We recently ate at Kazu Sumi-yaki with our favorite foodie cousins, S & L, and were pleasantly surprised that while the crowds have gotten bigger, the overall quality was still worth the wait and the price.  For grilled meat-on-a-stick cravings, this is still the place to go in Singapore.  Located in sketchy Cuppage plaza (home to waaay too many karaoke/hostess bars), Kazu has been serving up skewered meat for over a decade, but unlike some other once-notable restaurants, the chef/owner can still be seen daily, grilling away in the kitchen.

His dedication to the art of yaki shows in the taste and texture of the very wide selection of skewered items.  Tender meats like wagyu and foie gras come out nicely grilled and meltingly juicy.  Chewier parts like gyu tongue and tori skin are grilled just long enough to tenderize or crispen respectively.  Even the vegetables are done with care.  Try the ginko nuts as an example.  Other must tries include the foie gras, gyu tongue, the tontoro and ringo (fatty pork and apple), and the incredibly succulent yet crispy chicken wings.

While you generally won’t go wrong with the grilled items, Kazu’s cooked dishes can be hit or miss.  But then again, with a restaurant name that includes sumi-yaki (charcoal grill), the focus of the meal shouldn’t be on the home cooked dishes.  That said, there are some standouts worth ordering: the cheese baked hotate (comes with its very own shell), the grilled bamboo, and a nice hot bowl of zosui to finish the meal.

————————

Kazu Sumi-yaki Restaurant
No. 5 Koek Rd
#04-05 Cuppage Plaza
Tel: 6734 2492