Sumiya Japanese Restaurant

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Sumiya Japanese Restaurant @ Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City, North Wing
#03-332/333, Singapore 038983

Contact: (+65) 6235 1816
Website: http://sumiya.com.sg
Opening hours: Mon - Sun (11.30am to 3pm; 5.30pm to 10pm)
Nearest MRT: City Hall, Esplanade, Promenade


Since the opening of its second outlet at Suntec City, Sumiya Japanese Restaurant has stood out from amongst its competitors through the claim in title of being the first Irori Genshiyaki in Singapore.

Irori Genshiyaki is Japan's ancient style of grilling over charcoal flame. Fish on skewers are vertically placed over a charcoal bed (Irori) and grilled slowly. This ancient method is in fact the best way to enjoy the produce of Mother Earth.

Other than irori genshiyaki, Sumiya is also pleased to introduce their "Fish-Drying Machine" — which would help to further heighten the flavour and enjoyment of quality fish — and "Circular Sake Dispenser" that is the first of its kind in Singapore.


Sumiya's Electronic Circular Sake Dispenser

The Electronic Circular Sake Dispenser boasts 16 different varieties of Japanese fermented rice wine — ranging from lighter easy-to-drink brews to premium (more full bodied) varieties — all of which complements the wholesome array of air-flown fish, charcoal-grilled seafood, kushiyaki (grilled skewers), soups and rice bowls.

To work with the dispenser, customers insert a post-paid card into the machine and select their preferred sake to be meted out based on their desired portion: tasting (20ml), half (60ml), or full (120ml). This allows the customers to have flexibility and opportunity to sample several sakes without burning a hole in their pocket!


3 Kinds of Skewers:
Japanese sweet potato skewer ($4.80)
Fatty Kurobuta pork skewer grilled with salt ($5.00)
Minced chicken ball skewer grilled with teriyaki sauce ($5.80)

"Kushiyaki" is a grilled skewer of either pork, chicken, beef, fish or vegetable. The crowd favourites at Sumiya are the Japanese Wagyu Beef Skewer ($13.80), Minced Chicken Ball Skewer ($5.80), Fatty Kurobuta Pork Skewer ($5) and the classic Japanese Sweet Potato Skewer ($4.80).

The more adventurous people can opt for the Bluefin tuna skewers featuring rare parts like Diaphragms ($4.80) and Cheek Meat ($8.80).

Seared Chicken & Veggie Collagen Hotpot, $14.80 (promo price)


Homemade Dried Fish Irori Genshiyaki, Open Price
"Char-grilled dried Saba (Mackerel) with salt"

Dried fish has been an evergreen favourite among the Japanese for thousands of years and Sumiya is proud to introduce this age-old delicacy in Singapore with the help of a special fish-drying machine.

Controlled at 30 degrees celsius, the machine emits heat that replicates the warmth of sun rays and this effects intensifies the natural flavour of the dish. Diners can select from a daily-changing variety of freshly-imported fish, have it dried with a proprietary marinade and cooked irori genshiyaki style.

Char-grilled Kodai (small Sea Bream), Open Price
"Air-flown Japanese Fish Irori Genshiyaki"

Only at Sumiya, a particular ancient Japanese style of charcoal grilling "Irori Genshiyaki" is used and the cooking method is favoured for its ability to create a tantalising, smoky char on any ingredient's exterior while retaining its succulence and natural juices within.

The process takes 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the fish and results in evenly crisp skin and moist, tender flesh.

Char-grilled Kanpachi Kabuto (Amberjack head), $34.80
"Air-flown Japanese Fish Irori Genshiyaki"

3 Types of Kamameshi Rice
"Traditional Japanese rice dish cooked in an iron pot"

Unagi Kamameshi (Grilled Eel), $24.80 (promo price)

Zuwai Gani Kamameshi (Snow Crab), price unstated

Oyster Kamameshi, $23.80 (promo price)

Ryoshi Mushi of the Day (Open Price)
"Fisherman-style steamed assorted seafood with special soy sauce & miso-base soup with garlic and chilli served in a can"

The restaurant's signature "Can Can Mushi", also known as Ryoshi Mushi, is an innovative hotpot of sorts inspired by the way Japanese fishermen cook freshly-caught seafood in a tin can on the boat or on shore.

At Sumiya, a special aluminium tin is filled with broth and various types of seafood is heated over a table-top stove.

Customers can pick from three soup bases: original clear broth, tom yum soup, and soy sauce + miso-base soup with garlic and chilli. For the seafood, there is a choice between oysters only or an assortment of seafood which usually comprises of prawns, clams, oysters and a Fish of the Day.

