Teppan Kappou Kenji is the new addition of restaurants to the rows of the Japanese and Korean restaurants along Tanjong Pagar Road. Based on its exterior, it looks just like any other Japanese restaurants.
I went into the restaurant without any expectations at all. In fact, I was hinking that their food might be on par if not slightly better with other Japanese restaurants. Surprisingly, who knew that it turned out to be one of my current favourite restaurants?
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‘Looks can be deceiving’
Their minimalistic interior features simple wooden furnishings against the dark grey stone wall.
The restaurant adopts the open-kitchen concept with a counter seating area for customers to watch the chefs in action. Everything around you may look simple but not renowned Japanese chef Kenji Okumura’s dishes. I could not count the number of times I’ve mentioned ‘wow’ at Teppan Kappou Jenji.
“Reversed” Omakase
In omakase-style of dining, the chef gets to decide what goes on the plate. Unlike other Omakase restaurants, you can provide chef Okumura guidance on your preferred ingredients and flavours. He will then try his best to create a bespoke menu just for you. It is this ‘reserved’ omakase concept that makes them stand out from the rest.
The restaurant also offers teppanyaki cuisine (as its name suggests) – a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle (teppan) to cook food. Their teppanyaki-style dishes like their A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Sirloin is mouth-wateringly delicious.
How Chef Okumura surprised us with his dishes?
We tried dishes from the main, teppanyaki and omakase course menus. Their menu is very extensive! There’s also a seasonal menu featuring fresh seasonal ingredients imported from various regions of Japan.
Express Set Lunch Menu
For those working in the CBD area, you will be glad to know that they do also have an Express lunch menu which each set lunch starts from $12.
Each lunch set includes a Chawanmushi, a side dish and dessert.
Teppan Garlic Seafood Rice Set
The dishes we had, kept getting better after we had our appetisers.
Chef Okumura is serious when he says that he loves incorporating that element of surprise in his dishes. He pays attention to details especially when it comes to the presentation of the dishes.
Healthy Salad with Japanese dressing
This appetiser comes with a fragrant Japanese salad dressing. It comes along with
Soft Tofu Skin with Sea Urchin
This dish features a beautiful combination of fresh sea urchin gonads and homemade beancurd skin (Yoba). You can definitely taste the sweetness of the sea urchin.
Grilled Avocado with Herbs & Cheese
This Teppanyaki item goes well with beer or sake. It consists of grilled cheese shell, creamy avocado chunks and crispy Sakura Ebi.
Stewed Wagyu Hamburg
This hotpot item will remind you of western beef hamburgers and spaghetti. If you are into burgers, you will enjoy this belly-warming Wagyu hamburger patty cooked in Tomato stew.
Seafood Hotpot with Miso
This seafood broth cooked with fish bones and a mixture of seafood ingredients.
The steaming hot broth is served in a metallic pan, sitting on a traditional hot stove with Japanese characters engraved on it. I am feeling all satisfied just by looking at the presentation of each dish.
Premium A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Sirloin
I am not a fan of beef. However, after eating this dish, I might change my mind. I was relishing this premium beef slices which are so tender and flavourful. To sum up, this is a life-changing dish.
Remember to coat the beef slices with some salt and wasabi to enhance the flavour of the meat.
Gyu Katsu
This batter-fried Japanese beer is also one of my favourite dishes at Teppan Kappou Kenji. It is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The contrast in textures will excite your taste buds.
Seasonal Fish Carpaccio
This Yellowtail carpaccio (Hamachi) is topped with an
Oyster & Japanese Lobster (Ise Ebi)
This dish features the rarest of all Japanese ingredients. It is one of the signature dishes served at Teppan Kappou Kenji.
Chef Okumura sourced the fresh Oysters and the Spiny Lobster (Ise Ebi) from the Mie Prefecture. The lobster meat tasted so sweet and succulent.
Omakase Course
I highly recommend their Omakase course where you will be able to witness Chef Okumura’s culinary mastery and his creativity in transforming his dishes into a work of art.
Their omakase lunch set ranges from $50 to $80 which is considered to be affordable. For omakase dinner, it starts from $150 onwards.
Assorted Sashimi
When your food is all boxed up, you will be left to guess what is in it. Now, guess what’s hidden in the golden phoenix shown below?
I wonder where Chef Okumura get his golden phoenixes from.
Seasonal Kamameshi (Claypot Rice)
To end off the Omakase experience, we had their clay pot rice served with seasonal seafood.
The flavourful moist rice complemented well with the fish roes and the cooked fish slices.
Seasonal Assorted Japanese fruits
The natural sweetness from their seasonal fruits is unfathomable. Their strawberries are insanely sweet and fragrant. They make perfect desserts to end an excellent meal.
Has your jaw dropped yet?
Recommended dishes
Gyu Katsu, A5 Miyazaki Steak, seasonal Fish Carpaccio
Omakase Course: Seasonal Kamameshi (Claypot Rice), Seasonal Japanese fruits
Verdict
If you have been to Japan and enjoy gourmet Japanese meals which are prepared meticulously with the freshest premium ingredients, this place will not disappoint you. Famous personalities like Mikhail Gorbachev of Russia and Wen Jiabao of China have enjoyed Chef Okumura’s Omakase menu as well.
Rating: 4.8/5.0
Teppan Kappou Kenji
99 Tanjong Pagar Road
#01-01
Singapore 088520
Opening hours: 11.30 am to 2pm (Lunch), 6pm to 10.30pm (Dinner) daily
RSVP Hotline: +65 9152 3118 Email: rsvp@teppankappoukenji.sg
