Shirokiya

The restaurant is located in the middle along the stretch of various restaurants. The restaurant is quite open but decorated in a rather dark traditional looking way. Although it is quite open, but there is a number of fans around, so it is quite cooling dining in.
Broiled Salmon Sashimi Served on Your Table ($ 12)
The sashimi is touched upon on the table. Exciting performance by the staff, although we are more worry for him as he has too many things on his hands. Smooth and buttery in texture.
Shirokiya Specialty ‘Chiritori Hot Pot’ ($ 38.80/ 2pax)
Chicken, Pork, Beef and Vegetable Served in Spicy beef stock
The hot pot is said to have originated from Sukiyaki in Osaka. The stainless steel pot looks like a dust pan (Chiritori in Japanese), that’s why it is named Chiritori Hot Pot.
Although it is hotpot, we do not have stirred the pot, just let it simmers. Until it is fully cooked. Do takes note of the thin sliced beef. As we let it simmers until the vegetable soft, the beef becomes overcooked and a bit tough and dry in texture. The vegetable soaks up the flavours, soften and gives abit of soup, although I wish there could be more soup.
Overall the meal is not bad. I have a bit of problem in the billing part. Seem that the staff do not know how to process JCB card although it is accepted at the restaurant. One of the staff even asks me for password. Seem that they do not even know which machine is to be used for processing the payment. But all turns out fine when a more senior staff takes over the billing.

When I first discovered this restaurant after Chijmes re-​opened level 1, I was excited. The price was affordable, the service was good and the food taste great too!
This was where my colleagues and I would hang out if we wanted a good lunch.
A few months down the road, it gradually changed. First it was the menu. They had more options and introduced a $ 15++ set lunch on top of the $ 12++ set lunch. The difference between the two prices is a serving of chawanmushi. This is a good change for those who loves chawanmushi, but for $ 3, it seems a little expensive to me.
Then comes the service. Maybe the lunch promo got popular so more and more people were here for lunch. The service level went downhill as the staff weren’t as attentive and waiting time got longer and longer.
The food quality while didn’t turn bad, it got inconsistent. There was once where the chawanmushi was served, they were all of different portions. One of them had so little steam egg, it’s as if the chef forgot to top it up!
This place needs to buck up!

Just happened to be in the area and decided to give this new row of restaurants a try. The lunch set and pictures looked attractive. Price was reasonable with sets starting at SGD15++.
Maybe it was a part time chef or they are trying something innovative, my premium chirashi don looked great and tasted really different. Top side of sashimi is cold, middle layer is warm, and the rice is hot. Wow! What a shock!
If anyone wants to try this new experience, you now know where to find it.

Embracing the concept of 美食料理(food that promotes beauty), Shirokiya serves up standard Japanese dishes like most izakayas, but with a healthy twist. For instance, the Shio Koji (salted rice malt) dressing imparts flavors sufficiently to the Cold Tofu ($ 8.89), so you doesn’t really need to resort to the red miso paste at the side.
It is heartening to know that Hydraluronic acid jelly – a key to soft supple skin, is tossed into the citrusy Avocado and Seafood salad ($ 20.80), but it can do with more of such good stuff. I liked the crab mayonnaise and scallops but not the raw salmon as it was not very fresh.
I love crunchy chicken wings but these Ultimate Fried Chicken Wings ($ 18.80) were overly done such that the meat became sorely dry. A great pity because the sweet marinade pepped up with white pepper deserved a thumbs-​up.
The Kurobuta Shabu Shabu ($ 38.80 for 2 – 3 pax) also boasts some beauty benefits with the addition of collagen into the chicken soup. Though no MSG is claimed to be used in Shirokiya, I found the soup slightly too salty. It might be good to know that the soy ingredients of the desserts such as warabi mocha $ 7.80 shown here or soy milk pudding, come from our local Mr Bean. Though I was rather disillusioned by the overall experience, perhaps the potential lies in other dishes, given the diversity of the menu which you check out here.