Omote Review: Popular Japanese Restaurant With Mentaiko Chirashi Don And More In City Hall

Having been a loyal customer since their early days as a 12-seater in Thomson Plaza , I would never go a week without having their food. The progressive Japanese restaurant is also open in Raffles City , so that those working in City Hall can enjoy wallet-friendly bara chirashi bowls, among other offerings.

Food at Omote Raffles City The revamped Omote menu features an extensive lineup of appetisers that are made for sharing, including the Black Pork Kimbap (from $9.80++) and Amakara Korean Wings ($12.80++) . The chicken packed a punch in taste, and I loved how the sweet sauce had a light tang similar to that of Korean BBQ sauce.

I appreciated that this dipping sauce did not burn the nose and had a creaminess to offset the wasabi’s pungent savour. For mains, expect the same signature bara chirashi bowls offered at their Upper Thomson outlet, including the classic Omote Chirashi ($17.80++) , Salmon Booster Chirashi ($25.80++) , and Tamago Mentai Chirashi ($21.80++) . I personally prefer my food rich-tasting with lots of seasoning, which is what the chirashi bowls at Omote are known for.

The sashimi tasted fresh with a good meat-to-fat ratio, and the components given were generous—I thought it was a steal considering the rate. As for the rice, they tend to clump together due to the sticky soy sauce, so I would usually mix in the mentaiko sauce to make it a little more creamy.

For $8.80++ , you can in addition get the Premium Set , which features a whopping total of 6 side dishes, including miso soup, salmon sashimi, and 4 seasonal appetizers. If you’re not big on sashimi, there are also cooked mains such as the Spicy Yakiniku Don ($19.80++) and Grilled Salmon Teriyaki Don ($28.80++) .

We got the Unagi Kabayaki Don ($25.80++) , consisting of a chargrilled slab of freshwater eel coated in a sweet soy sauce-based glaze. The meat was slightly chewy and sported a porous texture that soaked up the sauce, though this also resulted in the rice being a tad too dry.

I liked the addition of furikake as its salty flavours balanced out the sweetness of the unagi, though a more generous amount could have helped to add taste to the rice. My colleague wrapped up her meal with a glass of refreshing Honey Citron Tea ($4++) , while I opted for the Yakult Soju ($9++) , comprising a mix of Chuga soju, cultured milk, and soda.

Get Fresh Sashimi, Tendon, And More At This Hawker Stall Near Holland Village Ambience at Omote Frequent customers of Omote would be familiar with the eatery’s long queues at Thomson Plaza, and you can expect the same thing over at the Raffles City outlet. My colleague and I waited over 20 minutes despite having a reservation, and the staff were too occupied to notice our attempts to catch their attention.

This is not to say that the service was poor—in fact, the staff were friendly and had our food served within ten minutes of ordering. The verdict My latest visit to Omote did not disappoint, and I left the restaurant with my pants nearly bursting at the seams.

I appreciate how the quality of their chirashi bowls has always remained consistent and how the portions are worth what you paid for. It’s a shame I did not get to try more of their Korean appetisers, but that gives me more reason to come back next time!