Tokyo Joe – Truffle Gyu Don with a Red Hot Surprise

As I was on the lookout for new places to try out, I chanced upon Tokyo Joe, a new Japanese restaurant at Savourworld. There are not many Japanese options near Kent Ridge MRT station, so it is a joy to finally have a taste of nihon there. Making donburis in the day, and serving yakitori and alcohol after sunset, Tokyo Joe is a great place to hang out with your friends at (especially if you love rice bowls). Located just a street away from Exit B of Kent Ridge MRT station, Tokyo Joe is very accessible for those who are working in the area, and staff and students of NUS.

Adopting a minimalistic concept with a sleek bar table and spacious seating area, the restaurant exudes zen vibes.

The Truffle Gyu Don ($22), which comes with an onsen tamago, sounded incredible. The combination of tender beef, mushrooms, caramelised onions, red ginger, and onsen tamago is really difficult to resist. Besides the earthy and rich flavours, the unexpected addition of chilli padis left me a little surprised. However, the heat, together with the tanginess from the ginger, helped to cut through the sweetness of the beef, making it an even more cohesive and flavourful dish to enjoy. Although spice is not typically associated with Japanese rice bowls, I would recommend trying this innovative version. They should add a touch more truffle though. 

They offer Sushi Bowls which feature raw fish as the main ingredient, and Cooked Bowls that comprise chicken, salmon and beef.

There’s just one difference between the Signature Bara Chirashi ($19) and the Premium Bara Chirashi ($22) – the latter is topped with fresh scallops chunks. As with every chirashi don, the splash of colour instantly got us salivating. There you have it – salmon, maguro (tuna), hamachi (yellowtail), scallops, ikura, tobiko (flying fish roe) and tamagoyaki (omelette) on a bed of fluffy Japanese rice. The rice is a little on the sweet side but I must say that the portion of fish is really generous! Furthermore, the restaurant imports their fish every Monday and Thursday directly from Hokkaido! If you prefer your chirashi don with wasabi, you can grab it from the mini counter.

Out of the plentiful yakitori choices, we went for Hotate Bacon ($3), Shiitake ($2) and Tebasaki (Chicken Wings). The first two stood out because they were pretty flawless. The saltiness of the bacon paired well with the sweet scallop encased inside, while the mushrooms were juicy and seasoned just right. On the other hand, the chicken wings would have been better if they weren’t so charred. In addition, you might be glad to know that beef tongue is also available should you wish to go for something less conventional.

Self-service is how things run here, so come prepared to help yourself to the water, cutlery and condiments. Well, I’m not complaining because there is no service charge here! On a side note, I felt that the staff could be more well-informed about the food items so that they are able to give recommendations. If you’re up for some decent Japanese food and drinks, Tokyo Joe is a pretty great option. 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid for its own meal at the stall featured here.