Hei Sushi

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Irrashaimase!!

Hei Sushi, Singapore's 1st Halal Sushi Belt Restaurant, is a firm favourite whenever we feel like having some good quality Sushi at affordable prices. And of course, it is still the #1 name when it comes to Halal sushi on a conveyor belt (we lovvveeee the conveyor belt!).

Did you know that they actually had 4 resturants?
One at Downtown East, one at Sembawang Shopping Centre, one at the Sakae Building in Tai Seng and also one at IMM. Of all the 4, we've only been to the on at Downtown Eat since we are based in the East.

But there's good news - a 5th restaurant is now open at Bedok Point!!
And on top of that, they've also refreshed their menu with lots of favourites and also some new and creative offerings to satisfy your cravings!!

 Let's start slow...

Chilled Spicy Asari ($2.38)

Are you big fans of clams like we are? Then you're gonna love this!
It's such a simple dish of clams in some flavoured dark sauce and given a bit of a spicy kick with chilli padi (which you can see there).

Definitely a good start!

Wagyu Cheese Neta ($4.38)

I dedicate this dish to my good friend Mr Firdhaus Jab who first texted me about this dish a few months ago. And it is fantastic.

So it's basically a Fried Maki on the bottom with some cheese and then topped off with some Wagyu Beef in sweet soy sauce. Sounds familiar?

They call it the Wagyu Cheese Neta but I call it the CHEESEBURGER SUSHI!!
And it's really delicious! I think I can keep wolfing these down non-stop! That Wagyu Beef is simply the bomb I tell you!

Sunshine Maki ($8.88)

A nice and crispy Fried Breaded Ebi (Prawn) wrapped up in a maki and topped-off with slices of mango! We've also tried the Dragon Roll Maki which has Avocado!

Definitely one of the more interesting bites at Hei Sushi!

Soft Shell Ebi ($4.88)

If your taste is for things a little more simple and traditional, then don't worry!
This is a soft shell prawn that they coat and deep fry to a prefect crisp! It's cooked through and the soft shell means you can pop the whole prawn in your mouth and eat it all! Head, shell and all!!

Shake Sashimi ($9.38)

And of course, there is the all-time favourite - Sashimi!

We are talking about premium slices of fresh Sashimi here! If salmon is not enough for you, then you have other choices too like Ika (squid), Kaki (oyster), Tako (octopus), Mekajiki (Swordfish), Hamachi (Yellowtail) and Maguro (Tuna)!

Hot Bean Hotate ($7.38 for 2 pieces)

Here is another must-try! Some Yakimono for you!

Scallop smothered in a hot bean paste and given a nice brulee so you have a nice charred layer on top.
The paste itself has actually got a nice spicy kick to it and kind of reminded me of Ikan Pari Bakar to a certain extent.

Unagi Yanagawa ($17.88)

Here's one for you to share.
Unagi (River eel) in a hotplate with some vegetables and egg. I'm not much of an Unagi guy but I know some people who definitely are!

Aji Shioyaki (Grilled Jack Mackerel) ($18.88)

This was probably my favourite dish of all the stuff we tried. And boy did we try a lot!
Everything was delicious but I guess sometimes I enjoy the simple things the most.

Here's an air-flown Jack Mackerel that they season simply with some salt and then grill it to sheer perfection and you just end up picking at it over and over again with your chopsticks. No fishy taste to be found here, only simple delicious grilled fish!

Just look at how perfect it is!

Spicy Shake Baked Rice ($4.88)

One of the newer sections in the menu is the Mini Baked Rice.
We tried the Spicy Shake (Salmon) Baked Rice which was delightful. There's a nice creamy cheesy layer on top but don't expect any cream mixed in with the rice okay.

And if salmon is not your thing, they also have Scallop, Eel, Soft Shell Crab and Sashimi Baked Rice for your dining pleasure!

Wagyu Ramen ($17.88)

Looking for something a little more hearty and soupy?
It's Ramen time!

The Wagyu Ramen was excellent and the beef was super tender. Tasty! And you have a choice of the flavour of soup stock for your Ramen! Choose from either Chicken, Curry or Kimchi!

Zarigani Udon ($16.88)

Another new section in the menu you'll notice is the Fusion Udon section.
They still have the traditional Udon and Soba dishes but if you're looking to try something new, then you'll definitely want to try some of these new dishes!

The Zarigani (Crayfish) Udon was actually my Brother's fave dish of the whole visit.
He literally cleaned the plate! That is how tasty it was! Black pepper crayfish with a creamy Udon so you can see how one might enjoy!

Check out the rest of their Fusion Udon dishes too!

Mango Avocado Milkshake ($4.98)

I decided to wash down my massive meal with a Mango Avocado Milkshake.
This really hit the spot and was so refreshing! And it was not too sweet so I was still able to savour the flavours of my food.

