TORI SANWA 鶏三和 which is a renowned name hailing from Nagoya, has made its nest in the bustling city of Singapore, nested comfortably in the basement of Raffles City (next to Osaka Ohsho).
There is also another new outlet at Great World basement 1.
Unlike the usual Japanese restaurants, TORI SANWA with over 120 years of history is famous specifically for chicken dishes.
Over at Nagoya, it is known for Oyako Don made with Nagoya Cochin chicken and eggs, cooked with a special ‘kaeshi’ sauce that demonstrates the expertise of a true chicken-specialty restaurant.
No chickens or egg from Japan here, but at least the recipes are.
In the Singapore outlet, some of the recommended items include Oyako Don ($12.90), Aburi Oyako Don ($14.90), Tsukune Jyu ($11.90), Negi Shio Tori Soba ($10.90), and Chicken Cutlet Don ($14.90).
The Aburi Oyako Don ($14.90) is supposedly one of the stars of the menu, presenting a dish where chicken meets flame to produce a slightly charred and smoky flavour.
While the taste was not bad overall, there was a noticeable scantiness in the chicken content, leaving one longing for more meaty bites to complement the egg.
This imbalance was further accentuated by the rice, which leaned towards the dry side and would certainly benefit from additional sauce for added moisture and flavour.
The dish’s highlight, the ‘aburi’ or grilling technique, meant to infuse a smoky undertone, regrettably didn’t add as much depth as one would hope.
Perhaps opening inconsistencies.
The Chicken Karaage Rice Set ($14.90) was my preferred item. This “Karaage” supposedly won the 2019 Karaage Grand Prix in Japan. Good for them.
The deep-fried chicken pieces were bigger than the usual, with crisp exterior that gave way to moist and juicy meat inside.
However, it lacked an accompanying sauce (not even mayo), a surprising omission that left the dish without the usual creamy tang of mayo or other complementary flavours.
This absence was felt throughout the meal, particularly as the rice served alongside was a bit dry as well.
With the said, the chicken pieces on their own, were certainly better than the average.
The Tsukune ($5.90), a type of Japanese chicken meatball, is worth mentioning.
Made from finely minced chicken, it had a smooth yet firm texture, with savoury flavours and sweet outer layer.
TORI SANWA 鶏三和 in Singapore brings a taste of Nagoya’s chicken recipes to the city’s diverse culinary scene, though some fine-tuning would likely make this a more popular destination.
TORI SANWA 鶏三和 Singapore – Raffles City
Raffles City B1-75, 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
TORI SANWA 鶏三和 Singapore – Great World
Great World B1-K117, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
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