This is an invited review.
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| Oyako Don Set. $15 |
"You can use the most exquisite ingredients, prepared by the world's greatest chef and serve it in the most luxurious and posh of restaurants, but it will never beat my mom's cooking".
I'm sure for many of us, mom's cooking holds a special place in our hearts that nothing in this world can displace. Such is the vision of Ms Ayumi Fujishiro that she gave up her job in pursuit of her own dreams of bringing a little taste of her home in our sunny island.
This is reflected in the Oyako Don set. A generous bowl of Japanese barley rice (which lends a starchier flavour) topped with chunks of chicken boiled in a dashi stock and drizzled with runny egg.
In all honesty, I did not expect a casual Japanese eatery to use Japanese rice (because of its high cost), but I could sense the sincerity they put into such a simple homely dish. A small gripe I had was that there was too much sauce to the point where my rice was flooded. But otherwise, this made for a hearty set.
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| Deep Fried Oyster Set. $24 nett. Rice, Salad, Nikujyaga Stew and Fried Oysters. |
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| Fried Hiroshima Oysters |
The Deep Fried Oyster set is definitely the highlight of Ippin. 5 plump and juicy oysters are fried to a golden crisp with a smooth, creamy texture. The oysters used in Ippin are imported from Hiroshima, which has a history of oyster cultivation dating back almost 400 years. About 70% of Japan's volume of oysters are harvested from Hiroshima itself and Ippin has taken that extra step to bring in only products from home.
Taste wise, the oysters were definitely creamier than most other fried oysters while still retaining the briny profile. Each piece is indulgent and appetizing to the last crumb.
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| Grilled Oyster and Veggies in Ponzu Butter Sauce Set. $20 nett |
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| Grilled oysters with cabbage, carrots and ponzu butter sauce |
If the fried mollusks are a little too heaty, consider its grilled counterpart instead. The same Hiroshima oysters are placed inside aluminum foil topped with cabbage and carrots and drizzled with a ponzu butter sauce.
I particularly enjoyed the ponzu butter sauce as it was rich yet fruity at the same time, while the vegetables provided sweetness and crunch to the dish. The oysters however, were slightly overcooked when prepared in this manner. Between the two, I'd opt for the fried version.
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| Yakisoba $12 nett |
I was glad to see this item on their menu. Yakisoba is another one of my personal comfort Japanese foods. It may look like your typical chinese fried noodles, but that's where the similarities end. The type of noodles and sauce used are unmistakably Japanese and instead of a wok, the dish is fried in a teppan. Ippin's version is tasty and appetizing as well like all the other dishes preceding it, and I must make a point of mentioning its generous portion sizes once again.
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| Nikujyaga. Pork and Potato Stew. |
But if there was one item on Ippin's item that could truly epitomize the word "home", the Nikujyaga has to be it. This is such an ubiquitous and common dish that is prepared by Japanese mothers who pack the lunches of their children before they go to school. Thinly sliced pork with cubes of potatoes and carrots, with slivers of rice noodles all brought to a slow boil with onions, soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar.
The history of Nikujyaga is commonly attributed to Admiral Togo Heihachiro, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese war. It was said that during his studies in the UK, the Admiral grew a penchant for European food; beef stew in particular. Upon his return, he ordered the naval chefs to prepare a dish similar to it. But back then, condiments like butter and wine were still very much a foreign and unknown concept to the Japanese, so the chefs had to substitute them with soy sauce and sesame oil. Hence, the Nikujyaga was born.
The dish triggered memories of a home-cooked chicken and potato stew Mom used to make at home. It was by no means an "official" or "national" dish, but it was something replicated in the homes of people. The nikujyaga is similar in this aspect. The dish is served in small portions as a side dish to the other sets, but I would gladly take a full size serving of this with a bowl of Japanese rice.
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| Japanese Darjeeling Tea leaves |
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| Japanese Produce. Teas, Sake, sauces, frozen products. |
Ippin is not only a dining destination, but a fervent importer of Japanese products as well. The owner Ayumi-san is also a trained sake sommelier and the place offers a wide variety to choose from. There are craft beers from Kanazawa, tea leaves and tea bags from the Shizuoka prefecture and also many other condiments like miso pastes and sesame sauces. Most of the food from their kitchen employ these products, so it is quite possible to make the dishes they serve here in your own home too.
I could not resist the astringent and fragrant houjicha that was paired with the food so I bought a box of 20 bags home. They also have Sencha and Genmai-cha tea bags as well.
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| Kanazawa Hyajumangoku Beers. Koshihikari Ale, Pale Ale, Dark Ale and Granagri. All at $9 each. |
Ippin extends a welcoming and homely environment for their guests to enjoy a lazy weekend afternoon over teas, sakes, beers or even a full complete meal. Customers who wish to get their hands on affordable Japanese products can come here to purchase them too.
Ippin Cafe Bar
18 Mohamed Sultan Road
Singapore 238967
Operating Hours:
11.00am to 11.00pm
6733 4794
Nearest MRT Station: Clarke Quay
All prices include GST and Service Charge.
Free Wi-fi available.
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