This Okinawan restaurant has been around for a few years but I only heard of it recently. Okinawan cuisine is not like the typical Japanese food. They have some Chinese influence in their cooking, probably due to it being located near Chinese countries.

The restaurant’s ambience makes you feel like you’ve been transported to Japan, and the fact that many of the diners were Japanese supports that ambience.

Their menu is mainly pork based and their speciality lies in their pork. The pork belly, to be specific.

Their set meals are pretty affordable, with most sets at $15.30++ and their signature pork belly set to be $17.00++.

Simmer Pork Belly Set Meal – $17.00++

It comes with peanut bean curd, which was creamy and smooth, Japanese clear soup, and some toppings for the sticky Japanese rice.

The pork was indeed the best pork belly I’ve ever eaten! The fat layer just disintegrates in the mouth and the meat was so soft.

Teppanyaki Steak Set Meal – $18.70++

This was what I had. The set comes with the same stuff as the pork belly set. The meat was overcooked but the taste was still alright. I should have known better not to order beef at a pork restaurant.

Okinawan Noodles with Pork Belly – $8.80++

Small eaters can opt for a bowl of noodles. This is the medium sized one and there’s an even smaller portion for $6.80++. The Jumbo sized ones are available as a set for $15.30++.

Salt Grill Pork Belly – $12.00++

For sharing, we got the grilled version of the pork belly. The crispiness and taste is similar to Chinese roasted pork, but this is unique in its own way. I would recommend this.

*****

Ambience: 7/10

Food: 7.5/10 (9/10 for simmered pork belly)

Value: 7.5/10

Overall: an interesting concept, as Okinawan food is a rarity in Singapore. I like how the restaurant is made to look very Japanese like too giving it a themed feel. However the service wasn’t the best.

*****

Nirai Kanai

Liang Court Shopping Centre

177 River Valley Road

#B1-01/02

Singapore

 

Tel: 6339 4811

*****

Mon–Fri: 12pm–3pm, 6pm–11pm

Sat–Sun: 12pm–11pm

*****

Getting there:

By Car:

Liang Court Car Park

By Bus:

32, 54, 195

By MRT:

Clarke Quay (NE5)