Hei Sushi's new menu has lots to choose from.
Sashimi, Salads, Sushi (Makimono, Nigiri, Gunkan, Aburi, Neta, Temaki, Inari), Tempura, Agemono, Yakimono, Ju, Ramen, Baked Rice, Soba, Udon, Nabemono, Habachi, Desserts and even Kiddy Sets!
And of course, you can always sit at the conveyor belt and take your pick of what comes along which is always a fun part of eating at a sushi restaurant.

Japanese cuisine is definitely one of our faves and we can see that it's really caught on as well. Thankfully we have Hei Sushi to bring us a wide spread of Halal Japanese food!

Visit their newest restaurant at Bedok Point today and bring your friends and family as well!
And don't forget the Wasabi!!

Hei Sushi

Bedok Point
799 New Upper Changi Road

Tel: 6441 0760
www.heisushi.com

Operating Hours:
11.30am to 10.00pm Daily

AquaMarine Part 3: Turkish Delights

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Some of you would have read our special write-up on AquaMarine during our Ramadhan Special and surely most of you read our original write-up of AquaMarine's buffet as it remains our most-viewed post today!

Well, our friends at AquaMarine have a special spread in October plus a chance to win a fantastic prize!

AquaMarine presents a delightful spread for you to enjoy all throughout October. Enjoy a nice big spread of special authentic Turkish cuisine served up for especially for us plus you still get to enjoy your favourites as AquaMarine like the Sushi & Sahimi spread, Cold Platters and desserts!

And just how authentic exactly are we talking here?

Chefs Ahmet Akpinar and Zekeriya Saygin

Two masterchefs all the way from Turkey to prepare and oversee this Turkish spread so I'm not sure how much more Authentic Turkish this can get without you flying all the way to Turkey to eat!
(Did someone mention flying to Turkey? Hmmm.. more on that later!)

Okay anyways you all know our style right? Let's start on the food ASAP!

Since the normal spread is still going to be on display at AquaMarine for the buffet, they differentiate the special Turkish dishes with some special tags (just like they did for the Ramadhan promo).

Looks out for the little food tags with the Turkish Flag so you know which dishes are the Turkish specials.
And YES - that sign says Lady Thigh Meat. Which I love to eat. I think. :P

Patlikan Biber Kizartma (Aubergine & Pepper in Olive and Tomato)

Cous Cous

Mor Lahana Tersusu (Pickled Red Cabbage)

Wide array of salads to start with. Lots of words I can't pronounce but the beautiful displays and bright vibrant colours really gets my appetite going!

There are a few others I didn't get a chance to snap including the Coban Salatasi (Shephard's Salad) and the Taze Fusulye (Turkish Green Beans) but definitely worth trying all of them because they all look so appetizing! But you must control yourself.. If not then how to have the mains?

Karides Guvec (Shrimp Stew)

Sehriyelie Pilav (Turkish Pilaf Rice)

Chicken Shawarma

Besides the Whole Roasted Baby Lamb (not available all the time I'm afraid) pictured at the top of this post, they also have a live station where they serve fresh Chicken Shawarma got off the rotating grill onto your awaiting Pita Bread! Top it off with your favourites like yoghurt, salad or even some Hummus.

Besides that, they also have some freshly-prepared Kebabs for selection!

Kebabs

Pastirmali Kuru Fasulye (White Beans with Pastrami)

Hunkar Begendi (Sultan Delight)

Tavuc Guvec (Chicken Casserole)

Kadin Budu Kofte (Lady Thigh Meatballs)

I know it sounds weird but that's really the name of that dish - Lady Thigh Meatballs.
Nobody seems to know how this name came about but apparently it's supposed to resemble the shape of a lady's thighs (??)

Well don't worry, it's not made of lady's thigh meat but rather beef/lamb dipped in egg batter and fried.
Just think of it as an all-meat Bagedil!

Orgu Cheese

Tulum Cheese

For you Cheese Lovers out there (like me), then you'll get to try some traditional Turkish cheeses.
Orgu Cheese and Tulum Cheese are both made from Goat's Milk with the latter actually being (traditionally) ripened in a goatskin casing for about half a year.

Talk about some exotic stuff or what!

Well, on to the part which I think quite a number of you might actually be looking forward to...
The desserts!! And as we all know, Turkish desserts are some of the best and most exotic around.
And yes there's plenty of Almonds and Pistachios involved but I quite fancy a nice round of Turkish sweets don't you?

And yes, they have Turkish Delight ;)

Turkish Delight

Seker Payer (Sugar Cookies)

Asure (Noah's Pudding)

Kazandibi (Caramelized Milk Pudding)

I know that might look like a right mess to some of you but it actually is really good.
You're probably thinking that looks kinda mushy but it's actually pretty thick and stands well enough on its own. Scoop some onto your plate (without looking too silly if possible) and if you love milky desserts as much as I do, then you're going to be in for a treat I guarantee it.

And for something a bit more familiar perhaps...

