There’s been a couple of famous overseas restaurant chain openings in Singapore recently, and one of them that has just opened its doors is none other than the famed Uoharu izakaya from Tokyo, a popular spot that boasts month-long waitlists to dine.
Katsuo Warayaki Show
Complimentary Grilled Bonito Fish
Entering the space through the (intentionally) lowered door feels like walking into a secret hideout of sorts, as the interior is dimly lit for a moody vibe. We’re told that the Singapore outpost is modelled after its Tokyo and Hong Kong counterparts, with a traditional izakaya-style decor and Japanese elements like floor seating and displays of empty sake bottles all over the restaurant. What’s extra special about the Singapore outlet is their signature Katsuo Warayaki Show that happens every night, a fiery performance where dried straw is burned and used to grill up bonito fish. After the show, all diners will be treated to complimentary sampling portions of the grilled bonito fish as a thank you from the chef, no minimum spending required.
Homemade Snow Crab Croquette Rice, $24.80
Seared Miso Sashimi Tartare, $14.80
Manzoku Tuna and Sea Urchin Sushi Roll, $28.80
Food and drinking snacks from Uoharu starts from a friendly $3 each, and you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice with the extensive selection of eats to choose from. One of our favourite bites has got to be the Homemade Snow Crab Croquette Rice ($24.80), a filling and hearty dish served in a stone pot that’s not just filled with snow crab meat but also freshly-fried snow crab croquettes that are mashed and mixed into the rice for extra crunchiness and umami in every bite. The rice itself is also well seasoned, and the addition of ikura also makes it extra flavourful. The Seared Miso Sashimi Tartare ($14.80) is also one of our top picks, and instead of the usual raw tartare, the sashimi is torched right at your table, leaving the exterior lightly aburi-ed while the inside remains tender. There’s a little DIY aspect as well, and you can create your own mini handroll with the tartare, dipping it into the egg yolk for extra richness. Sushi lovers will also enjoy the Manzoku Tuna and Sea Urchin Sushi Roll ($28.80), sushi rolls piled high with seasoned tuna, snow crab, ikura and uni—truly an indulgent bite.
U.S. Beef Short Rib with Bone, $32.80
Mentaiko in Olive Oil with French Baguette, $12.80
Baguette Toast with Cream Cheese & Maple Syrup, $9.80
Squid with Squid Liver Sauce, $16.80
Meat lovers can get the U.S. Beef Short Rib with Bone ($32.80), which we recommend eating as soon as it’s served before it loses most of its tenderness. For smaller snacks and sharing plates you can pair with alcohol, there’s the Squid with Squid Liver Sauce ($16.80), tender grilled whole squid paired with its own salty and umami squid liver sauce. They’ve also got some Western-influenced snacks like the Mentaiko in Olive Oil with French Baguette ($12.80) and Baguette Toast with Cream Cheese & Maple Syrup ($9.80), crunchy, toasted baguette bread slices served with either a savoury mentaiko-olive oil sauce or semi-sweet maple cream cheese dip.
Japanese-Style Thick Fried Tofu, $6.80
Potato Salad with Smoked Mackerel and Egg, $7.80
Akita Smoked Radish with Cream Cheese, $10.80
Soba with Karasumi, $20.80
Another dish that’s worth trying is the Japanese-Style Thick Fried Tofu ($6.80), chunky cuts of soft silken tofu that’s coated in a layer of light batter before being fried to crispy perfection. The contrast between the ultra soft tofu and crisp exterior made each bite super addictive, and is a unique style of fried tofu we don’t see often.
Keg Draft Sake, from $19
Homemade Japanese Pumpkin Crème Brulee, $8.80
Matcha Baguette Ice Cream Sandwich, $6.80
No visit to a Japanese izakaya is complete without some booze, and Uoharu has plenty of that to offer. If you’re a sake lover, you absolutely must try their Keg Draft Sake (from $19), as they’re one of the rare places where you can enjoy the specialty brew that’s freshly made with no preservatives. The entire sake keg is brought to your table for the fresh sake to be dispensed on tap, with a slightly more “raw”, and unprocessed flavour unlike usual bottled sakes. There’s also more than 100 different types of sake, beer, highballs, lemon sours, cocktails, shochu and wines you can choose from, all imported straight from Japan. For dessert, they’ve also got a couple of unique options like the Homemade Japanese Pumpkin Crème Brulee ($8.80) that’s much sweeter than regular crème brulee, made with pumpkin instead of custard; and Matcha Baguette Ice Cream Sandwich ($6.80) with ice cream stuffed in crunchy, toasted loaves of baguette.
After trying out Uoharu’s offerings, we can see why it’s so loved, and if we’re ever looking for a casual and vibey spot with good food to share and plenty of booze, this will definitely be one of our top picks. Reservations are now open for Uoharu here, and we you might want to hurry and snag a spot while you still can.
Taste: 8/10
Price: $$
Favourite dish(es): Homemade Snow Crab Croquette Rice, Japanese-Style Thick Fried Tofu
Would we come back: Definitely, with a bigger group of friends for a night out with drinks
Uoharu
Address: 2 Central Boulevard #01-16 IOI, Central Blvd, Towers, Singapore 018916
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11am-10pm
