Omaksae Dining at Hachi Restaurant (12-Course Japanese Meal)

Hachi Restaurant is one of the pioneers of Omakase dining in Singapore.  Omakase (in Japanese) literally translates to “its up to you”, where guests entrusts the chef to decide what to serve to each person and the menu is not fixed.  This concept is popular with Japanese patrons and Singaporean professionals who are looking to be relieved of decision-making over their meal and instead choosing to be delightfully surprised by the chef’s selections.

I had the opportunity to ask 9 of my colleagues along for a treat at Hachi Restaurant as part of a Class 95 Office Lunch Treat programme.  Class 95 DJs Glenn Ong, Flying Dutchman and Vernetta Lopez were also present to have lunch with us.  We were treated to Hachi’s Omakase Dinner which typically comprises 9-10 specially crafted dishes and takes over 2 hours.  It starts at $108++ per pax.  There is also a lunch Omakase available at Hachi with 5 to 7 dishes.

Our Omakase experience consists of 12 dishes – each of them small in quantity but huge in freshness and taste.  You won’t feel overwhelmed because the serving is well-paced and planned such that your appetite will first be whetted via light dishes such as asparagus and fresh egg yolk before graduating to oysters and sashimi.  You are given a breather at the 7th dish with a soup with mushrooms and clams before the heavy-duty food comes in – Alaskan King Crab and Roasted Wagyu Beef (so tender yet crispy) and fried croquette.  It then ends off with soba in light sauce and dessert – black sesame ice-cream.  See below picture for all 12 dishes we conquered.

If you are planning to try Omakase Dining at Hachi Restaurant, note that your dishes might be different from what we had since it depends on what the chef is serving for the day.  If you have any dietary restrictions e.g. no beef/seafood, let the staff know in advance and they will make special arrangements for you.

Hachi Restaurant’s Chef Watanabe, a native of Kyushu, presents an ever changing seasonal menu reflective of the freshest produce available direct from Japan.  Every day’s Omakase dishes are varied and different, in terms of ingredients used, tastes and cooking styles.  Here you see him busy at work, preparing our next dish.

You can choose to sit at the counter, where you can get up close with Chef Watanabe and catch him in action as he prepares your next dish (see above picture) or sit at one of the banquette dining tables that line the restaurant.  If you have a group of more than 8 persons, you can also consider booking their private rooms.  Our entourage of 15 fitted the room nicely and there is even a LCD TV wired for DVD and laptop access (lunch meetings anyone?).  Perhaps they might also cater for karaoke sessions. 

As part of the Class 95 Office Lunch Treat programme, we also get a Class 95 Tshirt and collaterals (pens, lanyards) each.  I received a $100 Hachi restaurant voucher as well.  Will be back to try its lunch Omakase menu ($68++) and Shokadoo Bento ($38++). 

I rate Hachi Restaurant:

• Food (Ingredients are very fresh and tasty especially the Wagyu Beef – Best!):         4/5
• Ambiance (Quiet and soothing, feel very relaxed eating here):                                         4/5
• Service (Staff friendly, eager to help and attentive):                                                               4/5
• Location (3 bus stops away from Clarke Quay MRT):                                                             3.5/5
• Value (expensive but well worth it for the unique dining experience):                          3.5/5

More information at: http://www.hachirestaurant.com .  Navigation takes some time to get used to (just click the centre Hachi logo if you are lost)

Map of Hachi Restaurant at Mohamed Sultan Road

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