Prepare to wait 18 mins before digging in at new kamameshi specialty restaurant opening 8 Dec

I know a lot of us value efficiency when it comes to dining out—we want our orders to be taken promptly and our food to be served fast. It’s definitely something that stands out to me when I dine out, sometimes leaving a restaurant happier with the service than with the food I’ve eaten. This might not be the case with Hanare by Takayama, a newly opened Japanese restaurant specialising in kamameshi.

The traditional Japanese dish is cooked in an iron pot called a kama, and consists of rice with toppings. You have to be prepared to dedicate a longer lunch break if you’re planning to give Hanare by Takayama a shot, because every order of kamameshi comes with specific instructions to wait at least 18 minutes until the fire has died before opening the lid of the kama pot.

Cheekily stating that ‘good things come to those who wait’, diners are encouraged to whet their appetite by indulging in small bites of miso-glazed black cod, sweet-and-sour fried chicken nanbanzuke, Japanese yam, and more. Savour these small bites while you wait for your kamameshi to be ready, and that 18-minute wait might pass by a lot quicker than you thought.

Hanare by Takayama boasts a variety of different sets, such as an Unagi Set (S$52), where slices of grilled freshwater eel rest atop a bed of steaming hot rice with julienned carrots and edamame. They also a Wagyu Set (S$58) for my fellow beef-lovers out there, where the meat rests over fragrant, dashi-infused rice.

Guests can also opt for the Awabi Set (S$72), which is the Japanese word for ‘abalone’. The sauce is made with the shellfish’s own liver, bringing forth a clean brininess. Whatever you choose to indulge in, it’s a promise that you’ll be leaving Hanare by Takayama with your belly full and satisfied.

Hanare by Takayama will open for business on 8 December 2021.

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