Suju Japanese Restaurant is one of the many restaurants established at Mandarin Gallery. It is along side with Lawry’s The Prime Rib, Ippudo and Ito-Katcho at Level 4.
I have a hard time finding a restaurant in Orchard Road that is good, above the MRT station. Thirdly, I have not been to. And most importantly, I didn’t want to patronise a restaurant with so much of media coverage as they already have enough publicity.
Strangely, Suju Japanese Restaurant seems to be neglected by most foodies (both bloggers and non-bloggers). Even my friend, one of the diners at our dinner date have visited the rest of the restaurants at Mandarin Gallery except Suju. In addition, I only found a number of blogs, probably less than 10, since it was around for quite some time. Mainly were post relating to their lunch set. I am puzzled as to why this is the case since whenever I passed by I saw Japanese at the restaurant. We were always told if the Japanese restaurant attracts lots of Japanese, that’s an authentic one. As such I decided to give it a chance.
Suju Japanese Restaurant may seems intimidating, at least to me. As the interior was kind of well hidden from the typical Japanese looking curtain and high opaque wall. Unless you are really tall, or you choose to peek through the slit of the curtain, you won’t see the interior.
As I flipped the curtain and entered the restaurant, I was greeted warmly by the chef at the counter before a service crew stepped forward to assist me. When I was seated, I wasn’t served the cup of roasted tea immediately. It was with a wait of 10 minutes or so then the hot tea was served.
We started our dinner with the Sashimi Specialty of The Chef (Assorted Sashimi) is priced by person. Each person is at $36. We ordered 2 portions for 2 person. We savour the sweetness and freshness of the sea with each piece of the sashimi.
Next was the cold appertizer, the Nasu Dengaku ($11). Deep fried eggplant with Suju Miso top with sauce was a simple but pleasant dish. One could savour the natural sweetness of the eggplant and the miso sauce added tincture of savoury in it. Somehow, like a salad.
Very quickly, we proceeded to our mains, all were served at the same time. First we have the Tori Momo Kurozu Itame ($26), a deep fried chicken and sauteed vegetables with Suju Black Vinegar. Personally, I enjoyed this dish more than the beef we ordered. Since it was sourish, it whetted the appetite.
Beef Cheek Miso was stewed and simmered in red wine ($54). The meat absorbed the red wine fragrance. It was tender and melt in the mouth. The 3 diners at Suju enjoys rich food but most of us still feel that this was a little too rich for our preferences.
We ordered 2 out of the 3 Chazuke, Japanese rice in soup. This was our (3 diners) first attempt on the Chazuke. We never knew Chazuke existed. It was so comforting and delish.
Shake Chazuke ($18) is Suju Japanese rice in soup with grilled salmon.
The second Chazuke was Mentaiko Chazuke ($18) is Suju Japanese rice in soup with marinated spicy cod roe.
Both the Chazuke has the same soup, rice, green and seaweed. The difference is in the accompanied ingredient, Grilled Salmon or Marinated Spicy Cod Roe. If both weren’t to your liking, the third, also the last choice is the Ume Chazuke ($10) with Japanese preserved plum.
Dessert time is my happiest moment. On Suju menu were 3 desserts, we ordered only 2. Catarana ($10) is an Iced pudding in roast green tea flavour. Among the 2, this is a hit with me. Slightly sweetish with tea fragrance.
Annin Tofu ($8), Suju Style almond pudding, has the typical Chinese Almond Jelly taste with a texture akin to the traditional tofu and a creaminess in it too. I am never a fan of the Chinese Almond Jelly so this isn’t my kind of dessert. But my other diner enjoyed this tremendously.
In case you are keen to know what’s the third dessert we didn’t order, it is the Suju Special Custard Pudding ($8). On hind sight, we should have ordered the it too. I kind of regretted as I am writting this post.
NAHMJ Verdict
Suju Japanese Restaurant has a homely Japanese ambience. Not noisy even the section we sat were at 80% capacity.
All the 3 diners (including NAHMJ) agreed that the best part of the meal was the Assorted Sashimi. As such NAHMJ would, with no doubt, highly recommend the Sashimi Specialty of The Chef to diners who is willing to bear the high premium. Next the Chazuke and Tori Momo Kurozu Itame. End the meal with Catarana.
Suju Japanese Restaurant
333A Orchard Road, #04-05/06/07, Mandarin Gallery, Singapore 238897
Tel: +65 6737 7764
Website: http://www.suju-masayuki.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Japanese-Restaurant-Suju-200807346613103/
Opening Hours
Daily 1130 to 2230
Getting There
By MRT:
- North South line – Somerset or Orchard station
By Bus:
- alight opp Mandarin Orchard along Orchard Road 36, 77, 124, 128, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 171, 174, 174e, 190, 518, 700, 700A
- alight at National Youth Council along Grange Road 7, 14, 16, 36, 65, 77, 106, 111, 123, 174, 174e, 175, 971E
- alight opp Ngee Ann City along Orchard Turn 14e, 124, 128, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 171, 190, 700, 700A
- alight at Midpoint Orchard along Orchard Road 7, 14, 14e, 16, 65, 106, 111, 123, 175, 502
Rating: 7.5/10