Sumiya Tropical Dessert, $18.80
"Watermelon, rock melon, mango, sago, matcha ice cream and sweetened red bean paste bask in a coconut-base soup served in an original ice bowl"

With only 15 precious servings available each day, a pre-order of Sumiya Tropical Dessert is advised. This refreshing spectacle for both the eyes and taste buds is a sweet memorable ending to any meal.

With award-winning Master Chef Naoki Tsuzuki and Operations Support Manager, Harumi Kawai

Sumiya's menu was specially created by Master Chef Naoki Tsuzuki, who is also the executive chef for the award-winning Japanese restaurant, "Kuriya Dining".


Rating: 3.8/5

My two cents:

Sumiya's retro-chic interior is dressed mostly in dark hues of grey and wood, brightened with a feature wall covered in vintage vinyl record covers. The freshest catches from the ocean are neatly displayed on a bed of crushed ice in a glass counter, behind which chefs tend to the charcoal grills.

The setting is ideal for business luncheons and intimate gatherings, with flexible dividers partition off private dining areas for groups of 6, 18 or 30 people.

What I like about Sumiya is the active use of technology in their restaurant, such as the Electronic Circular Sake Dispenser which provided me with the option to taste several different bottles of sake. When I was getting my drink, I liked how I had total control of the amount dispensed, and there was no fuss and no waiting required as everything was self-service.

I have seen these circular dispensers popping up in several restaurants now and after this virgin attempt at the dispenser, I can't help but wish for all restaurants to feature such technology for convenience and ease.

A thing to note about the Circular Sake Dispenser, prices of the sake start from $2.20 for a tasting glass of Ichinokura Himezen Sweet, a delicate rice wine makes a great aperitif. Sake newbies are encouraged to try the Kuriya Original Sake ($4.50/$13.50/$26.80), an original premium "house sake" made from 100% superior grade Yamadanishiki rice — which yields a subtle fragrance and soft pleasant taste.

As for the food-wise, my favourite picks would be:
  • Fatty Kurobuta Pork Skewer Grilled with Salt, $5.00
  • Homemade Dried Saba (Mackerel) cooked Irori Genshiyaki style with salt, Open Price
  • Ryoshi Mushi of the Day, Open Price **HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!**

Here's a tip: when ordering the "Ryoshi Mushi", pick the soup broth made of soy sauce + miso-base with garlic and chilli. IT IS SUPER SUPER GOOD!!!!!!!

Note: This post was kindly sponsored by Sumiya Japanese Restaurant and Orginally Us.

7 Perks Of Shopping Online With Lazada

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#1. It's like a big-ass departmental store (sans the physical walking)

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Departmental stores are awesome because they sell almost everything! But the sad thing about departmental stores is that they are incredibly messy and hard to navigate, not to mention how you have to climb two storeys just to get that white porcelain coffee mug for your daily coffee fix.

With Lazada.sg, you no longer have to climb stairs because the pioneer of e-commerce in the Southeast Asia region offers a wide range of products — from home appliances, consumer electronics to fashionable time-wear pieces — which are accessible at the touch of your fingers.

P/S: To all males out there, you should highly encourage your girlfriend/wife/mother/aunt/grandmother to buy their baking-related machines online because you wouldn't have to wait a gazillion hours for her to pick out the "perfect" oven and later pretend that carrying her electric oven isn't killing your back at all.


#2. Lots of offers and promotions going on EVERYDAY!


Now we are talking about a whole lot of discounts here!!!

Lazada.sg has prepared sales for every possible festive season of the year — Have you checked out their recent CNY mega sales? Or their Valentine's Day promotion?

Other than their ongoing promotion for festive days, Lazada has also prepared "promo of the week" and 12-monthly special sales to tide you through all the regular days of the year.


#3. Lack of hassling from overly-friendly sales assistants


Sales assistants are incredibly helpful at times and can give you useful insights that would aid in your decision-making process.

However we have all come across that overly-enthusiastic sales personnel who just wouldn't get it that you are NOT INTERESTED. Even if you were previously keen on buying something, you lost all interest thanks to the pushy salesman.

At Lazada, they aim to make your shopping experience effortless. From browsing to purchasing of products on Lazada Singapore site, you can enjoy a seamless journey that helps you get what you are looking for. If you need a hand in your shopping process, their trustworthy customer service team is just a phone call or an email away.

You may now take all the time you need in the world to evaluate on your product-of-interest in peace. #whataheavenlyfeeling


#4. Delivery is FOC!

