Talk about our love for Japanese food, and sushi is the first thing that comes to our mind.
Something exciting is coming right up, and for those who don’t know, a 20,075 square feet Japanese Food Town is coming to Singapore on 16 July.
There will be about 16 casual dining establishments handpicked from Japan where Japanese food lovers can experience quality and authentic Japanese cuisine at affordable prices, all under one roof.
Artist’s impression of Japan Food Town at Wisma Atria
About Japan Food Town’s Food Outlets
1. Dassai Bar
The purest sake, purely for sake’s sake
The first ever DASSAI Bar outside of Japan will launch in Japan Food Town, pairing their premium Sake with delicious sushi.
Imported from Yamaguchi exclusively for Japan Food Town in Singapore, Dassai’s fine sake is a flavourful blend of the old world and new. Refined, top quality rice is painstakingly milled till just the precious fermentable starches remain, an extravagant process that results in sake with an identity; delicate, refined and graceful.
The Dassai brand of sake has played host to the palette of Royalty and Dignitaries the world over.
Dassai sake originated in Iwakuni, in Yamaguchi Prefecture
2. Hokkaido Izakaya
Open a culinary portal to Hokkaido
Best of Hokkaido’s seasonal ingredients on a plate.
Hokkaido’s unique geographical location means access to the best flavours of the sea and the land. Explore the authentic flavours of Hokkaido via delicate soba handcrafted from the freshest Hokkaido ingredients.
Hokkaido Izakaya serves the best of Hokkaido’s produce from the towns of Yakumo, Akkeshi, Furano and Kamishihoro in a friendly, casual environment.
As its name implies, Hokkaido Izakaya hails from Hokkaido as do most of the ingredients it uses.
3. Inaniwa Yosuke
Exceptionally well done udon
Sato Yosuke’s Head of craftmen making 1.5t of Inaniwa Udon noodles every day, all by hand. Truly a labour of love in every bite.
Inaniwa Yosuke is known as Sato Yosuke in Japan. Created in 1860, Sato Yosuke’s Inaniwa udon is an unchanging 150-year old handmade tradition of Akita craftmanship and skill. Artisans work daily to produce Inaniwa udon, a three-day labour of love that transforms clear water, carefully selected salt and flour into silky, chewy udon that is unmistakably Inaniwa.
Sato Yosuke’s original outlet is based in Chuo, Tokyo.
4. Bonta Bonta
Perfecting the humble rice ball
Bonta Bonta has their own Rice Sommelier to ensure only the best rice is used for their humble Onigiri.
To simply call Bonta Bonta’s Onigiri, rice balls would be an injustice. Bonta Bonta’s rice is first specially selected by a rice sommelier, and processed to the highest standards to qualify as Kinmemai – low-calorie brown rice with high nutritional values. Taste the difference in this artisanal version of the humble rice ball, each lovingly handmade and served with piping hot miso soup.
One can find queues of happy customers outside their original shop in Toshima, Tokyo.
5. Yomoda Soba
Soba made with a special ingredient – Heart
Everyone should have fun and share a laugh while enjoying some good soba noodles.
“Yomoda” can mean many things – Carefree, Easy-going – but most of all, it is a word to be used for friends, to see things on the lighter side of life. That warm, carefree sense of fun is exactly the kind of feeling that Yomoda stands for. That is the kind of atmosphere you will find at Yomoda Soba.
There’s little wonder why the Yomoda Soba stand draws long queues daily in Tokyo. Favoured by locals and celebrities alike, Yomoda boasts fresh, quality soba made on-site, served with heartful hospitality at a surprisingly affordable price.
Be the first in line at their first ever outlet in Singapore, only at Japan Food Town.
6. Nabe Seizan
Taste the quality of a 2-michelin star Nabe specialty shop.
Yamamoto-san is a 2 Michelin star chef who will soon introduce a Nabestyle culinary experience to diners in Singapore.
The original Seizan restaurant in Japan is a 2-Michelin starred Kaiseki restaurant currently helmed by the Tokyoborn chef Haruhiko Yamamoto.
The young chef, who is only 35 years-old, opened his restaurant in April 2011. Chef Yamamoto strives to bring out the true flavour of each ingredient rather than rely solely on sauces.
Chef Yamamoto now brings the hearty Nabe cuisine to Singapore at Japan Food Town with the same quality and dedication that earned him 2 michelin stars. He put together a tantalizing menu which will introduce a unique “Nabe” experience to diners here.
Seizan’s original outlet is located in Mita, Minato in Tokyo
7. Sabar
Mackerel Speciality Shop
Sabar’s goal is to make the word “saba” a universal term like geisha, sushi or karaoke.
Saba or Mackerel has been used in Japanese cuisine in Singapore for decades, and the name “Sabar” would automatically suggest that their menu has something to do with mackerel. But Sabar is more than just that, the store specializes in cuisine revolving around the use of mackerel as the star ingredient.
Even in Japan, Sabar’s positioning is unique, with little to no other restaurants specializing in mackerel cuisine. Sabar’s goal is to make the word “saba” an universal term like geisha, sushi or karaoke. Quite ambitious, but one taste of their food and you’ll understand they are on their way.
