Super Rich Chicken Soup Ramen • Menya Tori no Keiji Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi 麺や鳥の鶏次 KYOTO 四条河原町店 ☎ +81757085620

Trying to recommend ramen in Japan is like recommending chicken rice places in Singapore - bad ones are harder to find than good ones.

There are so, so many good ramen places everywhere in Japan, I hesitate to write up and recommend any but this one in Kyoto I really like and would go back again.

But, I have to forewarn you that it is not for everyone as it is very rich and on the sweet savoury side.

It's the feel and flavour profile I like for ramen.

SHUKOU Home Style Dishes📍Near Hakodate JR Station 函館おばんざい 酒肴 (しゅこう) • 函馆家常菜• 下酒菜 ☎ 07052847786

We stayed two nights in Hakodate, Hokkaido. This cluster of more than twenty tiny eateries and bars at 大門横丁 Daimon Alley was just 5 minutes walk from our hotel, which was 5 minutes walk from Hakodate JR train station.

Koyasan Must Eat Sesame Tofu • Kadohama Goma-tofu Honpo 胡麻豆腐 • 角濱ごまとうふ総本舗飲食部 • 高野山 ☎ 0736268700

First time in Koyasan 高野山, one of the three holiest mountains of Buddhism in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Doris's Devilishly Delicious Curry📍 Greenhouse Dusit Thani Laguna • Hawkers Omakase by Maybank & Makansutra

I have been following Hawkers Omakase by Maybank & Makansutra 2026 with excitement and anticipation - the selected stalls are carefully curated and showcase the best of Singapore hawkers. Many countries still have hawkers but only Singapore has hawkers Omakase.

The next instalment is with Doris's Devilishly Delicious Curry by Justin (launching on 17 Aug and on till 16 Oct).

Kuan's Table Private Dining • Malayalee Kerala Malabar Food in Singapore ✆ Whatsapp 9139 7488

Kuan is a talented and passionate home chef who cooks Chinese, Paranakan, Western (Spanish, Italian, etc), and Indian (Malayalee) too.

Kemuri Warayaki Straw Fire Grill Omakase & Izakaya 📍 Cuppage Plaza Little Japan Orchard Singapore ☎ 9772 4300

Kerumi is a "hidden gem" nestled at level 4 of Cuppage Plaza in the "Little Japan" of Singapore Orchard Road.

Kerumi showcases warayaki or rice straw fire grilling - an ancient high heat cooking technique that is rarely seen today even in Japan. We are so lucky to experience it right here in Singapore.

Candi Bumi Ayu • Links with Kingdom of Singapura

Candi Bumi Ayu is a Hindu temple from the 9th century during the time of the powerful Sri Vijaya empire (7th to 13th century) which, based in Palembang (South Sumatra), controlled both the Malacca and Sunda Straits i.e. all east west access between China and India / Arabia.

Butakin Jiro Style Ramen @ Umeda Osaka 东梅田店 ☎ +81668093238

There's a Butakin Ramen outlet steps from our hotel in Umeda, Osaka. For days, every time we walked past the little restaurant we felt and smelled the porcine aroma blown out into the street. But, I hesitated to try it - there's something about human nature - not valuing or taking for granted what is right in front of us 😬

Origin of Nasi Tumpeng • Telling the History of Indonesia with One Dish

Nasi tumpeng is a unique Indonesian dish with a distinctive presentation - a cone of rice in the middle with a variety of side dishes arranged around its base and served on a round tray. No utensils, nasi tumpeng is best enjoyed by hand.

The dish has deep spiritual roots and significance. In my opinion, it is the most Indonesian dish - not due to its pervasiveness as it is mostly found in Java, but because it has been around for the longest time in Indonesian history. 

(Indonesia's Tourism Ministry in 2014, named nasi tumpeng a national dish along with soto, rendang, satay, nasi goreng, and gado-gado.) 

Rolls Handroll Izakaya Bar Menu & Review • Rolls that Rock @ Mercure ICON Singapore 卷卷吧 ☎ 8056 9595

Rolls Handroll Izakaya.

Cool cosy new place to enjoy sake and other spirits with delicious freshly handcrafted handrolls at Club Street in Singapore's Central Business District.