Tora Hachi – Comforting Donburi and Grill Food [MEDIA INVITE]

Tora Hachi Japanese Grill & Restaurant (“Tora Hachi”) is a Japanese-style grilled food restaurant, that offers a wide choice of skewers and donburi. In short, it is also known as Izakaya. Tora Hachi is the expansion of Kushiya at Westgate, elevating their brand from a shoebox kiosk to a full fledge restaurant in Holland Village and completing their offering with sakes and beers to complement their food.

Tora Hachi

We started our tasting with Gyu Don ($11.90) and Kimchi Slice Pork Don ($10.90). My first impression is that their servings are very generous. Both the beef and pork topping filled the bowl to the brim and can easily fill your stomach. I like the marinate in the gyudon as it gives a nice balance between sweet and savoury complete with umami finishing. For the kimchi don, the pork is tender and juicy, while the kimchi provided the acidity in balancing the meal.

Gyu Don

Both the dons are supposed to be served with Ajitsuke Tamago (ramen eggs). Usually, the Ajitsuke tamago is seasoned with soy sauce, till the egg white turns brown to show the soy sauce has been absorbed into the eggs. The version at Toro Hachi is lighter as the egg white is still bright in colour and the taste of soy sauce is minimum.

Kimchi Slice Pork Don

Hiyashi Udon ($6.80). Sanuki style udon served cold with onsen tamago. The thick, chewy and bouncy udon perfectly complements the housemade sauce, onsen tamago and seaweed. You need to mix all the ingredients before you slurp. It is cold, refreshing and tasted heavenly. Simplicity at its best. Yummy!!

Hiyashi Udon

Hiyashi Udon

Oyago Don ($11.90). Grilled thick juicy and succulent chicken thigh, covered with generous servings of seaweed. I like the texture and flavour of the chicken, but I just feel there is a disconnection between the ingredients. Maybe Tora Hachi can consider adding Oyakodon style of egg or onsen egg style to bind all the ingredients together.

Oyago Don

For the appetizer, we try Chicken Karaage ($9.80), Hane Gyoza ($12.80) and Edamame ($5.60). The fried chicken has a crispy exterior followed by a juicy and succulent interior. It is served with mayonnaise for dipping sauce. The edamame was done just right. Soft, moist and enjoyable.

Chicken Karaage

Edamame

The Hane Gyoza (also known as Gyoza with Wings). Each of the gyoza is interconnected through the thin piece of crispy sheet. The shape of this gyoza is rounder and more plum compared to the traditional gyoza. The skin of the hane gyoza is thicker and the fillings do not have the strong smell of chives, that usually come with regular gyoza.

Hane Gyoza

Hane Gyoza

For the grill section, we started with grilled vegetables. Onion ($3.20), Garlic ($3.20), Pepper ($3.20), Lady Finger ($3.20), Sweet Corn ($3.20), Oyster Mushroom ($3.20) and Shiitake Mushroom ($3.20). I must say, we are very surprised with the quality of the grilled vegetables. They are probably one of the best that we ever tried in izakaya around Singapore.

The Grilled Vegetables, Meat & Hane Gyoza

Sweet Corn - 2nd Round

We peel the onion layer by layer and each one of them is sweet and juicy. The oyster mushroom is tasty and plump. LD and RM enjoy the pepper and lady fingers, the vegetables that I don’t like. Not forgetting, the sweet corn, which has a nice balance of charred and sweetness. We ordered a second round because it was awesome.

Grilled Oysters Mushroom, Lady Finger, Shiitake Mushroom & Beef Ribeye

Grilled Onion

Grilled Paprika

For the grilled appetizer. Grilled Chicken Mid Wings ($8.90) are well marinated, succulent and full of flavours. We would prefer it to be crispier externally, however, the wet marinate does not allowed for super crisp skin.

Grilled Chicken Mid Wings

Grilled Chicken Mid Wing

Grilled Pork Belly ($9.80) is juicy and tender, while Yaki Ika (Squid, $10.90) is soft with a nice chewiness in each bite. While Grilled Shishamo ($6.80) get our seal of approval as well.

Grilled Pork Belly

Yaki Ika

Grilled Shisamo

For the protein on skewers, we tried Beef Ribeye Skewer ($4.20) and Chicken Thigh with Scallion ($4.20). The beef ribeye skewer is a must-order. Small cuts of beef are held together by the skewer, delivering juicy and well-marinated MOO MOO. I suggest you eat this while it is hot, if not the beef will be chewy.

Beef Ribeye Skewer

The chicken thigh with scallion has a crispy exterior with juicy and succulent interior. I did not try the scallion, but I enjoy the chicken very much.

Chicken Thigh with Scallion & Grilled Garlic

To accompany your meal at Tora Hachi, the group ordered Asahi Draft ($7.90, 300ml), Asahi Black ($8.90, 300ml). Since I can’t drink, I stick with Ice Genmai Tea ($2.80) and Coke Zero ($2.80).

