We all know how much Singaporeans are obsessed with Japanese cuisine, and one really, really popular restaurant that immediately comes to mind is sen-ryo in ION Orchard.
If you’ve struggled to secure a reservation there (myself included), you’re in luck, as they’ve opened a second outlet in Suntec City.
The same philosophy of “affordable luxury” applies here, so you can look forward to authentic and quality fare prepared by a shokunin (artisanal master) team at wallet-friendly prices.
Regardless of whether you’re visiting during lunch, after work for drinks, or on the weekends, sen-ryo Suntec City has it all — alcohol-friendly bites, affordable lunch sets, and sharing platters.
Start off with appetisers (that pair excellently with drinks) like the slow-cooked Bamboo Shoots (S$19.80), Tsubugai Wasabi (sea whelk, S$16.80), and Ankimo Ponzu (monkfish liver, S$19.80).
Standouts include the Abalone Sashimi (S$20.80), comprising three day-aged green-lipped abalone, as well as the addictive Eihire (stingray fin, S$13.80), the perfect accompaniment to an ice cold beer.
Speaking of alcohol, this is the only outlet where you can find the rare KEG Draft, a draft sake, alongside in-house fruit wine with seasonal fruits like ume (Japanese plum).
However, if you prefer your appetisers to have a bit more glitz and glamour, look no further than the elegant outlet-exclusive sen-ryo Appetiser Platter (S$26.80 per person)
Feast your eyes (and then stomach) on the Spicy Tuna in Black Sesame Cone with garlic chips and a drizzle of chilli oil; Monaka Negitoro with Bafun Uni; Wagyu Sando; and to top it all off, a fresh and plump Hyogo Oyster with Ikura. Swoon!
sen-ryo is best known for their exquisite sushi platters, and the sen-ryo Signature Sushi Platter (S$68), another outlet-exclusive, is no exception.
Get ready to be blown away by the jumbo-sized salmon and anago nigiri, alongside other creations like the botan ebi, uni, ika, hotate, negitoro, akami, ikura, madai (sea bream), melt-in-your-mouth otoro, and sen-ryo’s signature tamagoyaki.
You and your dining companions will probably have a hard time deciding who gets what — unless you have the entire platter to yourself (good idea, no?).
And of course, those who’ve been to the OG sen-ryo outlet will spot all-time favourites like the Maguro Sashimi Trio Don (S$32), Grilled Beef Tenderloin (S$26.80), and Kaki Soy Nabe (S$38.80), a Japanese soy milk dashi-based hotpot with chewy Kuzukiri noodles, tofu, vegetables, shiitake, and freshly shucked Hyogo oysters.
If you drop by in the afternoon, don’t forget to indulge in lunch sets like the Braised Gyu Tan Set (S$24.80), which sees slow-cooked thick-cut beef tongue and sliced onions in a savoury sauce, as well as the classic Saba Shioyaki Set (S$15.80). All sets come with Japanese rice, miso soup, and chawanmushi.
Last but not absolutely not least, you can look forward to captivating live ‘Kaitai’ (かいたい, tuna cutting ceremonies) in 2024.
Led by the restaurant’s shokunin team, this is one of those rare opportunities where you’ll get to witness the preparation process of a massive whole bluefin tuna from Japan.
Afterwards, a bidding session will take place for select parts of the fish, but those who don’t manage to get lucky will get to take their pick from a kaitai-exclusive menu featuring dishes prepared using special tuna cuts.
Live kaitai ceremonies will be mostly held at the ION Orchard outlet, but they may make an appearance during special occasions at Suntec City, so keep an eye out on sen-ryo’s socials for updates!
All things considered, it’s easy to see why the crowds flock to sen-ryo for premium yet pocket-friendly Japanese fare, and I can’t wait to try even more from their menu!
Reservations for sen-ryo Suntec City can (and should) be made here, so start making plans ASAP.
千両 sen-ryo Suntec City
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📍 3 Temasek Blvd, #01-434 (Tower 5) Suntec City, Singapore 038983
🕒 11am–10pm (Daily)
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Photos by Christabel Tan
I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