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Free shipping will be clearly indicated on the product page and is only available for all parcels shipped using Economy Shipping option, as well as on products shipped by sellers from overseas.

Hooray to saving on delivery fee!


#5. Enjoy the variety of payment methods made available for your convenience!


Lazada's payment options include credit card, PayPal and Cash on Delivery.

Lazada Singapore is one of the very few e-commerce companies in Singapore to provide "Cash on Delivery" which is a widely popular option among online buyers.

The benefits for the customers are that you do not need to own credit card to make purchase and paying on delivery helps to build trust between the merchants and new customers.


#6. Browse and purchase using their mobile app to get even more discounts!!


To make it even more convenient, Lazada has launched their mobile app for users to access the wide selection of products and to keep users updated of their latest promotions. The app is available free for download in both the App Store and Google Play store.

Psst... Don't say I never share good lobang: Customers who purchase the products through the mobile app would get to enjoy super exclusive offers and app-only vouchers!! Enter the voucher code "LAZAPP" for $15 off on Lazada App with min spending of $75!


#7. Don't like the things you bought? Return them for free!

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All items sold on Lazada Singapore are covered under the "100% Buyer Protection" and/or "Satisfaction Guaranteed". If there should be any dissatisfaction with your item, you can return it to Lazada for free as the company will cover all shipment cost for returns.

Do note though that the return policy at Lazada is to exchange or refund within 7 calendar days for items under 100% Buyer Protection and 14 calendar days for items under Satisfaction Guaranteed!



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So what are you waiting for? Start your online shopping today because every day is a shopping day at LAZADA SINGAPORE!

Supercharge February Monthly Sale, With NEW Promotions In Store!


Chinese New Year Mega Sales, Up to 88% Off!


Valentine's Day Promotion, Up to 70% Off!


Note: The products featured in this post were kindly sponsored by Lazada Singapore, Urban Armor Gear and Huawei.

Kenhiru Japanese Restaurant: The Best and Juiciest Tonkatsu To Have At Dhoby Ghaut!

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Kenhiru Japanese Restaurant
56 Cairnhill Road, Singapore 229667

Contact: 6684 4418
Email: enquiry@kenhiru.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/56kenhiru/
Opening hours: Mon-Sun (12pm-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm)

Sashimi Mori Special 5 Kind ($58.80)
"Salmon, maguro, hamachi, hotate and amaebi"



Horenso Salad ($9.80)
"Spinach salad with cherry tomato and bacon bits in sesame dressing"



Kawa Ebi Karaage ($11.80)
"Deep fried river shrimp"

If you are looking for a side dish to go with some Saké, pick this one because there can't be any tapas that is better than this! It is crispy and emits a light 'prawn' fragrance (think: dried shrimps but better!) that goes really well with Japanese rice wine. As for its flavour, it is both salty and sweet due to its origin as a seafood.

Iberico Kushi Yaki ($22.80)
"Grilled Iberico pork skewers"

*Iberico pork [ee-BHAY-ree-koh] [pɔːrk]: High quality pork meat extracted from Ibérico pigs — these pigs are reared in the Spanish country side and as a result of their good lives, this animal is much fatter with veins of fat running through its muscle. The large amount of fat layering each muscle results in a much more intense flavour with an unparalleled note of sweetness when cooked.

This is my first time trying Ibérico pork and I love it because the meat is so tender! For this dish, unveil the juicy side of the grilled meat by dipping it lightly in salt before consuming. You wouldn't believe the explosive flavours happening in your mouth then!

Iberico Pork Tonkatsu ($26.80)
"Deep fried Iberico pork with fresh bread crumbs and herbs"

Think: Juicy meat with a light crispy breaded texture. #HEAVENLYSINFUL

Iberico Pork Rack ($39.80)
"Seared Iberico pork rack with herbs in teri glaze sauce"

If you thought the Iberico Kushi Yaki was good, then you are truly missing out on the BEST stuff. This is the bomb!

The juice of the Iberico pork is brought out even further when seared and the teriyaki glaze sauce enhances the natural sweetness of the meat flavour. This is a dish that I would highly recommend everyone to try!

Salmon Teriyaki Set ($14.80)
"Grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce"

The accompanying miso soup in the set meal

Rating: 4.5/5

My two cents:

I quote from @ladyironchef,

If there was only one kind of cuisine that we could live on, it would be Japanese food. There is no one reason why; if we really have to, the list will never end.

