Mitsuba Review: Japanese Buffet With >150 Items Including Salmon Mentaiko Sushi, Unagi Don And More

Mitsuba offers a premium Japanese buffet in Clarke Quay

Singapore has more than her share of overpriced Japanese restaurants, and we are always on a hunt for value-for-money Japanese buffets. Mitsuba at Clarke Quay has both an a la carte menu and an all-you-can-eat a la carte buffet at $45.90++ per person. At the restaurant, a common ethos applies; a commitment to sourcing quality ingredients, all with a reasonable price tag.

Food at Mitsuba

Before my colleague and I ordered away, we were presented with one serving of Hotate Mentaiyaki each – compliments of the house. This might not always be available, as Hotate Gai (scallop sashimi) was given on a previous occasion instead. The scorched mentaiko was creamy and robustly flavoured, pairing well with the sweet scallop.

I don’t know about you, but one thing that is synonymous to Japanese buffets is definitely the free-flow sashimi. Get their signature Sashimi Moriawase platter that comes with salmon, swordfish, octopus, tuna, and yellowtail sashimi, or just order your favourite ones individually.

There’s nothing more satisfying than sloshing a thick slice of sashimi with soya sauce and wasabi, before slipping it in your mouth.

Thick cut sashimi is the hallmark of the buffet here, and each bite was substantial and fresh. Their Sake (salmon) and Mekajiki (swordfish) were impressive, but we couldn’t say the same for the Maguro (tuna). They were sliced poorly, as if the knife used was too blunt.

You get the usual sushi choices here as well. From Unagi Sushi to Inari Sushi, you will be spoiled for choice. Sporting the same torched sauce as Hotate Mentaiyaki, the Sake Mentai Aburi (flamed salmon in mentaiko sauce) caught our attention. The moist salmon and vinegared rice made for a dream sushi when paired with savoury mentaiko.

Carbs are a no-no for many buffet-goers, but I highly recommend their Oyako Don (rice topped with chicken) and Unagi Yakimeshi (eel fried rice). The Oyako Don was subtle in flavours, yet pleasing and warming to the soul at the same time. Parts of the eggs were not fully set and you could still see the sticky yolk coating the little chicken chunks.

On the other hand, the Unagi Yakimeshi features a bed of umami-laden prawn fried rice, heavily seasoned with garlic and a dark brown sauce.

Deep-fried dishes are also well worth the mention. Mitsuba offers a wide variety including, but not limited to, common tempuras like Ebi Tempura and Yasai Tempura (assorted vegetables). You will be surprised to find items such as Ika Geso (squid tentacles) and Age Gyoza in the menu as well.

If, like me, you haven’t had enough of mentaiko, order a Mentaiko Spaghetti. It might be too jelak for one, so make sure you find a friend to share it with!

The a la carte buffet blew us away with their extremely extensive menu. We did the decent thing by spreading the net wide and ate as much as we could, to find out what’s good and what’s not. Get your fill on more Unagi On Skewer, Negi Bacon Roll, and Enoki Shitake Batayaki (mushroom with butter sauce teppanyaki). And take a pass on the Kani Miso Chawanmushi, Pidan Tofu, and Takoyaki to make space for more goodies.

Ambience at Mitsuba

Mitsuba is a lovely spot for dining. One area comes with a nice view of Clarke Quay and the Singapore river, and another area features cosy booths for a more private experience. The restaurant might be spacious but we advise against heading down without a reservation. It was crowded when we arrived for lunch on a Wednesday.

The verdict

There might be cheaper buffets out there, but eating out at a good Japanese restaurant easily adds up way past the $45.90++ price tag of the a la carte buffet at Mitsuba. Their ingredients are of high quality, which means you pay a bit of a premium for it, but with that you definitely get your money’s worth.

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Address: 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #03-88, The Central, Singapore 059817
Opening hours: Mon-Thur 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 7:55pm, 8pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6227 0388
Website
Mitsuba is not a halal eatery.

Photos taken by Maverick Chua.
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.