Tempura Makino has a pink sakura-themed menu till 30 May
The last time we went down to Tempura Makino at Suntec City, we were impressed with their affordable, high quality tempura. So when we were invited to try their latest Sakura Menu running till 30 May 2024, my colleague and I were excited to soak in the cherry blossom experience with their pretty-in-pink offerings.
Our table was filled with Cherry Himokawa Udon ($9++) paired with Sakura Ebi Kakiage Platter ($19++), along with two drinks—Sakura Momo Bliss ($9++) and Sakura Momo Blossom ($7++)—to quench our thirst. And of course, we were given the gorgeous Blooming Mizu Shingen Mochi ($6++), the restaurant’s rendition of the viral raindrop cake, to end our meal on a sweet note.
My colleague and I agreed that the Cherry Himokawa Udon was our favourite dish out of everything. This Himokawa-style udon came in a beautiful shade of pastel pink—we were told that real cherry blossoms were used to achieve this colour.
For the best eating experience, stir a bit of wasabi and grated mountain yam with the mentsuyu sauce—a savoury Japanese dipping sauce—then dunk each piece of flat udon into the mixture. We loved how chewy yet silky the udon was and thought it was the perfect accompaniment to the sweet-savoury mentsuyu dipping sauce. And in case you were wondering, you don’t get any floral notes in this pink flat udon!
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We then gave their Sakura Ebi Kakiage Platter a go. This huge platter featured six different ingredients: sakura ebi kakiage, prawn, asparagus, eggplant, vine tomato, and sakura enoki tempura. It’s also served with a side of mentai cream dip!
FYI, the pink powder you see on some of the pieces is a mix of ume salt and cod roe. My pick of the lot was the sakura ebi kakiage and tomato, while my colleague enjoyed the asparagus and prawn.
For a hearty meal, we recommend getting their Sakura Petals to Platter Set ($25++) which comprises the Cherry Himokawa Udon and Sakura Ebi Kakiage Platter. This would save you at least $4++.
It’s been extra hot and humid in Singapore these days, so it was the best time to enjoy their cherry blossom-themed quenchers.Â
Do note that the Sakura Momo Bliss contains alcohol, while the Sakura Momo Blossom comes with soda instead.
Rounding up with the finale: Blooming Mizu Shingen Mochi AKA raindrop cake made from agar and water with a sakura flower at the core of it all. It’s firm yet wobbly, but once you take a bite, you’ll realise how soft and gelatinous this dessert is.
For those with a sweet tooth, you’ll surely enjoy pairing this with the brown sugar syrup served on the side. Else, just dip it in soybean powder and you’re good to go.
During our visit, we also got to try two selections from their gozen series. Gozen essentially refers to a set meal that typically consists of rice, soup, and several side dishes. We got the Salmon Belly & Tempura Set ($21.50++) and Gindara & Tempura Set ($23.90++) upon hearing that they were the bestsellers.
Our set comprised assorted tempura, a side of corn and edamame, a salad, a bowl of rice, and miso soup.
Their grilled black cod looked rather simple at first glance, but it was sweet, salty, and savoury all at once.Â
The grilled salmon belly was as equally moreish with an almost-buttery texture. The fish was coated in a sweet-savoury marinated and grilled till slightly charred.
Tempura Makino’s Sakura Menu is only available till 30 May 2024, so mark your calendar and try their delicious offerings while you still can.
For more Japanese eats in Singapore, read our Sun With Moon Light review, where we tried traditional Japanese kettle rice and seven-course bentos at JEM. Alternatively, read our Kageyama review to see if the award-winning Tokyo chicken ramen is worth a try.Â
Website | Full list of locations
Tempura Makino is not a halal-certified eatery.
Kageyama Review: Award-Winning Tokyo Chicken Ramen Comes To Suntec City
Photos taken by Hor Kia Ee.
This was a media tasting at Tempura Makino.
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