Tag: japanese
Singapore has a longstanding romance with scenic dining. Photogenic al fresco hideouts command a lot of popularity, as sumptuous views of the skyline and the sea draw in crowds looking to bask in beauty. Newcomer Guriru however, provides a different kind of scenic ambience.
A narrow pathway led inward. Slightly cramped and dimly lit. Four steps in, eyes get arrested by glimpses of a soft tangerine glow spilling in from the right. Dignified wooden counters rest slightly above the waist, bathing in a warmth wafted by gentle overhanging lights. You’ve arrived at Live Twice. Continue reading “Live Twice”
An “authentic” Izakaya experience almost certainly entails a few things — comforting and gratifying bites, carafes of sake, and rowdy Japanese salarymen. But what if you want a different kind of Izakaya service? You visit Omu Nomu.
A sleek black glass monolith protrudes out of the ground, fenced in by an outer area populated with sleek white marble fittings and two dainty trees that extended skyward undeviatingly. Only a cryptic logo of Waga Waga Den is emblazoned onto the facade of the enigmatic glass enclosure as a hint of what’s inside.
The interior is yet another striking minimalist marvel — svelte black tables are welded to the metallic structural skeleton while zen garden pebbles lined the perimeter to give it a distinct cyberpunk edge.
What ties Waga Waga Den’s futurist aesthetic together succinctly is a cluster of overhanging geometric lights which flicker and snake vividly, like you’re sitting in a futuristic Tokyo district or something out of Westworld.
Waga Waga Den’s lavish sense of aesthetic is unrivalled by even the chicest brunch spots in Singapore — that said, it’s not designed as a mere cafe for coffee runs.
Conceived by the Black Cow team, this new spot at South Beach is envisioned as a tranquil unwinding hangout and lifestyle concept for CBD denizens.
While still figuring out operation nuances currently, they will progressively modify and eventually roll out after-work luxuries such as Sake that come straight from Black Cow itself.
It is with that vision in mind that all the intricacies are planned out and crafted into the space, especially the picturesque garden featuring oblique marble benches that actually draw out their insignia when viewed from above.
Ultimately, Waga Waga Den is meant to be a holistic hybrid that will allow customers to lounge in its vogueish premises round the clock — so even the shadows in the bar area will evolve based on the Sun’s position of the day and how daylight trickles in through their ceiling-height glass panes.
As with Black Cow, their new concept places a lot of pride in procuring premium ingredients to ensure pristine quality is translated into their offerings.
Provenance is assiduously planned for at Waga Waga Den, where premium ingredients like Japanese red sugar and some of the best quality Kyoto Matcha are sourced for.
At this fledgling phase, the main focus is funnelled into fine-tuning their coffee for the vicinity’s daytime crowd. In the long run, offerings will change with the seasons, as is the norm with speciality coffee, but the espresso blend will persist as a Brazilian-Guatamelan blend to ensure quality control.
The menu at Waga Waga Den is considerably varied but the unique creations that will probably capture your attention are their unique “cloud” drinks.
Extremely unique in presentation, the Cloud ($9) is a coffee that’s adorned with luscious mounds of chocolate-dusted clouds at the brim. A rare sight of the unique cloud as the progenitor of the style, Omotesando, had already ceased operations in Singapore.
Being milk-based, Waga Waga Den’s speciality is blessed with a soft creamy body to match the medium roast profile of the espresso. The overall profile is balanced, robust, and enriched by a beautiful dose of fragrant chocolate. No artificial sweetener, just good quality chocolate.
Atop their drinks, Waga Waga Den also has a few food items on the menu —mainly Japanese in scope— and their Warabi Mochi ($10) was what jumped out at me. Mochi is a simple tidbit but that also means deficiencies are made even more glaring.
Suffice to say, the Warabi Mochi here is executed to perfection. To the teeth, they are fluffy, light, and delightfully chewy while to the tongue, the coating and syrup imparted a brand of toasted sweetness that was bright but elegant.
Aesthetics-wise, Waga Waga Den blows most of its Singapore competition away — very few cafes are given this elaborate attention to detail. In a way, it’s a small enclave in the CBD area where you’d feel spirited away to a futuristic Japan or Korean suburb.
Operations are still in process of fine-tuning, so this isn’t the finished product yet. But if they remain steadfast in their devotion to fine quality, I can’t wait to see what the future will bring.
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Kaya toast is a local classic that best represents all of Singaporeans’ experiences growing up — the quintessential Singaporean breakfast is kaya toast. This unassuming crowd-pleaser has already been enshrined in the pantheon of hawker classics as one of the most widely-known food items.
Continue reading “15 Underrated Places for Kaya Toast in Singapore That Aren’t Ya Kun”
How often do you remember a meal from five years ago? Especially one that was relatively affordable in a cosy Izakaya that not many people know about? For me, not many meals —even the most opulent ones— inspire that kind of indelible nostalgia but surprisingly Kamoshita, a quaint little sake bar in Tanjong Pagar, engraved a deep impression on my tastebuds.
Smoke is the flavour of the moment —cooking with smoke has seen an explosion in recent years as popular restaurants pop up all over the island, advocating for smothering your food in the fiery throes of untamed flames. Even with a multitude of Australian smokehouses, Yakitori bars, and even Californian Grills, nothing stands out quite like the distinctive Middle Eastern fusion leanings of Habibi-san. Continue reading “Habibi-san!”
