Craving for juicy pork donburi and seafood tempura? Well, the famous dine-in outlet at Liang Court is now making a comeback in Suntec City.
If you’re quite the gastronomic type of adventurer, then chances are you embarked on a delightful journey at Butahage a few years ago. And who could resist such an enticing experience? Ever since it opened in 2015, the Japanese culinary haven has gracefully established itself as one of the well-loved eateries in Liang Court.
Butahage’s reputation is intricately tied to its famous butadon, a delectable dish featuring succulent pork simmered in a mildly sweet sauce atop a bed of steaming donburi rice. Hailing from Obihiro—a city known for its agricultural activities, such as pig farming—it has gained a lot of recognition for being the place where the renowned “Obihiro Famous Pork Rice Bowl†was born.
Butahage is Back in Suntec City!
Founded in 1934, Butahage is now run by the 60-year-old third-generation owner of the famed restaurant. At present, there are three Butahage outlets in Japan and three overseas, including the recently reopened branch in Suntec City’s Tower 3 in Singapore.
The must-try sticky-sweet-savory sauce, slow-cooked for hours in their traditional cauldron, makes visiting this reopened Singapore branch an absolute delight for Japanese cuisine enthusiasts. There’s the Obihiro Meibutsu Japanese Pork Loin Don (S$24.80) that comes in six large-size, thickly cut pork slices that ooze with flavorful juices coated in umami tare, complemented by soft fat for richness, served in Hokkaido’s Nanatsuboshi rice.
If you are on a budget, you can also consider the butadon with Canadian Pork Loin (S$14.80 for large and S$11.80 for regular) or the Canadian Pork Belly Don (S$14.80), which is served with a bowl of miso soup and Japanese pickles. For a side dish, you can request to add onsen egg (S$1.80) or chawanmushi (S$3.20).
Aside from butadon, the founder of Butahage also started a separate tempura eatery years ago. And to give Singaporeans a taste of their classic, the restaurant also offers Tendon with Tempura served with Rice (S$9.50 to S$16.80 per bowl). The tempura, delightfully light and crispy, leaves no greasy aftertaste. Each piece boasts a satisfyingly thin coating, allowing the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine through.
There’s also the Hokkaido Special and Noodle Set (S$19.80) that comes with seafood vegetable tempura and hot udon. But if you want to get the most out of it and splurge a little, you can also get the Tempura with Soba for only S$17.80 to S$18.80 a set.
If you’re not really into pork, Butahage also offers Singapore-exclusive Salmon Bowls, such as Salmon Mentai Avocado Don and Salmon Ikura Oyako Don, for only S$17.80. They also offer side dishes like fried sweet potato or Agedashi Imo Tempura (S$3.80), Tori Karaage (S$4.80), and Butahage’s version of Kong Bak Pau (braised pork belly bun), which is made with grilled Canadian pork loin slices stuffed in fluffy lotus but with lettuce and mustard dressing (S$4.60).
Situated on the ground floor of Suntec City, located at 3 Temasek Boulevard, Butahage opens from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. After a loaded day at work, this casual diner is indeed a great destination for savoring a flavorful Japanese meal.
Cover image credit: Butahage Singapore
