If slaving over the stove or grill just isn’t your thing, then it’s right time you should head down and check out the only Japanese small-plate dining restaurant and bar in The Punggol Settlement which offers an extensive menu of traditional charcoal grilled skewers at its best. Izakaya 95, with its stunning line-up of the freshest ingredients and Japanese techniques, features authentic Japanese classic dishes liked Tori Negi, Kagoshima Buta, Hotate and Engiri King Mushroom coupled with their well-stocked collection of Suntory Premium Japanese beers, Yamazaki 18years whiskies and a wide selection of sakes and shochu.
Back by a chic and casual seafront settings, the modern Japanese restaurant is indubitably owned locally but still holds on to the traditional thinkings of how a Japanese eatery operates – quality food. Let’s check out the highly recommended dishes by the local boss and what makes the whole trip to Punggol worthwhile.
MIXED SASHIMI
Given that this is a Japanese restaurant we were firstly served with a plate crowded with delectable and quality meat from the sea. With 5 kinds of sashimi elegantly sliced and decorate on the plate, the sashimi were freshly picked and well prepared daily by their Chef, so you can see the sincerity of the local boss by the generous size of each sashimi coupled with their handmade grind wasabi. We were too awed by the sweetness of the mixed sashimi and wolfed down every bit while we patiently waited (can’t wait!) for the grilled ones to come next. (prices – subject to availability of the sashimi)
SKEWERS
Bring on the real and authentic taste of charcoal grilled meat with a live view of the chef fuming the skewers over the sizzling fire. Our table was then laden with a plate of fresh, juicy and savory meat on sticks which we drooled over the Hotate(Scallop) skewer($6), Lamb rack sprinkled with pinch of Sal & Pepper($10), Sasami Mentai(Chicken Loin & Cod Roe with Mayo)($4)), Tori (leek) Negi($3) and last but not least the crispy Tori(skin) Kawa($3). If you are coming by the evening, don’t forget to check out their happy hour promotions on their (ALL day – 5 FOR $40 Sapporo) beers on tap to pair with the scrummy babies.
BUTA
Kagoshima Buta with Teriyaki ($18), the tender pork belly comes with the perfectly grilled roast though it was slightly dry on its own, but dip with the piquant Teriyaki sauce and it was heaven to us. For those meat lovers, complete this order with one of the boss’s well-stocked collections of sakes and shochu off from the shelves.
GARLIC FRIED RICE
Stirred fried with chopped garlic, the Garlic Fried rice($6) isn’t the typical part of the fried rice clan but top as our list of quintessential unique fried rice in Singapore. It’s simple, non-oily and gets really appetising. We loved how the garlic complements the whole dish and had a very traditional grilled feel to it. This is one of the signature dishes highly rave by their daily patrons, how about trying this the next time you are here. You won’t want to miss this!
YAKI UDON
The Yaki Udon($15) came steamy hot out of the kitchen, flavory and scrambled eggs topped with a handful of seaweed. A contrasting take on the usual udon ramen with soup, we like the noodle being dry with sauce as it takes on a refreshing feel in Japanese cuisine. Worth the wait and money.
MUSHROOM
Finally, we dug into the buttery Mixed Kinoko ($15)mushroom and we definitely did the best move to pair with the garlic fried rice even though either both taste good on its own. The buttery sauce had us drizzling on our bowl of rice and gobbled it down one after another. While the mushroom was chewy and well-flavored from the butter sauce, we were 90% full for a plateful of mushrooms so when you are at The Punggol Settlement (read our guide to 5 RESTAURANTS TO VISIT AT THE PUNGGOL SETTLEMENT) the next time, take the middle lift up to the second level(take a turn left), and plunge down into the cozy restaurant that might just be your new hang out after a long day of work, hopefully with a hungry one.
Opening hours: Mon to Thu (5pm to 12am), Fri and PH eve (5pm to 1am), Sat (1:30pm to 1am), Sun & PH (12:30pm to12am) | 3 Punggol Point Road, #02-05, The Punggol Settlement | +65 6384 1132
By,
Familystaysg Team
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by IZAKAYA 95. All opinions are our own.
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