Kushikatsu Tanaka Review: DIY Takoyaki With Cheese And Unagi Fillings At Clarke Quay

One of the most memorable sights during my trip to Korea was watching an ahjussi prepare takoyaki along the streets of Dongdaemun. As he deftly flicked columns after columns of octopus balls with bamboo skewers, I was sorely tempted to apprentice in the school of takoyaki.

Not only was I pampered with a litany of skewers, but I was also treated to a rare DIY takoyaki experience. DIY Takoyaki With Cheese And Unagi Fillings At Clarke Quay Food at Kushikatsu Tanaka Each DIY Takoyaki set greets you with the following: a jug of wheat flour batter, diced red pickled ginger, bamboo skewers, raw cabbage, and your selected topping.

Out of the three toppings available, we chose the Unagi ($11++) for its sweet savour and soft texture. Difficult as it is, resist the urge to tidy up the batter and wait roughly three minutes for the balls to take shape.

Look out for a small pocket of air between the ball and the cast, and direct your skewers towards it. Seasoned with soy sauce and a dash of dashi broth, the takoyaki released a rush of umami, as the earthy kick of ginger rode in its coattails.

That said, the tenkasu (tempura bits) mixed into the batter seemed redundant, as it failed to inject crunch to the takoyaki. While you can pamper yourself with an additional topping of Cheese ($3++) , we found that the cheese robbed the takoyaki of the unagi’s sweetness.

For a balanced taste profile, pair the cheese with toppings such as Prawn ($10++) and Tako ($10++) instead. Until 28 March 2019 , Kushikatsu Tanaka is having a $1 kushikatsu promotion, between 5pm and 7:30pm. Out of their impressive gamut of skewers, we enjoyed their Banana Skewer ($1++) the most.

With its familiar combination of sweet and crunchy, the dessert reminded me of goreng pisang , sans the greasy aftertaste. As part of its Mega Cheese Festival, the restaurant has in addition released the Mega Chikuwa Cheese Kushikatsu ($6++) – a whopping 15cm Japanese fishcake stuffed with mozzarella, which impressed with its savoury tang.

Another newly released dish is their Pork Chiritori Cheese Nabe ($18++) , which welcomed me with a hot pan of marinated pork and melted mozzarella. There’s another perk of ordering this dish: after the cheese melts into the nabe , it transforms into a viscous dipping sauce, wrapping the skewers in a savoury blanket. Ambience at Kushikatsu Tanaka With Japanese posters plastered on the walls and lively Japanese songs playing in the background, Kushikatsu Tanaka will remind you of a traditional izakaya.

And as the restaurant is well-ventilated, there isn’t an unpleasant odour of grease lingering on your shirt. The eatery’s proximity to the Singapore River is the icing on the cake.

Take a stroll after your heavy meal and soak up the lively atmosphere and kaleidoscopic night view. 9 Clarke Quay Food Gems To Fuel Up At Before And After Partying The verdict Like any DIY experience, the fun comes from the process, rather than the outcome.