| A new addition to the snaking list of Japanese | | | | Gyuniku Shogatayaki (beef strips pan-fried in special |
| restaurants in Singapore is Minori Dining & Sake | | | | sauce and garnished with onions) – one of Minori's |
| Bar @ UE Square Shopping Mall. Garnering loyal | | | | many signature dishes. To get the most out of this |
| patronage even from Japanese expatriates, Minori has | | | | tender beef dish, pick up some beef strips together |
| indeed managed to park itself at the top of the | | | | with some onions garnishing and dip thickly into the |
| aforementioned list. Set up in mid-2007 by Mr. Thomas | | | | special chef's sauce. If you prefer white meat though, |
| Loh, Minori recreates the flavours of Japan in a 5-stars | | | | the Tori Teppan (chicken teppanyaki ) – marinated |
| style at bargain prices. | | | | bits of tender and juicy chicken – is a must-have. |
| This spacious restaurant boasts a large dining area | | | | And not forgetting the carbs-addicts, curb your |
| that seats 150, two private dining rooms that seat 24 | | | | cravings with the Unagi Yaki Meshi, fragrant fried rice |
| and a private tatami corner that seats 12. Despite the | | | | that is generously served with fried eel and egg. |
| size, this restaurant still exudes a sense of cosiness | | | | Should you choose to forgo the all-that-you-can-eat |
| and comfort. This, perhaps, can be attributed to Minori's | | | | buffet, fret not; Minori's ala carte menu is all about |
| décor concept, which centers on the theme, of the | | | | exclusive flair. Minori's Sunshine Maki ($15), for instance, |
| reaping season. "Minori", by the way, is Japanese for | | | | comprises succulent grilled chicken rolled with nori |
| "harvest". Minori's (the restaurant) interior decoration is | | | | (seaweed) and wrapped with a thick layer of sweet |
| cleverly pulled together by artistic elements such as | | | | mango cream. The Hotate Meintai Chizu ($18) consists |
| murals of rice harvests and art installations of dried | | | | of baked-to-perfection scallops that are lavishly |
| reeds – perfect complements to Minori's mahogany | | | | garnished with high-quality cod roe and layered with |
| colour palette, dim lighting and spaciousness. | | | | melted cheese. Minori even manages to inject a |
| The good people at Minori are set on ensuring that | | | | culinary swish into the traditional century egg – by |
| every diner – from the buffet fanatic, to the | | | | using it as a puree atop the delectable, chilled egg |
| corporate luncher, and to the sake barfly – gets his | | | | custard in its cold appetizer, Minori Pi Dan Tofu ($8). |
| fill. | | | | Need warming up? Let the miso soup take a back |
| For the buffet fanatic, a whopping 120-item buffet | | | | seat this time and allow the steaming Lobster Nabe |
| menu consisting of fresh sashimi, sush i, teppanyaki | | | | Steamboat soup ($18) to take you to feverish heights |
| dishes, sumiyaki dishes and cooked dishes awaits at | | | | of satisfaction. |
| Minori. For starters, Minori's sashimi selection includes | | | | Apart from these, Minori also caters to the corporate |
| fresh, thickly-sliced salmon, tuna, black king fish, | | | | luncher by offering reasonably-priced executive lunch |
| octopus, yellowtail, snapper and cuttlefish. If you want | | | | set; and to the sake barfly by offering an extensive |
| to sample an assortment of several sashimis at once, | | | | beverage list of Japanese beers, sakes and shochu. |
| opt for the Sashimi Moriwase, a visually-appealing | | | | There is something for everyone here. |
| platter of five kinds of sashimis of your choice. Minori's | | | | Mimicking the Japanese's reputation for good manners, |
| Temaki ( Hand Roll) selection also enjoys a wide | | | | the wait staffs are professional and prompt. Empty |
| assortment of at least 17. | | | | dishes are quickly cleared away and water glasses |
| On the other hand, if you have room for only three, the | | | | are swiftly refilled. During busy periods, restaurant |
| California, Ebi Tempura and Spider hand rolls are best | | | | owner Mr. Thomas Loh even helps out on the floor. |
| choices. These hand rolls are filled with generous | | | | The SD Food Advisor's Take on Minori |
| contents of crabmeat, avocado and crunchy | | | | Minori is, as local foodies go, "die-die must try!" With |
| vegetables; tempura prawns that are deep-fried to | | | | something to offer everyone, from an eight-year-old to |
| perfection; and crispy deep-fried soft-shell crab | | | | an eighty-year-old, it is the perfect venue for a family |
| respectively. If you are feeling adventurous, the | | | | outing. The all-you-can-eat buffet especially is |
| Kabocha No Fukume Ni (Japanese pumpkin simmered | | | | value-for-money, with prices ranging from $28++ |
| in special sweet sauce) will see to that. Notably a | | | | (adults) for lunch and $32++ (adults) for dinner. As for |
| favourite amongst ladies, this unique appetizer is hard | | | | the ala carte menu, some may find the prices a tad |
| on the outside, soft on the inside and sweet inside-out. | | | | pricey, but for food with exclusive flair, it is justified. |
| If your meal needs some beefing up, sample the | | | | |