Casual Japanese eatery Takeshi-San at Lorong Mambong gives sushi an elevated spin with extravagant ingredients such as truffle and foie gras.
Located along busy Lorong Mambong, Takeshi-San is a casual, family-friendly sushi restaurant that serves up affordably-priced quality Japanese food in the bustling Holland Village area. That gentrified stretch is better known for its notoriously riotous drinking holes, but Takeshi-San could just bring a semblance of dignified class to the neighbourhood.
Takeshi-San’s kitchen is helmed by Chef David Lee, formerly the Senior Sushi Chef at Sen of Japan. His eclectic menu will please those who like traditional classics, but also has a number of items with simple twists to make things just that little bit more interesting. Familiar favourites include your standard Agedashi Tofu, but more creative options for the more adventurous such as Wagyu Truffle Inaniwa Udon.
Hamachi Kama – yellowtail collar – is one of our must-order dishes at any Japanese restaurant. Takeshi-San’s version is straightforward, the yellowtail simply grilled to bring out its juicy meatiness. Unpretentious, and delicious.
Then there’s the Fantastic Inaniwa Udon, a noodle dish that showcases every indulgent ingredient rolled into one. But we’re less impressed by the truffle oil, uni, and foie gras, and more enamoured by the inaniwa udon itself. Made in-house, the noodles have the perfect slippery, chewy texture and stood out on their own, so much so I almost wished it were presented without quite so many frills (maybe with just a traditional sesame dipping sauce).
For sushi lovers, the Sushi Kaidan Set offers eight variations of six-piece sushi selections served on an Instagram-worthy wooden “step ladder”. Choose from the basic Nigiri Set to the more extravagant Foie Gras Set or Ultimate Uni Set. The proportion of topping to rice is perfect, with a large piece of seafood or foie gras pressed on top of a small mound of rice, but that also means you’d want to order at least two sets per person if that’s all you’re eating.
Or opt for one Takeshi-San’s Sushi Rolls. The Incredible Hulk Roll has a whole ebi tempura prawn running through the centre, wrapped with eel, and topped with kani mayonnaise and avocado, and is definitely a tummy-filler. Also try the limited-edition Sakura Roll, a special for the month of April to celebrate Japan’s annual Sakara festival, that comes wrapped with an unusual pink layer made of soy.
On the drinks front, Takeshi-San has a good range of easy drinking options, like the 6% ABV Umenoyado Tsuki Usagi Sparkling Sake which will please those with a sweet tooth, and Saketinis, offered in a variety of fruity flavours like yuzu and momo (peach). For the purists, there are also about a dozen more traditional sakes on the menu, including the award-wining Born Gold Muroka Junmai Daiginjo from Fukui prefecture, to pair perfectly with your meal.
Takeshi-San
Address 38 Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277694 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 11.30am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 10pm on Mondays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays
Web www.takeshisan.sg
Facebook Takeshisansg
Instagram @takeshisansg
