Although I’ve previously enjoyed NOBU’s weekend brunch, this was my first time experiencing their Spring Omakase Dinner. With spring in full bloom, there’s no better occasion to savour NOBU Singapore’s seasonal Spring Omakase Dinner Menu, thoughtfully crafted by Executive Chef Hideki Maeda. Available for a limited time only until 30 April 2025, this six-course dining experience is priced at S$195++ per person and highlights the finest spring ingredients presented with NOBU’s signature elegance and artistry.
Chef Hideki Maeda combines the finest seasonal ingredients with premium seafood and meat selections, creating a delightful balance of flavours and textures, all beautifully presented in NOBU’s signature style.
Each bite is a refreshing start to the meal. Highlighting the purity of each ingredient with subtle seasoning that elevates rather than overpowers.
Spring Sushi Selection
Featuring Scallop Taco, Hotaru Ika (Firefly Squid), Eel, Tuna and Salmon with Pickled Sakura Flower. This course celebrates the fleeting beauty of spring, featuring delicate seafood and floral accents that pop both visually and on the palate.
Sakura-Tai with Dry Miso and Bamboo Shoots
Refreshing dish served with rapeseed blossom (nanohana), butter lettuce, diced capsicum, and dressed in a zesty yuzu truffle oil and shaved parmesan cheese. A clever blend of East-meets-West.
Pan-Fried Lobster in Creamy Spicy Lemon Sauce
Pan-fried lobster is paired with pumpkin purée, chive oil, baby asparagus, and cauliflower. The rich, creamy sauce complements the sweet lobster meat perfectly, while the vegetables lend freshness and balance.
Charcoal-Grilled Spring Chicken
For Main Course, we had the Josper Charcoal-Grilled Spring Chicken with Tosazu Butter, served with a teriyaki glaze and crispy fried onion rings for added texture.
Coconut Cake with Vanilla Cream and Pineapple Cilantro Granita
For dessert, we enjoyed the Coconut Cake with Vanilla Cream and Pineapple Cilantro Granita. The dessert is served on a base of mango jelly and topped with coriander leaves for a refreshing herbaceous touch. Light and tropical finale to the meal.
If you’re looking for a seasonal dining experience with a balance of elegance and innovation, this Spring Omakase at Nobu Singapore is worth planning a night out for. Seats are limited, so early reservations are recommended!
Tempura lovers, rejoice! A new Edo-style tempura omakase destination has opened in the heart of Orchard Road—Tempura Ensei. Helmed by Executive Chef Naruki Takeshima and Executive Sous Chef Masashi Watanabe, this intimate restaurant is dedicated to the art of traditional tempura, blending time-honoured techniques with premium ingredients for an elevated dining experience. Named after the Japanese term “Ensei (縁成),” meaning “Building Great Bond,” the restaurant embodies the philosophy of forging meaningful connections through food.
At Tempura Ensei, the art of Edo-style tempura is in the hands of two masterful chefs—Executive Chef Naruki Takeshima and Executive Sous Chef Masashi Watanabe. At just 28, Chef Takeshima brings a wealth of experience, having trained at Tenkane, a renowned 120-year-old tempura institution in Japan, where he mastered age-old frying techniques. His expertise was further refined at Tenharu Singapore, where he adapted traditional methods to suit the local palate. Chef Watanabe, hailing from Niigata, grew up in a family-run restaurant before opening his own tempura specialty eatery, developing aninnate understanding of Japanese culinary traditions. With a shared passion for craftsmanship and innovation, they bring a harmonious blend of precision, artistry, and depth of flavour to every dish at Tempura Ensei.
What distinguishes Tempura Ensei is its unwavering dedication to the art of tempura frying, executed with precision and finesse. The chefs craft a delicate, ultra-light batter using Tomizawa Super Violet flour,chilled water, and eggs, ensuring each bite is crisp yet ethereal. Fried in Taihaku Goma Abura sesame oil, prized for its clean, refined finish, the tempura retains the natural essence of its ingredients without excessive greasiness. Every piece is meticulously prepared, with oil temperatures adjusted to complement the moisture and density of each ingredient, allowing for a perfectly golden, airy, and flavourful tempura experience.
Tempura Ensei showcases the finest seasonal seafood, premium vegetables, and carefully sourced specialty ingredients from Japan. The restaurant offers a range of thoughtfully curated menus to cater to both lunch and dinn er, allowing guests to indulge in the full depth of tempura artistry. The Lunch En Menu is priced at S$128++, providing a refined yet accessible selection, while the Dinner Sei Menu offers a more extensive experience at S$188++. For those seeking the ultimate indulgence, the Omakase Menu at S$288++ presents a personalized, exquisite journey through Chef Naruki Takeshima’s innovative tempura creations.We tried the Omakase Menu and here is what to expect:
Red Snapper Sashimi from Hyogo prefecture paired with one-day marinated wasabi flower in dashi sauce.
The Hamaguri Owan is a soothing, clear soup infused with katsuobushi and hamaguri clam juice, complemented by the subtle bitterness of canola flower. Perfectly balances the natural sweetness of the clam. It’s comforting simplicity made it both satisfying and delightful.
Next up is the spotlight on tempura, where the chef will showcase a selection of carefully chosen ingredients.
Zuwaigani (Snow Crab) from Hokkaido – Sweet and delicate winter crab.
My sister had the Kurama Ebi (tiger prawns) from Kumamoto prefecture followed by their heads. Amazingly good!
