ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi Review: Singapore’s First Chankonabe Restaurant Lets You Eat Like A Sumo Wrestler

ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi is Singapore’s first chankonabe restaurant

Move over, Beauty in the Pot, because ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi is here to shake up the collagen soup game in town. The newest concept by the EN Dining Group can be found in VivoCity, and claims to be Singapore’s first and only chankonabe specialty restaurant—chankonabe, if you’re unfamiliar with the term, is a Japanese one-pot stew that sumo wrestlers eat to gain weight quickly.

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Food at ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi

The first chankonabe restaurant in Japan was started in 1937, and chankonabe that’s served during sumo tournaments are all chicken-based—like the bird, wrestlers hope to always be on two legs, rather than collapsed on four. As such, we went straight for Signature Tori Chankonabe (from $30++), which comes loaded with 250g or 500g of Jitori chicken, depending if you’re ordering for two or four to share. FYI, Jidori chickens make up the top 1% of poultry in Japan, making them the highest quality fowl you can find there.

While the chankonabe is for a minimum of two to share, you might also get individual hotpots, priced from $16.80++ for a Chicken Nabe Set. You can opt for a Sukiyaki Nabe or Bonito Dashi base, otherwise the Chicken Collagen or Pork Collagen soups require a top-up of $3++, with one complimentary refill!

I’m a sucker for collagen soup, and this was a really tasty version, especially after it’s cooked down for a while with the house-made chicken tsukune, cabbage, mizuna, carrot, leeks and all the chicken pieces in the pot. It’s nowhere near as sticky and salty as those you’d get at Chinese hotpot restaurants, but there’s no MSG used here, so you don’t feel so terribly uncomfortable and salted up.

If you need more of their minced chicken balls, you can top up $7++ for extra Housemade Chicken Tsukune, that comes in a bamboo trough and filled with bits of crunchy cartilage.

Served with the chankonabe is a trio of dipping sauces: yuzu ponzu, garlic karamiso, a spicy miso paste, and goma sauce.

ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi is the only place in Singapore where you’ll find the viral Himokawa Udon ($6.80++), AKA a 5cm-fat udon that we tried in Tokyo recently.

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It ticks the box for the silky smooth factor, but isn’t as QQ and thin as the version we’ve had. My colleague commented that this was more similar to mee hoon kueh, but less floury.

The pot also comes with Mochi Kinchaku, which you can get more of for $6.80++ a la carte. If you’ve not had this before, it’s a tofu pouch that’s filled with mochi and tied like a moneybag.

When it’s cooked through, you’ll be treated to super soft, stretchy mochi inside!

ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi, as the name of the restaurant suggests, also specialises in kamameshi. The Japanese characters for kamameshi, 釜飯, read kettle rice, and this spells out exactly what the dish is: rice cooked in a kama, AKA iron pot.

There are 10 different kamameshi on the menu here, topped with main proteins including chicken, pork, salmon, unagi and more. The most affordable is one priced at $14++, which gets you a protein-free vegetable rice pot, but we went with Miyazaki Wagyu Truffle & Ikura Kamameshi ($39++).

Topped with slices of championship-winning A4 or A5 Miyazaki Wagyu sirloin, this pot is the most luxe of the lot, with slices of truffle and a truffle wafu sauce.

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All kamameshi sets come with a mini chawanmushi, Asari clam soup and appetiser of the day, but this pot is accompanied by an additional onsen egg, which you can tip into and mix with the rice as well.

While the beef was premium, I felt that it was a little too overdone, which was a bit of a waste. Thanks to the fat content, though, you’ll find that the beef doesn’t get tough in spite of it being so cooked.

The rice is fragranced with burdock, shiitake, shimeji, and snow peas, which make eating this more fun with the various textures. Without the onsen egg, it’s lightly savoury and you can better taste all the different aromatics in the rice; breaking the egg in can be a little overpowering.

You’re meant to ladle most of it out into serving bowls, leaving a layer of scorched rice at the bottom of the pot, then add the provided dashi and put the lid back on for a couple of minutes. This loosens up the smoky, charred rice bits so you get to enjoy every last bit of the kamameshi.

On the side, try their Black & Red Chicken Karaage ($8.50++), respectively glazed with smoked teriyaki and karamiso. I appreciated how there wasn’t too much glaze, so the chicken remained crispy and wasn’t overwhelmed by the sauce.

End off the meal with an ubiquitous Matcha Ice Cream ($3.80++), or the more unique Chestnut Ice Cream ($4.80++).

If you’re looking for an alcoholic tipple, go for Watermelon Hai ($8++), a refreshing shochu-based cocktail with soda and fresh watermelon juice.

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Ambience at ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi

Brightly lit and done up in classic Japanese decor, the dining experience at ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi is pretty cosy and intimate with a layout of mostly booth seats. You’ll find colourful murals of sumo matches, and sumo wrestlers enjoying their chankonabe on the walls too, which add to the whole vibe. Found on the first floor of VivoCity, just around the corner from FairPrice and across from Seafood Paradise, they’re literally right on top of Harbourfront MRT Station, so it doesn’t get more convenient than that.

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The verdict

As a fan of all things collagen hotpot, and wallet-friendly prices, ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi is right up my alley. Plus, you honestly have no “it’s too far away” excuse to beg out of a meal here, since they’re accessible by not one, but two MRT lines. With both individual and sharing portions, it makes for great meals with friends and family too.

Just next to ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi is the newest outlet of Hunan-specialty restaurant Nong Geng Ji, and then next to that, you’ll find dipndip, the viral chocolate dessert cafe that’s finally opening in Singapore!

Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk, #01-52A, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6255 9188
Website
ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi is not a halal-certified restaurant

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Photos taken by Melvin Mak.
This was a media tasting at ENchanko Hotpot And Kamameshi.