Came with very high expectations given how highly raved man man is, but expectations were disappointingly not met.
The unagi was relatively well done and soft, but I felt like it was a tad bit overcooked. The exterior wasn’t crispy as I anticipated given the mass reviews I see raving the skin. The taste wasn’t as smokey as I’d like, the inner part of the unagi was rather plain. It’s still a decent unagi, but it definitely didn’t meet the man-man expectations I had. Maybe that’s why there wasn’t a queue at the Duo outlet.
I was pleasantly taken aback by the soup, which was infused with yuzu. The light citrusy taste adds depth to the soup, which made it very delicious and special.
The wasabi was freshly grated, and went well with the rice and unagi.
Overall a decent meal, definitely will head to the original outlet for a comparison :”)
Was first blown away by the coffee art. Probably the most complex art I’ve seen - a seahorse!! It’s really elaborate and cute.
On the other hand, the coffee didn’t disappoint as well. Smooth, velvety and a semi-bitter coffee aroma had me finished my cuppa way faster than I wanted to. The coffee is really fragrant, and is not being undercut by the taste of the oat milk. A good balance.
These plump scallops were slightly charred, and drizzled with the seaweed miso butter, were so so decadent. The scallops were juicy and thick, and not your neighborhood tiny scallops. Definitely worth a try and that burn in your pocket if you’re a fan of scallops!
These babies were seriously crunchy. The meat is tender and juicy. Definitely a good snack to go with drinks! Wished it was a tad more marinated and salty, but it may just be me since I’m very used to the Chinese style of Sio Bak! Definitely a good pork belly nonetheless.. the super CRUNCHY SKIN itself is worth a try!
The prawn paste smell enveloped us upon its introduction to our table. These wings were bite-sized and a great pairing for drinks definitely. They were crispy and well-flavored, yet not overly oily. My only gripe was that the chilli wasn’t spicy and tasty enough for me, but I reckon it made an edible chilli for everyone, including the non-spicy eaters!
Thoroughly enjoyed these lips-smacking ribs. These were fall-off-the-bones goodness glazed with sweet and salty barbecue and fragrant garnishes. Super tender, juicy and bursting porky flavors. Very very good 🤤
This pasta is surely very aesthetically pleasing. The garlic flavor coated every strand of pasta evenly, and boy it was very satisfying. Even though the pasta was so tasty, it wasn’t overly oily.
The Ebi definitely introduced a different texture to the pasta, but it wasn’t really noticeable. But it’s definitely still a gold ol plate of pasta!
The chicken was really tender and juicy. Quite a rare find in my opinion since this is usually the kind of dish that tastes lackluster and it’s usually there on the menu for variety. However, not this.
The chicken by itself was tasty, but in my opinion, complementing it with the mashed potatoes and roasted pumpkins bring the dish to a next level. The mashed potatoes were delicately soft and creamy. What really surprised me was the pronounced potato taste, which convinced me that this wasn’t some sort of artificial powdered mash potato. Definitely would recommend this dish!!
First impression was that this was MSG-free, so was really delighted to find that the soup was easy on the palate, yet the robust broth lingered. (But not for long, continue reading!)
The broth was infused with the fragrance of porcini and light yuzu/lemon taste. First few slurps was pleasant and had me reaching for more. However, after awhile, the taste more or less tapered off and no longer amused my tastebuds. It was a very one-dimensional taste in my opinion. Further, I was more of a Tonkotsu fan. But I didn’t regret trying, because the ingredients of the soup (mushroom and citrus) was certainly an interesting combination and worth a try. You may end up liking it!
The ramen was al-dente. I think it was some sort of wheat flour (healthier I guess?) which I enjoyed because it has a more clean bite to it. It isn’t your typical Hakata style ramen noodles, but it’s equally good in terms of the bite and the mild wheat taste.
Definitely worth a try to explore whether this bowl of Ramen is for you!
Finally tried the unagi that had been on the news for some time. My first thought was “well.. the unagi is really small...) I mean I can’t complain right because I ordered the small size but 🥺
The unagi is nicely charred and soft. I really enjoyed the 3 steps to eat this unagi — made the eating experience fun and experiential! But the unagi overall was nothing to shout about. It wasn’t as smoky as I’d like it to be, which is one thing that I really look out for in a good unagi. Must admit that it’s really affordable! Would definitely not mind Una Una to satisfy my urgent unagi cravings on a tight pocket.
The soft shell crabs were the first thing that caught my attention. They were deep fried and extremely crunchy. It’s pretty well battered and tasty. My only gripe was that it’ll get soggy after getting soaked with the sauce! So tips to chomp these babies down first while it’s still hot and crispy!
The sauce was legit. Perhaps the cafe skeptic in me had low expectations of an Asian twist on pasta, but this chilli crab sauce satisfied my Asian taste bud. Eggy, spicy, and tangy from the lime — it was just the right balance. Especially appreciated the generous lather of eggs. Wished I had some mantous to go along with this sauce (this view was echoed by several of my friends)
Pasta was average, al-dente.
Would recommend if you’re into chilli crab and spice!
First impression: Looks like fried tofu
Upon biting into it, the floury chewy rice cake got me wanting more. It’s not overwhelmingly floury and just the right amount of sweetness. I particularly enjoyed the chewy texture. The skin was crispy and addictive as well — and also adding a crisp texture to the chewiness! The sweet brown sugar sauce and peanut also complements the rice cake.
It was a light yet satisfying dessert to end the meal!!
