IKYU

If I could post 6 stars then I would since IKYU is a 6-​stars experience. I am so glad that I didn’t get reservation at the first 7 omakase restaurants that I called and managed to get 1 at IKYU on Saturday night. In the meantime, I wish that IKYU would get the attention and love that they long deserve since they might be the best while not the most expensive omakase restaurant in Singapore.
The location is very chiq and romantic at Tiong Baru neighborhood. The décor and atmosphere is amazing (you can feel that they even they got the room temperature right!) So perfect in their fine dining experience service.
The service is attentive and exceptional. The food is one of the rarest of the freshest and the most delicious of dishes.
I paid for 360 $ total for 2 sets of omakase and it worths all the money down to the pennies. People who loves Japanese food and a fan of omakase really needs to come down here and you won’t be disappointed.

It blows my mind that IKYU has been around for over a year now, I sorta remember when it just opened and was a new kid on the block. I started typing this review in 2013, which I guess meant I missed out on an FTR, but oh well.
I’ve never been here for dinner, but lunch is decent value. The chirashi bowl has so much raw fish and it’s all of excellent quality that it’s pretty reminiscent of Teppei. There’re a variety of other sets for those not raw-​fish inclined, and overall the fact that colleagues and I come here once every while for lunch means that it’s not bad nor painfully overpriced. Prices *have* gone up a bit since they opened but I think the value proposition is still A-​OK.
It’s hard for places like this to be exceptional in a day and age where Japanese restaurants are so common and so many offer similar prices with similar qualities. Once upon a time a find like this would have been four stars, but I think the Japanese cuisine bubble has burst, and nowadays? This is a three star joint. Solidly so, but I’m not sure about it being four stars. It’s close though.

Excellent small restaurant hidden in Tiong Bahru estate. Small menu selection, yet high quality dishes. My favourites: truffle edamame, beer, wagyu beef, and their off the menu grilled fish head.

here, restaurant week began for me!
if you have $ 55++ to spare on a three course dinner then make this dining city starred restaurant your choice.
first up, is finding this place.
since it’s my first time here, i had to drive by the restaurant before i unwittingly stumble into the huge open air coupon car park located behind a U shaped building along moh guan terrace.
there is also another entrance to this car park on the other end via chay yan street.
and it’s free parking on sundays!
from the car park there is a small side road that will lead you directly to it’s distinctive see through shopfront.
next is gaining entry via the metallic and heavily set side gate which is imposing and locked, almost as if telling you to keep out?
fortunately, the staff quickly lets you in and the hospitality begins.
the service is attentive but a little too much at times.
a little overly eager and enthusiastic at times, like attempting to clear plates before we are done and asking if the desserts should be served before the entire party has even received and consumed their mains.
well, at least they try which should be lauded and not discouraged.
just work on the timing, especially the timing that paces the main course’s grand entrance for all seated at the same table.
chef seki is very hands on and takes the time to deliver, explain and apologize to diners.
nothing snooty about him and it was him who personally took responsibility for a simple error, adding wasabi when told not to, by offering to replace the sushi main course even though it was evident that we have already dugged into it despite the mistake.
when we declined his kind gesture due hunger pangs, he surprised us with complimentary desserts at the end to atone for his mistake, well done!
food wise, i was pleasantly surprised.
as far as restaurant week menus go, this is one of the better crafted ones.
a good variety to choose from, quality produce, brought together delicately to stimulate the sights and buds equally.
i think the prawn and uni garden is the better of the two appetizer options.
sweet prawns, spicy sauce, umami uni, crispy prawn head and a horseradish egg, potato salad to further tantalize.
as for the mains, either one of the three options are great.
but if given only one choice, then it has to be the mangalitza pork rack.
the robata grill did such a wonderful job even the onigiri came out with a nice crispy char.
the sweet endings were not of the lightweight fresh fruits variety but complex and bold attempts to ensure you come back for more.
and back for more, i will come!

