- Originally published on 25 March 2018.
- Updated 7 May 2020 with pick up information.
I’ve slipped into the mundaneness of married life after my solemnization. While I don’t think there’s anything bad about that, I also recognize that days can blur together if I don’t make the effort to celebrate special occasions with something different. I finally see why birthdays are important despite it being “just another day”. That’s how we ended up at Kyuu by Shunsui for Freman’s birthday.
Planning something special
I didn’t know what to get my husband. I’d already done the two “W”s for previous birthdays – wallet and watch. It’s bloody tough buying stuff for him.
One thing I knew that he’d love for sure was a solid Japanese meal. After all, a holiday to Japan always ranks extremely high on his list of amazing things to do and we’re always talking about places to have great Japanese cuisine at. I decided that I’d splurge on an omakase meal.
The search for the omakase restaurant
Omakase was something we’d never done before. Since we weren’t traveling to Japan anytime soon, a birthday treat to an omakase experience seemed like a good idea. Omakase is the Japanese tradition of letting the chef choose what you’ll have for your meal and loosely translates to mean “I will leave it to you”.
I was mindful about choosing the right restaurant. Freman can be particular about his food and I didn’t want to compromise on what he would usually deem the trifecta of great dining:
- Fresh ingredients
- Great taste
- Warm customer service
I was also wary of booking a place that was too stuffy or formal as that would make dining uncomfortable.
Finding Kyuu by Shunsui
Available for order and pick up via drive-through
- 29 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089136
I did my own due diligence and trawled the web for reviews. I admit, finding one to fit within my budget of $150 per pax tops with positive reviews was tough, until I came across Kenneth’s (then recent) review of an omakase place, Kyuu by Shunsui.
Kyuu by Shunsui had just opened less than a month before Freman’s birthday and it was the more affordable sister restaurant of the Kappo Shunsui, which had amazing reviews.
I trust Kenneth with his recommendations because this guy really knows his food, and he’s damn honest about it too. With his vote of confidence for this new kid on the block at Keong Saik, I made a booking and kept mum.
From the moment I stepped into the restaurant, I felt assured. The sincerity of the staff and chef really made me feel at ease. There was absolutely no pressure to “know” anything. The strong genuine service culture exhibited by every employee, from the hostess to the Head Chef, Issey Araki, meant an unpretentious, carefree 10-course Sashimi and Grill Omakase experience.
I later found out that the 27-year-old Head Chef Araki was formerly from Akasaka Tantei, a one Michelin-starred restaurant serving Okinawa kaiseki in Akasaka, Tokyo.
We had counter seats and were able to observe the bustle in the kitchen throughout the almost two hours we were dining at Kyuu.
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