The exquisite meal that I had at Kenhiru Japanese Restaurant is a great example of why we can live on Japanese food forever. I had not only tasted flavours that were previously unknown to me — I am now officially a big fan of Ibérico pork — but I also learnt more about how the food that I was putting in my food.

I am glad to know that Kenhiru Japanese Restaurant strives for quality and is meticulous in every detail of the food they serve, from the good quality bonito flakes used to produced their miso soup to the traditional Asian staple food, rice.

Kenhiru imports their rice grains from Narita, Japan, and those rice grains gave the most fragrant and delicious white rice that I have ever had! One of my fellow diners finished three bowls of these rice all by herself; this only goes to show how tasty their rice is!

There is a certain dish that I have to give a shout-out for, it would be their Broccoli No Mentai Ae ($9.80) which is essentially "broccoli with tuna flakes and pollock roe in mayonnaise". This dish might sound really simple but turn of savoury flavours combined with the smooth texture of the pollock roe mayonnaise... it made the common green flower taste just so. damn. yummy!

The price point for the dinner menu at Kenhiru is about $25 (average/pax) which is fine for working adults but it might be a tad too steep for schooling youngsters.

On the other hand the lunch menu, which features set meals like the Salmon Teriyaki Set, is much kinder to the wallets of students as their set meals are priced around $15 (average/pax). Thus there is hope afterall, for all the young gentlemen who would like to impress their lady girlfriend with a fantastic Japanese meal! (P/S: Valentine's Day is coming!!!)

For customers looking to drive to Kenhiru Japanese Restaurant, there is a public carpark available in the area however do note that it is a 5-10 mins walk away from the restaurant — especially if your female date is decked in her favourite pair of killer heels.

With that concern in mind, the restaurant has kindly arranged valet service for all their driving guests so you may drive to Kenhiru Japanese Restaurant in comfort and enjoy your sumptuous Japanese meal with them!

Recommended dishes to try: Kawa Ebi Karaage ($11.80), Iberico Kushi Yaki ($22.80), Iberico Pork Rack ($39.80)


Note: Kenhiru Japanese Restaurant will be officially starting their business as of 30 January 2016. This post was kindly sponsored by Kenhiru Japanese Restaurant.

The Lokal

The Lokal | Café, Restaurant, Bar
136 Neil Rd, Singapore 088865

Contact: 6423 9918
Website: http://www.thelokalsingapore.com/
Opening hours: Mon (8am-6pm), Tue-Fri (8am-10.30pm), Sat (9am-10.30pm), Sun (9am-4pm)
Nearest MRT: Outram

THE LOKAL Lobster Roll ($22)
"Slipper lobster tails, gherkin, coleslaw & lemon mayonnaise"

THE LOKAL bangers & mash ($20)
"Served with onion gravy"

Featuring fellow blogger Kaiting and Darren, the executive chef and owner of The Lokal.



Rating: 4/5

My two cents:

The Lokal is situated at the corner of Neil Road, before the road turns in to Bukit Pasoh Road. The place was cosy and brightly-lit when we arrived. Despite the time being past lunch hour, we were handed brunch menus (yay to all-day breakfast!) and chose the two mains as seen above.

The Lobster Roll was stuffed full with four generous halves of lobsters and tons of coleslaw. The sandwich was a tad too sour for my liking as the lemon mayonnaise was found to be overpowering, thus preventing me from being able to taste the natural sweet flavour of the lobster when I ate the sandwich as a whole. On a side note, I loved the curly fries as a side-dish because it added an additional savoury flavour which goes well with the lobster roll.

As for the Bangers & Mash, this was my favourite of the two mains. The mash potato was grinded perfectly and there was not one bit of potato to be seen. The texture and flavour was soft, moist and buttery, and it went perfectly well with the onion gravy. Two different kinds of sausages were used and each was pan fried to perfection, with a crispy outer skin and succulent juicy stuffings inside.

I love it when cafés offer freshly-made fruit juice for me to wash my palate, and the fruit juice choices at The Lokal intrigues me as they offers some pretty uncommon fruit choices for their freshly squeezed juice such as watermelon or pink grapefruit (do not try if you are not a fan of anything sour!) at $6 per glass!

If you are looking to pack a bunch of vitamins in your glass, opt for their juice of the day instead which contains a unique blend of fruits/herbs/vegetables at $8 per glass.

The Lokal is one of the rare cafés at Outram that opens super early during the weekends, so if you are ever in need of a weekend morning café-hop do remember to pay this café/restaurant/bar a visit!

Have you done your CNY shopping?


