Japanese Cuisine

I must also mention the trio of appetisers we started with: a fresh, zingy salad, a little cube of fish jelly, and a comforting braised wagyu in red miso which left me wanting more.

The meal concluded with miso soup – could've done with slightly less salt – and a refreshing plum shiso leaf sorbet.

You'd be hard-pressed to find an omakase meal as value-for-money as Miraku's 15 Course Lunch ($68).

Expect hints of citrus and a myriad of delightful textures. Portions are on the smaller side, but the meal left me feeling satiated. It was, to put it simply, "just nice",

I could go on and on about the gloriously fatty ootoro – marbled, pink, and pale – and the smooth and luscious mouthfeel of the wagyu sukiyaki with onsen egg.

But of course, how could I not wax lyrical about the pièce de résistance, uni nigiri? It was akin to an ocean's kiss, its briny sweetness unparalleled by any other.

Whenever I feel like splurging on a meal at Muji, I always make a beeline for the Sakura Chicken with Curry Miso and Dried Chilli ($18.90 for a Jewel set). I swear it tastes like a milder salted egg chicken. Anyone else share the same sentiment?

I also get the exact same Cold Deli sides every time: Prawn Couscous Salad with Yuzu-sesame Dressing and the Duo Apple Kale Salad, Maple White Wine Vinegar Dressing. The latter even has cranberries, hazelnuts and chestnuts tossed into the mix – very autumnal.

BURPPLE BEYOND DINNER SET (Main & Tempura & Drink)

I'll always place my bets on the sweet and silky Sanuki Beef Egg Udon ($11.20) - a safe AND solid choice!

We would've all loved a batch of freshly fried tempura, but what can one do? My kakiage tempura had unsurprisingly lost its crunch, giving way to a more greasy mouthfeel.

As the name suggests, it is what it is. How can one say no to the Udon with Seasoned Cod Roe & Half Boiled Egg ($11.90)? It’s simple, it’s effective, it hits the spot.

The spice from the mentaiko comes through, but only for a split second before it gets swept away by the creamy egg, lost (and found) in the sea of udon. Every bowl comes with seaweed, but you can help yourself to extra garnishes and/or sauces. Cue in the tempura bits.

The Tamago Sando ($12) is a delightful midday snack I wouldn't mind having over and over again. This had all the makings of tamagoyaki one can find on the streets of Tokyo, being all warm and fluffy with a creamy mouthfeel. I, and many others, judging by their reviews, are clearly smitten with the konbu mayo and pear sauce. They bring out a delicate sweetness and a hint of umami - it is what makes this sandwich stand out from the rest.

Anyone else thinks they should offer the sandwich on its own sans chips and salad (at a lower price, of course)?

With the long queues and all, you'd be hard-pressed not to order the Kiwami Wagyu Sukiyaki Don ($29.90).

An entire tray of beautifully marbled Yonezawa A4 beef is prepared right before your eyes, and heaped onto a hefty bowl of rice, with mushrooms, shirataki noodles and tofu in tow. The beef is sweet (thanks, caramelisation), fatty and smoky, and when you mix in that onsen egg.....oh yes oh yes oh yes.

You also get sesame beancurd, with the texture of mochi, miso soup and pickles on the side. Worth every penny.

A plate of The Public Izakaya's Crispy Fried Chicken ($11) is all you need to wind down at the end of an exhausting day. Having said that, a dollop of mayo and a squeeze of lemon is all it needs. Oh, and an ice cold beer on the side works wonders.

The best part is, you don't even have to bother with bones.

There's only so much one can say about the Jaga Mentaiko ($9). The combination of baked julienne potato and torched mentaiko sauce is faultless through and through. It also happens to be the perfect accompaniment to all those meaty dishes you're bound to scarf down.

I find the dry noodle options here to be a lot more noteworthy than their soup-based counterparts. The crowd favourite Mentaiko Ramen ($17) is a must-order, featuring thin Hakata-style noodles, tender seared char siu slices and an egg (not the best I've had, but it's got a good gooey amber-hued yolk!!), topped with spring onion, seaweed and a large blob of mentaiko.

It's a self-explanatory bowl of dry ramen, with a minimal selection of ingredients, but hey, that's when the rich and salty mentaiko can really shine.

Among the extensive range of grilled meats Mikawa has to offer, the Sliced Iberico Pork with Truffle Sauce ($12) is a must-order. Tender and juicy pork slices doused in a not-too-salty sauce with a subtle fragrance of truffle. In fact, this was the only dish my (already stuffed) dining companions and I had seconds of.

One of Hokkaido Marche's better food offerings is this Buta Don from Yakitori Tsuyoshi. For $13, you get a bowl of grilled pork slices slathered in a sweet and smokey sauce, miso soup and 'Legend of Chicken Skin' - crispy morsels of fried chicken skin (gasp!!!). Would highly recommend the addition of a poached egg ($1) - it's a must if you want to make the best out of your buta don experience.