This new Japanese kushiyaki bar at The Sail @ Marina Bay serves up amazingly smoky and yummy kushiyaki (skewered sticks), but that's not all — they dish out some stellar rice bowls too. There are only counter seats, so come solo or bring just one friend. Get acquainted with their style through the Kushiyaki Omakase ($22), which gets you six skewers that are grilled till they sport a lovely char. Expect the likes of pork, chicken, and chicken with leek, all of which go very well with a drink. Portions run small for the rice bowls like the Kushiyaki Don ($14.90) that is served with four assorted sticks atop a bowl of rice, along with a fried onsen egg; or the Special Tempura Don ($14.90), which sees the chef's selection of ingredients battered and fried till crisp golden. Order the free-flow Ocha (hot tea, $2) to wash it all down.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler chutoro eats
Two prawns, one piece of chicken breast, an onsen egg, a slice of sweet potato, one baby corn and a mushroom - those are what the chef decided to put into the Tempura Don today. The menu states that this is subject to change, so you may not get the same items when you visit.
The batter wasn't as crisp as I'd have liked it to be but at least the amount of sauce splashed on was just right and didn't overwhelm.
Do note that the ocha (tea) here is not complimentary. They charge $2++ per person but it's free flow.
Whilst not quite at the euphoric grease heaven levels of Ginza Tendon Itsuki or Tempura Kohaku, the Special Tempura Don, with its insistent crisp and crunch of bite, brings to the yard one of the best tempura batter around. It is at first instance immediately head and shoulders above the likes of Tensho, Akimitsu and the Irvins Salted Egg at Raffles Place MRT-esque line of tempura concepts surfing the tempura wave, all of which have delivered tempura batter ranging from mediocre to outright saucily flaccid. 3.7/5
And also reasonably priced at $14.90++ 😁
The Special Tempura Don consists of 2 pieces of prawns and 1 piece of chicken, sweet potato, baby corn, mushroom, eggplant and poached egg 💛 Crispy, even at the end of the meal! Although there's no sauce that you can help yourself to, but there's enough flavour already, even for me 😁
The Kushiyaki Don has 4 assorted skewers. Today we had the pork, chicken, chicken with leek and bacon wrapped tomato, not forgetting a lovely poached egg as well. I really love the charred surface 😊
There's also vegetarians versions at $11.90++. Too bad there are only counter seats here and not suitable for larger groups. Come early as the space is limited!
I tried the newly opened @KimotoGastroBar the other day and I really enjoyed their tempura don! It's all in the batter, which is light, non greasy and stays crispy throughout the meal! If you are craving for tempura in town, give this a try!
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Where to find this?
Kimoto Gastro Bar
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6 Marina Boulevard, The Sail 01-15, S018985
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Mon to Fri: 11.30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
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S$14.90++ comes with miso soup and side salad
