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Fresh Japanese food is often expensive and found only in restaurants. What if I told you you could get the same fare in a coffee shop? That’s right, located in Da Sun Food House near Lavender MRT is Otoko Ten Ten, where you can enjoy fresh and affordable Japanese cuisine.
Formerly located at Food Village Kopitiam in Punggol, Otoko Ten Ten was initially a test of the reception to Japanese cuisine in a coffee shop. After an immensely positive response in the first 4 months, owner Chef David decided to relocate his stall to Flavours@UTown in NUS. Fast forward a year later and Chef David opened his second Otoko Ten Ten outlet at Lavender.
With over 13 years in the restaurant business, Chef David prides himself on serving restaurant-quality food, even at a coffee shop. To give character to his dishes, he makes all his sauces from scratch, and doesn’t believe in store-bought, processed ingredients.
As Otoko Ten Ten at NUS is catered primarily to students, the menu focuses on donburis and curry rice, and serves only salmon sashimi. Unlike the menu at NUS, Otoko Ten Ten in Lavender will include premium sashimi selections to mimic a Japanese restaurant. Rest assured, their extensive menu of fresh sashimi, sashimi donburis and grilled donburis, will still be priced affordably!
Chef David emphasised their menu gives diners the freedom to customise their sashimi selections. Furthermore, he states that diners can pre-order premium soured sashimi items from Japan. This is a treat if you are looking to spoil yourself!
Otoko Ten Ten also offers takeout, including of their sashimi range.
I sampled their 2 signature donburi bowls and a premium selection of Salmon (S$10) and Hotate/Scallop (S$15) Sashimi. The presentation of the donburi bowls uncannily mimicked a restaurant setting, served with a bowl of their miso soup and 2 slices of fruit.
With my first few bites of salmon and scallop sashimi, I could immediately taste the immense freshness running through my palette. Served on a layer of ice, it made me feel like I was at a Japanese restaurant for a split second.
The first bowl I indulged in was their Bara Chirashi Don (S$13.90). Watching Chef David slice each piece of fish up with such precision and finesse, I knew I was in for a treat. The pieces of mixed fish were tossed in a homemade sauce.
Unlike at some restaurants, the pieces were very generously chunky. The room-temperature rice mixed with the pieces of fish, cucumber and tobiko was the perfect bite, radiating a sweet and savoury note from the homemade sauce. I just wish there was a bit more sauce coating the fish.
The last bowl I had was their signature Tori Nanban Donburi (S$9.90) which Chef David says is a rarity in Singapore. He also stated that traditionally in Japan, this dish would be served in the “Teishoku” style. This means to present on a tray, with the rice and chicken separated, and an array of small side dishes.
The Otoko Ten Ten way, however, is in the donburi style.
On top of the rice was a thin layer of teriyaki sauce. The chicken was lightly marinated in sweet and sour Japanese sauce, finished with their homemade egg tartar sauce, noticeably containing diced eggs.
Taking a bite out of the chicken, I found it perfectly tender and fried to perfection, complementing the sweetness of the marinade. The homemade tartar sauce was rich but not too overpowering, and it was a symphony of perfectly matched flavours running through every bite. To me, this was the highlight of my experience.
So if you are a fan of Japanese cuisine like I am, you will not want to miss out on Otoko Ten Ten! Head down and support Chef David at his new stall at Lavender for an affordable, authentic Japanese experience!
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