Aside from brands, Orchard Road houses eclectic food choices to suit every taste and budget; from star chefs-helmed eateries to everyday picks and all that is in between. The cozy yet intimate setting of Sushi Kyuu is one of those in-between places - tucked away in nondescript Orchard Plaza, gallantly serving Omakase dinners at truly affordable rates for quite some time. (There is currently a longstanding 20% discount for every Omakase meal.)
At first, each serving of our 20-set Kaze course seemed rather bite sized to me. Yet by the end of the dinner service, I must admit that it was more than fulfilling. And satisfying. Thanks to the pace set between each serving, the food conversations with the chef, his introductions of every course; all contribute to our eventual contentment. Not forgetting, the meticulous Chef Mencius and his diligent server Darren (forgive me if I got this wrong) helped made every bite of our late dinner experience a savoury memory.
The palate pleasing Dashi Soup started us on an adventure of crisp, complimentary flavours culminating in their sweet signature overflowing Ikura Rice (thank you Chef Mencius for letting us in on your secret ingredient) and dessert.
Given its space constraints, Sushi Kyuu can only host two dinner sittings each night. With its longstanding 20% discount on every Omakase meal, it’s worth making a phone reservation early in the day. Because once they prepped the rice requirement of the day, they may not be able to accommodate any last minute (though it’s still worth giving them a call if your hunger is palpable).
During our conversations, the discussion shone a light on the fragility of the F&B business here at home. Whilst an inevitability of today’s world, the one thing that I personally find hard to digest is the harshness of our digital critics. Naturally, we have the right to speak out when a critique is due. All I am thinking is to ask each and every one of us to be kinder about it.
In the social media attention span environment we live under, it’s tough to run a business; tougher when you’re running a restaurant, even tougher when you’re innovating under constraints; utterly tough when you are facing with a plethora of mobile devices owners living in a time constrained world (dare I say it, sometimes unreasonable requirements).
We all can do better by giving these innovators a chance. Because if we keep pushing them down, there might come a time when we will end up with a plethora of cookie cutter establishments throughout every corner of our city.
Just thinking out loud.
My inaugural experience with omakase at Kyuu was meant to be a memorable celebration for my boyfriend's birthday. However, it turned out to be quite underwhelming. Despite the premium total price tag of $333, the atmosphere lacked the expected special touch. Throughout the meal, there was no acknowledgment or mention of my boyfriend's birthday, which was disappointing given the intimate setting and the relatively small number of guests (around 10 to 12) at the counter.
After the meal, I took the initiative to reach out, Ashton, the outlet manager, to express my disappointment. While he promptly responded and offered for another visit with discount, it felt as though the gesture was more about addressing the immediate issue rather than understanding and addressing the root cause of the dissatisfaction – the lack of attention to special occasions. Even though Ashton proposed a discount rate of $99 for a menu valued at $129 on our next visit, it failed to fully compensate for the missed opportunity to make my boyfriend's birthday celebration truly special.
Subsequently, when the operations manager contacted me, I reiterated that my primary goal was not to seek compensation but to provide feedback in the hopes of improving the overall customer experience. However, there was no effort made to address the underlying issue or offer an alternative solution.
In conclusion, while Kyuu may excel in delivering quality sushi, their approach to customer service, particularly in recognizing and honoring special occasions, fell short of expectations. Despite their attempts to compensate for the oversight, the essence of the disappointment cannot be remedied solely through monetary means.
It was my first experience for omasake and I must say the experience was a good one. I love the small setting and the chef were both very welcoming and he introduced the different type of sushi that was going to be served. The sushi all tasted good and fresh. Would definitely try again😃
I’ve never had a disappointing omakase experience in Singapore, until Sushi-Kyuu. I had high expectations given the high Google ratings but the food was a complete disaster. I ordered the $99+ Kaze course.
1) The portions were shockingly small. I thought I was served miniature food. There is a huge difference between serving refined portions and skimping on ingredients. The photos speak for themselves - the rice portions fell short of a reasonable amount for a nigiri. The overflowing ikura rice “bowl” was in fact presented to me in a measly sake cup.
2) Poor quality of ingredients/food served.
Considering the omakase price point, I did not feel like I was eating one. In fact, I could get way better quality sushi from Sushiro. The rice and fish were barely seasoned and too warm while the wasabi tasted cheap from the tube. The monkfish liver tasted like canned tuna and the uni was not fresh at all (see pic) with a bitter aftertaste. The octopus was overcooked, tough and dry. You know something is clearly off when your akemi tastes better than your chutoro.
The entire experience to me felt like an insult to authentic Omakase restaurants, whose chefs spend their lifetimes mastering the craft. Sushi-kyuu’s food is reminiscent of a cheap sushi chain under the guise of an omakase restaurant.
Trust me, save the trip - your money is better spent at Sushiro.
My partner and I went for our first omakase dinner and it was such a wonderful experience. We had the Tsuki course ($179+), and every dish was beautifully prepared - our tummies were filled with happiness from start to finish.
The quality of the food was excellent, and the service was warm and attentive, which we really appreciated. What made it even more special was the surprise birthday cake they presented for my partner - such a thoughtful touch that truly made the evening memorable.
We had an amazing time and would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to try omakase. Thank you for making our day so special! ^_^
Sushi Kyuu delivers refined omakase at accessible prices. Their intimate space sources premium ingredients directly from Toyosu, Japan, ensuring guaranteed freshness & precision in every dish.
Love the thoughtful touch: they consciously avoid sourcing seafood from the waters around Fukushima, a quiet assurance of quality & care.
They have 4 seasonal omakase courses -
- Hana Course ($69++), Kaze Course ($99++), Mizu Course ($129++), Tsuki Course ($179++).
With an extensive beverage menu featuring sake, umeshu, shochu, & highballs by the glass — starting at just $7, we had -
Umenoyado Mikan-Shu ($10), a refreshing Japanese orange liqueur with a bright citrus profile — enjoyed this served on the rocks.
Also had Tatenokawa Honryu Karakuchi Junmai Daiginjo ($12) which is a sake from Yamagata with a clean, crisp taste & a subtle floral aroma, making it light & easy to drink.
Finally, we had Kaku Whisky Highball ($10), a classic drink that’s smooth & dry with a pleasantly crisp finish.
[ Impressionable dishes included their kanpachi (an amberjack that’s clean-tasting with a mild flavour & well-balanced fat content.)
Tamagoyaki was served warm, delicately sweet, with a soft, sponge-like texture that reminded me of banana cake.
Fatty tuna was rich, flavourful, & practically melted in my mouth.
Overflowing ikura rice was personally a sight to behold.
Came here hungry, left satisfied.
Overall, if you’re looking for an omakase experience worth visiting without breaking the bank, this place is worth your consideration.
Recommended by a friend to try this Omakase and I was pleasantly surprised by their serving style. Was attended by Ivan and he’s friendly and amicable and definitely made the experience unique and memorable for us! Happy to return!
They will charge you extra for credit card and not tell you. Asked for a napkin and they said I had to pay extra. The waitress was extremely rude. My fried rice was ok. Lots of oil and carrots in the omelette. Never again!