We wanted to go to a more upscale place for our sunday brunch but after reading mixed reviews of the food, we decided to scrap the plan and try some other place instead.
My friend, S, then suggested IKYU and we all agreed to try this place. I’ve walked pass this restaurant many times since I frequent Books Actually (book store) but haven’t got a chance to try. Since we’re meeting up to celebrate my «home coming», what better place to re-​start my restaurant hop in this tiny island filled with good food at IKYU.
The three of us opted for their value for money set lunch. Priced from $ 28 onwards, i think it’s a steal considering IKYU is a semi-​fine dining (?) establishment in the hip Tiong Bahru neighbourhood. We ordered Yuzu tea to start (refreshing, $ 4 a glass) and a bowl of grilled truffle edamame. SImple and delicious. We also ordered 2 other appetizers of golden Anago (eel) sushi roll and as well as grilled mentaiko. The grilled mentaiko is a tad too salty just make sure you eat it together with the sliced cucumber that comes with it.
The set lunch comes with a starter of apple salad and vegetable tempura. Both are tasting portions. As for mains, I ordered Bara Chirashi (rice topped with fresh raw salmon, white fish, tuna cut in cubes) while my 2 friends ordered grilled kampachi served with white rice. The grilled kampachi was fresh and lightly seasoned with salt. All set lunch comes with miso soup as well. Just like any set lunch, you get dessert and coffee/​tea to end the meal. We thought the dessert was the weakest and couldnt even figured out what was served — a citrusy pudding done bad topped with fresh cream and a tiny slice of strawberry and melon globe.
In total, we paid $ 150-​ish for 3 drinks, 2 starters and 3 set lunches. Service was ok and restaurant tend to get a bit noisy.

This is my second time here — I came in April 2014, and again, last night.
We called a couple hours before dinner for a reservation, and the restaurant told us the earliest they could fit us in was 8pm. We got into the area at 7pm and walked past IKYU, and half of it was empty. Never mind, we spent a good half hour browsing books next door at the very hipster Books Actually. We came out of Books Actually poorer, but enriched, and hunger gnawed at my very mortal body, and we walked in at 730 pm and were seated promptly. I am very puzzled but whatever.
We ordered the century egg potato salad and the truffle scallop carpaccio to start, and left our dinner in the hands of the dashing chef — omakase please!
The century egg potato salad was very meh. I could see bits of century egg but I couldn’t quite taste it.
I would like to dedicate a paragraph especially to the scallop carpaccio. I noticed that they had reformulated the dish, and revised the price upwards of 5 dollars, which is reasonable as I explain the reformulation. Previously, their scallop carpaccio had truffle oil and truffle paste, and they have now revised it. Their scallop carpaccio now has real shaved Italian black truffle and seaweed flakes for more umami. Yum! I do wish they had some truffle oil to bring all the flavors and umami together, but this is a stunning redo of my favorite dish there!
Omakase started itself.
1. Egg tofu, simmered tuna, crunchy roe.
Quite delicious to eat simple things, simple and earthy.
2. Sashimi
Fresh, good.
3. Fried oysters, eggplant, in a radish purée soup.
Tastes exactly as it sounds. The soup was radish purée suspended in a tasty dashi.
4. Grilled Wagyu
Very tender, melt-​in-​your-​mouth, served simply with garlic chips and spring onion.
5. Asparagus with prawn in the batter, on a bed of hot bean sauce.
I didn’t like this at all. The hot bean sauce overwhelmed the delicate prawn and asparagus flavors.
6. Sushi
Seasoned well, with wasabe just right.
7. Ebi soup
Very simple, yet complex, with amazing body. Yes it is a soup, and not the woman of your dreams.
8. Melon ice cream, tofu cheesecake, fruit.
Melon ice cream is something the Japanese do very well. The flavor pops and that’s when you raise your eyebrows in surprise. The tofu cheesecake was very blah.
I enjoyed my meal, but had I written a review back in April, I would have given their omakase 5 stars, not 4. I think creativity has dipped slightly. Still good, I would come back again. This place is pricey; two omakase sets, and two starters, and 4 alcoholic drinks later, the bill was about $ 450.

