#9

KatanashiA post-work meal by the river
Only one waiter speaks English, so Katanashi is best visited if you have a decent command of the Japanese language or are with a Japanese person. It’s okay if, like us, you can’t quite tap in on the conversations from the surrounding Japanese-speaking diners, we’ll tell you what to order: the KFC (Katanashi Fried Chicken, $2.80 per piece) for its hot, crisp batter and sweet sauce, and the palate-cleansing shime saba (pickled mackerel, $12.80). Get the person with the biggest hands in your group to order the edamame beans because you get just one chance to scoop up as much as you can from a container (with gloves provided) for $4.80. Reservations are a must because this Boat Quay establishment fills up very quickly. Sit outside because the indoor bar seating will leave you smelling like smoke, and you won’t be able to people-watch as openly as you can by the waterfront.
Book a table here | Address: 77 Boat Quay | Opening hours: Daily noon-11.30pm

Shunjuu Izakaya
For charcoal-grilled oysters on a stick
This Robertson Quay restaurant is the real smokin' deal. The sumiyaki (charcoal grilled food) is its best offering, not the short, deep-fried items that are sparsely coated with breadcrumbs or the tempura which we find too sweetly battered. There is a selection of more than 70 skewered items and the natural flavours of the ingredients are allowed to shine because of the superb grilling skills, as attested by the succulent and rightly-pink-in-the-middle lamb chops ($19). The item not to miss is the kaki buta maki (oysters wrapped in seaweed and bacon, then grilled, $11). It is much better than the scallop version ($13) which is slightly overdone. The best experience you'll have is at the indoor four-seat bar. Sure, you'll smell a bit of smoke when you head out, but that's what a sumiyaki experience should be.
Shunjuu Izakaya | Address: 30 Robertson Quay, Riverside View Condominium, #01-15 | Tel: 68873577 | Opening hours: Sun-Wed noon-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm; Thu-Sat noon-2.30pm, 6-11pm

Tsukune Ichigo
An izakaya that attracts Japanese customers
Blink and you’ll miss it – it doesn’t help that this eatery lies behind an intimidating medieval-looking door and a lone upholstered chair that supports the menu. Tsukune Ichigo is an izakaya (Japanese tavern) that’s known for – surprise, surprise –its tsukune (minced chicken skewers). This cosy restaurant serves some of the most sumptuous and authentic yakitori (grilled meat on skewers) that can rival those in Japan, and its regular clientele of Japanese salarymen swigging copious amounts of Japanese sake and beer is a testament to that. The tsukune comes in a variety of toppings including the basic shio (salt), but our favourites are the goma (black sesame seed) and shiso mentai (Japanese herb and pollock roe mix). Two sticks with choice of toppings cost $3 to $7, or go for a combo of five sticks for $14. Try also the grilled chicken offal dipped in shio, or go for thesoboro don (minced chicken on rice) if you’re looking for something to fill you up. It’s a must to make reservations.
Tsukune Ichigo | Address: 399 River Valley Road | Tel: 67361340 | Opening hours: Mon-Sat 6 to 11.30pm