian, Thai and Vietnamese food in the food court, apart from the usual (and quite boring) fairs.
The other side of the basement has a few casual Japanese dining options, Yonehachi being one of them. Setting itself apart from the other stalls selling ramen and udons, Yonehachi specialises in the traditional Okowa rice. The steamed short-grained glutinous rice is available with different mix-ins of your choice, including red bean, chestnut, scallop or salmon.

My red bean Okowa with deep-fried prawn. The side dishes, including a miso soup, a salad with Japanese mayonnaise, steamed vegetables, green beans and seaweed, gave a great variety of different flavours and texture. The steamed slices of daikon, mushroom, pumpkin and lotus root were not overcooked and lightly seasoned with soy sauce. The sweet glutinous rice was slightly chewy and extremely filling. The crunchy red bean and the roasted black sesame had a nice contrasting texture. The prawns were, however, too dry and covered by too much batter. It was the least impressive component in the set.

Scallop and seaweed Okowa with deep-fried chicken and hot soba. This Okowa was more salty but equally tasty. My companion was not a fan of hot soba and would have preferred the cold version. Again the chicken was over-fried and a bit dry for me.

Despite being in a food court, seating was still arranged by staff who would also bring the meals to the tables. Although the service was a bit slow, the food was overall quite nice. Given their affordable price range, I would be interested in coming back to try their other sets.

Yonehachi
#B2-04-1/2, 391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya Food Hall
Ngee Ann City