It may seem a little strange to you, our readers, that we often wonder where to eat even when we have a free night to ourselves, much less when it’s an occasion like our wedding anniversary!
Thankfully, Leslie took notes at a recent wedding luncheon when he quizzed the young man sitting next to him about his favourite food haunts. So thanks to Shang (the young man, who is actually not that young, just younger), we found ourselves seated at the counter of a very “happening” modern izakaya. I instantly felt hip just by being there.
The first thing that caught my attention was the DJ in the corner, mixing music for the dinner crowd. The space isn’t huge, but the owners clearly decided that dedicating space to a DJ was important. More on that later.
Not a huge food menu
I’ll start by saying that the food did not blow me away. Here’s the but. The chef, who has experience in French cuisine, clearly has a good sense of flavour combinations, and all the dishes were well executed.
The menu is not extensive – just eight appetizers, eight hot dishes and dessert, all listed on a single sheet of paper. As such, we can safely say we tried almost half the menu.
The most interesting dish was the Dashi Egg $12+ (first photo). Essentially hard-boiled eggs, where the yolk is mashed through a wire sieve and sprinkled on top of the whites which have been filled with tartare sauce. It was refreshing to have something so familiar, presented in a completely different way.
Unfortunately, the Yuzu Daikon $8+ (no photo) was a bit of a disappointment. We were expecting a piece of daikon simmered in dashi with a gentle yuzu tang. Instead, we were served a small sauce bowl of pickled vegetables. We honestly thought it was a complimentary appetizer that came with our drinks. We only realised what it was after asking if they had forgotten our order. An embarrassing moment for everyone, I think.
Nonetheless, the Sweet Potato Tempura $15+ was nice, though I would have liked the dill cream to exude more of that sharp, fresh dill flavour.
The Aniko Karaage $28+ was nicely battered and perfectly fried. It came with a bit of green mango salad to help cut through the oil. The Japanese Mussels $27+ was a seasonal special. The chef did a good job with the cream sauce, though I wished the mussels themselves were sweeter. Am I asking too much?
What we really liked about the place is the open kitchen where we get to see all the action. One thing we observed throughout the night was how meticulously the chef grilled the Seasonal Fish from Japan $38+ over charcoal. He would brush it with tare, grill it, brush again, and finally coat the skin with a pesto-like crust. The seasonal fish from Japan was a Buri (big hamachi). The dish would have been perfect if it hadn’t been just a tad dry on the inside.
With a little bit of stomach space left, we ordered the Arabiki Sausages $12+ for that satisfying snap when you bite into them. We had previously learned how the Japanese use sheep casing – which is more delicate, to achieve that paripari snap. The smoky sausages paired well with the homemade mustard served alongside.
Must-Order-One-Drink Policy (But Water Is Free)
As with most Japanese izakayas, the drinks menu is more extensive than the food menu. Their wine list includes a section highlighting Japanese wines, alongside bottles from France, Australia and Portugal. Interestingly, they only carry one brand of sake. Non-alcoholic options include homemade lemonade, kombucha and non-alcoholic wine.
There is a one-drink policy where every guest is expected to order at least one drink, or a bottle for the table. That said, we were pleasantly surprised to be served water without asking. And no, there is no extra charge for it!
By a Japanese Couple who love music
By the end of the evening, we found out that Bisco Sakaba stands for Bistro, Disco, Drinking Place. The Japanese couple (Chef Kei-san and wife Nico-san) who own and run the restaurant clearly love music and drinking. They obviously don’t want to leave the job of creating a vibey atmosphere to a playlist alone. A live DJ not only interacts with guests but can also adjust the music to lift the energy when needed. It was nice to see diners bopping along to the music.
The couple first came to Singapore years ago when the husband took on a chef role at a restaurant. However, being caught between two constantly disputing bosses pushed him to venture out on his own. Bisco Sakaba was then launched in October 2024. His very bubbly and smiley wife runs the front of house, greeting guests and pouring the drinks.
Expect to spend about $80–$100 nett per person with a drink. There’s no GST, only a 10% service charge.
It’s interesting to see older malls like Orchard Plaza becoming home to new dining concepts like Bisco Sakaba. Remember, Yuta, Kagami and Jun Ryo are also located on level 2 of the same building.
Conclusion
Bisco Sakaba is a good spot for a date night or simply to unwind after a long work day or week. The food is competent, and the atmosphere is lively and fun – especially if you enjoy dining to smooth, hip music.
