New in town: Little Tokio – Japanese teppanyaki & izakaya place in Tampines with skewers from $1.90

It’s a delight when our heartlands have a diversified range of eateries available just a stone’s throw away from our homes. For the residents of Tampines, here’s somewhere new to check out. Introducing Little Tokio, a Japanese teppanyaki and izakaya restaurant which officially opened for business on 5 Nov 2022.

If you think you can’t expect much on the menu for a little establishment like this, you’re absolutely wrong!

Besides Fresh Salmon Sashimi (S$5.90 for 5 pieces) and Fresh Sanriku Oysters (S$7.90 for 2 pieces, S$18.90 for 6 pieces), they also have a wide variety of hot and cold small plates as well as starters such as Chawanmushi (S$3.90) and Gyu Shabu Salad (S$6.90) (thinly sliced beef salad with sesame soy dressing).

For their kushiyaki (skewers) section of the menu, they have 22 options for you to take your pick from. Besides premium choices like Unagi (S$4.90), cheaper ones like Ebi (S$2.90), Gyu Tsukune (Wagyu beef ball) (S$2.90) and Uzura Tamago (quail egg) (S$1.90) are also available.

You may also opt for the Yakimono Set (S$25.90). Here you’re allowed to choose 10 of the non-premium skewers.

If you’re someone who enjoys hot plate dishes, their teppanyaki offerings like Prawns (S$15.90), Buta Shabu (Pork) (S$14.90) and Salmon (S$16.90) will leave a smile on your face. To complete your meal, simply top up S$3 to get Japanese rice, miso soup, seaweed salad, cabbage salad, cold tofu, pickles, bean sprouts and kimchi.

I’m not done just yet! Fans of deep fried foods will definitely enjoy the fried Camembert Cheese (S$5.90 for 4 pieces, S$7.90 for 6 pieces), Tempura Prawns (S$8.90 for 5 pieces), Aburi Mentaiko Gyoza (S$6.90 for 4 pieces, S$7.90 for 6 pieces) and Cream Corn Croquette (S$4.90 for 3 pieces).

Still have some space for dessert? Order their Signature Tokio Sweet Ending (S$6), which has cream biscuit, azuki bean, shiratama dango (dumpling), matcha crumble and one scoop of ice cream— sounds so good!

They also have a range of Japanese Ice Cream (S$3.50), with flavours like black sesame, Hokkaido yuzu sherbet and Hokkaido matcha.

Give Little Tokio a visit if you’re in the neighbourhood. See you, my fellow Japanese food lovers!

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