Tora Tora Tora Japanese Restaurant Singapore — Restaurant in Singapore

I had read about this place a while back but only found a reason to visit last week. Having made reservations for a party of three, we made our way to the address on its website, which turned out to be a commercial/light industrial building in the heart of the Kampong Ubi area. As we made our way into the lift lobby of the building and along empty corridors interrupted by the occasional nondescript wooden office doors painted in the same hue of white as the corridor walls, my expectations lowered with each step taken until we reached the end and exited at the foot of a short flight of steps leading to the rooftop where, to our surprise, stood Tora Tora Tora, a rooftop izakaya restaurant.

As we entered its main door to the sound of "Irasshaimase!", our eyes grew accustomed to the warm rays of the afternoon sun we had just come in from, filtered by the large, tinted windows forming three of the four restaurant walls. Tendrils of cool AC air swirled, melodious played softly in the background and the chatter of some Japanese business executives vibing amidst small tokkuri bottles and cups of warm sake as service staff showed us to our table. Turns out we didn't have to make a reservation after all - perhaps it was a Monday and thence, the lack of a lunch-time crowd though there were groups of diners scattered about.

The menu wasn't extensive, but it was adequate enough that the service staff attending to us playfully hinted that we might be ordering more than we could finish. I did wish for some Maguro まぐろ, which was conspicuous in its omission from their menu. Ultimately, we settled on a reasonably eclectic assortment of sashimi, sushi and other izakaya items. The softshell crab maki 軟殻蟹巻き, Salmon ikura mentaiko maki 鮭いくら巻き and the plain but wholesome Niku Udon 牛うどん, amongst the other things we tried, stood out for me as I found they were pleasing to the eye and certainly mouth-watering.

I didn't bother with pictures as there are more than adequate pictures provided in other reviews and on the restaurant's website. Suffice it to say I was content not to do so, as it was tough to break away from the food and be able to pay our orders the proper respect it deserved while we went about catching up and chatting with one another.

We eventually had to part ways - sufficiently caught up, bellies sated, feeling contentment and at peace with the world on a lazy Monday afternoon... at least till I manage to arrange a visit with another group of しんゆう and makan kakis.

Tora³ most certainly lives up to its hype of being a hidden gem and deserves its spot on that list i was reading. It most certainly certainly surpassed all of our expectations...

Dining at Tora Tora was an overall good experience, largely thanks to the exceptional service and warm hospitality by the staff, especially Wendy and Ah Bao. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with genuine smiles and attentive care that made us feel truly welcome. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was comfortable, consistently checking in without being intrusive and always ready to assist with any request. Their positive and friendliness made us feel valued and well taken care of. That’s a big plus.

The restaurant's ambience, while pleasant & cozy, could benefit from a slightly larger space. Despite the size, the layout was comfortable, and the overall environment provides nice setting for a casual meal or a friendly catch-up. A touch of some background music would have been a wonderful addition to enhance the vibes and create a more lively atmosphere.

As for the food, we didn’t order a lot, but then sashimi was fresh, squid was good. Overall food was ok. The sashimi was fresh. The menu offers a decent selection of Japanese dishes that cater to various tastes, and while the food was generally good, it was the attentive service that truly elevated our experience.

Overall, Tora Tora is a good spot for meeting up with friends and enjoying a good meal. While there’s room for improvement in the ambience, the exceptional service from Wendy, Ah Bao, and the rest of the team more than makes up for it. Their dedication to creating a welcoming environment sets Tora Tora apart. We seen the private room (able to house 10-12 pax with karaoke), I think that’s...

We had a peaceful and relaxing lunch at the restaurant, seated in a cozy corner that made the experience even more enjoyable. The highlight of our visit was the excellent service prompt, attentive, and genuinely friendly . thanks to Caleb, who took great care of us throughout the meal.

We opted for a selection of classic Japanese dishes this time, choosing not to go for some of their recommended signatures like the scallops or oysters , perhaps something to look forward to on our next visit.

The sashimi was a good start fresh, with thick and satisfying cuts. The chicken karaage was crispy and decent, while the soft shell crab maki came in a generous portion. The standout dish was the white corn incredibly juicy and addictive!

On the other hand, a few items didn’t quite meet expectations. The Uni lacked creaminess and sweetness, leaving a flat impression. The unagi was a little too sweet and dry, and didn’t have the richness we were hoping for. The ribeye also felt underwhelming for its price point, both in terms of quality and presentation, which came across as slightly messy.

The sakura prawns were tiny and had a strong fishy, umami flavor ,an acquired taste that may appeal to some, though it wasn’t quite to our liking. The fugu had a nice texture, though the seasoning leaned too sweet for our preference.

Their sake selection, however, was decent and enjoyable.

Overall, the food was average, with a few hits and misses, but the warm and attentive service made our lunch a pleasant experience. With so many signature dishes yet to try, we may consider returning for a...