YAYOI Restaurant – Affordable Set Meals from $9.90!

Japanese food is highly sought after, and generally more expensive than other cuisines. Dining at more renowned establishments might be a luxury that one can only afford for special occasions. While we usually assume that good Japanese food comes with a hefty price tag, that’s not always the case.

YAYOI is a Japanese restaurant that offers an extensive array of Japanese dishes, and “Teishoku”, at pocket-friendly prices. The sheer number of outlets that YAYOI has in Singapore is testament to the brand’s popularity. Well, what’s not to love about affordable and delicious Japanese set meals?

We tried the Saba Shio Teishoku ($10.90), which features a salt-grilled mackerel, a bowl of rice, miso soup, cold tofu and pickled cabbage. The portion of saba fish was generous. Its skin was crispy, and the flesh was firm and tender. Don’t forget to give the fish a squeeze of lemon before digging in. I really enjoyed the saba with the warm fluffy rice! The set meal was very wholesome, and very filling.

We were also recommended the Shogayaki Teishoku (stir-fried pork belly slices in ginger sauce). The set only cost $9.90 (yes, you read that right)! A plate of pork belly, rice, miso soup, and three sides for just $9.90?! I’m still in disbelief. The appearance of the pork belly slices might not impress you, but the dish sure tasted better than it looked. We were pleasantly surprised by the texture and flavor of the pork belly. The taste of ginger permeated every inch of the pork belly and we were definitely blown away by how tasty this dish was. It’s no wonder that the Shogayaki Teishoku is one of the bestsellers at YAYOI.

Next, we tried the Mix Toji Teishoku (golden pork cutlet, breaded prawn, tender sliced beef with scrambled egg) which is priced at $15.90. If you prefer variety, this is built for you. The pork cutlet and prawns were very well-seasoned and crisp. My favourite component was the tender sliced beef which was cooked to the right doneness.

We also tried the Chicken Namban Teishoku ($14.90) which sees lightly battered marinated chicken topped with a generous dollop of house-made tartar sauce. I love how succulent and tender the chicken was. The chicken sure was appetizing enough on its own, but it tasted even better with the tangy tartar sauce. The lightly crisp chicken won my heart in just one bite!

The Sukiyaki Teishoku (sliced beef and assorted vegetables in sweet, savoury soy-sauce base) was splendid! For $18.90, you get a pan filled with a myriad of ingredients – sliced beef, udon, vermicelli, mushrooms, tofu, cabbage and carrot shreds. An onsen egg is served on the side, for you to dip the beef into. A hearty creation that’s especially perfect for a cold rainy day, the Sukiyaki Teishoku is probably my favourite set of the lot.

Have I mentioned that you can have as much rice as you want, for free? Help yourself to the rice, no one’s judging! We appreciate that YAYOI uses Kinmemai rice, which is more nutritious and fluffier.

The dishes at YAYOI have definitely captured my heart. Despite the extreme affordability of its offerings, YAYOI doesn’t compromise on the quality of their ingredients, and they make sure that every dish is executed carefully. YAYOI has quite a strong presence in Singapore, with outlets in multiple shopping malls. Pop in for a satisfying dinner after a long day of shopping, you won’t be disappointed!

This post was brought to you by YAYOI Singapore.