Name of restaurant: Osaka Ohsho
Type of cuisine: Japanese and Chuka (Japanese-style Chinese fare)
Here’s a stop to make if you’re craving gyoza – the first branch of Osaka Ohsho is now open in Singapore.
It’s a affordable dining option in town too, as we discovered. Here’s why you should give this Japanese eatery a try.
Osaka Ohsho at Raffles City
Ambience: Located at the basement level at Raffles City, Osaka Ohsho goes for a fuss-free approach to its decor; it’s an eatery after all. Diners will be ushered to booths, once they get past the queue, that is. Expect a long line during lunch and dinner hours; we squeezed past a long line at our lunch tasting and the queues have seemed just as long on other trips to the mall.
Must-tries: As the self-proclaimed “Osaka’s king of gyoza”, Osaka Ohsho’s star dish is undoubtedly the pan-fried dumpling.
Osaka Ohsho gyoza
Wrapped in a thin wanton skin, these gyoza ($3.90 for six, $7.80 for 12) are crisp at the edge and the pork-based filling is placed sparingly. The filling is a mix of finely minced pork shoulder and leg meat with garlic and cabbage, cased in gyoza dough that is prepared daily.
The result? A bite-sized treat that you won’t tire of easily; you’ll want to get a third, a fourth or more. While we do prefer gyoza that are just a bit greasier – the sort where you can feel that juicy burst with one bite – you’ll save more room for your main course with this leaner version.
The gyoza are included in Osaka Ohsho’s wallet-friendly menu too; diners will be served a plate of three gyozas, a bowl of soup and rice with each set meal.
Osaka Ohsho’s ban ban chicken
While there are Japanese options including the usual saba miso and pork cutlet (both priced at $10.90 each), take the chance to try something different for a change. Pick from the restaurant’s chuka menu for Japanese-inspired Chinese food.
A good start to your meal is the ban ban chicken ($5.90) appetiser; served cold, thin slices of steamed chicken are drizzled with a homemade sesame sauce.
We also tried the black vinegar fried chicken set ($14.90); chicken pieces are stir-fried with lotus roots, capsicum, eggplant.
Osaka Ohsho’s black vinegar fried chicken set and fuwatoro tenshin han
While the sauce used is described as a “Japanese black vinegar sauce”, its taste is reminiscent of the Chinese-style, sweet-and-sour chicken, except that it’s far more sweet than savoury. We like how the accompanying bowl of rice is sticky and fluffy; Osaka Ohsho uses Japan-imported Koshihikari rice for its menu.
Another winning dish is the fuwatoro tenshin han ($9.90). Similar to the Cantonese-style mui fan, plenty of gravy is ladled on top of this rice-based dish. What makes this comfort dish irresistible? The omelette on top is pillowy-soft and the warm gravy just hits the spot on a rainy day.
Prices: From $3.90 for a plate of six gyoza to $15.90 for a sweet and sour pork set meal.
Verdict:
Wallet-friendly prices and the easy-to-eat gyoza make this a to-go stop for comfort food.
Osaka Ohsho is located at #B1-75 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road, Tel: 6338 5584. Go to www.osakaohsho.com.sg for more information.