Ushidoki Wagyu Kaiseki

Ushidoki Wagyu Kaiseki is a Japanese fine dining restaurant on Tras Street, in Tanjong Pagar. It serves kaiseki, the traditional Japanese multi-course meal, built almost entirely around one beef. That beef is Ozaki wagyu from Miyazaki Prefecture in southern Japan.

The restaurant opened in 2015. Chef Hirohashi Nobuaki grew up helping in his father's sushi restaurant in Osaka. He later trained at Kitcho, a respected kaiseki restaurant at the Imperial Hotel in Osaka, and ran his own place, Unshin, in Osaka. The Michelin Guide Singapore lists Ushidoki, and the Ushidoki website shows Michelin badges for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Why Ozaki beef

Ozaki beef comes from the farm of Muneharu Ozaki. The restaurant says he is the only farmer in Japan who sells beef under his own name. He raises his cattle for longer than usual, to around 32 to 34 months, so the meat has more time to develop flavour. The goal is beef with a deep, beefy taste that is easy to digest, rather than the highest marbling grade.

Ushidoki brings in whole cattle from the farm, so many different cuts appear across one meal. The Michelin Guide calls this a head-to-tail approach. Most of the other ingredients also come from Japan.

What to order

There are set menus at both lunch and dinner, including an omakase built around the season's produce. A typical dinner course starts with a consommé and appetisers. It moves on to a seasonal fried dish, Ozaki beef sushi and grilled sirloin. Fried rice or cold somen noodles come next, then dessert.

The centrepiece is the house signature, Ozaki Beef Sukiyaki. You can add extras such as:

• Ozaki Beef Katsu Sando, a breaded beef sandwich
• Ozaki Beef Shabu-Shabu, thin slices swished in hot broth
• Ozaki Beef Tartare with uni and caviar
• Grilled beef tongue, curry rice or a seasonal donabe rice

Good to know before you go

• Bookings: reserve online through SevenRooms or Chope. Cancelling within 48 hours carries a charge.
• Dietary needs: non-beef menus need at least three days' notice. The kitchen cannot cater for vegetarian, gluten-free or keto diets.
• Children: children aged six and up are welcome. They sit in the private room and eat the same menu as adults.
• Seating: pick the counter to watch the chefs at work, or the private room for a group.
• Drinks: the Michelin Guide notes a strong sake list. You can bring your own wine for a corkage fee.

Current menus and booking links are on the Ushidoki website.

Nearby

For more Japanese fine dining in the area, see Sushi Katori and Hamamoto, or browse our fine dining guide. Mondrian Singapore Duxton is a stylish base nearby. Before dinner, a Chinatown heritage walk is a good way to see the neighbourhood. Our list of restaurants in Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar has more ideas.