MOS Burger (ION Orchard)

We haven’t been quite enticed by MOS Burger’s limited time-only specials of the late but one of their ongoing did manage to pique our interests — considering how successful the pop-up of Champion’s Curry at Takashimaya have always been all these while, one can only wonder why the ongoing MOS Burger x Champion’s Curry collaboration hasn’t been mentioned much on social media until fairly recently. For those whom are unaware, Champion’s Curry is an establishment specialising in Kanazawa curry; it is said that the founder of Champion’s Curry had come up with the style of Japanese curry which has since been characterised as the style of Japanese curry that is served up in the city itself — there is quite a back story about its origins, though Champion’s Curry in its current form have become a brand with a global presence. Champion’s Curry have previously operated a pop-up stall within the Takashimaya Food Hall during the seasonal fairs that the department store hosts throughout the year; the Japan Rail Cafe at Guoco Tower also served up their Kanazawa-style curry in collaboration with Champion’s Curry some time back as a seasonal special. For their collaboration with MOS Burger, the two brands have created the Curry Menchikatsu Beef Rice Burger and Curry Menchikatsu Beef Burger — also served in conjunction with these would be a Pistachio Gelato that is created in collaboration with Malga Gelato; a gelateria that hails from Ishikawa prefecture in Japan, with award-winning flavours and typically appearing as a pop-up at Takashimaya Food Hall alongside Champion’s Curry. Some sources online do mention that the items launched for this collaboration will be available till 31 March 2024.

Opted for the Curry Menchikatsu Beef Rice Burger over the Curry Menchikatsu Beef Burger since we typically prefer MOS Burger’s rice burgers over their conventional burger offerings; the fact that it comes with Champion’s Curry Kanazawa-style was all the more why we would find ourselves going for right that. Considering how this is a Menchikatsu Burger, it is needless to say that the burger comes accompanied with a deep-fried ground beef patty; this would be alongside the shredded cabbage as well the Champion’s Curry signature curry roux that is the star of this collaboration. For the Curry Menchikatsu Beef Rice Burger, MOS Burger does seem to pan-fry their rice burger buns a little considering there is a little bit of a browning effect that is going on at least with the rice burger bun on the top; that being said, those whom are expecting some form of crispness on the surface wouldn’t find so here — much of what we can find online about the burger also described similar experiences in general. Those whom are familiar with Champion’s Curry curry roux would have known how their curry roux comes all thick and rich with a rather deep note of underlying gaminess from the beef that runs just under the typical sweetness of Japanese curry on the tongue — something that is notably different from the generic Japanese curry they one would have elsewhere. This still stays true in the curry roux that came with the Curry Menchikatsu Beef Rice Burger; what is also evident would be the small crumbs of meat that one can find in the curry roux itself — this really went hand-in-hand with the deep-fried ground beef patty that featured ground beef that is tender and crumbly with the meat’s juiciness locked in.

All of that comes in a crisp, golden brown batter that was pretty light and not particularly greasy. The inclusion of the chopped cabbage comes to no surprise for MOS Burger regulars; an element that makes its appearance in multiple MOS Burger items that attempts to give their burgers some form of balance. Where it comes to the Pistachio Gelato that is introduced in collaboration with Malga Gelato, the Pistachio Gelato would most definitely satisfy hardcore fans of pistachio; the gelato is surprisingly rich being full-on nutty through and through — rather surprising for a commercially-packaged gelato they would tend to be a little heavy on milkiness. There are also plenty of crushed pistachios speckled throughout the gelato that further gives it a contrast of textures by adding an element of crunch. The various fast food joints operating in the island had been releasing seasonal items all year round in recent years; that being said, the MOS Burger x Champion’s Curry collaboration is probably the most memorable for us not only considering the popularity of Champion’s Curry, but also in terms of its execution — perhaps one of the more remarkable ones out there. If anything, the MOS Burger x Champion’s Curry collaboration is one that is a must-try while it lasts!

barbequed beef slices dipped in yakiniku sauce and fresh lettuce

premium wagyu beef patty topped with portobello mushroom and sauce

(Exclusively in MOS Burger Ion Orchard)