Baklava

Bread Pudding

Okay so the Bread Pudding is not really Turkish but I put it in because I know so many people love it :P

And the next few photos are not really of dessert but of some toppings that you can sprinkle on your ice-cream should you choose to have a scoop or two or five. I just thought that the colours were really eye-catching and interesting.

Nice right? Never seen such bright golden sprinkles before... I wasn't sure whether to eat them or put them in my pocket!

Besides the dishes that were featured in photos here, there were still so many that we didn't get a chance to snap! Other Turkish specialties like Izmir Kofte (Meatball Casserole), Levrek Bugulama (Baked Seabass) and Manti (Turkish Dumplings) are also being offered for those of you who are adventurous for a taste of Turkey.

Plus, like I mentioned, the normal spread at AquaMarine is still there! This Turkish spread is the extra stuff you can enjoy on top of your normal favorites!

And if good food is not enough reason to head down to AquaMarine...

They've also got a special lucky draw where diners STAND A CHANCE TO WIN 2 REOUND-TRIP ECONOMY CLASS TICKETS TO TURKEY on Turkish Airlines!!!

Exciting or what?! Get to makan AND stand a chance to win a trip!
By the way, if you win but can't make it for the trip, please feel free to donate the tickets to The Halal Food Blog Team okay! Hehehe just kidding! (No I'm not.)

Visit AquaMarine for this special spread and hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
(I think we might actually go back! For the food and the lucky draw of course!)

Prices for the buffet are as follows;

Mondays to Fridays
Lunch (12pm til 2.30pm) - $58++ (Adult) / $29++ (Child)
Dinner (6.30pm til 10.30pm) - $68++ (Adult) / $48++ (Child)

Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays
Tunch (12pm til 4.00pm) - $48++ (Adult) / $24++ (Child)
Dinner (6.30pm til 10.30pm) - $78++ (Adult) / $39++ (Child)

For reservations, call 6845 1111 or email aquamarine.marina@meritushotels.com

And to cap off a spectacular evening of great food, we got to meet and dine with Steven Chia of Channel News Asia fame. An all-round nice guy and champion buffet master!

Special thanks to Patricia for having us!

Aquamarine

Marina Mandarin Singapore
6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square

Tel: 6845 1111
www.aquamarine.sg

Operating Hours:
Breakfast: 6.30am - 10.30am
Lunch: 12.00pm - 2.30pm
Dinner: 6.30pm - 10.30pm  

Ramadhan Special 2013: AquaMarine ft Chef Sahroni

Our original post on AquaMarine remains one of the most popular posts on The Halal Food Blog since we put it up almost a year ago. Well, we are sure they have been on the up and up since our last visit and they have something special to offer this Ramadhan.

This Ramadhan, AquaMarine has invited special guest Chef Sahroni all the way from Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta to serve up a special delectable spread for diners for Iftar this fasting month.

You can look forward to tucking-in to Indonesian favourites such as Sop Buntut (Oxtail Soup), Opor Ayam (Braised Chicken in Coconut Milk) and even a variety of Penyet Delights including Chicken, Duck, Fish and Squid.

You can still get the same favourite spread you love at AquaMarine plus some special Asian and International delights such as Chicken Tikka, Shawarma, Chawanmushi with Crab Meat and Baked Seafood Pasta with Fennel Cream sauce among other tasty regular favourites like Sushi and Sashimi.

Sop Buntut

Opor Ayam

Satay

Penyet Delights

For those with a sweet-tooth, rejoice for you can still get your fix of the delicious desserts at AquaMarine plus special desserts prepared top suit the special menu this Ramadhan.

Try the special Indonesia Kueh Lapis and puddings to end your meal on the sweetest of notes

Lapis Surabaya

.

Assorted Indonesian Kuehs

Pudding

AquaMarine is also having a special lucky draw for the month of Ramadhan where diners stand a chance to win the Grand Prize of a pair of return-trip tickets to Bali on Garuda Indonesia (worth up to $680) and also other additional prizes such as Marina Mandarin Singapore's dining vouchers.

FYI, the hotel has prayer rooms (separate for gentlemen and ladies) on the 6th floor of the hotel  and kurma (dates) will be served for this special Iftar spread at AquaMarine. Best to call and make reservations especially if you'll be breaking fast with loved ones and family.

Insya Allah, hopefully The Halal Food Blog Team will get to sample the special spread at AquaMarine and spread the word to our readers on how it is! Watch this space!

Prices for the buffet are as follows;

Sunday to Thursday - $68++ per adult / $34++ per child
Friday and Sturday - $78++ per adult / $39++ per child

Aquamarine

Marina Mandarin Singapore
6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square

http://www.meritushotels.com/en/hotelinformation/marina-mandarin-singapore/dining-entertainment/aquamarine
Tel: 6845 1111

Operating Hours (Iftar):
Dinner: 6.30pm - 10.30pm