This Sakura-Themed Japanese Buffet Has Pink Fondue And Hotpot In Jurong East

Shaburi & Kintan Buffet has a pink sakura-themed buffet

It’s a pity we don’t have cherry blossoms in Singapore, but you can still get a slice of Japan at Shaburi & Kintan Buffet, a restaurant with a pink-themed buffet, Sakura Festival. Running till 31 May 2024, the buffet includes a Pink Strawberry Chocolate Fountain too!

The Sakura Festival buffet is priced at $39.80++ for weekday lunch, and $48.80++ during dinner and on the weekends. We started our feast with the Pink Soy Milk Soup hotpot, which is made with beetroot to achieve a pretty pastel pink shade.

This was my first time trying soy milk soup in a hotpot, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. To my surprise, the soup complemented well with the usual hotpot ingredients, which were mainly meat and vegetables. Plus, the broth was really creamy and slightly nutty.

We paired the soy milk soup with their Pork Cheese Shabu, which came with five thick slices of mozzarella cheese and thin slices of pork belly.

As odd as it sounds, these two ingredients are meant to be eaten together! Wrap a slice of mozzarella cheese in one or two slices of pork belly, and then let them cook in the soup for about a minute or so.

You get the best of both worlds: nicely melted cheese with soft, tender meat.

If you’re not big on cheese, opt for the Iberico Pork Collar instead. This meat also comes thinly sliced, which is perfect for hotpot.

For carbs, we recommend the Spring Chirashi Sushi. This colourful dish features pink sushi rice made with beetroot topped with shredded egg and crab meat, tobiko, edamame, and grilled unagi. 

There’s also the Basil Cheese Aburi Salmon Sushi Roll starring a dollop of basil pesto and scorched mozzarella cheese atop seared salmon sushi. For something simple, get the Salmon Sushi Roll or Aburi Salmon Sushi Roll instead.

Dessert is non-negotiable at buffets, and it’s also my favourite part. I was even more excited when I saw the three-tiered Pink Strawberry Chocolate Fountain.

You can mix and match marshmallows, churros, and bread according to your preference! I wanted a contrast of chewy and crispy textures, so I went for their marshmallows and churros. 

The strawberry chocolate can be a tad cloying towards the end, so I recommend dipping instead of drenching your stick of goodies.

Besides the fondue, you can indulge in the Strawberry Pudding and Matcha Pudding. The former is sweet and fruity, while the latter is milky with a subtle hint of matcha.

If you don’t have a sweet tooth, their Assorted Spring Mochi will be to your liking. You get a chunky pink glutinous rice ball packed with mildly sweet red bean paste within!

For easy access, Shaburi & Kintan Buffet is located on the third floor of JEM, which is located right beside Jurong East MRT Station. 

For more Japanese fare in Singapore, read our Kai Kai Sushi & Grill review. Alternatively, check out Tsuta Japanese Dining for high tea under $20 at 313 Somerset.

Address: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #03-11/12, JEM, Singapore 608549
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Website
Shaburi & Kintan Buffet is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Casandra Nicholas.
This was a media tasting at Shaburi & Kintan Buffet.