Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine was founded in April 1993 by Chef Shinichiro Nagai and is now helmed by Makoto Nagai, his son, who has been learning and inherited his father’s love and perfection for kaiseki cuisine. The Nagai Family has opened the first Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine outside of Sapporo in the heart of Singapore, transporting guests to Hokkaido and immersing them in the real spirit of Sapporo kaiseki food and hospitality.
If you want to interact with the chef while dining at Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine, you can choose to eat at the chef’s counter. The food here is highlighted with four omakase dinners, which are priced at $98, $138, $198, and $380, respectively. Each is meticulously prepared from the finest ingredients grown from Sapporo and air-flown in twice a week. Menus will feature the freshest sashimi fish and premium products, as well as superb sake pairings.
A $198 Omakase (which is what we had) includes an appetiser, sashimi, grill entree, daily special[Kinki/ Hokkaido Crab/ Wagyu Steak] , main dish and lastly, dessert. Not to be missed is the Hand-carved Ice Plate Sashimi, that feeds not only the lips but the eyes as well with its stunning presentation.
The sashimi is served above a large hand-carved block of ice garnished with sliced ginger. The exoticness of the dish is showcased in the entire dish alone. This includes salmon fish, tuna fish, hirame, kazunoko, and botan ebi and specially-imported Hokkaido exclusives. Personally, my favourite would be the Botan Ebi. It has a firm texture with a good bite, and has a slight hint of sweetness.
This dish was one of the personal highlights for me. The Kinmedai Nitsuke (Braised Alfonsino) is a classic Japanese fish dish cooked in a flavorful sauce made of soy sauce, sake, mirin, and ginger. The fish itself has a crunch and with every bite into the fish, you could taste the freshness of it without a hint of fishiness.
If you briefly douse the fish with the lime provided, it becomes much more flavorful without tasting acidic. The white wine pudding with cherry tomato on the side served as a palate cleanser for the upcoming dishes to come.
The Ebi & Scallop Tempura sees succulent shrimp coated in a thin batter and fried until lightly crisp, and served with a sweet-salty dipping sauce. Simply crisp and delightful when eaten hot, the experience is enhanced as we sat on the counter and watched the chef frying them in person before presenting it on our plates.
Up next, we were served a Green Chilli Pepper & Hokkaido corn tempura that was a unique combination and surprisingly, the taste worked out well. There was a good contrast between the corn kernels (soft/sweet) and tempura batter (crispy/salty). The green chili pepper however may be an acquired taste for some but was crisp and light in the mouth.
The Hokkaido Bafun Roll (Sea Urchin) roll was an absolute delight and presents a mixture of tamago, bafun uni, avocado and salmon combined together. For those who do not know, Bafun Uni comes from petite green sea urchins with small, vibrantly yellow and orange roe referred to as “tongues.” Harvested from much deeper ocean depths, the uni has a has a buttery flavor that’s rich in umami and a luscious texture that melts on the palate. These sensations pair with a brisk, invigorating fragrance of the ocean, was one of a kind experience.
Lunch Sets of 15 Varieties and Exclusive Sake Specialties
If you are looking for something that is more pocket-friendly, the lunch set would be a good choice for those who are working in the area. Their sets are a show in itself, with 15 options to pick from starting at $28.
The Premium Kaisen Don ($45) is a best-seller which comes with fluffy Japanese rice dusted with botan ebi, ikura, salmon, kazunoko, uni, maguro, and hirame. Served alongside with miso soup, chawanmushi, and pickles, the entire meal is balanced and the quality grade sashimi was tender and fresh in comparison.
Beef enthusiasts will enjoy the Wagyu Roast Beef Set ($48), which includes three daily special sashimi, rice, miso soup, chawanmushi, and pickles, as well as Hokkaido A5 Wagyu precisely cut and roasted to luscious perfection.
In a quiet and calm space located in Suntec City, dig into the flavours and breathe in the calm way of life of Sapporo at Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine.
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, Tower 1, #03-314 Suntec City, 038983
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun (11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm)
For reservations or enquires, contact 6684 5054
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