Rakki Bowl Review: New Japanese Donburi Spot With Truffle Wagyu Beef Don At $12.90

Rakki Bowl serves up affordable donburi

Update: Rakki Bowl has relocated to 72 Duxton Road, Singapore 089531.

The only time I ever go to Beach Road is to visit my godma who owns a shop at Beach Road Army Market. There is a whole stretch of famous food stalls at Beach Road that I’ve heard so much about, but haven’t got time to check out. When the new Rakki Bowl came along though, I finally forced myself to make the time to head down. After all, it’s not everyday that you hear of a Japanese donburi spot serving bara chirashi don and truffle beef bowls at less than $13.  

Food at Rakki Bowl

Just as soon as I thought the truffle trend is dying down, Rakki Bowl pops up with a menu offering various type of donburi, including their Signature Truffle Wagyu Don ($12.90/$21.90). Its truffle scent wafted up the moment this beef don was served, making my stomach growl. Served on a bed of warm Japanese rice, the well-marbled beef slices came with a gooey onsen egg.

I drooled at the sight of the slight pink hue on the beef. Tender, soft, and pleasantly chewy, the beef slices were scorched perfectly and came with some charred bits. Each piece of beef also took turns to melt in my mouth, together with its garlicky sauce. However, there was a slight bitterness, probably from burnt garlic, that lingered at the back of my throat.

That #eggporn though. The satisfaction of watching the stream of liquid gold coat the beef slices is unexplainable. Stir it all up well and enjoy a silky touch to the entire dish.

Their Teriyaki Chicken Don ($9.90/$13.90) came with a substantial amount of chicken and an onsen egg sitting on the rice. Decorated with yellow pickles, cucumbers, and a pinch of seaweed, it was a hearty bowl.

After being marinated for 24 hours, the chicken thigh was grilled. The teriyaki marinade fully coated the tender chicken, giving it a nice sweet taste. However, it lacked an oomph factor. Albeit being a good bowl of teriyaki chicken don, I’d recommend you try the other dishes here that are more impressive.

Lastly, the reason for my trip to Rakki Bowl, is this Bara-Chirashi ($12.90/$17.90). Mide with chunks of tuna, salmon, swordfish, tako and a spoonful of ebiko, this colourful bowl of fresh seafood was finished with their house-made sauce that complemented the natural sweetness of the sashimi.

Every mouthful of this don surprised me. The raw fish chunks were soft and fresh, while the combination of ebiko and tako lent a crunchy bite to the dish. The tamago was a little too sweet for my liking, but my colleague was in love with it. So, I guess to each his own.

Ambience at Rakki Bowl

Located in the CBD area, this unassuming shop is home to three different entities: Candour Coffee, Manicurious, and lastly, Rakki Bowl. Indulge in a cup of coffee or even a mani and pedi before lunch. The marble tables and minimalist decoration makes this cafe a ‘gram-worthy place.

When the lunch crowd arrives, there wouldn’t be much space for you to walk around the cafe, which will make finding seats a challenging task. However, once lunch is over, this place transforms into a quiet refuge that’s perfect for some alone time, or for catching up with friends. Wall sockets and free Wi-Fi are available here – don’t say I bojio!

The verdict

At the end of the day, I left with a happy tummy, despite the slight slip up on the Truffle Wagyu Beef Don. I am dying to keep this a secret, but it would be a crime to keep such delicious, affordable food to myself. So, while many head to atas restaurants for Japanese don, you can get an equally good fix here instead!

For more cheap and good donburi, check out Ryori by Sushiro at Upper Thomson or these places with affordable donburi!

Address: 72 Duxton Road, Singapore 089531
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 9730 3598
Website

This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg