HIFUMI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Location: #04-68 Plaza Singapura 68 Orchard Road
How to go: Douby Ghaut Mrt Station, it's at the new extension of Plaza Singapura
Opening Hours: 1130am - 2200pm
Contact Number: 6338 4712

HI ALL! I'm here to do another review!!! Went out with Phyllis yesterday with the intention to do some MEGA huge shopping as GSS has started! But we walked in all the major clothes stores only to come out with one item each from H&M after our long walk. All I can say is that GSS has yet to reach its peak. We settled at TCC, had Devil's Chocolate Cake and did some real catching up the holidays allowed and headed straight to Hifumi for dinner. I had visited Hifumi once with Joey when my exams ended and was really happy as they offer you FREE appetizers (in buffet style) so long as you order their set meal.

Now, if you're thinking that their appetizer bar just serves you cheap stuff like garden salad and fruit slices, you are so wrong! As you can see from the pictures above, they offer you a variety of appetizers! From Cold Macaroni Salad to my all time favourite Japanese dish: Chawanmushi. Phyllis and I tried out a few!

Appetizers:

• Sweet Soup: it is a nice starter. But they do not always serve the same soup. The last time I was there, I remembered it was something creamy.
• Grilled Onions: I am a fan of onions so it is good for me! But it has turned kinda cold for it was left in the open air.
• Chawanmushi: Good, nice, flavorful and smooth. It has one slice of mushroom, crab stick and prawn. It has a slightly floury taste at the end but it is overall, something I'd recommend you all to save your stomach space for! I mean Chawanmushi at a restaurant outside costs about $5 and they are serving it to you FOC. Better eat your fill! I had 3!
• Fried Tofu: mini bite sized tofu is not bad.
• Brinjal/Eggplant: It is a cold dish. Salty and soggy; it's a good combination for Phyllis.
• Sweet Potato sticks: not bad.
• Broccoli: half crunchy half soft Broccoli soaked in Miso sauce is a weird combination for Phyllis too.

We had a Teriyaki Chicken Set ($14.90) and a Salmon and Salmon Roe Don ($17.90), the total bill added to $38.85. Here's their menu!

Teriyaki Chicken Set:

• Comes with boiled carrots and broccoli, bringal, a mini steamed potato and several types of mushrooms. This combination makes me feel very healthy while eating it and honestly, they taste awesome!
• The chicken was tender and drenched with teriyaki sauce. The sauce is sweet with an after peppery taste.
• They give you a LOT of rice. But it isn't as sticky as it's supposed to be. (I really couldn't finish it, but it may be due to the 3 cups of Chawanmushi as well)
• This is a great combination! The vegetables goes well the the chicken and you won't stop eating!

Salmon and Salmon Roe Don:

• Comes with tiny chunks of Salmon, cucumber, salmon roe, lotus and stripped seaweed.
• Dip the salmon into the soy sauce given. Without it, the salmon kinda absorbs the cucumber tastes and does not taste like salmon at all. Moreover, the salmon wasn't Q. It was just soft. (This is what happens when you dice the salmon into small chunks)
• Also, the salmon provided is too little, doesn't justify the price paid.
• Salmon roe was good and it bursts in your mouth.
• The lotus was soaked in some vinegary sauce before it was dished out, it tastes kinda weird to me, but I'm sure preferences differ for Phyllis felt that it was alright.
• The whole meal feels like a meal with an array of textures that do not match. Crunch cucumbers and lotuses with soft salmon and salmon roe that burst in your mouth. I think it would be better if they provided the cucumbers in strips, take away the lotus and perhaps have tamago or crab stick chunks in it.

Overall Advantages:

• You get FREE appetizers! FREE! (Just had to stress it)
• Prices are reasonable!
• Atmosphere ain't that bad.
• They have a huge space to accommodate many people.

Overall Disadvantages:

• Tables are slightly cramped, I could hear conversations from the tables on my left and on my right.

Note:

• We were only given an hour and a half to eat inside. (Perhaps due to the crowd?) But they didn't chase us out when we were there longer.

Overall, I would say that Hifumi is a MUST GO! Try it out people!!! Till next time! Love you all!

<3 FJ