If you’re looking to experience a slice of Japan in Singapore while waiting for Japan’s borders to open, look no further. Wakuda, a modern Japanese restaurant has been the talk of the town recently. To bring you up to speed, Wakuda is Chef Tetsuya’s 2nd restaurant in Singapore, the first being Waku Ghin, a two-Michelin-starred fine dining joint that’s raved by many.
The new restaurant is a partnership between chef Tetsuya Wakuda and 50 Eggs Hospitality Group.
Feels Like Tokyo
By nothing short of a miracle, we managed to get a booking at Wakuda, despite its month-long waiting list.
When approaching the restaurant that’s located in the lobby of Marina Bay Sands Hotel, we thought the exterior definitely looked nicer in photos. However, that changed when we entered the restaurant, greeted by dim lights and a gorgeous view of a Japanese maple tree.
Wakuda gave off sleek and modern vibes with the hanging lights and furniture but retained its Japanese element from the up-lit Kumiko wood façade. Even the ceiling in the main dining area was a work of art.
No matter where you sit in the main dining room, you’ll be entranced by the stunning maple tree backdrop which simply adds to the Japanese charm.
There’s also a bar that’s perfect for pre-dinner drinks.
We chose to have ours at our table and chose from a list of Japanese-inspired cocktails. The Wakuda Negroni ($24) was made with Gin, Campari, Sweet Vermouth and Grand Marnier while the Competent ($24) was a vodka-based drink with lychee, and lime and yellow chartreuse.
Food at Wakuda
The meal started with a selection of Oysters ($15/pp) – our oysters came with Wakuda’s Rice Vinegar and Ginger, Daidai Vinaigrette served on a bed of seaweed. It was insanely fresh, tangy, and refreshing.
Next was a piece of Chutoro Sushi ($16), which is a medium-fat tuna belly.
At first glance, the Yuba ($31) is not something we would opt for, but the staff highly recommended this Wakuda appetizer, and we were not disappointed. Despite its slimy appearance, this contained fresh bean curd skin from Kyoto with Hokkaido Sea Urchin and Mountain Caviar. A nice blend of earthy and sea flavours.
Following that was the Wagyu Beef Wakuda Sushi ($18) which highlighted the freshness of the beef and how sometimes simple is best.
Another appetizer we had was the Octopus ($34) which featured thinly sliced Hokkaido Octopus with Spicy Radish and Citrus sauce. This was a nice play of textures, from chewy to jelly-like pops. The light herby flavour and spice really stood out for us.
The Cold Soba ($68) is probably one of the higher-priced items on Wakuda’s menu, featuring cold buckwheat noodles topped with Botan Shrimp, Truffles and Fresh Oscietra Caviar.
Our highlight for the night came in the form of the Carabineros Prawn ($34), which featured roasted carabineros with shellfish and tarragon risotto. The risotto was rich, smooth, and velvety which paired amazingly with the plump, perfectly cooked prawn.
Not backing down from a fight was the Charcoal Grilled Kagoshima Wagyu ($88) which melted in our mouths with a faultless amount of fat and umami. For something less fatty, the Australian Grain Fed Beef Tenderloin ($80) is the one to go for. For a tenderloin cut, this was surprisingly not too chewy and tough.
Make sure to also try the Classic Saikyo Yaki ($62) which was a grilled miso cod marinated in original saikyo miso from Kyoto. The delicate buttery and creamy flavours from the cod were a treat for the tummy and occasionally gave off caramelized notes.
We ended off the meal with some desserts such as the Green Tea and Azuki Bean Terrine ($25) and The “Stone” ($25). The former featured strong notes of green tea with red bean, a classic Japanese combination while the latter was a Chocolate Orange Mousse with Vanilla and Hazelnut hidden behind the image of a pebble.
Experience Japan in Singapore
The new modern Japanese restaurant is a good place for special events, such as birthday celebrations and anniversaries.
Apart from ala-carte dishes, Wakuda also offers an omakase experience, which wasn’t available during our time of visit. However, the ala-carte dishes were well-executed and highlighted the freshness of the produce.
Wakuda Singapore
10 Bayfront Avenue, MBS Hotel Tower 2 Lobby, Singapore 018956
Tues-Sun, 5pm-12am. Closed on Mondays.
*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg
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