I came here for lunch as I was craving japanese food and this was the only one around my work place. Lunch sets range from 20s to 30s and I have to say, I really liked the experience. Every lunch set comes with an appetizer, soup, ice cream and coffee or tea. I had the bara chirashi set and ordered a side of engawa and hotate sushi on the side. The bara chirashi was really good, a little low on the rice but the fish was super fresh, plentiful and served with fresh wasabi and shiso pieces, which really enhanced the flavor of the rice. The chef was nice enough to serve my two hotate sushi one aburi, one raw with seasoning, and both were delish. The aburi piece had a bit of sea salt burnt on top and it really brought out the sweetness of the fresh hotate. The engawa was served with yuzu and excellent as well. The appetizer of the day was apple salad with takoyaki, and the takoyaki was freshly made with crisp slin and melting glorious content. Apple salad was good too. And the soup was a clam mushroom miso soup with egg and it was earthy with a great combination of sweet and savory. Loved it. Will definitely be back for more.

Outstanding.
Having been in Tokyo just two weeks earlier I expected a let down, however this is as close your going to get to Japanese 5 star sushi and sashimi in Singapore.
Go for any a la carte sashimi. I would pass on the fried ebi and honestly scallops that good do not need truffle oil.
Cocktails are marvelous too. I’d shell out for another entrée rather than dessert though.
All in a very good addition to the Singapore dining scene. Well done

This upscale sushi spot is definitely one of my faves in the neighborhood. My colleagues and I come here about once a quarter for lunch. Their set lunches range from $ 28 – 35 and are pretty affordable, considering you get an appetizer, main, soup, coffee or tea (usually served at the end, but you can request to have it during your meal) and dessert (which to be honest, can be hit or miss.) The chirashi is very popular with our group, but I actually prefer their sushi!
I don’t normally order off their a la carte menu, but I do recommend the grilled seasonal vegetables. I believe they put truffle salt on it and it’s super delish!
I love their décor and their attention to detail. Their hot towels always smell of lemongrass, which is such a nice touch. Their servers are also very attentive and clear plates efficiently. There is also a strong focus on presentation, so the food is always Instagram-​worthy!
Though it can seem a bit pricy for some, I think this is the perfect place to go if Open Door Policy is looking a bit steep, but you’re not in the mood for a café setting, either.

Our restaurant week dinner was nothing short of beautiful. We started with a scallop carpaccio dusted with black truffles. It was *divine.* I savoured every bite, every lick. The second and main course was the miso-​marinated black cod, served with a grilled rice ball and a selection of grilled vegetables. The texture of the fish was perfect; it melted in your mouth. The rice ball was crisp and chewy all at once, and the grilled veggies had flavour and texture — even the lotus was yummy! The third course was a shrimp tempura somen — utterly slurpable and delicate. Lastly, dessert. I had the mille-​feuille while my partner had the cheesecake. We both oohed and ahhed as we took tiny bites so as to make the experience last longer!
Presentation of all the dishes was stunning — the attention to detail was not lost on me, from the garnishes to the balanced colours on the plate, to the types of dinnerware used.
The service was attentive and friendly, and perfectly timed. Our servers responded to our every need and never felt in the way. They re-​filled our water glasses without hesitation and were smiling at each interaction. My only complaint is that we had to ask for water — IMO this should be the first thing served upon giving the patron a menu. However, the service was impeccable in every other manner, so it is difficult to be too upset about this!
The atmosphere is friendly, warm, and upwardly casual. The ambiance is elegant but not pretentious. Dark hues on the walls mix neatly with well-​lit spaces and tables that feel private even though they are next to each other.
One last small complaint — their website includes a photo with several pretty-​looking cocktails. They look delectable! Yet their beverages menu includes only two cocktails on the list. I’d love to see IKYU design a few more to match their marketing campaign and the unique flavours of their food menu…
I can’t wait to go back and try their a la carte menu!

