Dashi Master Marusaya – 7th Anniversary [MEDIA INVITE]

A5 Wagyu Melting Part @Dashi Master Marusaya

Dashi Master Marusaya (‘DMM’) celebrated its 7th birthday last November with the launched of daily seasonal fish air-flown from Japan, six different kinds of dipping sauce, 7 delectable condiments to go with its signature Dashi Shabu and mouth-watering pork ramen using the restaurant’s signature Dashi broth.

LD and I were invited for the Media preview of the latest menu. We started the tasting with Today’s Appetizer, usually served as part of Signature Dashi Shabu Course. Egg Custard with Uni. Served chilled, the custard is smooth, silky yet subtle allowing the freshness of the uni to shine.

Today's Appetizer - Egg Custard with Uni

Next come the Dashi Shabu A la Carte (A5 Wagyu Melting Part) - $98. This includes choices of 2 dipping sauce, additional $2 for each extra choice. The dipping sauces selections are: Ponzu Vinegar, Sesame, Sour Plum, Leek Sesame Oil, Sukiyaki and Yuzu Rice Malt. The Dashi Shabu A la Carte also includes Homemade Udon or Japanese Porridge.

Dashi Broth with Konbu

Dipping Sauce (Clockwise from top left)  Ponzu Vinegar, Sour Plum, 
Sesame, Sukiyaki, Yuzu Rice Malt &  Leek Sesame Oil

With the 7th Anniversary, Dashi Master Marusaya has also enhanced its Dashi Shabu with freshly shaved Katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) cooked on the table, adding to the sweetness and depth of the broth.

Freshly Shaved Katsuobushi 

The A la Carte shabu comes with assorted vegetables. The flavour created by the vegetables working in tandem with the dashi broth is just amazing. It is good to try the broth first before adding the wagyu. If you prefer your broth to be stronger, I suggest you add dashi salt into the broth or to your personal bowl. LD and I find that it just “kick up” the umami flavour another notch. If you need more vegetables, you can order them at $12 for assorted vegetables and $4 for lettuce.

Assorted Vegetables & Lettuce

Assorted Vegetables & Lettuce in Dashi Borth

The A5 Wagyu Melting part is the highest and best part of the wagyu served here. The marbling is consistent across the cuts and once you put it in your mouth, the melting sensation is like no other. Yummy! #Wagyugasm

A5 Wagyu Melting Part (Portion for 3)

#Wagyugasm time

DMM also revamp their menu to introduce A la carte oden. Deep-Fried Beancurd with Rice Cake ($9), Japanese Fish Cake "Chikuwa" ($5), Japanese Fish Cake "Hanpen" ($5) and Deep-Fried Beancurd with Ingredients ($5). Look at it as Japanese Yong Tofu version.

A la Carte Oden

While most of the oden are good, my personal favourite is the deep-fried beancurd pouch with rice cake. The beancurd pouch is flavourful, while the rice cake inside is soft and absorbs the beancurd and umami broth flavour. There is also a hint of fishcake in it.

Deep-Fried Beancurd with Rice Cake 

The Rice Cake Fillings

Black Fungi ($5) and Arrowroot Starch Noodle ($5). Not only healthy, black fungi provide a nice crunchy texture. Arrowroot starch noodle is smooth, silky and light. It is like a sponge that absorbs the flavour of the broth.

Black Fungi & Arrowroot Starch Noodle

Arrowroot Starch Noodle Cooked

For the carbs, we have a choice of Udon and Rice Porridge. LD and I will personally recommend the udon. Not only it is made in house, the thick and bouncy texture is just superb. We had specially returned to DMM for the Udon dishes during lunch before and during the pandemic.

Udon

Udon

Ending the meal at DMM is Sweet Potato Cake and Sweet Potato Ice Cream ($10). The desserts are nicely plated, the sweet potato cake has a dense texture and you can taste the fibre of the sweet potato as well. Opposite to the cake, the taste of the sweet potato in the ice cream is very subtle, it can easily be mistaken for vanilla ice cream.

