Cover Head chef Kenji Takahashi of Zuicho Singapore
Head chef Kenji Takahashi of Zuicho Singapore
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The new Japanese kappo restaurant by fine-dining restaurant group Wa Creations opens its second outpost at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
Establishing itself as the prime Japanese kappo restaurant in both Hong Kong and Macau, the award-winning Zuicho looks to Singapore for its second outpost in Asia. For gourmands who frequent the Pearl of the Orient, the name might ring a bell. After all, Zuicho broke into the dining scene in Hong Kong to redefine the immersive Japanese kappo experience and was shortly awarded a Michelin star in 2021 with executive chef Fumio Suzuki at the helm.
Fresh off the upward trajectory of expanding its presence in Macau, Zuicho Singapore debuted in the newly renovated Mandarin Oriental, Singapore last week with head chef Kenji Takahashi at the helm. The celebrated Japanese chef boasts an illustrious portfolio having started his career working as a sous chef for the revered Sakurada in Kyoto. He was also the visionary behind Tokyo Ginza’s coveted Yoshifuku, his very own restaurant where he consistently earned Michelin stars for over nine consecutive years.
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Above Zuicho seafood appetiser
Zuicho seafood appetiser
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The decision to close his restaurant, despite the success, to take on this new overseas venture surprised many of his loyal patrons. “Many people ask me this question. I realised that I needed to improve my skills to achieve even greater success and customer satisfaction. Life is short, time must be spent improving,” Takahashi explains when he spoke with Tatler Dining.
“During the early stages of my career, I learnt authentic Kaiseki cuisine at Sakurada in Kyoto and continued to maintain the same style of cuisine at my restaurant Yoshifuku in Ginza. However, my dishes felt to me as if they had not fully bloomed, more like swollen buds right before they bloomed into beautiful flowers. It's difficult to express, but I feel there was more I could achieve, a heightened level of skill that would delight everyone who I served,” explains Takahashi.
Above Zuicho Singapore
Zuicho Singapore
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At the Singaporean outpost, guests can expect a celebration of Japanese cuisine, one that is globally recognised as an intangible cultural heritage, where the four distinct seasons of Japan are intently expressed to transport tastebuds. The multi-course menu, where intricate dishes are crafted using a diverse range of cooking methods, will tease highlights such as fried Miyazaki Wagyu tenderloin; snow crab hot pot with soy milk; cabbage konjac noodles; minced tuna and Bafun uni handroll; and handmade somen noodles with uni.
On the decision to choose Singapore as the next destination, Luke Clayton, chief executive officer of Wa Creations—the restaurant group that owns and operates Zuicho within a portfolio of fine-dining Japanese restaurants in Asia—personally attests to the city’s unique blend of safety, vibrancy, and cultural richness, having resided in Singapore from 2011 up to 2013. “We understand that it is a very competitive market but feel we can prosper on the back of our philosophy of fine dining and ability to execute,” he shares.
Above ‘TakiKomi’ rice with teriyaki salmon and salmon roe
‘TakiKomi’ rice with teriyaki salmon and salmon roe
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While most Japanese omakase restaurants pride themselves on using the freshest ingredients flown in from the motherland, Clayton believes that having chefs—like Takahashi—who possess an outstanding culinary pedigree is equally important when it comes to offering an experience that transcends the conventional. “Singapore’s logistical advantage also guarantees the maintenance of the unparalleled quality and freshness that defines Zuicho, something that isn’t possible in mainland China,” he justifies.
“Furthermore, many have encouraged us to open in Singapore as some seem underwhelmed when it comes to their high-end Japanese experiences. The endorsements from friends and the local community affirm the compatibility of our brand with the discerning palates of Singaporeans,” Clayton reveals. The stage is now set and all eyes are on the man in search of his next pinnacle.
Zuicho Singapore
Address: 5 Raffles Ave, Level 3, Mandarin Oriental, S(039797)
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Credits
Photography: Klaus Tan
