Tsukada Nojo: Beauty Pot of Collagen

Bijin Nabe (Beauty Pot. Gelatinous Chicken stock)

Collagen.

Mention this word and the eyes of ladies light up in wonder and excitement as they would for diamonds, for it is a protein that helps in the tightening of the skin that helps to preserve a youthful appearance.

So it is indeed having the best of both worlds where you can have a pot of rich, thick and heartwarming chicken stock that aids in reducing the signs of old age. This is Tsukada Nojo, the latest craze in the Japanese food scene in Singapore.

Tsukada Nojo imports in "Jitokko" chickens from the Miyazaki prefecture in Japan. They boil the chickens for hours, constantly clarifying and reducing the stock until it takes on a golden sheen and sparkle. For a set price, it comes with a host of ingredients. But truly, it is the soup takes centre stage here, and rightly so.

Bijin Nabe after it has been heated. The pot contains pieces of the Jitokko chicken

After you place your orders, the waitress will place a ceramic pot containing the gelatinous chicken stock, and after the 'jelly' melts,  she will then scoop a little of the soup into a sake cup for you to taste, before adding in the other ingredients to cook in that wondrous liquid gold. The taste is full bodied with a long lasting finish that left me craving for more.

Ingredients for 4 pax. Tsukune (Minced Chicken, "Tau Pok", cabbage, yellow zucchini, purple radish, enoki mushrooms, and prawns)

The spread of ingredients generally focus on fresh and healthier ingredients, offering at least 3 varieties of vegetables to ensure you get your daily fibre intake, but not sacrificing the taste and indulgence of the occasional seafood and meat. Nothing fancy, just proper ingredients to go with that wondrous soup.

Tsukune (minced chicken)

For the minced chicken, the waitress takes a wooden spatula to form the tsukune into balls and places it onto your soup. The meat is lean and tender, yet retains a firm bouncy texture.

Chicken Namban with Spicy Miso (Non-spicy Miso also available)

Another dish of Miyazaki origin, the Chicken Namban serves as an additional side order should you really be that hungry (The steamboat is more than sufficient to fill a famished stomach). Crispy juicy chicken tenders (but I highly doubt they use the same Jitokko chicken for this dish) lathered generously with a thick viscous spicy miso paste. Do watch out as the spiciness of the miso pate is not to be underestimated. But paired with a pinch of refreshing lettuce, it was a pleasant side dish to go along with the bijin nabe.

Fries (This comes free with attaining the rank of 'Manager')

Aside from the food, the culture of the establishment is rather cutely informal, putting in little gimmicks that add a little fun to the whole dining experience. After your first visit, you get a name card (where you fill in your own name) showing that you have become an "assistant manager" of the shop. After 2 visits, you climb up the "corporate ladder" to become manager where you receive a serving of fries for free. So as you frequent the chain more, you get more stamps with additional freebies, and get promoted further up to the highest rank of "Chairman"


For gatherings, we get the occasional craving of steamboat, cooking fresh ingredients in a hotpot shared by loved ones and friends. Though not quite the same, Tsukada Nojo here has taken it to the next level with their Jitokko chicken stock. The taste alone is enough to warrant queues of up to 2 hours long (which happens a lot) for a bowl of rich and hearty and extremely addictive chicken soup.

Tsukada Nojo

#03-81, Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
Singapore 238839

6336 5503

Operating Hours:
Lunch: 11.00am to 3.00pm
Dinner: 5.00pm to 10.00pm

Nearest MRT Station: Dhoby Ghaut

Please note that they have other outlets in Westgate and Chinatown Point as well.
Queuing in advance is highly, highly recommended.

Important things to note:
-The Bijin Nabe is only served during dinner from 5.30pm onwards. Lunch options are limited so please call for enquiries.
-Only when all members of the party are available will they let you in to be seated
-Some outlets practise a "waiting list" system. They will take down your phone number, and will call you when a table is available so you can carry on with your other activities in the malls first.