Another anecdote about them- you will find a lot of symbolism in their restaurant with the number 38, which sounds like ‘Saba’ in Japanese. They love mackerel, and it is used playfully all around their outlet.
Sabar uses top quality mackerel from Aomori to make their various saba-based dishes. You’ll be spoilt for choice but since it is now in Singapore, you can go back anytime to try something new!
Sabar originated from Osaka though they use mackerel from Aomori.
8. Osaka Kitchen
Teppanyaki Speciality Shop
Using fresh ingredients sourced directly from Japan, Osaka Kitchen will give you a taste of this great city in the Kansai region.
Osaka Kitchen brings you the most famous dishes Osaka has to offer – Teppanyaki using Wagyu beef and Okonomiyaki cooked lovingly and with dedication on a hot plate right in front of you.
Yakisoba is another popular dish which will be available on the menu that compliments Teppanyaki cuisine perfectly. This outlet is your best chance to taste the freshly cooked flavours of Osaka.
9. Sushi Takewaka
Authentic Edo-style Sushi
Chef Kawashima ensures only the freshest of ingredients go into every bite at Sushi
Takewaka.
Takewaka’s first shop started about 28 years ago in Tsukiji, the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world and also one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind.
Due to its close proximity to Tsukiji, Takewaka has managed to maintain many years of experience and relationships with fishermen and wholesalers to pick the best quality fish and seafood for their EDO Style Sushi.
Sushi is only at its best when the ingredients are fresh and full of flavour, and that’s exactly what you get at Takewaka. Carefully selected good quality fish and seafood will be prepared by their skilful and humble chef. Sushi Takewaka comes from Tokyo and is a sushi specialty shop.
10. Machida-Shoten
Like mum made it – if mum was a ramen champion
Full-bodied Tonkotsu & Soya Sauce Ramen skillfully prepared by the chefs at Machida Shoten. Most importantly, its their cheerful atmosphere that’s the secret ingredient.
Machida-shoten is known for “Iekei”, which translates directly to “house-type”, from the kanji “家”, or noodles that are cooked to your specified softness/hardness.
A bowl of rice completes the meal, mopping up the soup when you’re finished with the noodles. Come home to Machida- Shoten.
Michida-Shoten comes from the Kanagawa Prefecture.
11. Tempura Tsukiji Tenka
Get schooled in quality sushi!
You are in good hands with chefs at Tempura Tsukiji Tenka who are trained by the finest chefs in Japan, exclusively at Japan Food Town.
Some of the finest Japanese chefs honed their craft at Tokyo Sushi Academy, Japan’s top traditional culinary academy.
This is the first restaurant the academy is opening in Singapore, featuring Tempura and Donburi by Tokyo Sushi Academy graduates, exclusively for Japan Food Town.
12. Yakiniku Heijyoen
Yakiniku beef connoisseurs rejoice!
Beef lovers unite and rejoice over a meal at Heijyoen where one can honour top quality wagyu beef specially selected
for yakiniku cuisine.
Yakiniku Heijyoen treats their beef like fine wine, carefully procuring only top quality black hair wagyu from all over Japan, for quality that is consistent year-round.
Before the beef even sees the kitchen, it is aged first for tenderness, and to bring out a deeper concentration of beef taste and flavour.
Yakiniku Heijyoen goes by the name Heijyoen in Japan. Heijyoen’s main outlet is in Tokyo, Japan.
13. Shabu Shabu Tajimaya
Superior Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki, superior value.
Shabu Shabu Tajimaya is known as Gyuta in Japan. Gyuta is a humble eatery from Hyogo that’s operated on a simple motto since 1997: “Good quality food with reasonable price”.
Try their beef and vegetable buffet Shabu Shabu or Sukiyaki, and you’ll quickly realise they’ve over-accomplished their motto with amazing quality food and amazingly reasonable prices.
14. Rang Mang Shokudo
Mama miya umami
Golden, crispy fried chicken done to an art. You’ll be blown away
by the umami flavour.
This isn’t just fried chicken, this is artisanal fried chicken. Tokyo’s Rang Mang Shokudo fried chicken is marinated in butter milk for 6 hours, and fried twice in low heat for an umami that elevates fried chicken beyond fast food. Try it for yourself and see the difference – then wash it all down with their signature frozen lemon cocktail.
Rang Man Shokudo comes from Tokyo, Japan.
15. Anzu
Farm to table, to your tummy.
Katsu done the way it should, featuring ingredients fresh from Kyushu.
Anzu prepares everything from fresh Kyushu produce, and they don’t just serve fresh vegetables – they grow it themselves too.
They’ve brought their signature dishes to Japan Food Town, including their top quality Japanese Black Haired Pork, deepfried and served with homemade sauce, then plated on delicate Imari porcelain.
(There’s still one that is unconfirmed.)
Share this news with Japanese foodies out there!
Japan Food Town
Address: 435 Orchard Rd, #04-39/54 Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Singapore 238877
Business Hours: 11am to 11pm Daily
Prices: Starting from S$10
Total Seating Capacity: 628 pax
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