Tanuki Raw is known for its insane Happy Hour where freshly shucked oysters go for $2. Well, it is set to seal its position as the most value-for-money food spot in Orchard Road with a new lunch menu that features six Japanese rice bowls, ranging from $12 to $17.80. The prices might be competitive but there’s no compromise on quality and generosity. Diners can expect premium ingredients such as ikura (salmon roe) and Black Angus beef short rib, and sauces that are made fresh on-site.

Before our rice bowls arrived, we ordered a few small bites to share. The Ocean Rockerfeller ($12) offers salmon, scallop and spicy lobster seasoned in lemon juice and triple sec served on scallop shells with torched mozzarella. Didn’t like the Trickster cheesesteak ($12), featuring the yakiniku beef, onion and mushroom with melted cheddar cheese in a kong bak pau. The cheddar was too heavy on the palette, hence I didn’t quite taste the yakiniku beef. However, the Chicken of the Sea ($9) has a great contrast in textures – from crispy salmon skin, to tender aburi salmon in yuzu sauce, covered with chicken floss.

Leading the menu is one of Singapore’s most affordable chirashi dons. For $17.80, Tanuki’s Chirashi Don includes hot favorites like salmon and tuna, seasonal items such as striped jack, and premium ingredients like ikura and scallop. The Bara Chirashi Don, $17.80 features the same amount of fresh fish, only in this rice bowl, the fish is cubed and seasoned with Tanuki’s secret umami sauce. The fiance loves this as the sashimi cubes are fresh and it is easy to eat. The Salmon Don ($12) shows off Singaporeans’ favorite fish in different ways – salmon sashimi, lightly seared aburi, cubed salmon tossed with spicy mayonnaise and ikura arranged beautifully on top of fluffy Japanese sushi rice.

For those who prefer red meat, the Truffle Yakiniku Don ($14.80) is a prime example of how luxury is never a costly affair at Tanuki Raw. The Black Angus beef short rib is slow-cooked in a water bath to ensure the meat is incredibly tender and juicy. Truffle soy sauce and a delicate onsen tamago with a rich, runny yolk complete this decadent dish. Break the runny yolk onto the seared beef and mix with truffle oil, every mouth will send you to beef heaven. Definitely my favourite dish for lunch!

On top of these hearty bowls, the lunch menu has two more options for chicken lovers – the Yakitori Don, $12, with pan-seared chicken in teriyaki sauce, and the comforting Tanuki Curry Don, $12.80, with deep-fried chicken cutlet, rough cut onions and an apple curry sauce.

The new lunch menu at Tanuki Raw is available daily from 11.30am to 3pm.

Tanuki Raw

Address: 181 Orchard Road, #02-03 Orchard Central S(238896)
Tel: 6636 5949
Website: www.tanukibar.com