Omakase Chef Opens CBD Restaurant With Japanese Lunch Sets From $16.80++

Shinrai opens in Tanjong Pagar with affordable lunch sets

If you’re a CBD warrior who’s grown tired of eating either cai png or fish soup day in and day out, we’ve got good news for you. A new Japanese restaurant has opened within walking distance from both Tanjong Pagar MRT Station and Telok Ayer MRT Station, serving lunch sets under $30++. It’s called Shinrai, and the man behind it is none other than Desmond Fong, a veteran chef from the modern omakase restaurant, Sushi Yujo. That alone lets you know that the food here will be of exceptional quality. 

They have lunch set options that are even more wallet-friendly—such as the Teriyaki Chicken Set ($16.80++) and Tonkatsu Set ($17.80++)—which feature grilled chicken thigh and breaded pork cutlet respectively.

All lunch sets come with a refreshing Salad with creamy roasted sesame dressing, comforting bowl of Miso Soup, and the perfect sweet treat to end your midday feast with: two petite portions of Shinrai’s signature Tofu Cheesecake. It’s bouncy, jiggly, and adequately cheesy without being as cloying as some of its Western counterparts. 

Fans of raw fish will love the Bara Chirashi Don Set ($26.80++). Generous amounts of chopped salmon, tuna, and swordfish sashimi sit atop Japanese rice, along with tamago and cucumber cubes for variation in texture. The popping ikura pearls added lots of brine to the dish, and there are even abalone bits mixed in—a first for me, as a chirashi don lover!

For a filling and tasty lunchtime treat, the Buta Yakiniku Don Set ($23.80++) is sure to satisfy. Tender slivers of high-grade pork belly are cooked with caramelised onions in a sweet-savoury soy and mirin-based sauce. Coupled with the rich runny yolk from the onsen egg, this rice bowl will give you the energy boost needed to conquer the rest of the work day.

While you’re there, treat yourself to Shinrai’s special Seafood Chawanmushi With Truffle Caviar ($9.80++), an elevated chawanmushi packed with scallops, prawns, and crab meat. The silky egg custard is topped with a dollop of truffle-infused caviar, which provided a strong truffle aroma.

We also recommend ordering the Shinrai Signature Maki ($21.80++) to share with your lunchtime kakis. It has grilled unagi, avocado, and cucumber in the centre, and is topped with crunchy tobiko, aburi salmon, plus the chef’s special garnish to finish it off: chicken floss. 

The vibey space has colourful retro-pop decor with playful nods to Japanese culture and cuisine. We especially love the hanging lightboxes, which are meant to simulate the iconic Tokyo cityscape. While the lunch sets are available Monday to Friday, 11:30am to 2:30pm, you should definitely swing by for a post-work tipple as well. 

Shinrai has izakaya-style light bites and skewers priced from $6.80++. And to further entice you, they’re having a 1-for-1 house sake promo from 1 to 30 April 2024 to celebrate their opening. This is available daily from 8:30pm to closing, and you’ll get two 300ml carafes of sake for the price of one. Cheers to that!

You’ll find Shinrai along the bustling row of eateries in Telok Ayer. Another trendy pick is French Fold, which serves savoury French galettes as well as crepes with gelato. A stone’s throw away is Amoy Street Food Centre, a hotspot for CBD folks to grab cheap, fuss-free, and tasty meals. Refer to our guide for the best stalls to queue for. 

Address: 173 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068622
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 11:45pm
Tel: 8858 8831
Website
Shinrai is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Hor Kia Ee.
This was a media tasting at Shinrai.