It took me 2.5 years to come back, but I’m super glad to find the food as good (though I can’t say the same of their service). Their simple kushiyaki of Ren-kon(deep-fried lotus root) remain my favourite — so much that we had 6 orders between 4 of us 🙃 First off: the batter’s fantastically light and thin, sticking to the lotus root instead of simply peeling off as a thick coat. That’s half the battle won, mind you; many places can’t even nail that. It’s also not greasy, with a little of the oil lovingly seeping into the root vegetable and giving it a kinda muted crunch — “al-dente” if you could imagine. I loved how earthy and sweet the root vegetables were, holding firm on their own and shining through that batter. Most wouldn’t think of ordering this at a yakitori store, but I’d call this a must-try at Uma.
Not just skewered toward meat lovers, Yakitori Uma’s Ren-kon (Deep-fried Lotus root) and Tamafura (Fried Onion) comes highly recommended by many of Burpple Tastemakers and now after trying, I too would suggest ordering both ($4.90/each). Super crunchy and very addictive, the thinly battered lotus root was my favourite. Because fried to perfection, the crisp-fibrous texture really stood out for me whereas the usual starchiness and slight stickiness of the lotus root that most dislike were less prominent. The Tamafura too, were well-executed. Sweet, juicy and fried to a lovely golden-brown; the drool-inducing panko coating was a great contrast to the soft interior. Simple and satisfying! But dip with caution, as the mustard sauce was pretty potent. Not wanting to mask the natural flavours of the ingredient, I would skip the dips.
Coated in a thin, crunchy, golden batter, this simple dish of Ren-kon and Tamafura (deep-fried lotus root and onion rings) stole my heart. Great batter aside - and that's half the battle won, mind you - I loved how earthy and sweet the root vegetables were, holding firm on their own and shining through that batter. The lotus root for one still retained a kinda muted crunch, cooked al dente if you would call it such; and the onion - oh-so-moist, sweet, and just melting in your mouth.
The crunchy, slightly sticky texture of the deep-fried lotus root was interesting, but the onion stole all the love. There was a nice contrast between the crispy katsu shell and sweet onion disc. One is definitely not enough!
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Our verdict for the night! This was so good that we ordered it at the start and end of our meal. .
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The crispy sweet lotus root lightly coated with ONE millimeter of (batter + beard crumb). Deep fried till golden and ate with Tonkatsu Sauce! .
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Acidic sweet Tonkatsu sauce with chestnut like sweetness from the lotus root. How can lotus root be this GOOOOOOD!!!!!
I've had boiled lotus root in soup, pickled ones in salads, deep-fried paper-thin chips, but never like this.
Coated in a light batter and then dredged in breadcrumbs, the lotus root retained most of its crisp texture, but the natural sweetness became more pronounced, almost as if I was biting into (old) coconut flesh instead. The dipping sauce tasted a lot like Worcestershire.
Part of the fun is watching the chef prepare this order. After dunking the disc into a batter, you'll see him blow it very gently, I think to make sure the holes don't get covered in breadcrumbs. Quite amusing! 😬
It is hard to find a restaurant in town that makes you feel quite so relaxed and at home. On the first floor of Orchard Plaza is this humble restaurant with affordable, great food. Order the comforting Zou Sui ($5.80), a hearty Japanese chicken porridge that sees a big bowl of rice combined with chicken, egg and leek in a flavourful broth. This is good for two to share as a base. Then, order the impeccably grilled P-Toro ($5.80 for two), a pair of pork neck skewers slathered in an addictive sauce. This is a must-order here. The Sagari ($5.90), or beef harami, the super tender cut of meat near the diaphragm, is excellent, beautifully tender and pink in the middle. Don't leave without trying the Ren-kon ($4.90 for two), a fun pair of lotus root skewers that are lightly breaded and deep fried. If you're in the mood for fish, the Saury ($7), which comes whole and with grated radish on the side, will satisfy. Sake is affordably priced, as is the beer. We can imagine coming here for just about anything — casual weeknight dates, to have a comforting meal alone, or with a few friends.
Avg Price: $30 per person with drinks
Photo by Burppler Jayne Tan
Breaded and deep fried, this is an unusual item that you just must try! Firstly, it's quite adorable, reminds me of the smiley face potato snack, but also, it has a really light breading that gives way to a crisp bite of lotus root. Fun and yummy.
