something (slightly) different this whisk(e)y wednesday.
last week, one of my friends invited me to get dinner and hang out, a pleasant break to the monotony of work-from-home and generally staying within the four walls of my house where possible. knowing the high standards that she has when it comes to food, local sake (restaurant) gastrobar Kabuke was one of the first options that came to mind, and they did not disappoint at all.
located close to the central business district area, Kabuke is a nondescript modern speakeasy tucked way on the second floor of a shophouse along Telok Ayer Street. one might almost miss it if one were just casually walking past - all they have to their name is a small sign next to the stairwell, and even on the second floor there's no recognisable door for entry. what initially looks like part of the stairwell wall (painted dark blue) can be pulled in just the right way to reveal a secret entrance to the bar, almost like something out of a spy movie.
i was first introduced to them by word of mouth, a recommendation from a good friend of mine, and over time it became one of my main go-to places to bring people for networking lunches or after-work catch-ups. to me, their draw lies not in being a mainstream 'popular' joint but rather a feeling of exclusivity, a comfortable space to get away from it all without having to travel too far out of town or jostle with the crowd in the larger drinking holes.
Kabuke specialises in serving signature wagyu dishes (together with seafood and tapas-style bites), paired with sake. that evening, i ordered this amazing Japanese Wagyu Bowl which comprised A4 Kagoshima wagyu, truffle shoyu and onsen egg atop a bed of fluffy rice. it may have been on the pricier side at S$58, but this was the real deal and worth every cent.
the wagyu was tender and cooked to medium, with a lovely sear on the outside. it was also delicately flavoured with the truffle shoyu, which enhanced the taste of the meat and allowed it to remain the star of the bowl. the fried garlic chips over the top also complemented the beef nicely, and the pickles worked great as a palate cleanser in going from beef to egg and rice and back again.
their servers were very attentive and helpful, taking the time to explain how the different sake pairings worked and providing tailored recommendations based on our food selection or what we felt like having that day.
after a brief discussion with our server, i decided to enjoy my wagyu bowl with their Toyo Bijin Junmai Daiginjo Ippo (which on happy hour promotion was S$9 for 90ml). compared to the whiskies that i usually try out, sake is considerably more subtle on the nose and palate, so i decided to just enjoy this one as a paired experience. this particular Toyo Bijin was quite light and refreshing with a slightly fruity smell and taste, and really helped to bring out the depth of flavour in the meat when sipped as a precursor to the truffle shoyu beef.
we also enjoyed their Camembert Potato Mochi (S$6) which is a really innovative combination of Japanese potatoes, mochi and camembert cheese. the mixture of mochi and potatoes was warm and fluffy, while the melting camembert brought an intensity of earthy flavour and cheesy texture to the snack.
overall, it was a good dinner and we left feeling contentedly well-fed and happy. the relatively higher price tag is definitely justified by the quality of their food and drink, though (for my wallet's sake) it does also make Kabuke better suited to being a place to celebrate special occasions rather than being an everyday dinner hangout.
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this was an undercover reviewer experience - the staff were not aware that i was a reviewer when i visited, and hopefully it stays that way for a while ;)
this review is of products that i had purchased at regular price with my own money. i didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with Kabuke and as always, all opinions remain my own.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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