Somerset is constantly swarmed by crowds for its endless list of restaurants and happy hour deals – it's one of the busiest spots in town. Any restaurant that opens their doors in this bustling stretch has to get with the programme pronto, or risk losing out. And that’s what mod-Japanese restaurant Ohayo Mama San is doing, with a fusion menu that shows off their creativity. While not the first to bend the rules of traditional Japanese fare, this colourful diner certainly puts their own spin on things.
First up: a selection of Japanese tapas, intended as bite-sized appetisers. Try the Foursome Crabmeat Nori Tacos ($20 for four), a hard taco shell with a crabmeat filling and smear of green ebiko. Don’t expect fresh crab at this price point, it’s a garden-variety surimi mixed with mayo – but in any case, a large dollop of surimi. The entire shell comes wrapped with a tiny sliver of seaweed, that’s evidently more for appearance’s sake than taste.
It's with much fanfare that the chicken kebab ($16) is brought to the table. Two skewers dangle from a high stand, piercing through chicken chunks as well as grilled tomatoes, onions, and asparagus. Taking a quick look around, this appears to be a crowd-favourite – simply based on the number of kebab stands perched on other tables.
The riceless rolls ($24) are exactly how they sound: sushi rolls, with no rice, a viable order for those on a keto diet. While we’re all ready to turn our noses up – in all honesty, anything that preaches being “healthy” – these riceless rolls weren’t half bad. For one, the Dancing Geisha comes packed with salmon and tuna sashimi, topped with sliced avocado and ikura.
If the lack of rice gets to you though, there are still regular sushi rolls like the Pink Lady ($20), a panko-fried shrimp roll with cream cheese and ume mayo. Otherwise, Eat-Me-Tonite ($20), despite its questionable name, sounds delish for its mishmash of soft shell crab, crab salad, and generous scattering of tempura bits.
Now, these plates are all designed for sharing, but for a heartier main, the It-Truly-Melts Wagyu Truffle Onsen Ramen ($40) is bound to be a favourite. Modern Japanese might seem like a fad but it does cater to the palates of most – typically with quasi, seemingly luxe ingredients. And yes, medium-rare Wagyu and truffle shavings, we’re looking at you.
Ohayo Mama San also has quite the lengthy selection of drinks, ranging from cocktails to sake. As an all-day diner, they’re also open for brunch and afternoon tea.
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