Friday, August 15, 2008

Tonkichi: Friedilicious

It was our first visit to a Japanese restaurant which specializes largely on fried food (Tonkatsu especially), and it definitely was a new kind of experience.

Sesame Seeds
Everyone would be given white sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle, to be grounded till fine then mixed in with the Tonkatsu Sauce for a added hint of taste and fragrance.

Kikumasamune Junmai Sake

Kikumasamune Junmai Sake (150 ml),   S$9++,   

Either you love it, or you hate it. After a few sips, we were very convinced never to order Sake again.

Agedashi Tofu

Agedashi Tofu,   S$5.50++,   

Deep fried tofu cubes served in a pool of dashi-based sauce, pleasingly refreshing as you let them slip down your throat.

Soft Shell Crab

Soft Shell Crab,   S$7.50++,   

Soft Shell Crabs were so-so, but we can never be accurate gauges for this dish because we've never fancied those quaggy eight-legged creatures.

Potato Croquette

Potato Croquette,   S$5++,   

Chunks of potatoes and plenty of minced pork, all breaded with crispy crumbs then deep fried. The crunch outside is light yet adequate, revealing a hot center of potatoes, both flavour and creaminess carefully retained.

Tonkichi Set

Tonkichi Set,   S$60++,   

This humungous Tonkichi Set was designed for sharing among three, and it included three servings of pickles and lotus roots as appetizers, rice, miso soup, and watermelon slices as dessert. For the main platter, there were the signature deep fried pork loin, pork fillet, prawns and oysters, with free flow of cabbage to give you an occasional break when the grease pile up to be too heavy after some time. Hey, it's fried food afterall.

Nevertheless, we could tell that the Tonkatsu was excellent as soon as it entered our mouths. The cut was thick but not fatty, and there was a very firm and juicy bite to it. The rest of the meats were very good too - it's a no wonder crowds wait outside the restaurant just for all these.

VERDICT
Explore the other sinful side of Japanese cuisine unlike the healthy, light and mild ones. Once in a while would do fine though - an overdose could get you cringing with sickness at the mere mention of 'oil' and 'fried food'.

Tonkichi - Ngee Ann City
Tonkichi - Ngee Ann City
#04-24, Tower A, Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road, S(238872)
(+65) 6735 7522
Mon - Thur: 10.30 a.m. - 10.30 p.m.

http://www.pokkafood.com.sg/tonkichi

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1 comment(s):

Mr. Nall said...
Thanks very much for the feedback a while ago. I've since added pictures. Like the photos on this one a lot.

Best,

AJN
http://adamjamesnall.blogspot.com/