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Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
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Irosho: Hawker-priced premium unagi & fatty salmon sashimi
If you're looking for sashimi in Singapore, chances are you wouldn't be scouting for it in a kopitiam. I mean, have you even seen one? I, for one, certainly hadn't. That was till about 2 months ago, when I first caught wind of Irosho, a stall in Yong Li Coffee Station in Tengah, and it shot straight onto my to-try list. Hailing from Johor Bahru, Irosho opened its very first Singapore (and overseas) outlet in Jun 2025, tucked away in a humble kopitiam setting. Despite its unassuming location, they carry a unique concept that offers premium sashimi and donburi bowls at surprisingly wallet-friendly prices. And in this economy, who am I to refuse? Now, for full disclosure: I'm not the biggest sashimi fan out there (diabolical much?). So to make sure this place lives up to the hype, I dragged my dearest sashimi-loving-monster of a friend along for her expert opinion. What I tried at Irosho I had to kick things off with the Salmon (S$10 for 5 pcs) — a make-or-break dish that would set the tone for my Irosho experience. Not gonna lie, my expectations were already high, thanks to a chat I had with the kopitiam boss a couple of months back, where he low-key couldn't stop raving about this stall. Thick-cut and gleaming with a light sheen, my first bite into Irosho's salmon sashimi was delightfully fatty and incredibly tender — the kind that melts on your tongue with minimal chewing. As far as first impressions go, this was like shaking hands with someone wearing a really nice perfume — instantly memorable, which is pretty good in my books. Each slice had a satisfying richness to it, making it clear they aren't cutting corners when it comes to quality. Taste-wise, the freshness was apparent with no fishiness in sight. The only thing that threw me off here was the temperature. It wasn't quite cold, per se, possibly because it had been sitting out for a bit as we snapped our pictures (always that, ugh). That slight room-temperature warmth threw me off and made the texture feel a little softer than expected. Still, for a kopitiam stall, it was pretty impressive, and my sashimi-obsessed friend polished it off like a champ. Would you believe me if I said I picked the Dragon Mango (S$7 for 8 pcs) solely for its vibrant yellow sheen? Because I did. And it had a lot going on — in a good way, mostly. Think: fried ebi and lettuce at its core, wrapped in sushi rice and nori, topped with thin slices of sweet mango and finished with a thick drizzle of mayo. Surprisingly enough, the fried ebi stayed crunchy, and the mango added a juicy brightness that complemented the savoury base. The only hiccup here was the mayo. It was slathered on generously — perhaps a bit too generously — and ended up hijacking most of the flavours. But once I scraped off the excess, the harmony between the crisp ebi and sweet mango finally managed to shine through. It's the kind of dish that's fun to try, but likely not something I'd crave again. Out of the 3, this was our least favourite. Oh My Don: Must-try restaurant-quality hawker donburis by ex-hotel chef at Yishun's best-kept secret We finished off strong with the Irosho (S$13.50), which had my eyes going wide the moment I took a bite. The unagi was ridiculously tender. It was silky, flaky, and rich with that signature sweet-savoury teriyaki glaze. Unlike some versions that go overboard with a syrupy sauce, Irosho nailed the balance of just-enough sweetness to enhance the eel without overwhelming it. It sat on a bed of pearly white rice that soaked up all the umami goodness, creating a well-rounded bowl. I had the Fried Rice (S$8) from Irosho the last time I was here, and I'm not too sure what they did in the 1.5 months, but the unagi tasted way better this time around. Accompanying the eel were cherry tomatoes (oddly warm and massive, a little startling when the warm juices burst in your mouth), lettuce, wakame, tobiko, and a lightly grilled tamago. Oh, the tamago. Soft, sweet, with a slight char on the edges that added depth and a whisper of smokiness. I would've happily traded the veggies for more of that egg; fibre intake begone. For under $15, dare I say this bowl could rival versions at double its price. Final Thoughts Tengah might not be the most accessible spot but if you ever find yourself in the area or willing to make the trip, Irosho is worth a stop. The Salmon Sashimi and Unagi Don both delivered in quality and flavour, especially for their price — premium vibes without the premium price tag. As for the Dragon Mango Maki… it was kind of like the middle runner in a 4x100m relay who loses a bit of steam. Not terrible, but definitely slowed the momentum. Still, 2 out of 3 dishes hitting the mark is a win in my books. Expected damage: S$7 – S$15 per pax 17 affordable Japanese food in Singapore that will make you go Oishii! The post Irosho: Hawker-priced premium unagi & fatty salmon sashimi appeared first on
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
New 24-hr Tengah coffeeshop's fresh sashimi, prawn mee & late-night prata galore
Tengah is Singapore's newest HDB town, but it's already shaping up to be more than just a green urban jungle. Tucked amidst the Bukit Batok and Jurong neighbourhoods, this west-side estate now boasts a fresh makan destination, Yong Li Coffee Station at 240 Tengah Garden Walk. The best part? It's open 24/7. Opened on 19 Jun, this brightly lit kopitiam houses 10 stalls, dishing out a medley of cuisines from Chinese to Indian to Japanese. Despite its slightly ulu location, the food spread here is anything but limited. Mr Chong, the boss of Yong Li, shared that this is their 7th outlet islandwide, and while curating the stalls, inclusivity and balance were his main criteria. Hence, there's a solid mix of 4 halal and 5 non-halal stalls, along with a drinks stall. Whether you're a Tengah resident or looking for a new hidden food spot, here are a few stalls worth checking out. Irosho is a rare kopitiam gem from JB, and Yong Li Coffee Station's outlet is its first in SG. Expect a generous spread of sushi rolls like the California (8 pcs)(S$6.50), donburi rice bowls like Flame Salmon Don (S$12) and even fresh Salmon (5 pcs)(S$10) at a fraction the price you'd get at a Japanese restaurant. I tried the Fried Rice (S$8) that came with 7 generous chunks of thick unagi, seaweed, cherry tomatoes and purple cabbage. The unagi was fresh and layered with natural umami, but the rice, lathered in a thick, rich sweet and savoury sauce that I couldn't get enough of, was the true star. If you're looking for a simple meal that's sure to satisfy, this one's for you. With multiple outlets islandwide, Lao San Prawn Noodles serves up comforting bowls of prawn mee with a lightly sweet, umami-packed broth. Traditional Prawn Noodles start from S$5.20, but I'd recommend going all out with their Signature Noodles (S$7.90) that comes with the full package of prawns, pork ribs and various innards. Choose between dry or soup versions based on your preference. One of the 4 Halal options at Yong Li Coffee Station, Habib's Express is one of 2 stalls that are open 24/7 — perfect for night owls and early risers. They serve up crowd favs like prata, mee goreng and more. Some of their signatures include (S$7.50 for chicken/fish, S$8 for mutton) and an indulgent Tissue Prata Chocolate (S$4) for sweet tooths. No kopitiam trip is complete without a kopi or teh. Yong Li's drinks stall brews the classics in-house just right — frothy teh tarik, rich kopi C, yuan yang — perfect paired with a spicy or fried meal. Interesting variations include the Iced 3 Layer Tea/Coffee and Grass Jelly . Aside from the few stalls mentioned, Yong Li Coffee Station offers many more cuisines and dishes, from fishball noodles to spaghetti bolognese. But what's the fun in sharing everything, I'll let you come down and try them for yourselves! New Geneo Mall food court's loaded mala bowls, pan-fried buns, $10 steak & more The post New 24-hr Tengah coffeeshop's fresh sashimi, prawn mee & late-night prata galore appeared first on