Sweet Potato Cake and Sweet Potato Ice Cream

Sweet Potato Cake and Sweet Potato Ice Cream

Since LD can’t take sweet potato, she chooses brown sugar ice cream. We strongly recommend you try this next time you are here. It is not overly sweet, yet the taste of the brown sugar is very prominent. Yumz!

Overall, it is great to be back at Dashi Master Marusaya. The food remains impressive and we like the enhanced version of the dashi broth. The new A la carte oden is also a hit, as you can choose the type of oden that you like. Kanpai! Cheers!

Dashi Shabu at Dashi Master Marusaya

Dashi Shabu Marusaya Course (Minimum 2 pax) featuring Today’s appetiser, Dashimaki Tamago, 3kinds of sashimi, Seasonal dish, Dashi shabu, Udon or Porridge and dessert.

- A5 Wagyu Melting Part $128++ per person

- A5 Wagyu Umami Part $108++ per person

- Hokkaido Pork $88++ per person

Dashi Shabu A la Carte Set (Minimum 2 order and you can combine with any meal. All Dashi Shabu including Home Made Udon or Japanese Porridge).

- A5 Wagyu Melting Part $98++ per person

- A5 Wagyu Umami Part $68++ per person

- Hokkaido Pork $48++ per person

Thank you very much Jennifer Yeo Consultancy and Dashi Master Marusaya for hosting us.

In addition to Dashi Master Marusaya, the group also TEN Sushi at Robertson Quay and Monte Risaia at Duxton. (Click on the link for the review of the other restaurants). Previous review of Dashi Master Marusaya is available here.

Food & Drinks: 9/10

Value: 8.5/10

Service: N/A (Media Tasting)

Ambiance: 7.25/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80; $81 and Above

Dashi Master Marusaya

86 Robertson Quay

#01-01 Robertson Blue Singapore

Singapore 238245

T: +65 6732 0383

W: https://marusaya.sg/en/

F: https://www.facebook.com/Marusaya.sg/

IG: @Marusaya_Singapore

OH:

Lunch, Mon – Fri: 11.30 – 14.30 (LO 14.00)

Dinner, Mon – Fri: 17.00 – 22.30 (LO 22.00)

Sat, Sun & PH: 11.30 – 22.30 (LO 22.00)

COCA – Thai Steamboat at Home [MEDIA DROP]

COCA - Hotpot Set A

COCA Restaurant is a well-known Thai hot pot restaurant in Thailand, Singapore and abroad. My first experience with COCA Restaurant in Singapore is at the Ngee Ann City outlet, followed by the branch at Suntec. COCA Restaurant hot pot is known for its fusion between Thai and Cantonese Style of Steamboat and it has stood the test of time against the new wave of steamboat restaurants.

COCA Hotpot
Image Credit COCA

Now, you can bring home COCA flavours with COCA home delivery. LD and I get to try their Hotpot Set A ($82, serves 3 to 4 pax +). This set includes the following:

-Complimentary Mala Fried Rice

-Complimentary Mala Fish Skin

-2 soup bases (we got Signature Hua Diao Phoenix Pot and Tantalizing Tom Yum)

-Prawns, Thinly Sliced Pork Collar, Chicken Fillet

-Chicken Meat Paste, Shrimp Wanton, Fishball with Roe

-Chinese Cabbage, Local Lettuce, Emperor Shiitake

-Signature Green Noodle

-COCA Thai Suki Sauce

The delivery comes in 2 bags. One for the cooked food, soup base and room temperature ingredients, while the other for cold and chilled items. The soup and suki sauces get additional shrink wrap to prevent spillage. A good first impression.

The Packing

The soup base: Signature Hua Diao Phoenix Pot and Tantalizing Tom Yum. I personally like the Hua Diao Phoenix Pot. The milky colour soup is robust, sweet and flavourful. It is suitable to cook any ingredients in it. The tom yum soup base is aromatic, spicy but on the sweet side. For those who like more sourish type, you might need to add some lime and chilli, to kick it up a notch.