Asahi Draft & Asahi Black 300ml

The décor of this place will make you feel like you enter an Izakaya somewhere in Japan. The front of the shop is decorated with big sake barrels, and once you enter the shop you will see the red lantern hanging from the wall all the walls are covered with Japanese illustration with red as the predominant colour. The dining tables and chairs are made from wood, complete with the QR code sticker to see the menu and place your order.

Part of the Dining Area

Part of the Dining Area

Overall, we find the food at Tora Hachi to be very comforting. The Hiyashi Udon, Gyudon, grilled vegetables (especially the grilled sweet corn), beef ribeye skewers and pork belly are a must order here. Tora Hachi delivers comforting and reasonably priced food and drink. However, I think there is room for improvements in the menu at Tora Hachi to cater for the more sophisticated clientele in the Holland Village area and stamp their presence there. Kanpai!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much Tora Hachi Team for the invitation and for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 7/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Tora Hachi Japanese Grill & Restaurant

29 Lor Mambong

Singapore 277687

T: +65 9067 3489

W: https://tora-hachi-jp-grill-restaurant.business.site/

F: https://www.facebook.com/ToraHachi8/

IG: @Tora.hachi8

OH:

Sun – Thu: 11.00 – 23.00

Fri & Sat: 11.00 – Midnight

Menu Available Online

The Gyu Co – Seriously Awesome Gyudon [MEDIA INVITE]

Classic Gyudon plus Meal Set

The Gyu Co present to you their humble Gyudonya. Located at Vision Exchange, Jurong East, The Gyu Co focused on everything about Gyu (beef). Currently, The Gyu Co focused on churning out Gyudonya before adding new creations for their dinner service menu at a later stage.

The Gyu Co

Classic Gyudon ($9.90 for reg, $15.90 for double meat). I was scratching my head at first when I saw the price. I was not sure what to expect as most premium Gyudonya is usually priced from $16 and above.

Classic Gyudon plus Meal Set

The plating is neat, showcasing all the toppings blanketing the rice completely. You can see the sliced beef, onsen egg, the homemade sauce with its root vegetables, pickled ginger and spring onion.

Australian Wagyu Beef

The beef has a good marbling, it is juicy and succulent. The onsen egg is cooked to perfection, the yolk gently flows into the toppings when you poke it. Meanwhile, the homemade sauce is thick, sweet yet mellow perfectly bind all the ingredients together. You can also see the sliced burdock root spread all over the topping. It is comforting, very delicious gyudon and worth every cent.

Burdock Root

Truffle Foie Gras Gyudon ($17.90 for reg, $23.90 for double meat). While the basic ingredients are the same as the classic gyudon, the shaved truffle and pan-fried foie gras are added to this bowl. If you serve this bowl in a high-end Japanese restaurant, you are looking at a substantial dent in your pocket.

Truffle Foie Gras Gyudon

There is one thick cut of foie gras served on top, plus a few smaller pieces hidden below the toppings. LD and I notice that the truffle aroma is very delicate, unlike those stinkers from artificial truffle oils. The use of shave truffle enhances the overall flavour of the gyudon. After you mixed all the ingredients evenly, you can taste the foie gras in each scoop of the rice. Yummy!!

Truffle Foie Gras Gyudon

The hidden Foie Gras

You can complete each gyudon / don with Make it a set! Miso + Chawanmushi + Drink ($3.50). The chawanmushi is filled with extra ingredients, such as Japanese fish cake, bits of prawns and sliced mushrooms. The flavour of the chawanmushi is on the lighter side and the same can be expected with their miso soup. According to Wilson, the owner, this is to cater “health-conscious” lunch crowd from in the building.

Make it a Set! Drink

He also highlighted that most of the ingredients like the sauces and even slicing of the beef are made in house and from scratch. Therefore, their gyudon has its own unique flavour and tasted delicious.

Chicken Karaage

Chicken Karaage ($5). It is crisp externally, followed by juicy and succulent flesh. It is served with generous dollops of mayonnaise, furikake plus healthy cabbage and lettuce at the bottom. Missing from this side dish is a slice of lemon, which might further enhance the taste.

Chicken Karaage

The Chicken

The décor is simple. Due to the size of the shop, most of the seats will be located outside the shop. Service is limited but friendly. You grab a seat, place your order at the cashier, play with your handphone and wait till your food comes.

CBK Verdict: A very nice Gyudon and value for money. Definitely worth a visit. If I work nearby or stay in the West, I will have the gyudon regularly. Cheers!!

Menu 1

Menu 2

Thank you very much Protegie Consultancy and The Gyu Co team for hosting us.

Food & Drinks: 8/10

Value: 8.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 6/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25

The Gyu Co

2 Venture Dr

#02-35 Vision Exchange

Singapore 608526

T: +65 8233 9138

F: https://www.facebook.com/TheGyuCo

IG: @Thegyuco

OH:

Mon – Sat: 11.30 – 14.00; 17.00 - 21.00

*Limited to 100 portions per meal service