There's quite a bit of bite, there's a good amount of flavour by gingko's standards. Harder than most places but still ok
If you can, avoid the Filipino staff. She doesn't know the menu, can't pronounce the Japanese names, and was confused
Min order 2 sticks per skewer. Skewer menu has reduced significantly, really short now. No more neck, and unacceptably no more liver
As u can tell from the burnt parts and the other parts without char, this was unevenly cooked. There's no crisp apart from the literally burnt parts, it's pretty average. Overly salted on one of them too
It's not solid, kind of like a thick oil cloud. The texture is slightly oily and very rich, pretty good when paired w the airy whip cream.
This place always runs out of their signature kurogoma pudding... Come on
Slightly pricey but worth it. Quiet place with actual Japanese - always a good sign. The chicken thigh with herb salt is simply phenomenal as well.
This was probably our only miss for the night. Not because it wasn’t good but just that there was a lot more leeks than chicken and we felt that the leeks overpowered the chicken.
I can’t believe that I have been here numerous times and never tried their yakitori till @abbey_thebolobao told me that it’s darn good. Silly me. A dead giveaway would be how the clientele here are all Japanese. Can’t wait to come back and have more wings and this
Salted just right and grilled to the right level of smokiness and char, they were so addictive that we added our extra orders soon after finishing the first round.
We shared a Tsukune set (my personal favourites - the one topped with radish which was so refreshing, and the one topped with okonomiyaki like toppings). We also ordered the minced chicken don, which was served in a hot stone pot, cabbage omelette, chicken karaage and cheese, mentai hotate or as my friend says, scallops done the mac and cheese way. We also shared some cold soba, grilled Saba and finished our evening with some hot miso. This place is not for intimate or serious conversations. Reminiscent of a Japanese izakaya, you'd find lots of Japanese diners here winding down for the evening after a hard day's work.
When I looked back at the Burpple Guides for the Best 15 Isakayas in 2016, Tsukune Ichigo stood out for me as it seemed to be the most value for money place for Izakaya-style dining.
When I reached this place, what stood between me and the restaurant is a wooden door that separates the "reclusive" place from the outside world. It's not fully packed on a weekday night, but still relatively packed with Japanese office workers and some expatriates.
I enjoyed reading the menu because they were individually handwritten (nice handwriting!), but I took a while to really decide on what I wanted to eat. Other than the Tsukune Set (S$14.00 for 5 sticks), one of the skewers that I would recommend is this Kawa Shio Yakitori (S$6.00 for 2 sticks). Even though it is just chicken skin, the portion of the chicken skin was really big. Most part of it was also flame grilled to a certain degree of crisp, while still not turning dry. It's a perfect item to accompany your alcoholic beverages, beer or liquor alike.
A place where we head when we want a simple yakitori meal. The Tsukene sticks are a regular item on our order list, along with other items on the menu. Try the chicken soup with rice too.
Such a burst of difference flavors with those juicy sticks of chicken meat!
Tare is the "basic" here without the fuss of additional toppings but it is so simply good!
Grilled nicely! Seasoned just enough, charred just enough. All so juicy!
Unfortunately, this sounded better than it tasted. Not that it wasn't nice, but we were hoping for more crisped up parts of the skin. Some garlic cloves were bigger than the rest and the resulting texture was slightly mushier. Smear a bit of the accompanying miso paste-like to inject more flavour. I didn't enjoy this as much as the other items here, but my dining companion liked it enough to finish both skewers.
Apart from a Japanese wooden signboard hanging above, no other signs indicate that this is a restaurant, let alone an izakaya. But beyond those large, sliding wooden doors lies a haven for both Japanese and locals to wind down with a cold beer after a long day. Located on the same stretch as Spize at River Valley, Tsukune Ichigo specialises in grilled chicken skewers. First timers should order the Tsukune Set ($14), meatball skewers done five different ways. We especially love the ones slathered in sweet and savoury tare sauce, followed by the moreish okonomiyaki sauce (it tastes like the real deal!) and the ponzu sauce. There is a minimum order of two skewers per flavour for individual skewers. You won't go wrong with the flavourful Negishio ($6 for two) — skewered chicken lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, grilled then topped generously with a garnish of chopped leek, onions and sesame oil.
Avg price: $30 per person with drinks
Photo by Burppler Muriel A
Well cooked with a nice bite, but will seem ungenerous when ordered with the liver (cos of the liver's out-of-control portion)!
One of the more flavour-packed variations that come topped with chopped leek and onion(?) sautéed in sesame oil, simply seasoned with salt and black pepper but oh so yummo! 😋😋
Basically a pair of tare-glazed (original) tsukune skewers plus a soft-boiled egg. Pop the yolk and dip the skewers to coat it with a creamy, velvety finish. Definitely a simple addition but very enjoyable! 👍🏼