Signature Hua Diao Phoenix Pot and Tantalizing Tom Yum

For the meat, sliced pork collar, chicken fillet and prawns. The pork collar is juicy and succulent, but don’t expect those Iberico melt in your mouth type. The chicken meat is tender and absorbs both types of broth nicely. Meanwhile, the prawns are fresh and crunchy. It is also partly de-shell, so you can enjoy it without getting your hands dirty.

Sliced pork collar, Chicken fillet and Prawns

Sliced pork collar

Sliced pork collar - Cooked

Prawn

Chicken Meat Paste, Shrimp Wanton, Fishball with Roe. Surprisingly, the chicken meat paste is juicy and succulent. This reminds me of the handmade chicken meatballs that I ate in one of the famous Japanese restaurants in Singapore. The shrimp wanton is crunchy, as good as that popular Thai frozen wanton brand. The fishball with roe is crunchy, bouncy followed by bursting ikura flavour.

Chicken Meat Paste, Shrimp Wanton, Fishball with Roe

Chicken Meat Paste

The complimentary Mala Fish Skin is crispy, it remains crispy even after a few hours. It packs the mala punch, those mala lovers won’t be disappointed. The same can be said with the complimentary Mala Fried Rice.

Mala Fish Skin & Mala Fried Rice

Mala Fish Skin

The portion of the vegetables are generous. The green noodles are a must-have for a Thai style hotpot. LD & I will usually order a few plates of this when we are having hot pot in Thailand. The COCA version here is just awesome. This green colour noodle is tasty and al-dente. It is crunchy and bodes well with both soup base. Another way to eat this noodle is to toss it with the signature COCA Thai suki sauce.

Chinese Cabbage, Emperor Shiitake & Local Lettuce

Signature Green Noodle

Overall, it was a pleasure having a Thai steamboat at home. While we miss travelling to Thailand, at least this steamboat can satisfy our longing for the steamboat there. For Hotpot Set A, the portion is good for 4 small eaters. However, if you are a big eater, I suggest you order more ingredients. The generous soup portions are more than enough for the add-ons. Cheers!!

Thank you very much Jennifer Yeo Consultancy and COCA Team for arranging the delivery.

Food & Drink: 7.25/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A (Media Drop)

Budget per Person: $11 - $25

COCA

5 Stadium Walk

#02-01 Leisure Park Kallang

Singapore 397693

T: +65 6241 3833

W: https://coca.com.sg/

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

IG: @Cocasingapore

OH: Daily 11.00 – 20.00

Online Ordering: https://ordercoca.oddle.me/en_SG/

Dashi Master Marusaya – New Lunch Set [MEDIA INVITE]

Hot Toban Set Lunch – Wagyu Toban Set

Dashi Master Marusaya is the flagship restaurant of the Marusaya Group specialising in traditional Dashi. Dashi Master Marusaya is managed by Japanese katsuobushi wholesaler Marusaya, who is dedicated to all-natural dashi, Japanese soup stock, to bring out the natural flavours of the ingredients. 

Dashi Master Marusaya has introduced a new lunch set menu. Highlights include Marusaya Udon Set Lunch, Dashi Shabu Set Lunch, Hot Toban Set Lunch and Shokado Bento. Each set lunch (except for Shokado Bento Box), will be served with Dashi Miso Soup and choice of 3 side dishes from the following options: Dashimaki (Egg), Fried Chicken, Edamame, Hijiki Seaweed, Nanbanzuke (Japanese fish dish), Ohitashi (Japanese spinach salad with dashi), California Roll and Matcha Cake plus dashi miso soup. 

Dashi Shabu Set Lunch – Wagyu Shabu Set

Dashi Shabu Set Lunch – Wagyu Shabu Set ($48). This lunch set is a mini version of Dashi Shabu Set that they served in the evening. With just a short dip into the premium dashi stock, the wagyu slices are ready to eat. When you put the wagyu beef in your mouth, you can feel it is slowly melting. #Beefgasm. To enhance the flavours of the shabu, you can choose from 6 different types of salt and pepper to dip. Personally, I find the melt in your mouth sensation with the dashi broth is more than enough. 

