Good news — they’re back, and better than ever, at their flagship outlet in Suntec City.

The award-winning restaurant hails from Obihiro, Hokkaido, and is widely recognised as the birthplace of Obihiro Meibutsu Buta Don or ‘Obihiro Famous Pork Rice Bowl’.

Despite its humble origins, the signature butadon is a feast for all the senses. Thick slices of meticulously-sourced pork loin are grilled and slathered in an 80-year butadon no tare (dipping sauce) that has certainly withstood the test of time.

The savoury tare, otherwise referred to as “liquid gold”, is slowly simmered in an old-fashioned cauldron for hours, yielding a rich and intense depth of flavour.

Look no further than the Obihiro Meibutsu Japanese Pork Loin Don (S$19.80 for regular, S$24.80 for large), which sees tender and succulent pork slices grilled using the traditional amiyaki method over red hot coals till aromatic and beautifully charred, topped off with lashings of tare.

It is served atop fluffy Hokkaido Nanatsuboshi rice, along with miso soup and assorted Japanese pickles.

We high recommend just going for the large portion at S$24.80, which comprises six thick slices of pork, each bearing a chewy and unctuous ribbon of fat. Not only is it a dream come true for meat lovers, but it’s also pretty value-for-money, portion-wise.

You can also find a version made with Canadan pork loin, in the form of the Obihiro Meibutsu Pork Loin Don (S$11.80 for regular, S$14.80 for large), for those on a bit of an budget.

Pair your butadon with sides like the Butahage Bun (S$4.60), which features Obihiro Meibutsu Canadian pork belly, mustard, and lettuce sandwiched in between a steamed bun. The meat is tasty, but not as fragrant and flavourful as its Japanese counterpart.

Seafood lovers won’t be missing out on much, given that there is a selection of tendon to choose from, with the most affordable being the regular Tendon (S$9.50). It’s a decent offering, with prawn, pumpkin, long bean, crabstick, and Japanese mountain yam tempura on rice, though we would’ve preferred a lot more sauce.

Instead, go for the Hokkaido Special & Noodle Set (S$19.80), which takes it up a notch with prized ingredients like black tiger prawns, scallops, salmon, squid, asparagus, Japanese mountain yam, and shiitake mushroom.

You can opt for either udon or soba (with hot and cold options), but we enjoyed the ultra-comforting pairing of crunchy tempura with hot inaniwa udon.

Not up for pork or tempura? The Singapore-exclusive Salmon Mentai Avocado Don (S$17.80) consists of thick cuts of fresh salmon topped with a generous layer of torched mentai mayo and creamy avocado chunks. It’s not the best mentai salmon don you’ll ever eat, but it gets the job done.

But seriously, just order the butadon — it’s their signature for a reason.

Eager for a taste? Butahage officially opens on 1 August 2023, so head on down before the crowds start piling in!

Butahage
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???? 3 Temasek Blvd, Suntec City, #01-625/626 (Tower 3), Singapore 038983
???? 11am–10pm (Daily)

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Photos by Christabel Tan

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