The food, the service and the ambience were just beyond belief. Everyone from the maitre’d to the waiter to the chef had a great sense of pride of the food and the restaurant. The restaurant is in a cool neighborhood that has so much history. We always prefer sitting at the sushi bar and the chef will just do what’s freshest. Excellent restaurant and we were lucky to have found it!

Just tried this interesting place in quaint Tiong Baru. Good food in a friendly atmosphere. We had excellent service. Be prepared for higher prices. We had the premium sashimi which was excellent.

Awesome addition to the burgeoning Tiong Bahru restaurant scene. This japanese restaurant has delicious happy hour specials (try the fried oysters), a decent drink menu and super friendly staff. Our meal was accompanied by the sounds of «kanpai!» and cheers from the small bar area where the sushi chefs and their customers were getting roaring drunk.
The service is amazing, the décor is chic, modern and warm and the food is pricy but worth it.

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I suppose by now everyone has heard of IKYU (Tiong Bahru) by now. It’s a high end Japanese dining joint opened by Executive Chef Takuma Seki, former chef-​de Cuisine of Hide Yamamoto at Marina Bay Sands. And it is the only Japanese restaurant in the hippie coffee zone in Singapore– Yong Siak Street.
The interior is a futuristic industrial jungle made with stunning pieces of brass, bronze and concrete. Definitely an atypical Japanese restaurant and i’m not quite sure how it relates to fine dining or the Zen that IKYU tries to achieve. It’s not that i don’t like the décor, it’s just that i feel it works better for an izakaya bar instead.
Food wise, the prices are on the high side as IKYU takes pride in using quality ingredients. The fish is flown in three times a week from Tsukiji and so, sashimi prices start from $ 15.50 for 5pcs of Salmon/​Squid/​Engawa to $ 68.50 for 5pcs of Blue Fin Otoro tuna. Sadly, the fish didn’t come close to the Tsukiji sort that i’ve had.
The lunch menu on the other hand is a lot more affordable ($ ²⁵⁄₃₅) and i’m glad i tried this before even considering their ala carte menu. 4 sets are available and each comes with appetizer, salad, soup and dessert. Pardon the bad quality pictures as it was a spontaneous lunch and the lighting is not the most ideal for food photography.
The IKYU sushi set ($ 35), assorted sushi 6 pieces and roll, is the most pricy of the lot because of the expensive fish from Tsukiji. If you have eaten at Tsukiji before, these sushi are like half the size of what you get there. I was perhaps 50% filled after eating this and i don’t consider myself to be the biggest eater around (just look at my size). I found the fish to be on the dry side as well.
S had the IKYU Chirashi set ($ 25) which is the same Bara chirashi on the menu ($ 28 ala carte). Little cubes of sashimi?! You’ve got to be kidding me. The only other place that i see cubed sashimi is at Sushi Tei and they serve it on their salads. Honestly there are way better chirashi-​dons around and i would direct you to my favorites– Chikuwatei and Tomo Izakaya. They give you fresh, chunky, sliced sashimi. Not diced ones.
Perhaps the seven-​course omakase menu ($ 128) would provide you with a better idea of the quality of the food served at IKYU, but honestly, i would rather take the money somewhere that can actually fill me up. IKYU is just average to me. I think i would be happier eating at Sushi Tei in fact. Maybe i’m biased; a hungry girl is an angry one. It makes me hungry just thinking about this one. :/​
Would IKYU work for the Tiong Bahru crowd? I can’t speak for the others but IKYU is not convincing enough to draw me away from the River Valley/​Clarke Quay area for Japanese

INCREDIBLE –I never take the time to write a review, but this place deserves praise. Bravo on food, great service, awesome design and décor — they have it down. It really had a hip cosmo vibe compared to some of the other supposed «trendy» restaurants in Singapore.