Sliced Wagyu

The dashi shabu also comes with lettuce, spring onion, mushroom and spinach to be cook in the dashi broth. For the sides, I had chosen Fried Chicken, Othitashi and Nanbanzuke. The fried chicken has a crispy exterior, with succulent flesh. The othitashi is refreshing and nanbanzuke (salmon fish) provided variety in the set. 

Fried Chicken, Othitashi and Nanbanzuke

Dashi Shabu Set Lunch also come in US Angus Beef Shabu Set ($38) and Hokkaido Pork Shabu Set ($28). 

Hot Toban Set Lunch – Wagyu Toban Set ($48). Toban generally means to roast on a ceramic plate. The wagyu steak is served on a ceramic plate, with vegetable and dashi sauce base. The ceramic plate ensures the dish remains warm for a long period while slowly infusing the dashi sauce into the wagyu and vegetables. 

Hot Toban Set Lunch – Wagyu Toban Set

The wagyu is juicy, succulent and melts in your mouth, coated with superb umami gravy from the onion and dashi. The sauce was so good, we scoop it on our rice, dashimaki and even the fried chicken. 

Hot Toban Set Lunch – Wagyu Toban Set

Hot Toban Set Lunch also available in Seafood Toban Set ($48), Wagyu Sukiyaki Toban Set ($38), Wagyu Hamburg Toban ($28), Pork Cutlet with Dashi Toban Set ($28), Thick Cut Salmon Toban Set ($24) and Deep-fried Chicken with White Radish Toban Set ($24). 

For the most memorable experience and valuable set lunch, Shokado Bento Box ($58) will be the best choice. This bento box includes Appetizers, Chawanmushi, Tempura, Grilled Fish, Meat dish, 2 kinds of Sashimi, Small rice bowl (Salmon and Ikura), Small Udon (Hot) and desserts. 

Shokado Bento Box 

This bento box showcases some of the best dishes that are offered in Dashi Master Marusaya. In simple terms, you can consider this Express Omakase. The portion is generous, sufficient for 2 persons or maybe 1 person with a huge appetite. We tried the udon before and we held it in high regards and the sashimi are super fresh. Oishi!! 

Salmon & Ikura Don

For Tuna Belly lovers, I recommend you try their Tuna Belly Don Set ($38) from their Rice Bowl Set Lunch. The slices of tuna belly are generous in size, fresh and just slowly melts in your mouth. In the tuna belly don set, you will also get the minced tuna belly, dashimaki and pickled ginger to balance the meal. 

Tuna Belly Don Set

Tuna Belly Don 

Overall, the NEW lunch set at Dashi Master Marusaya is superb and value for money. Definitely worth a visit. Cheers!! 

Full review of Dashi Master Marusaya Dinner Menu, click here. Thank you very much Jennifer Yeo Consultancy and Dashi Master Marusaya for hosting us. 

In addition to Dashi Master Marusaya, the group also TEN Sushi at Robertson Quay and Monte Risaia at Duxton. (Click on the link for the review of the other restaurants). 

Food & Drinks: 9/10 

Value: 9/10 

Service: N/A (Media Tasting) 

Ambiance: 7.25/10 

Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80; $81 and Above 

Dashi Master Marusaya 

86 Robertson Quay 

#01-01 Robertson Blue Singapore 

Singapore 238245 

T: +65 6732 0383 

W: https://marusaya.sg/en/

F: https://www.facebook.com/Marusaya.sg/

IG: @Marusaya_Singapore 

OH: 

Mon – Fri: 12.00 – 14.30; 17.00 – 22.30 (LO 22.00) 

Sat, Sun & PH: 12.00 – 22.30 (LO 22.00) 

Dashi Master Marusaya - New Set Lunch Menu