Easties, listen up: the Isetan Japanese food fair is back at Tampines Mall from now till 15 April 2025! The fair, titled Hanami Matsuri, celebrates the cherry blossom festival of the same name, while showcasing an array of exciting Japanese food vendors.
A must-try is Teineichiba Takoemon, a takoyaki stall from Hokkaido. While takoyaki is a frequent fixture at these food fairs, this particular stall has some interesting takes on the dish. The most obvious example is the Takoyaki Mountain Wasabi and Soy Sauce ($10 for six pieces), which sees the freshly-made octopus ball drizzled with a potent mix of wasabi and soy sauce. This combination works better than expected, with the sharp heat of the wasabi complementing the umami goodness of the bonito flakes and tender octopus.
Another stall to seek out is Coco Dolce, known for its silky gelato. Prices start from $7 a scoop, with flavours such as Matcha, Strawberry, and Milk Chocolate available here. For something particularly indulgent, there’s also the Dubai Chocolate Gelato at an additional $2.
Also consider trying the stall’s Cookie Sandwiches with Gelato ($5), which sees the same silky gelato sandwiched between crumbly, buttery cookies.
Drop by the Croquette stall for some deep-fried goodness. We recommend the Kurobuta Pork Minced Cutlet ($6.80)—a crispy croquette with a rich and clean-tasting meat filling characteristic of Kurobuta.
For some treats to take home, check out the offerings at Monario. The brand is known for its exquisite Soy Milk Fruit Pudding ($20 for 20 pieces), which comes in flavours such as Strawberry, Lychee, and Pear. These treats are prized for their velvety texture and refreshing taste, making them a perfect snack for any time of the day.
Check out our TikTok video for our review!
For food options at the nearby Tampines 1 mall, read our Tampines 1 food guide. For hawker eats, read our best Tampines hawker stalls guide.
Address: 4 Tampines Central 5, Atrium Level 1, Isetan Tampines Mall, Singapore 529510
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11am to 8:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 9pm
Website
Photos taken by Tao Zhi Tan.
This was a media tasting at Isetan Hanami Matsuri.