Chinese New Year is coming up really fast this February and the CNY chimes started right after 25 December 2015, like a harsh slap in your face that it is time for shopping — or perhaps getting money red packets for those who are still unwed.

With that said, I realised that the experience of shopping for CNY clothes has changed drastically over the years. Before the surge of technology or the Internet per se, people took time out and went to ACTUAL PHYSICAL STORES to search, fit and buy clothes.

These days shopping is an entirely different experience as all you would need are: an electronic-powered device with good wifi signal and a measuring tape.


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For the latest in women’s Korean fashion, ALAND is the go-to brand to update your style and stay ahead of the trend. Satisfy that inner fashionista and browse through their amazing collection of tops for women.

Complete your outfit with accessories that exudes simple elegance and end it all off with a tote bag!



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Pros of digital shopping is that you get to browse through a hell lot more "stores" in an hour, than you could ever physically achieve with your actual two feet.

Oh and, here is another benefit that all men throughout the world shall be able to relate to:

Through online shopping,

male partners get to avoid sitting around waiting for their lady partners to be done deciding between this dress of a light shade of pink or that skirt with a darker shade of pink (a man's logic: "THEY ARE BOTH PINK?!! MAKE UP YOUR MIND ALREADY!"),

and to avert being reminded again of the thumb-dwindling hours spent waiting when asked to help carry their lady's shopping bag/s.

This makes a good reason for our man to encourage digital shopping and better yet, physically show support by handing us their credit card right?

It is after all, a much worthy trade of "money" for "time". #buyingtimegetsreal

Lepark Tapas Bar

Note: This post was fully paid for and not sponsored.


Lepark Tapas Bar & Restaurant
People's Park Complex, 1 Park Rd,
#06-00, Singapore 059108

Contact: (+65)6908 5809
Website: http://lepark.co/
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 4pm-12am

Lemmy Lemonade - $6, Kronenbourg 1666 Blanc Draft Beer - $10/cup

Lepark Platter - $18
"Poached Chicken Sushi, Thai Basil Pork Tau Pok, Otah Bomb, Chicken Skin & Nacho with Spicy Salsa"


Salted Egg Yolk (SEY) Soft Shell Crab & Crabmeat Ball Sliders - $12



Rating: 4/5

My two cents:

This is a place where quality > quantity. You will definitely get a meal which would satisfy your tastebuds, but probably not your tummy unless you have a small appetite or that you're ready to spill out all the cash that you've got on hand.

As a means to try as many of their tapas as possible, I ordered the "Lepark Platter" which was incredibly pleasing to my eyes and my Instagram! My personal favourites from the platter were the Otah Bomb, Thai Basil Pork Tau Pok and — oh how my cholesterol levels would disapprove of this — the Pepper Salt Crispy Chicken Skin.

Contrary to other reviews, I did find the Poached Chicken Sushi (ie. the bite size version of chicken rice) to be rather interesting and tasty. However it did not hit a note that was as resounding to me as its fellow competitors on the same wooden board had!

As for the "SEY Soft Shell Crab & Crabmeat Ball Sliders", one word: WOW! The taste really packs a punch but it has got to be the most expensive slider that I have ever had to pay for. It costs $6 for just ONE bite-size burger, ouch to my wallet!

The soft shell crab was a tad over-fried and too dry for my liking, however I got excited when I bit into the crabmeat ball and found actual crab meat as like how it was shown on Clicknetwork's Foodporn episode featuring Lepark. The crabmeat ball was crispy on the outside, whilst soft and moist on the inside! A tinge of natural sweetness from the crab meat could also be tasted when savoured slowly.

I would have given Lepark 4.5/5 if it weren't for its disproportionate portions of food. I get that what I ordered were simply tapas and its signature side? dish, but still the price was not reasonable for the amount of food presented.

Regardless if you are planning a gathering with your friends that involves beer and tapas, Lepark would be a great place to hang out due to its interesting variety of tapas and their wide range of ciders and craft/draft beers to choose from!


[ADDITIONAL INFO] Directions on how to get there:

  1. Get your ass up to level 5, either by the elevator or escalator (your choice!)
  2. Look for a dodgy spiraling stairwell that would lead you up to one floor above, level 6
  3. Go through the door and enter the rooftop
  4. Walk up the tiny flight of stairs to get across all the rooftop chimneys ahead of you. Do not be distracted by the rooftop chimneys ahead and the huge patch of empty carpark space towards your right (FYI brilliant spots for #OOTD shots).
  5. The entrance to lepark is guarded by a conspicuous metal sliding door, pull open the sliding door and you are ready to 'lepark'!