Kisu (Japanese Whiting) from Chiba – Lightly salted and vinegar-bathed before frying for enhanced flavor. This seasonal fish is very good.
Bafun Uni (Sea Urchin) from Hokkaido, encased in crisp nori for a molten bite.
Shiitake Mushroom stuffed with Shiba Ebi, offering an earthy, umami-rich experience.
Asparagus from Kyushu, prized for its sweetness and harvested seasonally from Kyushu to Hokkaido as temperatures shift.
For Palate Cleanser, we had the Cold Zuwaigani (Snow Crab) with housemade dashi vinegar jelly and chili-accented radish puree.
Moving on, we had the Anago (Conger Eel) from Nagasaki, known for its soft texture and subtle sweetness.
Awabi (Abalone) from Kyoto, served with Abalone Liver and Rice Porridge sauce for a luxurious touch.
Fukahire (Shark Fin), meticulously prepared by steaming with ginger and leek for an hour, then simmered in katsuobushi dashi to develop a light, refined sauce.
Sweet Potato from Kagoshima, roasted and deep-fried for a caramelized sweetness.
For a hearty yet elegant finish, Tempura Ensei offers two signature rice dishes:
My sister opted for Tendon – Seasonal seafood and vegetable tempura served over Japanese rice, accompanied by housemade katsuobushi and Nameko mushroom miso soup.
I decided to try Tencha – A lighter option, where housemade katsuobushi dashi is poured over tempura rice, creating a comforting, fragrant dish.
To round off the experience, we had the Ichigo (Strawberries) from Tokushima, a simple yet refreshing conclusion to the meal.
For an authentic Edo-style tempura experience, you can consider Tempura Ensei. With its centuries-old techniques, premium ingredients, and masterful execution, it delivers a refined tempura experience in the heart of Singapore. After this visit, tempura will never taste the same. Even my sister exclaimed “Wow” after her first bite! It’s incredible how tempura can be so clean, refined, and impeccably executed. I’m so glad to have experienced it once again (previously at Tenshima ), and this time at Tempura Ensei.
Hanazen situated in the CHIJMES dining and entertainment hub in the heart of the City Hall district has recently launched a brand-new menu. The menu is meticulously crafted by Chef Taisei Iwao. Chef Taisei, who serves as the Executive Chef at the Michelin-starred Lumiere and owns Karato in Osaka. Read More
Tenshima located in Millenia Walk is a fine dining tempura omakase concept restaurant. This few month-olds restaurant is helmed by Chef Takahiro Shima that has years of culinary experience in established Japanese restaurant. The 10-seat counter Tenshima has limited seating, so I made a reservation more than one month beforehand to celebrate my friend’s birthday on time. Read More
Omakase tends to be premium and expensive due to not only the many courses that are served, but also due to the quality of the ingredients that determined the pricing. My recent visit to Unkai Sushi Singapore located in Orchard Rendezvous Hotel does not have to break the bank. Helmed by Chef Eugene Lam, he is offering a Lunch Omakase priced at S$68.00++ per pax and other Omakase menu from S$88.00++. Read More
Ikkoten Omakase located at Telok Ayer Street showcases culinary odyssey through the rich yet clean-tasting flavours of traditional Kyoto cuisine. Translated to English as “ Paradise on Earth”, the word “Ikkoten”or“一壺天” is derived from the Japanese legend about a magical jar that contains a magnificent world filled with fine wines and bountiful feasts. Helmed by Executive Chef, Brandon Low, a Singaporean trained under various Japanese chefs. Although Chef Brandon is young, he has close to 10 years of experience in Japanese cuisine. Read More
Kissajin officially opened on 10 October 2022 and located right next to Jinhonten ( Omakase sister establishment). The restaurants are also in the esteemed restaurant group of Les Amis Group including Wagyu Jin, Jinjo, Tenjin and Sushi Jin. Helmed by Chef Ryo Yamaguchi alongside Executive Chef Makoto Saito, @Kissajin proffers an experiential menu that is refreshed quarterly to highlight prime seasonal produce.
The restaurant offers one specially curated omakase menu each for lunch and dinner. Priced at S$68.00++ for seven (7) course lunch and S$98.00++ for eight (8) course dinner. Expect to see new menu every quarterly to highlight prime seasonal produce. Read More
JIDAI Restaurant located at Circular Road is a French-Japanese restaurant that opened few months ago. Once you stepped into the restaurant, you can see the 招き猫 Maneki-Neko as an iconic figurine filled up the interior of the restaurant. The restaurant offers omakase-style, set lunch and a la carte menu currently. Diners can opt for 8-course omakase priced at S$88.00++ per pax or 10-course omakase priced at S$118.00++ per pax. Their omakase menu changes every 2 months and I am sharing the current 8-course omakase with French influences. Read More
Maetomo Japanese cuisine Kaiseki & Sushi located at Level 1 of Sheraton Towers Hotel is helmed by Chef Maetomo that offers traditional recipes of washoku a contemporary twist and brings out the delicate flavours of each seasonal ingredient to create a tantalizing umami experience for all in luxe and private setting. They are a total of 4 private room with the theme of four seasons. Read More
SAKEMARU Artisan Sake Hideout is nestled in a shophouse along South Bridge Road is a Japanese restaurant started by the group behind SAKEMARU in early 2021. SAKEMARU is a sake subscription service in Singapore. The restaurant features curated collection of over 300+ type of sake with food menu that is available in ala carte and omakase options. The price is affordable for ala carte dishes and omakase is price at S$200++ per pax onwards.Read More